LIBRARY  OF  THE 
UNIVERSITY  OF  ILLINOIS 
AT  URBANA-CHAMPAIGN 

920.07725 

P838 


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I 


I 


A PORTRAIT  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL 


re:cori3 


OF 


BOONE  AND  CLINTON 


OOTLJISlTriES,  IISIID., 


CONTAINING  BIOGRAPHICAL  SKETCHES  OF  MANY 


Prominent  and  Representative  Citizens, 


TOGETHER  WITH  BIOGRAPHIES  AND  PORTRAITS  OF  ALL  THE 


t^’RESIDENTS  OF  THE  UNITED  STATES, 


AND  BIOGRAPHIES  OF  THE 


GOVERNORS  OF  INDIANA. 


CHICAGO: 

A.  W.  BOWEN  & CO. 
1895, 


LOGANSPORT,  IND. 

FROM  THE  PRESS  OF  WILSON,  HUMPHREYS  & CO. 
PRINTERS  AND  PUBLISHERS. 


IN  placing  this  Portrait  and  Biographical  Record  before  the  citizens,  the 
publishers  can  conscientiously  claim  that  they  have  carried  out  in  full 
every  promise  made  in  their  Prospectus.  They  point  with  pride  to  the 
elegance  of  the  binding  of  the  volume,  and  to  the  beauty  of  its  typography; 
to  the  superiority  of  the  paper  on  wdiich  the  work  is  printed,  and  to  the  truth- 
fulness depicted  by  its  portraits,  and  to  the  high  class  of  art  in  which  they  are 
finished.  The  few  typographical  errors  contained  within  its  covers  are  such  as 
will  occur  in  any  volume  ou  its  first  publication,  and  they  are  so  trival  as  to 
hardly  merit  even  a passing  notice.  Each  and  every  biographical  sketch  has  been 
submitted  for  correction  and  approval  to  the  person  for  whom  it  was  written, 
and  therefore  any  error  of  fact,  if  there  be  any,  is  solely  due  to  the  person 
for  whom  the  sketch  was  prepared.  Differences  in  the  spelling  of  surnames  of 
members  of  the  same  family  are  due  to  the  mutations  of  time,  or  residence  in  dif- 
ferent locations,  and  in  some  instances  these  discrepancies  have  been  explained — 
in  others,  no  explanation  has  been  made.  The  publishers  would  here  avail  them- 
selves of  the  opportunity  to  thank  the  citizens  of  the  two  counties  for  the  uniform 
kindness  with  which  they  have  regarded  this  undertaking,  and  for  the  many 
services  rendered  in  assisting  in  the  gaining  of  necessary  information. 

Confident  that  our  efforts  to  please  will  fully  meet  the  approbation  of  the 
public,  we  are.  Respectfully, 

A.  W.  BOWEN  cfe  CO.,  Publishers. 

February,  18h5. 


! 0 S 425c 


IISIIDE^X. 


PRESIDENTS  OF  THE  UNITED  STATES. 


Adatns,  J 29 

Adams,  J.  Q 45 

Arthur,  C.  A 117 

Buchanan,  J 80 

Cleveland,  S.  G. . . . 121 
Fillmore,  M 72 


Garfield,. J.  A 113 

Grant,  U.  S 102 

Harrison,  B 125 

Harrison,  W.  H.  . . . 57 

Hayes,  R.  B 106 

Jackson,  A 49 


Jefferson,  T 33 

Johnson,  A 98 

Lincoln,  A 84 

Madison,  J 37 

Monroe,  J 41 

Pierce,  F 76 


Polk,  J.  K 64 

Taylor,  Z 68 

Tyler,  J 60 

Van  Buren,  M 53 

Washington,  G . . . . 25 


PRESIDENTIAL  PORTRAITS. 


Adams,  J 28 

Adams,  J.  Q 44 

Arthur,  C.  A 116 

Buchanan,  J 81 

Cleveland,  S.  G....  120 
Fillmore,  M 73 


Garfield,  J.  A 112 

Grant,  U.  S 103 

Harrison,  B 124 

Harrison,  W.  H....  56 

Hayes,  R.  B 107 

Jackson,  A 48 


Jefferson,  T 32 

Johnson,  A 99 

Lincoln,  A 85 

Madison,  J. ...... . 36 

Monroe,  J 40 

Pierce,  F 77 


Polk,  J.  K 65 

Taylor,  Z 69 

Tyler,  J. . 61 

Van  Buren,  M 52 

Washington,  G . . . . 24 


GOVERNORS  AND  REPRESENTATIVE  MEN  OF  INDIANA. 


Baker,  C 150 

Bigger,  S 142 

Boon,  R 139 

Bright,  J.  D 164 

Cathcart,  C.  W . . . . 166 

Chase,  I.  J 157 

Colfax,  S 174 

Collett,  J 171 

Davis,  J.  W 181 

Dunning,  P.  C 143 

Fitch,  G.  N 166 

Gray,  I.  P 154 

Hammond,  A.  A...  145 


Hanna,  R 161 

Hannegan,  E.  A . . . 163 
Harrrson,  W.  H.  . . . 137 
Hendricks,  T.  A...  . 150 

Hendricks,  W 139 

Hovey,.A.  P 156 

Jennings,  J 138 

Jordan,  D.  J l7l 

Lane,  H.  S 146 

McDonald,  J.  E.  . . . 168 

Matthews,  C 158 

Morton,  O.  P 146 

Noble,  J 159 


Noble,  N 140 

Owen,  R.  D 179 

Pettit,  J 165 

Porter,  A.  G 154 

Posey,  T 137 

Pratt,  D.  D 167 

Ray,  J.  B 140 

Riley,  J.  W 172 

St.  Clair,  A 137 

Smith,  O.  H 161 

Taylor,  W 159 

Thompson,  M 172 

Thompson,  R.  W. . . 180  i 


Tipton,  J 160 

Turpie,  D.  S 167 

Vigo,  F 181 

Voorhees,  D.  W.  . . . 170 

Wallace,  D 141 

Wallace,  L 173 

Whitcomb,  J 142 

White,  A.  S 162 

Willard,  A.  P 144 

Williams,  J.  D 153 

Wright,  J.  A 144 


BOOxNE  COUNTY  BIOGRAPHIES, 


Abbott,  1 193 

Abbott,  J.  A 193 

Abbott,  S 193 

Adams,  H 195 

Adams,  J.  G 196 

Adams,  S 199 

Airliart,J 51^ 

Alexander,  J.  T . . . . 2()3 
Alexander,  W.  W . . 20^ 

Alexander,  W 20l 

Armstrong,  I.  N...  203 

Artman,A 2()4 

Artman,  S.  R 204 


Baird,  G.W 205 

Baird,  S.  D 205 

Baird,  W.  A 228 

Baldwin,  1 424 

Barker,  I,  N 206 

Beach,  C 4S2 

Beasley,  J.  R 209 

Beck  A 211 

Beck,  A,  D 210 

Bell,  W 530 

Belles,  I.  H 211 

Belt,  J 212 

Benetiel,  J.  H 212 

Bennett,  N 481 

Bennett,  W 481 

Best,  S.  M 213 

Best,  V 213 

Bishop,  W 2'^0 

Black,  J 214 

Black,  J,  S 214 

Black,  W.  ,J 215 

Bohannon,  W.  H.,  216 

Booher,  B 221 

Booher.  J 221 

Bounell,  M 217 

Bounell,  M.  H 217 


Bowen,  F . . . . 
Bowen,  S,  S. . 
Boyd,  C.  H..  . 
Bradshaw,  D. 


Bradshaw,  H.  A...  227 
Bradshaw,  S.  N...  . 224 
Bradshaw,  T.  E 224 

Brafff,r,  J 228 

Bratton,  C.  A 210 

Breedlove,  J.  M.  . , . 231 

Brown,  A 232 

Brown,  C.  0 236 

Brown,  E 234 

Brown,  G.  B 235 

Brown,  G.  W; 235 

Brown,  J,  A 232 

Brown,  E.  A 233 

Brown,  S 234 

Brush,  H.  C 236 

Brush,  J 237 

Burk,  S.  M 239 

Burk.  W.  C 239 

Burnham,  1 238 

Burnham,  J 238 


Burnham,  d.  H 

238 

Davis,  d.  M 

281 

Burns,  A 

240 

Davis,  W 

237 

Burns,  I).  M 

240 

Devol,  E 

285 

Burns,  d 

240 

Devol,  W.  d 

285 

Burris,  d.  E 

242 

Dickerson,  C 

284 

Burris,  R.  Me 

242 

Dickerson,  W.  H. . . 

541 

Busbv,  d 

244 

Dinsmore,  J 

287 

Busbv,  G.  W 

243 

Dinsmore,  d.  T 

286 

Dinsmore,  P.  !.... 

287 

Dinsmore,  T 

287 

Caldwell,  D.  A 

244 

Dinsmore,  W.  F . . . . 

288 

Caldwell,  d.  A 

246 

Dodson,  T 

289 

Caldwell,  d.  \V 

246 

Dodson,. H.  T 

289 

Caldwell,  N.  S 

247 

Dodson.  G 

289 

Caldwell,  T 245 

-246 

Downing,  .1 

290 

249 

Downing,  d.  F 

290 

Canada.  D 

249 

Doval,  D.  D 

292 

Carey,  Z 

492 

Doyal,  d.  M 

202 

Carriger,  G.  M 

250 

Doyle,  W.  G 

295 

Carriger  M.  M 

250 

Duniiingtoii,  A 

296 

Carroll,  d 

251 

Dunnington,  W.  . . . 

296 

Carty,  d.  T 

307 

Dutch,  E.  d 

297 

Caster,  I.  N 

253 

Dutch,  P.  H 

297 

Caster,  d 

253 

Chambers,  ,1.  C.  . . . 

253 

Chambers,  W 

254 

Eaton,  E.  M 

298 

Clark,  d 

254 

Eaton,  W 

298 

Clarkson.  J 

256 

Elder,  S 

474 

Cleaver,  d 

255 

Elliott,  M 

299 

Cleaver,  E 

255 

Elliott,  P 

299 

Cobb,  T.  A 

2,56 

Epperson,  B 

300 

Cobb,  W 

256 

Eiiperson,  F 

300 

Cogle,  B.  F 

357 

Evans,  E 

.301 

Cogle,  d.  C 

.357 

Evans,  T.  B 

301 

Cole,  G 

263 

Cole,  M.  W 

262 

Colgrove.  R 

265 

Featlier.  A 

,305 

Con  vers,  d.  M 

263 

Feather,  W.  P 

,30,5 

Conyers,  d.  K 

264 

Ferguson,  D 

.302 

Cook,  G 

266 

Ferguson,  R.  d 

.302 

Cook,  d 

266 

Ferrec,  d 

3' '3 

Cook.  T.  d 

266 

Ferrec.  d.  C 

,303 

Cook,  Z 

,318 

Flinn.  R.  H 

.304 

Copeland,  M 

268 

Flinn,  V 

.304 

Copeland,, S 

268 

Forbes,  d.  W 

,306 

Copi'land,  T 

268 

Forbes.  W.  A 

,306 

Corv,  W.  G 

270 

Fraser,  d 

,307 

Cox,  A..  . 

269 

Fraser  W . 

307 

Cox,  ,S 

,382 

Frazec, A 

Cox.S.  F 

,382 

Frazee,  A,  M.,  Mrs. 

.308 

Cox,  Z 

270 

Cragun,  H 

27.3 

Cragun,  ,S.  N 

273 

Garrett,  B.  F 

.501 

Crist,  E.  M 

275 

(Jault,  C 

,308 

Crose,  B 

276 

Gill  Family 

.362 

Crose,  D 

276 

Gillaspie,  C 

309 

Gillaspie,  W.  A . , . . 

.309 

Goldsberry,  J'.  d . . . 

.310 

Daily,  A.  C 

279 

Goldsbcrry,  T 

311 

Daily,  D . 

279 

(ioofi 

Dale,  d ... 

4.35 

Good,  d 

.312 

Davis,  I.  d 

28.3 

Gratton,  d 

230 

Davis,  d 281 

28.3 

Graybill,  D 

,3 18 

Davis,  d.  C 

282 

Gray  bill,  N 

313 

Gregory,  B.  M 314 

Groves,  G.  W 315 

Groves,  J 315 

Gumery,  B.  M 316 

Hadley,  M 317 

Hadley,  Z 317 

Hamilton,  G.  H ... . 318 

Hamilton,! 318 

Harmon,  A 322 

Harmon,  J.  B 322 

Harrison, G 326 

Harrison,  J 323 

Harrison,  J.  H 324 

Harrison,!.  S 326 

Harrison,  K.  W . . 323 

Hawk,  C 327 

Hawk,  !.  R 327 

Hedge,  D 460 

Henry,!.  K 328 

Henry,  M 329 

Henry,  M.  M 328 

Henry,  W.  N 329 

Higbee,  E 330 

Higbee,  ! 330 

Hoffman.  F 331 

Hollingsworth,!...  332 
Holling-sworth,  S..  332 

Holloman,  D 333 

Holloman,  W 333 

Holloway,  A.  N.  . . . 334 

Holloway,  M 339 

Holloway,  W 334 

Hook,  N.  M 341 

Hook,  S.  T 341 

Hostetter,  D 340 

Hostetter,  W.  H....  340 

Howard,  A.  E 342 

Howard,  ! 342 

Hysong,  !.  A 343 

Hysong,  P 343 


Irick,  !.  R 345 

Irick,  T.  H 345 

Isenhour,  I 347-348 

I.senhour,  I.  ! 347  . 

Isenhour,  ! 348 

Isenhour,  M.  A.  Mrs  346 
Isenhour,  N 346 


dailies,! 3,50 

!:imes,  !.  W 350 

!ett,  M,  C.,  Mrs.  . . . 3,50 

!ctt,  S ,3,50 

!ett,  W.  vS 349 

dohnson, G.  H . . . 351 

,Tohnson,  !.  C 353 

dones,! ,353 

dones,  !.  G 354 

dones,  d.  M 355 

dones,  W.  A 354 

dones,  \V.  H 358 


INDEX. 


7 


BOONE  COUNTY  BIOGRAPHIES. 


Kern,  J.  J 359 

Kern,  W 359 

Kernodle,  J 229 

Kersey,  J 360 

Kibbey,  J.  H 361 

Kibbey,  M 361 

Kuser,  W.  A 363 

Lafollette,  C.  C. . . . 364 

Lane,  J 365 

Lane,  L 365 

Lane,  W 365 

Lanhani,  J.  M 366 

Lewis,  B 250 

Lewis,  C 249 

Lewis,  F 368 

Lewis,  G.  W 368 

Log'an,  J 432 

Lyster,  G 367 

Lyster,  P.  B 367 

McDaniel,  J 511 

McKey,  B.  F 371 

McKey,  J.  C 371 

McKinley,  J.  F 372 

McMurray,  T.  J 374 

Mace,  F 375 

Mace,  S 375 

Mahoney,  B.  P ....  377 

Mahoney,  H 377 

Manner,  D 380 

Manner,  M.  M 380 

Martin,  J 378 

Martin,  T.  H 378 

Martin,  W.  L 305 

Masters,  J.  S 385 

Masters,  S.  K 379 

Maxwell,  H 416 

Mayes,  J.  H 386 

Mescheter,  C 380 

Meyer,  H 387 

Meyer,  K.  H 387 

Miller,  A 391 

Miller,  C.  M 390 

Miller,  G.  D 391 

Miller,  G.  E 388 

Miller,  R.  S 385 

Miller,  W 390 

Moffit,  A 392 

Moffit,  E.  E 393 

Moore,  J.  F 393 

Moore,  N 331 

Moore,  P 393 

Moulton,  S 394 

Nave,  C.  C 396 

Neal,  C.  F.  S 468 

Neal,  J 467 

Neal,  S 467 

Neese,  A 400 

Neese,  G 399 

Neese,  M 399 

Nel¥,  A 399 

Neff,  J 396 


Neidling-er,  J.  M.  . . 395 
Noe,  R.  B 399 

Osborn,  C 403 

Osborn,  D.  W 403 

Ottinger,  J 400 

Ottinger,  M 400 

Palmer,  J 404 

Palmer,  N.  J 404 

Parr.  J 405 

Parr,  T.  J 405 

Pedigo,  J 407 

Pedigo,  J.  0 407 

Phillips,  W 283 

Phillips,  W.  A 415 

Pinnell,  H 215 

Pittenger,  H.  M.  . . . 408 

Pittenger,  N 409 

Porter,  F.  K 375 

Potinger,  R 268 

Randall,  O.  E 461 

Ray,  C 410 

Ray,  J 410 

Rees,  E 410 

Rees,  M.  A.,  Mrs. . . 416 

Rees,  0 419 

Rees,  W 410 

Richardson,  G.  B..  420 

Richardson,  J 420 

Rickards,  N 421 

Rickards,  W.  T....  421 

Riley,  E 422 

Riley,  J 422 

Riley,  W.  G 424 

Roark,  J.W 424 

Robbins,  J.  F 428 

Robbins,  M 428 

Robbins,  M.  L 427 

Roberts,  W.  R 429 

Robertson,  B 430 

Robertson,  S.  H...  429 

Ronk,  D.  W 431 

Ronk,  S 431 

Rose,  C 433 

Rose,  M.  H 433 

Ross,  J 434 

Ross,  W.  M 434 

Runion,  S 435 

Sandy,  J.  A 437 

Sandy,  \V.  H 438 

Sandford,  G 436 

Sandford,  R.  W. . . . 436 
Saunders,  J.  M....  438 

Saunders,  J.  R 438 

Schultz,  J.  C 444 

Schultz,  M.  C 443 

Schultz,  W.  H 443 

Scott.  C.  W 449 

Scott,  G.  W 445 

Scott,  J.  M 450 

Scott,  N.  N 445 


Scott,  S 

449 

Shaw,J  

450 

Shaw,  N 

450 

Shelby,  A 

454 

Shelby,  A.  J 

451 

Shelby,  B.  F 

451 

Shell,  L 

306 

Shelley,  I 

454 

Shepherd, H.  J 

455 

Shepherd, T.  H 

455 

Shera,  C 

456 

Shera,  J 

456 

Sherrill,  H.  Z 

453 

Shirley,  D 

458 

Shirley,  E 

457 

Shirley,  H 

457 

Shirley,  J 

457 

Shirlev,  J.  S 

460 

Shirley,  J.  W 

458 

Shirley,  L.  T 

460 

461 

1 Shoemaker,  G 

462 

Shoemaker.  L.  P. . . 

462 

Shumate,  F 

465 

Shumate,  J 

465 

Shumate,  W 

465 

Sicks,  P 

474 

Sicks,  T.  O 

474 

Sims,  G.  W 

476 

Sims,  J.  A.  J 

476 

Sims,  W.  A 

475 

Slagle,  J.  W 

478 

Slayback,  E.  J.,Mrs 

478 

Slavback,  VV 

479 

Sla'yback,  W.  E.... 

478 

Slocum,  J 

48) 

Slocum,  R 

480 

Smith,  A.  H 

485 

Smith,  G.  W 

483 

Smith,  J 

483 

Smith,  J.  P 

480 

Smith,  P 

486 

Smith,  P.,  Mr.s 

490 

Smith,  S 

485 

Smith,  V.  E 

480 

Smith,  W.  J.,  Sr.... 

489 

Smith,  W.  W 

489 

Srite,  A 

490 

Srite,  R 

490 

Steed,  H.  C 

491 

Stephenson, A 

541 

Stephenson,  O.  B. . 

541 

Stephenson,  R 

542 

Stevenson,  G 

492 

Stoker,  J.  W 

494 

Stoker,  T 

494 

Storm,  S.  M 

493 

Stuckey,  J 

499 

Stuckey,  J.  C 

499 

Summers,  A.  B 

390 

Sutton,  W 

243 

Swails,  N 

502 

Swope,  E.  H 

499 

Swope,  J.  M 

499 

Threlkeld,  D.  M....  502 

Threlkeld,  G 502 

Todd,  J 508 

Todd,  J.  S 508 

Troutman,  B 503 

Troutman,  J.  W. ..  . 503 

Turner,  J.  M 504 

Turner,  J.  W 507 

Turner,  S 507 

Turner,  T.  S 507 


Van  Arsdall,  S.  E., 


Van  Arsdall,  W.  H.  508 

Vandever,  J 509 

Vandev'er,  S.  D.  . . . 510 
Vandever,  W.  G.  . . . 509 

Waddle,  1 510 

Waddle,  M 510 

West,  J.  E 528 

West,  S 540 

West,  S.  A 512 

West,  W 540 

Wheeler,  B.F 513 

Wheeler,  J 513 

Whetsell,!.  N 513 

Whet.sell,  W.  W. . . . 514 

Whitely,  E 516 

Whitely,  F 515 

Whitely,  W 515 

Whitlow,  B.  C 517 

Whitlow,  P 517 

Wile,  J.  E 520 

Wiley,  H 519 

Wiley,  W.  H 518 

Wiley,  W.  S 519 

Wilharn,  G 261 

Williamson,  T.  B..  520 
Williajnson,  W.  H.  . 520 

Witham,  F.  J 521 

Withani,  W 522 

Witt,  D 527 

Witt,  J.  B 527 

Witt,  J.  W 527 

Witt,  W.  W 527 

Worley,  J.  W 529 

Worley,  S 529 

Worrell,  J.  D 530 

Worrell,  F.  N 530 

Wrennick,  G.  T...  . 531 

Wrennick,  W 531 

Wynkoop,  1 533 

Wynkoop,  J.  W.  . . . 533 

Young,  F 309 

Young,  J.  V 534 

Young,  W 534 

Zion,  A.,  Mrs .539 

Zion,  C.  M 534 

Zion,J 534 

Zion,  W 534 


s 


INDEX. 


BOONE  COUNTY  PORTRAITS. 


Adams, 

J.  G 

. 197 

Barker, 

I.  N 

. 207 

Booher, 

B 

. 220 

Bradshaw,  T.  E.  • . 

225 

Cobb,  T 

. A 

258 

Cobb,  T 

5 A.,  Mrs.. 

. 259 

Cox,  S. 

F 

. 383 

Cragun, 

, S.  N 

. 272 

Dailey, 

A.  C 

. 278 

Doyal,  D.  D 293 

Hamilton,  G.  H,  . . . 319 
Hamilton,  G.  H., 

Mrs 319 

Holloway,  A.  N.  . , . 336 
Holloway,  A.  N., 

Mr.s 337 

McKev,  B.  F 370 

Neal,  C.  F.  S 470 


Neal,  C.  F.  S.,  Mrs.  471 


0.sborn,  U.  W 402 

Rees,  K 412 

Rees,  E.,  Mrs 413 

Rees,  0 417 

Riley,  W.  G 425 

Schultz,  W.  H 442 

Scott,  C.  W 448 

Shumate,  F 464 


Smith,  W.  J 488 

Swope,  J.  M 496 

Swope,  J.  M.,  Mrs..  497 

Turner,  T.  S 506 

Witt,  J.  B 524 

Witt.  J.  B.,  Mrs.  ...  525 
Zion,  C.  M 535 


CLINTON  COUNTY  BIOURAPHIES. 


Allen,  1 567 

Allen,  J 565 

Allen,  M 566 

Allen,  M.  R 565 

Allen,  S 568 

Allen,  S.  B 568 

Allen,  T 568 

Alter,  D 560 

Alter,  J 560 

Anderson,  D.  W. . . . 570 

Anderson,  E 570 

Anderson  Family..  569 

Anderson,  J 569 

Anderson,  S 569 

Bailey,  S 768 

Bailey,  T 571 

Bailey,  W 571 

Baker,  A 557 

Baker,  D 591 

Baker,  G.  W 572 

Baker,  W 572 

Ball,  D.  M 573 

Ball,  J 572 

Ball,  M 574 

Barner,  D.  B 576 

Barner,  H 574 

Barner,  J 574 

Bavless,  J.  M 579 

Bavless,  S.  G 579 

Beaver,  E.  C 581 

Beaver,  J.  M.  F.  . . . .581 

Beehout,  P , 5,82 

Beebout,  W .582 

Ber«-en,  E.  I) 5-8 

Berg-en,  1 588 

Berryman.  C.  E.  . ..  .589 
Berryman,  W.  N.  . ,589 

Bewsey,  A.  W .588 

Bewsey,  S .588 

Bird.  (■;.  W .590 

Black,  L) .587 

Bliss,  S.  E ,591 

Blystone,  M .591 

Blystone,  S.  M .591 

Bonham,  I).  M ....  593 

Bonham,  J .593 

Bond,  E.  J .5<)2 

Bond,  M.  U ,592 

Boomer,  H A 900 


Boulden,  A.  H 594 

Boulden,  J.  M 594 

Brand,  S.  A 901 

Brand,  W 901 

Brandon,  A 903 

Brandon,  S 903 

Bridgford,  C.  M....  595 
Bridgford,  W.  B.  . . 595 

Bristow,  J 902 

i Bristow.  M 902 

Brock,  A.  D 596 

' Brock.  E 596 

Brookie.  J.  A .599 

B rookie.  W .599 

Brooks,  R.,  .Tr.,.  . . . .599 

1 Brooks,  W.  W .599 

Brown.  J 600 

J Brown,  L 600 

Burget,  E 601 

Burget,  W 601 

Burget,  W.  M 602 

Burns,  E.  H 870 

Cadle,  J 739 

Caldwell,  J.  J (>02 

Caldwell,  J.  W 602 

' Calloway.  J.  H 7,37 

Cammack,  N.  H. . . . 603 

i Cammack,  S 603 

' Canlield,  B.  N 605 

I Canfield,  M.  S 604 

j Carter,  E ... <>06 

j Carter,  M.  A (>(>9 

Carter,  R (>06 

Carter,  R.  ,I 845 

Carver,  J 75.3 

Carver,  M.  A (>09 

Carver,  1’ ()09 

Cast,  H 610 

Cast.  J.  R 610 

Catterlin,  N.  T . . . . 904 

Chapman,  S 64(, 

Cheadle,  .T,  B 

Chitliek,  A (.11 

Chittick,  (' (.11 

Clapper,  1)  612 

Clapper,  11 612 

Ch(p|.er,  .1.  E 617 

Clapper,  ,1.  K (.12 

1 Clark,  A.  F (.17-822 


Clark,  C 905 

Clark,  D.  C 618 

Clark,  J 619 

Clark,  J.  1 619 

Clark,  M 620 

Clark,  M.  L 621 

Clark,  R.  C (i04 

Clark,  W 621 

Clark,  W.  N 621 

Coapstick,  J.  H . . . 622 

Coapstick,  S 622 

Cohee,  A ()23 

Cohee,  H.  M (>22 

Cohee,  S 623 

Cohee,  S.  C 623 

Collins,  G.  W 624 

Collins,  J.  W 624 

Cooper,  A.  E 626 

Cooper,  J 625-626 

Cooper,  J.  N 625 

Cosner,  J 627 

Cosner,  N.  W (.27 

Cosner,  W 627 

Covely.  D (.28 

Covel'y,  F.  G 628 

Cox  T.  B 903 

Cox,  W 822 

Coyner,  J 629 

Coyner.  M 629 

Cripe,  I).  E 6.30 

Cripe,  I (..30 

Cripe,  J 630 

Cripe,  L.  E 841 

Crull.  W 567 

Cunningham,  W.  R.  6.3.3 

t'urrv,  .1 ()3.5 

Curtis.  C.  P 8,50 

l).(ily,  .T.  W 634 

Daily,  P (.34 

Dalbey,  .1 (..35 

Dalbey.R 6.35 

Dalhey,  T.  C (.:{,5 

Daniels,  Iv.  H Ok. 

Daniels,  T.  S 6.36 

Davis,  .T (.41 

Davis,  H (.42 

Davis,  M P (.42 

Davis,  N.  C 640 

Davis,  S.  M 645 


I Davis,  W 641 

; Davis,  W.  B 640 

I Davison,  S.  N 645 

Davison,  W 645 

1 Deal,  D 646 

i Deal,  W.  H 646 

Detrick,  J.  S 647 

Detrick,  P 647 

Dorner,  P 656 

Doty,  G 654 

Doty,  W 654 

I Doval,  J 652 

Doyal,  J.  W 6.52 

Doval,  R.  N 654 

' Doyal,  S.  H 651 

! Douglass,  F 657 

Dougl.ass,  I.  W 658 

Douglass,  J 6.56-658 

I Douglass,  S 656 

Dow,  E 903 

Drumheller,  C.  K..  663 

Drumheller,  G.  N..  663 

Dunn.  A.  Z 662 

Dunn,  G.  W 661 

Dunn,  J 661 

Dunn,  J.  G 662 

Dunn,  W.  L 662 

Dunn,  Z 662 

Dunnington,  E.  M.  669 

Dunnington,  H.  D.  664 

! Dunnington,  W.  . . . 664 

Earhart,  A.  L.  S.  . . 670 

Earhart,G 6(.9 

; Earhart,  S.  S 669 

Edmonds,  A 673 

Edmonds,  O.  W.  . . . 673 

Edmonds,  R.  J 673 

Ely.  J 571 

Engle,  S.  S 674 

Engle,  W 674 

Farber,  B.  F 679 

Farber,  C.  S 679 

F:(rber,  J.  C 679 

Feescr,  H 675 

Feeser,  J (.75 

Fennell,  C.  E (>75 

Fennell,  Shaw  & Co  675 
Fisher,  J 675 


INDEX. 


9 


CLINTON  COUNTY  BIOGRAPHIES. 


Fisher,  S.  B 675 

Floyd,  E.  K 677 

Fowler,  G.  Y 678 

Freas,  J 628 

Friend,  J.S 677 

Friend,  P.  1 677 

Fudge,  D 798 

Gangwer,  M 680 

Gangwer,  T 680 

Gard,  J 681 

Gard,0 682 

Gard,  P.  W 681 

Gard,  W 682 

Gard,  W.  S 682 

Gaskill,  N.  J 687 

Gaskill,  S 687 

Gaskill,  W.  F.  P....  688 

Gay  lor,  E 688 

Gaylor,  E.  H 688 

Geiger,  F 689 

Geiger,  J 689 

Ghere,  W.  H 690 

Gilbert,  D 690 

Goar,  E.  J 691 

Goar,  J 691 

Goar,  J.  M 692 

Gochenauer,  D 693 

Gochenauer,  L.  . . 69+ 
Gochenauer,  W....  693 

Gochenour,  H 69+ 

Gochenour,  J 69+ 

Goff,  A 69S 

Goff,  A.  P 695 

Goldsberry,  F.  M..  696 
Goldsberry,  M.  B. . . 696 

Goodnight,  R 697 

Goodnight,  W 697 

Gorham,  B.  H 699 

Gorham,  G.  L 698 

Gorham,  P.  T 698 

Gregg,  C 863 

Gregg,  J 700 

Gregg,  J.  T 700 

Guenther,  C.  G 701 

Guenther,  C.  H.  W..  701 

Hall,  J.  B 705 

Hall,  N 705 

Halstead,  G.  W 702 

Halstead,  H 702 

Hamilton,  A 706 

Hamilton,  A.  H,  . . . 707 
Hamilton,  H.  R.  . . . 706 

Hamilton,  S 706 

Hamilton,  T.  M ...  707 
Harbaugh,  G.  C...  702 
Harbaugh,  W.  G..  . 702 

Hardesty,  0 655 

Haywood,  J 797 

Heaton,  A.  J 901 

Heavilon,  J 708 

Heavilon,  T 708 

Hedgcock,  J.  A....  710 
Hedgcock,  J.  S 710 


Hedgcock,  J.  W.  . . . 713 

Hiatt,  A.  E 71+ 

Hiatt,  C 714 

Hiatt,  C.  T 71+ 

Hill,  D.  T 718 

Hill,  J 717 

Hill,  T 717 

Hill,  W.  C 718 

Hillis,  A 723 

Hillis,  B.  F 723 

Hinds,  J 723 

Hinds,  S 723 

Hines,  W 724 

Hines,  W.  R 724 

Hodgeii,  J 728 

Hodgen,  W 728 

Hollcratt,  A 730 

Hollcratt,  J 730 

Holmes,  H.  D 729 

Holmes,  J.  M 729 

Hoover,  S.  A 731 

Horlacher,  D 745 

Horlacher,  E 745 

Hood,  J 559 

Horn,  F 732 

Horn,  I 732 

Humble,  P 733 

Humble,  W.  A 733 

Irby,  S.  P 734 

Irby,  W.  R 734 

Irwin,  R.  S 735 

Irwin,  R.  W 736 

Irwin,  S 735 

Jackson.  W 736 

Jackson,  W.  E 736 

January,  E 897 

Jenkins,  H 738 

Jenkins,  W.  G 738 

Johnson,  H.  C 738 

Johnson,  J 739 

Johnson,  W.  F 739 

Johnson  & Kerrick.  739 
Jones,  A.  E 860 

Kainath,  J 629 

Keed}’,  H 740 

Keedy,  H.  J 740 

Keedy,  W.  H 741 

Kelly,  D 741 

Kelly,  J 741 

Kelly,  \V 742 

Kempf,  A 742 

Kempf,  A.  B 743 

Kempf,  G.  E 742 

Kempf,  W.  E 

Kent,  A 744 

Kent,  G.  A 744 

Kent,  J.  V 744 

Kerrick,  E.  H 740 

Keyes,  J 746 

Keyes,  J.  W 751 

Keyes,  J.  S 746 

Keyes,  T.  P 751 


Keyes,  W.  E 751 

Kimmel,  C 752 

Kinimel,  D.  J 752 

King,  W 692 

Klopfer,  A.  J 753 

Knapp,  S.  0 753 

Kramer,  W.  B.,  Sr..  754 

Kressel,  H 755 

Kressel,  J 755 

Kressley,  H 756 

Kressley,  0 756 

Kuhns,  H 758 

Kuhns,  S 758 

Kyger,  G 757 

Kyger,  S 757 

Eackey,  E 763 

Eackey,  I.  H 764 

Eatnphier,  F.  A.  . . . 763 

Eamphier,  R 763 

Eanam,  J 764 

Eanam,  W 764 

Eane,  B.  W 766 

Eane,  J 767 

Eane,  W.  A 766 

Earkin,  J 708 

Eee,  G.  R 7J>2 

Eeisure,  A 768 

Eong,  D 770 

Eong,  S.  K 770 

Eudington,  J.  F. . . . 769 

Eudington,  S 769 

Eutz,  J 651 

Eydick,  G 710 

Eyon,  S 775 

Eyon,  S.  W 775 

McClamroch,  R....  776 
McClamroch,  T....  776 

McConnell,  A 897 

McConnell,  A I ... . 777 
McConnell.  J.  E. . . . 777 

McDavis,  J, 778 

McDavis,  W 778 

McDonald,  J.  H.  ,.  791 

McGuire,  J 781 

McGuire,  W.  H 781 

McKenzie,  A 784 

McKenzie,  D 783 

McKenzie,  R 783 

McKinsey,  N 782 

McKinsey,  M.  B...  . 782 

McOuinn,  E 785 

McQuinn,  J 786 

McQuinn,  J.  T 785 

Madison,  C 786 

Madi.son,  C.  T 786 

Maish,D 789 

I Maish,D.,Sr 789 

[ Mai.«h,  D.  F 793 

Maish,  H 792 

Maisli,  J 791 

Maish,  M 791 

j Maish,  W.  H 792 

1 Maish,  W.  P 794 


Martz,  J 756 

Masters,  C 794 

Masters,  J 797 

Masters,  T.  W 794 

Meifeld,  J.  B 798 

Meifeld,  J.  G 798 

Mendenhall,  A.  E.  . 799 

Mendenhall,  C 799 

Meridith,  J.  W 800 

Meridith,  W.  R 800 

Merrill,  G 801 

Merrill,  S.  W 801 

Merritt,  A 798 

Merritt,  J 800 

Merritt,  J.  H 798 

Merritt,  E.  C 800 

Michael,  W 802 

Milani,  G.  A 807 

Miller,  C 808 

Miller,  E 803 

Miller,  J 803 

Miller,  J.  S 804 

Miller,  E 809 

Miller,  O.  S 808 

Miller,  S 804 

Mohler,  A 809 

Mohler,  H 809 

Mohler,  S 809 

Moore,  G.  E 810 

Moore,  J 810 

Moore,  J.  W . 810 

Moore,  J.  Z 813 

Morris,  J 604 

Morrison,  H.  Y....  811 

Morrison,  I 811 

Morrison,  M.  A.  . . . 813 
Morrison,  O.  A.  J.  . 814 

Murphy,  A 817 

Murphy,  J 817 

Muse,  F.  C 818 

Mushlitz,  F.  A 818 

Mushlitz,  M 818 

Neyhard,  J 617 

Orr,  C.. 819 

Orr,  J.  S 820 

Orr,  M 819 

Osborne,  D.  W 820 

0.sterday,  B 821 

Osterday,  H.  W. . . . 821 

Painter,  E.  B.,Mrs.  822 

Painter,  I.  N 822 

Palmer,  R.  F 826 

Palmer,  T.  H 825 

Palmer,  W 825 

Parker,  A 826 

Parker,  A.  P 826 

Parker,  R 582 

Parsons,  O.  C 827 

Parsons,  P 827 

Partridge,  E 829 

Partridge,  T.  J 829 

Patrick,  J 829 


10 


INDEX. 


CLINTON  COUNTY  BIOGRAPHIES. 


Patrick,  R 830 

atrick,  W 829 

atrick,  W.  T 830 

anl,  P 831 

Paul,  S.  F 831 

Pay,  W.  E 840 

Payne,  E 832 

Payne,  W 832 

Pence,  C.  P 833 

Pence,  J 833 

Pence,  M.  C 565 

Perrin,  H.  C 834 

Perrin,  S 834 

Peter,  E.  E 839 

Peter,  R 839 

Peter,  W 839 

Peters,  C 839 

Peters,  F.  T 839 

Peters,  H 890 

Petre,  D 840 

Petre,  J 840 

Petty,  J.  A 841 

Piner,  G 842 

Finer,  T.  C 842 

Powers,  W 842 

Pruitt,  J 843 

Revis,  D 845 

Revis,  E 844 

Revis,  J.  G 844 

Rice,  J 846 

Rice,  J.  A 846 

Robbins,  J 884 

Rodenbarg-er,  H . . . 845 

Ross,  A 849 

Ro.ss,  J.  A 849 

Roush,  W.  J 850 


Ruch,  P 758 

Russell,  J 851 

Russell,  T.  D 851 

Scroggy,  J.  E 852 

Sellers,  A 852 

Sellers,  J.  H 852 

Shav/,  C.  E 675 

Shearer,  H 853 

Shearer,  J.  A 853 

vSheridan,  D.  F ....  853 
Sheridan,  H.  C.  . . . 853 

Silpher,  S 669 

Sims,  C 856 

Sims,  J.  N 854 

Sirns,  E 857 

Sims,  S 854 

Sims,  W.  S 857 

Slipher,  D 858 

Slipher,  S 858 

Smith,  H.  E 860 

Smith,  J.  H 870 

Smith,  J.  W 859 

Smith,  M.  J.,  Mrs. . 860 

Smith.  R 863 

Smith,  R.  E.  C 862 

Smith,- T 859 

Smith,  T.  J 862 

Smith,  W 859 

Smith,  W.  T 853 

Smock,  J 865 

Smock,  M.  M 865 

Snodgrass,  G 864 

Snodgrass,  R 864 

Snyder,  J 866 

Snvder,  W.  V 866 

Sparks,  J 866 


Sparks,  J.  A 866 

Sparks,  T 866 

Spitznagle,  A 867 

Spitznagle,  J.  N . . . 867 

Spray,  A 868 

Spray,  H.  N 868 

Spray,  W 868 

Stafford,  E 560 

Staley,  A 869 

Staley,  E.  H 869 

Staley,  W.  H 870 

Staley  & Burns 870 

Starkey,  B.  F 872 

Starkey,  J 764 

Starkey,  T.  G 871 

Stinson,  H 

Strange,  H 871 

Strange,  S 871 

Stroup,  J 872 

Stultz,  P 873 

Stultz,  W.  A 873 

Teeguarden,  F.  M . 874 
Teeguarden,  W.  H.  874 

Temple,  E.  V 876 

Temple,  G.  W 875 

Temple,  J 875 

Thomas,  H.  H . . . . 876 

Thomas,  E.  E 878 

Thomas,  M.  E 876 

Thomas,  P.  K 878 

Thompson,  C.  C . ..  879 
Thompson,  J.  C.  F.  878 
Thompson,  G.  E.  . . 879 

Thompson,  T 879 

Ticen,  P 880 

Toops,  J 881 


Toops,  T 881 

Trask,  E 882 

Trout,  A 883 

Trout,  D 883 

Trout,  I 883 

Trout,  J 883 

Van  Ausdell,  H....  588 

Wagner,  B.  D 663 

Walker,  C.  E 884 

Walker,! 884 

Watt,  J 887 

Weidener,  D 891 

Weaver,  O.  P 887 

Weaver,  W.  V 888 

IVest,  A 697 

Wharry,  J.  A 888 

Wharry.  J.  S 888 

White,  G.  W 889 

White,  H 889 

Whiteman,  J 890 

Whiteman,  W 890 

Winship,  J 693 

Wi.se,  J.  B 891 

Wolf,  A.,  Mrs 813 

Wratten,  E 892 

Wratten,  E 892 

Wright,  A 895 

Wright,  N.  W 895 

Young,  J.  E 895 

Young,  G.  T 897 

Young,  R 898 

Young,  R.  0 898 

Yundt,  1) 899 

Yundt,  G 899 


CLINTON  COUNTY  PORTRAITS. 


Allen,  M R 562 

Allen,  Mrs.  M.  R. . . 563 
Baker,  Abner 554 

Cripe,  D.  E 

Davis,  M.  P 

631 

643 

Hedgcock,  J.  A 711 

Hill,  J . 716 

Eamphier,  Mrs.  F. 
R 

761 

Davis,  Mrs.  M.  P . . 

643 

Hinds,! 720 

Evons,  S.  W 

772 

Baker,  Mrs.  Abner.  555 

Douglass,  I.  W 

659 

Hinds,  Mrs.  H.  E.  . 721 

Ivyons,  Mr.s.  S.  W.  . 

773 

Bayless,  S.  O 578 

Doyal,  S.  H 

650 

Hines,  W.  R 725 

McGuire,  W.  H 

780 

Beebout,  P 584 

Earhart,  S.  S 

666 

Hollcratt,  A.,  be- 

Maish, D 

788 

Beebout,  Mrs.  A....  585 

Earhart,  Mr.s.  E.  . . . 

667 

tween  730  and...  731 

I^ainter,  I.  N 

823 

Berryman,  W.  N...  588 

Earhart,  A.  E.  S . . . 

671 

Hollcratt,  Mrs.  A., 

Petre,  D 

841 

Brock,  A T)  .597 

Gard,  Dr.  O 

683 

between  730  and..  731 

Ross,  !.  A 

Watt,  ! 

Wratten,  E 

848 

Carver,  M.  A 608 

Clapper,  J.  K 614 

Groups  of  Old  Set- 
tlers, 796,  797,  836, 
Harbaugh,  G.  C. . . . 

, 837 

Horlacher,  1) 748 

Ilorlaclier,  Mrs.  I),.  749 

886 

893 

Clapper,  Mrs.  J.  K..  615 

703 

L/aniphier,  F.  K.  . . . 760 

PRESIDENTS 


OF  THE 


UTNITlSrO 


library 

r,a,«o. 


GEORGE  WASHINGTON 


PRESIDENTS  OF  THE  UNITED  STATES, 


EORGE  WASHINGTON  was  born 
in  Westmoreland  county,  Va. , Febru- 
ary 22,  1732.  His  parents  were 

Augustine  and  Mary  (Ball)  Washing- 
ton. His  great-grandfather,  John  Washing- 
ton, came  from  England  to  Virginia  about 
1657,  and  became  a prosperous  planter.  He 
had  two  sons,  Lawrence  and  John.  The  former 
married  Mildred  Warner  and  had  three  children, 
John,  Augustine  and  Mildred.  Augustine,  the 
father  of  George,  first  married  Jane  Butler, 
who  bore  him  four  children,  two  of  whom, 
Lawrence  and  Augustine,  reached  maturity. 
Of  six  children  by  his  second  marriage,  George 
was  the  eldest,  the  others  being  Betty,  Sam- 
uel, John  Augustine,  Charles  and  Mildred. 

Augustine  Washington,  the  father  of  George, 
died  in  1743,  leaving  a large  landed  property. 
To  his  eldest  son,  Lawrence,  he  bequeathed 
an  estate  on  the  Potomac,  afterward  known 
as  Mount  Vernon,  and  to  George  he  left  the 
parental  residence.  George  received  only 
such  education  as  the  neighborhood  schools 
afforded,  save  for  a short  time  after  he  left 
school,  when  he  received  private  instructions 
in  mathematics. 

He  was  an  acknowledged  leader  among  his 
companions,  and  was  early  noted  for  that 
nobleness  of  character,  fairness  and  veracity 
which  characterized  his  whole  life. 

When  George  was  fourteen  years  old  he  had 


a desire  to  go  to  sea,  and  a midshipman’s  warrant 
was  secured  for  him,  but  through  the  opposi- 
tion of  his  mother  the  idea  was  abandoned. 
Two  years  later  he  was  appointed  surveyor  to 
the  estate  of  Lord  Fairfax.  In  this  business 
he  spent  three  years.  In  1751,  though  only 
nineteen  years  of  age,  he  was  appointed  ad- 
jutant with  the  rank  of  major  in  the  Virginia 
militia,  then  being  trained  for  active  service 
against  the  French  and  Indians.  Soon  after 
this  he  sailed  to  the  West  Indies  with  his 
brother  Lawrence,  who  went  there  to  restore 
his  health.  They  soon  returned,  and  in  the 
summer  of  1752  Lawrence  died,  leaving  a 
large  fortune  to  an  infant  daughter,  who  did 
not  long  survive  him.  On  her  demise  the  estate 
of  Mount  Vernon  was  given  to  George. 

Upon  the  arrival  of  Robert  Dinwiddle,  as 
lieutenant-governor  of  Virginia,  in  1752,  the 
militia  was  reorganized,  and  the  province 
divided  into  four  military  districts,  of  which 
the  northern  was  assigned  to  Washington  as 
adjutant-general.  Shortly  after  this  a very 
perilous  mission  was  assigned  him.  This  was 
to  proceed  to  the  French  post  near  Lake  Erie 
in  northwestern  Pennsylvania.  The  distance 
to  be  traversed  was  between  500  and  600  miles. 
Winter  was  at  hand,  and  the  journey  was  to 
be  made  without  military  escort,  through  a 
territory  occupied  by  Indians.  The  trip  was  a 
perilous  one,  and  several  times  he  came  near 


PRESIDENTS  OE  THE  UNITED  STATES. 


2() 


losinj^  his  life,  yet  he  returned  in  safety  and 
furnished  a full  and  useful  repoi't  of  his  exj)e- 
dition.  A regiment  of  300  men  was  raised  in 
Virginia  and  put  in  command  of  Col.  Joshua 
h'ry,  and  Major  Washington  was  commissioned 
lieutenant-colonel.  Active  war  was  then  begun 
against  the  French  and  Indians,  in  which 
Washington  took  a most  important  part.  In 
the  memorable  event  of  July  9,  1755,  known 
as  Braddock’s  defeat,  Washington  was  almost 
the  only  officer  of  distinction  who  escaped 
from  the  calamities  of  the  day  with  life  and 
honor.  The  other  aids  of  Braddock  were  dis- 
abled early  in  the  action,  and  Washington 
alone  was  left  in  that  capacity  on  the  field.  In 
a letter  to  his  brother  he  says:  “I  had  four 
bullets  through  my  coat,  and  two  horses  shot 
under  me,  yet  I escaped  unhurt,  though  death 
was  leveling  my  companions  on  every  side.” 
A.n  Indian  sharpshooter  said  he  was  not  born 
to  be  killed  by  a bullet,  for  he  had  taken  direct 
aim  at  him  several  times,  and  failed  to  hit 
him.  After  having  been  five  years  in  the 
military  service,  he  took  advantage  of  the  fall 
of  Fort  Duquesne  and  the  e.xpulsion  of  the 
b'rench  from  the  valley  of  the  Ohio,  to  resign 
his  commission.  Soon  after  he  entered  the 
legislature,  where,  although  not  a leader,  he 
took  an  active  and  important  part.  January 
>7.  1759'  he  married  Mrs.  Martha  (Dandridge) 
Custis,  the  wealthy  widow  of  John  Parke 
Custis. 

When  the  British  parliament  had  closed 
the  port  of  Boston,  the  cry  went  np  through- 
out the  provinces  that  “The  cause  of  Boston 
is  the  cause  of  us  all.”  It  was  then,  at  the 
suggestion  of  Virginia,  that  a congress  of  Jtll 
the  colonies  was  called  to  meet  at  Philadel- 
phia, September  5,  1774,  to  secure  their  com- 
mon liberties,  peaceably  if  possible.  To  this 
congress  Col.  Washington  was  sent  as  a dele- 
gate. On  May  10,  1775,  the  congress  re- 

assembled, when  the  hostile  intentions  of  Eng- 


land were  plainly  apparent.  The  battles  of 
Concord  and  Lexington  had  been  fought. 
Among  the  first  acts  of  this  congress  was  the 
election  of  a commander-in-chief  of  the  colo- 
nial forces.  This  high  and  responsible  office 
was  conferred  upon  Washington,  who  was  still 
a member  of  the  congress.  He  accepted  it  on 
June  19,  but  upon  the  express  condition  that 
he  receive  no  salary.  He  would  keep  an  exact 
account  of  expenses  and  expect  congress  to 
jiay  them  and  nothing  more.  The  war  was 
conducted  by  him  under  every  possible  disad- 
vantage, and  while  his  forces  often  met  with 
reverses,  yet  he  overcame  every  obstacle,  and 
after  seven  years  of  heroic  devotion  and  match- 
less skill,  he  gained  liberty  for  the  greatest 
nation  of  earth.  On  December  23,  1783, 

Washington  resigned  his  commission  as  com- 
mander-in-chief  of  the  army  to  the  continental 
congress  sitting  at  Annapolis,  and  retired  im- 
medjqtely  to  Mount  Vernon. 

In  February,  1789,  Washington  was  unani- 
mously elected  president.  In  his  presidential 
career  he  was  subject  to  the  peculiar  trials  in- 
cidental to  a new  government;  trials  from  lack 
of  confidence  on  the  part  of  other  govern- 
ments; trials  for  the  want  of  harmony  between 
the  different  sections  of  our  own  country ; trials 
from  the  imjioverished  condition  of  the  coun- 
try, owing  to  the  war  and  want  of  credit;  trials 
from  the  beginnings  of  party  strife. 

At  the  expiration  of  his  first  term  he  was 
unanimously  re-elected.  At  the  end  of  this 
term  many  were  anxious  that  he  be  re-clecte<l, 
but  he  absolutely  refused  a third  nomination. 
On  the  fourth  of  March,  1797,  he  returned  to 
his  home,  hoping  to  pass  there  his  few  remain- 
ing years  free  from  the  annoyance  of  public 
life.  Later  in  the  year,  however,  his  repose 
seemed  likely  to  be  interrupted  by  war  with 
b' ranee.  At  the  prospect  of  such  a war  he  was 
again  urged  to  take  command  of  the  armies. 
He  chose  his  subordinate  officers  ami  left  to 


LIBriARY 
OF  THE 

UNIVERSITY  OF  IkUNQI" 


JOHN  ADAMS, 


PRESIDENTS  OE  THE  UNITED  STATES. 


2'.) 


them  the  charge  of  matters  in  the  field,  which 
he  superintended  from  his  home.  In  accepting 
the  command  he  made  the  reservation  that  he 
was  not  to  be  in  the  field  until  it  was  neces- 
sary. In  the  midst  of  these  preparations  his 
life  was  suddenly  cut  off.  December  I2,  he 
took  a severe  cold  from  a ride  in  the  rain, 
which,  settling  in  his  throat,  produced  infiam- 
mation,  and  terminated  fatally  on  the  night 
of  the  14th.  On  the  i 8th  his  body  was  borne 
with  military  honors  to  its  final  resting  place, 
and  interred  in  the  family  vault  at  Mount 
Vernon. 

The  person  of  Washington  was  unusually 
tall,  erect  and  well  proportioned.  His  features 
were  of  a beautiful  symmetry.  He  commanded 
respect  without  any  appearance  of  haughtiness, 
and  was  ever  serious  without  being  dull. 


OHN  ADAMS,  the  second  president 
and  the  first  vice-president  of  the 
United  States,  was  born  in  Braintree, 
now  Quincy,  Mass.,  and  about  ten 
miles  from  Boston,  October  19,  1735.  His 
great-grandfather,  Henry  Adams,  emigrated 
from  England  about  1640,  with  a family  of 
eight  sons,  and  settled  at  Braintree.  The 
parents  of  John  were  John  and  Susannah 
(Boylston)  Adams.  His  father  was  a farmer 
of  limited  means,  to  which  he  added  the  busi- 
ness of  shoemaking.  He  gave  his  eldest  son, 
John,  a classical  education  at  Harvard  college. 
John  graduated  in  1755,  and  at  once  took 
charge  of  the  school  in  Worcester,  Mass.  This 
he  found  but  a “school  of  affliction,”  from 
which  he  endeavored  to  gain  relief  by  devot- 
ing himself,  in  addition,  to  the  study  of  law. 
For  this  purpose  he  placed  himself  under  the 
tuition  of  the  only  lawyer  in  the  town.  He 
was  well  fitted  for  the  legal  profession,  pos- 
sessing a clear,  sonorous  voice,  being  ready  and 
fluent  of  speech,  and  having  quick  perceptive 


powers.  In  1764  he  married  Abigail  Smith,  a 
daughter  of  a minister,  and  a lady  of  superior 
intelligence.  Shortly  after  his  marriage  ( 1 765) 
the  attempt  of  parliamentary  taxation  turned 
him  from  law  to  politics.  He  took  initial  steps 
toward  holding  a town  meeting,  and  the  resolu- 
tions he  offered  on  the  subject  became  very 
popular  throughout  the  province,  and  were 
adopted  word  for  word  by  over  forty  different 
towns.  He  moved  to  Boston  in  1768,  and 
became  one  of  the  most  courageous  and  prom- 
inent advocates  of  the  popular  cause,  and  was 
chosen  a member  of  the  general  court  (the 
legislature)  in  1770. 

Mr.  Adams  was  chosen  one  of  the  first  dele- 
gates from  Massachusetts  to  the  first  conti- 
nental congress,  which  met  m 1774.  Here  he 
distinguished  himself  by  his  capacity  for  busi- 
ness and  for  debate,  and  advocated  the  move- 
ment for  independence  against  the  majority  of 
the  members.  In  May,  1776,  he  moved  and 
carried  a resolution  in  congress  that  the  colo- 
nies should  assume  the  duties  of  self-govern- 
ment. He  was  a prominent  member  of  the 
committee  of  five  appointed  June  ii,  to  pre- 
pare a declaration  of  independence.  This 
article  was  drawn  by  Jefferson,  but  on  Adams 
devolved  the  task  of  battling  it  through  con- 
gress in  a three  days’  debate. 

On  the  day  after  the  Declaration  of  Inde- 
pendence was  passed,  he  wrote  a letter  to  his 
wife  which,  as  we  read  it  now,  seems  to  have 
been  dictated  by  the  spirit  of  prophecy. 
“Yesterday,”  he  says,  “the  greatest  question 
was  decided  that  ever  was  debated  in  America; 
and  greater,  perhaps,  never  was  or  will  be 
decided  among  men.  A resolution  was  passed 
without  one  dissenting  colony,  ‘that  these 
United  States  are,  and  of  right  ought  to  be, 
free  and  independent  states.’  The  4th  of 
July,  1776,  will  be  a memorable  epoch  in  the 
history  of  America.  I am  apt  to  believe  it 
will  be  celebrated  by  succeeding  generations. 


I'RESlDENTvS  OE  THE  UNITED  STATES. 


as  the  f^reat  anniversary  festival.  It  ought  to 
be  coinineniorated  as  the  day  of  deliverance 
by  solemn  acts  of  devotion  to  Almighty  God. 
It  ought  to  be  solemnized  with  pomp,  shows, 
games,  sports,  guns,  bells,  bonfires,  and  illu- 
minations from  one  end  of  the  continent  to  the 
other,  from  this  time  forward  for  ever.  You 
will  think  me  transported  with  enthusiasm,  but 
I am  not.  I am  well  aware  of  the  toil,  and 
blood  and  treasure,  that  it  will  cost  to  main- 
tain this  declaration,  and  support  and  defend 
these  states;  yet,  through  all  the  gloom,  I can 
see  the  rays  of  light  and  glory.  I can  see 
that  the  end  is  worth  more  than  all  the  means; 
and  that  posterity  will  triumph,  although  you 
and  I may  rue,  which  I hope  we  shall  not.” 

In  November,  1777,  Mr.  Adams  was  ap- 
pointed a delegate  to  France  to  co-operate 
with  Benjamin  Franklin  and  Arthur  Lee,  who 
were  then  in  Paris,  in  the  einleavor  to  obtain 
assistance  in  arms  and  money  from  the  French 
government.  He  left  France  June  17,  1779. 
In  September  of  the  same  year  he  was  again 
chosen  to  go  to  Paris,  and  there  hold  himself 
in  readiness  to  negotiate  a treaty  of  peace  and 
of  commerce  with  Great  Britain,  as  soon  as 
the  British  cabinet  might  be  found  willing  to 
listen  to  such  proposals.  He  sailed  for  France 
in  November,  from  there  he  went  to  Holland, 
where  he  negotiated  important  loans  and 
formed  important  commercial  treaties. 

Finally  a treaty  of  peace  with  England 
was  signed  |anuary2i,  1783.  The  re-action 
from  the  e.xcitement,  toil  and  anxiety  through 
which  Mr.  Adams  had  passed  threw  him  into 
a fever.  After  suffering  from  a continued 
fever  and  becoming  feeble  and  emaciated  he 
was  advised  to  go  to  England  to  drink  the 
waters  of  Ikith.  While  in  Englaiul,  still 
drooping  and  desponding,  he  received  dis- 
patches from  his  own  government  urging  the 
necessitv  of  his  going  to  Amsterdam  to  nego- 
tiate another  loan.  It  was  wintc'r,  his  health 


was  delicate,  yet  he  immediately  set  out,  and 
through  storm,  on  sea,  on  horseback  and  foot, 
he  made  the  trip. 

February  24,  1785,  congress  appointed 

Mr.  Adams  envoy  to  the  court  of  St.  James. 
Here  he  met  face  to  face  the  king  of  England, 
who  had  so  long  regarded  him  as  a traitor. 
As  England  did  not  condescend  to  appoint  a 
minister  to  the  United  States,  and  as  Mr. 
Adams  felt  that  he  was  accomplishing  but  lit- 
tle, he  sought  permission  to  return  to  his  own 
country,  where  he  arrived  in  June  1788. 

When  Washington  was  first  chosen  presi- 
dent, John  Adams,  rendered  illustrious  by  his 
signal  services  at  home  and  abroad,  was 
chosen  vice  president.  Again  at  the  second 
election  of  Washington  as  president,  Adams 
was  chosen  vice  president.  In  1796,  Wash- 
ington retired  from  public  life,  and  Mr  Adams 
was  elected  president,  though  not  without 
much  opposition.  Serving  in  this  office  four 
years,  he  was  succeeded  by  Mr.  Jefferson,  his 
opponent  in  politics. 

While  Mr.  Adams  was  vice  president  the 
great  Erench  revolution  shook  the  continent 
of  Europe,  and  it  was  upon  this  point  which 
he  was  at  issue  with  the  majority  of  his 
countrymen  led  by  Mr.  Jefferson.  Mr.  Adams 
felt  no  sympathy  with  the  French  people  in 
their  struggle,  for  he  had  no  confidence  in 
their  power  of  self-government,  and  he  utterly 
abhorred  the  class  of  atheist  |)hilosophers  who 
he  claimed  caused  it.  On  the  other  hand 
Jefferson’s  sympathies  were  strongly  enlisted 
in  behalf  of  the  French  peojde.  Hence  origi- 
nated the  alieniation  between  these  distin- 
guished men,  and  two  powerful  parties  were 
thus  soon  organized,  Adams  at  the  head  of 
the  one  whose  sympathies  were  with  England, 
and  Jefferson  led  the  other  in  sympathy  with 
1 b'rance.  In  1824,  his  cup  of  hapiiiiiess  was 
filled  to  the  brim,  by  seeing  his  son  elevated 
1 to  the  highest  station  in  the  gift  of  the  jieople. 


OF  FHE 

JNIVERSITV  OF  llUNOr 


THOMAS  JEFFERSON 


PRESIDENTS  OF  THE  UNITED  STATES. 


The  4th  of  July.  1826,  which  completed 
the  half  century  since  the  signing  of  the  Dec- 
laration of  Independence,  arrived,  and  there 
were  but  three  of  the  signers  of  that  immortal 
instrument  left  upon  the  earth  to  hail  its 
morning  light.  And.  as  it  is  well  known,  on 
that  day  two  of  these  finished  their  earthly 
pilgrimage,  a coincidence  so  remarkable  as  to 
seem  miraculous.  For  a few  days  before  Mr. 
Adams  had  been  rapidly  failing,  and,  on  the 
4th.  he  found  himself  too  weak  to  rise  from  his 
bed.  On  being  requested  to  name  a toast  for 
the  customary  celebration  of  the  day,  he  ex- 
claimed “Independence  forever.”  When 
the  day  was  ushered  in,  by  the  ringing  of  bells 
and  the  firing  of  cannons,  he  was  asked  by 
one  of  his  attendants  if  he  knew  what  day  it 
was.^  He  replied,  “ Oh,  yes;  it  is  the  glorious 
Fourth  of  July — God  bless  it — God  bless  you 
all.”  In  the  course  of  the  day  he  said,  “It  is 
a great  and  glorious  day.”  The  last  words  he 
uttered  were  “Jefferson  survives.”  But  he 
had,  at  one  o’clock,  resigned  his  spirit  into  the 
hands  of  his  God.  The  personal  appearance 
and  manners  of  Mr.  Adams  were  not  particu- 
larly prepossessing.  His  face,  as  his  portrait 
manifests,  was  intellectual  and  expressive,  but 
his  figure  was  low  and  ungraceful,  and  his 
manners  were  frequently  abrupt  and  uncour- 
teous. 


HOMAS  JEFFERSON,  third  presi- 
dent of  the  United  States,  was  born 
April  2,  1743,  at  Shadwell,  Albemarle 
county,  Va.  His  parents  were  Peter 
and  Jane  (Randolph)  Jefferson,  the  former  a 
native  of  Wales,  and  the  latter  born  in  Lon- 
don. To  them  were  born  six  daughters  and 
two  sons,  of  whom  Thomas  was  the  eldest. 
When  fourteen  years  of  age  his  father  died. 
He  received  a most  liberal  education,  having 
been  kept  diligently  at  school  from  the  time 


88 


he  was  five  years  of  age.  In  1760  he  entered 
William  and  Mary  college.  Williamsburg  was 
then  the  seat  of  the  colonial  court,  and  it 
was  the  abode  of  fashion  and  splendor.  Young 
Jefferson,  who  was  then  seventeen  years  old, 
lived  somewhat  expensively,  keeping  fine 
horses,  and  was  much  caressed  by  gay  society, 
yet  he  was  earnestly  devoted  to  his  studies, 
and  irreproachable  in  his  morals.  In  the 
second  year  of  his  college  course,  moved  by 
some  unexplained  inward  impulse,  he  discarded 
his  horses,  society,  and  even  his  favorite  violin, 
to  which  he  had  previously  given  much  time. 
He  often  devoted  fifteen  hours  a day  to  hard 
study,  allowing  himself  for  exercise  only  a run 
in  the  evening  twilight  of  a mile  out  of  the  city 
and  back  again.  He  thus  attained  very  high 
intellectual  culture,  and  excellence  in  philoso- 
phy and  the  lairguages.  The  most  difficult 
Latin  and  Greek  authors  he  read  with  facility. 

Immediately  upon  leaving  college  he  began 
the  study  of  law.  For  the  short  time  he  con- 
tinued in  the  practice  of  his  profession  he  rose 
rapidly  and  distinguished  himself  by  his  energy 
and  acuteness  as  a lawyer.  But  the  times 
called  for  greater  action.  The  policy  of 
England  had  awakened  the  spirit  of  resistance 
of  the  American  colonies,  and  the  enlarged 
views  which  Jefferson  had  ever  entertained 
soon  led  him  into  active  political  life.  In  1769 
he  was  chosen  a member  of  the  Virginia  house 
of  burgesses.  In  1772  he  married  Mrs. 
Martha  Skelton,  a very  beautiful,  wealthy  and 
highly  accomplished  young  widow. 

Upon  Mr.  Jefferson’s  large  estate  at  Shad- 
well,  there  was  a majestic  swell  of  land,  called 
Monticello,  which  commanded  a prospect  of 
wonderful  extent  and  beauty.  This  spot  Mr. 
Jefferson  selected  for  his  new  home;  and  here 
he  reared  a mansion  of  modest  yet  elegant 
architecture,  which,  next  to  Mount  Vernon, 
became  the  most  distinguished  resort  in  our 
land. 


84 


PRESIDENTS  OF  THE  UNITED  STATES. 


In  1775  he  was  sent  to  the  colonial  con- 
f^ress,  where,  though  a silent  member,  his 
abilities  as  a writer  and  a reasoner  soon  be- 
came known,  and  he  was  placed  upon  a num- 
ber of  important  committees,  and  was  chairman 
of  the  one  appointed  for  the  drawing  up  of  a 
declaration  of  independence.  This  committee 
consisted  of  Thomas  Jefferson,  John  Adams, 
Benjamin  Franklin,  Roger  Sherman  and  Rob- 
ert R.  Livingston.  Jefferson,  as  chairman, 
was  appointed  to  draw  up  the  paper.  Frank- 
lin and  Adams  suggested  a few  verbal  changes 
before  it  was  submitted  to  congress.  On  June 
28,  a few  slight  changes  were  made  in  it  by 
congress,  and  it  was  passed  and  signed  July  4, 
1776.  What  must  have  been  the  feelings  of 
that  man — what  the  emotions  that  swelled  his 
breast — who  was  charged  with  the  preparation 
of  that  declaration,  which,  while  it  made 
known  the  wrongs  of  America,  was  also  to 
publish  her  to  the  world,  free,  sovereign  and 
independent!  A - ’ 

In  1779  Mr.  Jefferson  was  elected  successor 
to  Patrick  Henry,  as  governor  of  Virginia.  At 
one  time  the  British  officer,  Tarleton,  sent  a 
secret  expedition  to  Monticello,  to  capture  the 
governor.  Scarcely  five  minutes  elapsed  after 
the  hurried  escape  of  Mr.  Jefferson  and  his 
family  ere  his  mansion  was  in  possession  of 
the  British  troops.  His  wife’s  health,  never 
very  good,  was  much  injured  by  this  excite- 
ment and  in  the  summer  of  1782  she  died. 

Mr.  Jefferson  was  elected  to  congress  in 
1783.  Two  years  later  he  was  appointed 
minister  plenipotentiary  to  P'rance.  Return- 
ing to  the  United  States  in  September,  1789, 
he  became  secretary  of  state  in  Washington’s 
cabinet.  This  position  he  resigned  January  i, 
1794.  In  1797,  he  was  chosen  vice  president 
and  four  years  later  was  elected  president  over 
Mr.  Adams,  with  Aaron  Burr  as  vice  president. 
In  1804  he  was  re-elected  with  wonderful 
unanimity,  and  George  Clinton,  vice  president. 


The  early  part  of  Mr.  Jefferson’s  second 
administration  was  disturbed  by  an  event 
which  threatened  the  tranquility  and  peace  of 
the  Union;  this  was  the  conspiracy  of  Aaron 
Burr.  Defeated  in  the  late  election  to  the 
vice  presidency,  and  led  on  by  an  unprincipled 
ambition,  this  extraordinary  man  formed  the 
plan  of  a military  expedition  into  the  Spanish 
territories  on  our  southwestern  frontier,  for  the 
purpose  of  forming  there  a new  republic. 

In  1 809,  at  the  expiration  of  the  second 
term  for  which  Mr.  Jefferson  had  been  elected, 
he  determined  to  retire  from  political  life. 
For  a period  of  nearly  forty  years,  he  had 
been  continually  before  the  public,  and  all 
that  time  had  been  employed  in  offices  of  the 
greatest  trust  and  responsibility.  Having 
thus  devoted  the  best  part  of  his  life  to  the  serv- 
ice of  his  country,  he  now  felt  desirous  of 
that  rest  which  his  declining  years  required, 
and  upon  the  organization  of  the  new  adminis- 
I tration,  in  March,  1809,  he  bade  farewell  for- 
eve'F  to  public  life,  and  retired  to  Monticello. 

The  4th  of  July,  1826,  being  the  fiftieth 
anniversary  of  the  Declaration  of  Independence, 
great  preparations  were  made  in  every  part  of 
the  Union  for  its  celebration,  as  the  nation’s 
jubilee,  and  the  citizens  of  Washington,  to 
add  to  the  solemnity  of  the  occasion,  invited 
Mr.  Jefferson,  as  the  framer,  and  one  of  the 
few  surviving  signers  of  the  Declaration,  to 
participate  in  their  festivities.  But  an  illness, 
which  had  been  of  several  week’s  duration,  and 
had  been  continually  increasing,  compelled 
him  to  decline  the  invitation. 

On  the  2(1  of  July,  the  disease  under 
which  he  was  laboring  left  him,  but  in  such  a 
reduced  state  that  his  medical  attendants  en- 
tertained no  hope  of  his  reccjvery.  From  this 
time  he  was  ])erfectly  sensible  that  his  last 
hour  was  at  hand.  On  the  next  day,  which 
was  Monday,  he  asked,  of  those  around  him, 
the  day  of  the  month,  and  on  being  told  that 


LIBRARY 
OF  THE 

UNIVERSITY  OF  ILLINOr 


JAMES  MADISON 


PRESIDENTS  OF  THE  UNITED  STATES. 


37 


it  was  the  3d  of  Jul}',  he  expressed  the  earnest 
wish  that  he  might  be  permitted  to  breathe 
the  air  of  the  fiftieth  anniversary.  His  prayer 
was  heard — that  day,  whose  dawn  was  hailed 
with  snch  rapture  through  our  land,  burst 
upon  his  eyes,  and  then  they  were  closed  for- 
ever. And  what  a noble  consummation  of  a 
noble  life  ! To  die  on  that  day, — the  birth  of 
a nation — the  day  which  his  own  name  and 
own  act  had  rendered  glorious;  to  die  amidst 
the  rejoicings  and  festivities  of  a whole  nation, 
who  looked  up  to  him,  as  the  author,  under 
God,  of  their  greatest  blessings,  was  all  that 
was  wanting  to  fill  up  the  record  of  his  life. 
Almost  at  the  same  hour  of  his  death,  the  kindred 
spirit  of  the  venerable  Adams,  as  if  to  bear  him 
company,  left  the  scene  of  his  earthly  honors. 

fn  person  Mr.  Jefferson  was  tall  and  thin, 
rather  above  six  feet  in  height,  but  well  formed; 
his  eyes  were  light,  his  hair,  originally  red,  in 
after  life  became  white  and  silvery;  his  com- 
plexion was  fair,  his  forehead  broad,  and  his 
whole  countenance  intelligent  and  thoughtful. 
He  possessed  great  fortitude  of  mind  as  well 
as  personal  courage;  and  his  command  of  tem- 
per was  such  that  his  oldest  and  most  intimate 
friends  never  recollected  to  have  seen  him  in  a 
passion.  His  manners,  though  dignified,  were 
simple  and  unaffected,  and  his  hospitality  was 
so  unbounded  that  all  found  at  his  house  a 
ready  welcome.  In  conversation  he  was  fluent, 
eloquent  and  enthusiastic;  and  his  language  was 
remarkably  pure  and  correct.  He  was  a 
finished  classical  scholar,  and  in  his  writings 
is  discernable  the  care  with  which  he  formed 
his  style  upon  the  best  models  of  antiquity. 


AMES  MADISON,  fourth  president  of 
the  United  States,  was  born  March  16, 
1751,  and  died  at  his  home  in  Virginia, 
June  28,  1836.  He  was  the  last  of  the 
founders  of  the  Constitution  of  the  United 


States  to  be  called  to  his  eternal  reward. 
The  Madison  family  were  among  the  early 
emigrants  to  the  New  World,  landing  upon  the 
shores  of  the  Chesapeake  but  fifteen  years 
after  the  settlement  of  Jamestown.  The  father 
of  James  Madison  was  an  opulent  planter,  re- 
siding upon  a very  fine  estate  called  “Mont- 
pelier,” Orange  county,  Va.  The  mansion 
was  situated  in  the  midst  of  scenery  highly 
picturesque  and  romantic,  on  the  west  side  of 
Southwest  Mountain,  at  the  foot  of  Blue 
Ridge.  It  was  but  twenty-five  miles  from  the 
home  of  Jefferson  at  Monticello.  The  closest 
personal  and  political  attachment  existed  be- 
tween these  illustrious  men  from  their  early 
youth  until  death. 

The  early  education  of  Mr.  Madison  was 
conducted  mostly  at  home  under  a private 
tutor.  At  the  age  of  eighteen  he  was  sent 
to  Princeton  college,  in  New  Jersey.  Here  he 
applied  himself  to  study  with  the  most  im- 
prudent zeal,  allowing  himself  for  months  but 
three  hours’  sleep  out  of  the  twenty-four.  His 
health  thus  became  so  seriously  impaired  that 
he  never  recovered  any  vigor  of  constitution. 
He  graduated  in  1771,  when  a feeble  boy,  but 
with  a character  of  utmost  purity,  and  with  a 
mind  highly  disciplined  and  richly  stored  with 
learning. 

Returning  to  Virginia,  he  commenced  the 
study  of  law  and  a course  of  extensive  and 
systematic  reading.  This  educational  course, 
the  spirit  of  the  times  in  which  he  lived,  all 
combined  to  inspire  him  with  a strong  love  of 
liberty,  and  to  train  him  for  his  life-work  of  a 
statesman. 

In  the  spring  of  1776,  when  twenty-five 
years  of  age,  he  was  elected  a member  of  the 
Virginia  convention,  to  frame  the  constitution 
of  the  state.  The  next  year  (1777)  he  was  a 
candidate  for  the  general  assembly.  He  re- 
fused to  treat  the  whisky-loving  voters,  and  con- 
sequently lost  his  election;  but  those  who  had 


PRESIDENTS  OE  THE  UNITED  STATES. 


IIS 


witnessed  the  talent,  energy  and  public  spirit 
of  the  iiKxlest  young  man,  enlisted  themselves 
in  his  behalf  and  he  was  appointed  to  the 
executive  council. 

Both  Patrick  Henry  and  Thomas  Jefferson 
were  governors  of  Virginia  while  Mr.  Madison 
remained  member  of  the  council;  and  their 
appreciation  of  his  intellectual,  social  and 
moral  worth,  contributed  not  a little  to  his 
subsequent  eminence.  In  the  year  1780,  he 
was  elected  a member  of  the  continental  con- 
gress. Here  he  met  the  most  illustrious  men 
in  our  lantl,  and  he  was  immediately  assigned 
to  one  of  the  most  conspicuous  positions 
among  them.  For  three  years  Mr.  Madison 
continued  in  congress,  one  of  its  most  active 
and  influential  members.  In  the  year  1784, 
his  term  having  expired,  he  was  elected  a 
member  of  the  Virginia  legislature. 

No  man  felt  more  deeply  than  Mr,  Madison 
the  utter  inefficiency  of  the  old  confederacy, 
with  no  national  government,  with  no  power 
to  form  treaties  which  would  be  binding,  or  to 
enforce  law.  There  was  not  any  state  more 
prominent  than  Virginia  in  the  declaration, 
that  an  efficient  national  government  must  be 
formed.  In  January,  1786,  Mr.  Madison  car- 
ried a resolution  through  the  general  assembly 
of  Virginia,  inviting  the  other  states  to  appoint 
commissioners  to  meet  in  convention  at  Ann- 
apolis to  discuss  the  subject.  Five  states  only 
were  represented.  The  convention,  however, 
issued  another  call,  drawn  up  by  Mr.  Madison, 
urging  all  the  states  to  send  their  delegates  to 
Philadelphia,  in  May,  1787,  to  draft  a consti- 
tution for  the  United  States,  to  take  the  jflace 
of  that  confederate  league.  The  delegates  met 
at  the  time  appointed.  Plvery  state  but  Rhode 
Island  was  represented.  George  Washingt<;n 
was  chosen  president  of  the  convention;  and 
the  present  constitution  of  the  United  States 
was  then  and  there  formed.  There  was,  per- 
haps, no  mind  and  no  pen  more  active  in 


framing  this  immortal  document  than  the  mind 
and  pen  of  James  Madison. 

The  constitution,  adopted  by  a vote  of  81 
to  79,  was  to  be  presented  to  the  several  states 
for  acceptance.  But  grave  solicitude  was  felt. 
Should  it  be  rejected  we  should  be  left  but  a 
conglomeration  of  independent  states,  with 
but  little  power  at  home  and  little  respect 
abroad.  Mr.  Madison  was  selected  by  the 
convention  to  draw  up  an  address  to  the  peo- 
ple of  the  United  States,  expounding  the  prin- 
ciples of  the  constitution,  and  urging  its  adop- 
tion. There  was  great  opposition  to  it  at  first, 
but  it  at  length  triumphed  over  all,  and  went 
into  effect  in  1 789. 

Mr.  Madison  was  elected  to  the  house  of 
representatives  in  the  first  congress,  and  soon 
became  the  avowed  leader  of  the  republican 
party.  While  in  New  York  attending  congress, 
he  met  Mrs.  Todd,  a young  widow  of  remark- 
able power  of  fascination,  whom  he  married. 
She  was  in  person  and  character  queenly,  and 
probably  no  lady  has  thus  far  occupied  so 
prominent  a position  in  the  very  peculiar  soci- 
ety which  has  constituted  our  republican  court, 
as  Mrs.  Madison. 

Mr.  Madison  served  as  secretary  of  state 
under  Jefferson,  and  at  the  close  of 
his  administration  was  chosen  president. 
At  this  time  the  encroachments  of  Eng- 
land had  brought  us  to  the  verge  of  war. 
British  orders  in  council  destroyed  our  com- 
merce, and  our  flag  was  exposed  to  constant 
insult.  Mr.  Madison  was  a man  of  ])eace. 
Scholarly  in  his  taste,  retiring  in  his  disposi- 
tion, war  had  no  charms  for  him.  But  the 
meekest  spirit  can  be  roused.  It  makes  one’s 
blood  boil,  even  now,  to  think  of  an  American 
ship  brought  to  upon  the  ocean  by  the  guns  of 
an  English  crniscr.  A young  lieutenant  steps 
on  board  and  orders  the  crew  to  be  })araded 
before  him.  With  great  nonchalance  he  selects 
any  number  whom  he  may  please  to  designate 


library 

OF  THE 

ilNIVERSITY  Of  ItyNGI^ 


JAMES  MONROE 


PRESIDENTS  OE  THE  UNITED  STATES. 


41 


as  British  subjects;  orders  them  down  the 
ship’s  side  into  the  boat;  and  places  them  on 
the  gun-deck  of  the  man-of-war  to  hght,  by 
compulsion,  the  battles  of  England.  This 
right  of  search  and  impressment,  no  efforts  of 
our  government  could  induce  the  British  cabi- 
net to  relinquish. 

On  the  i8th  of  June,  1812,  President  Madi- 
son gave  his  approval  to  an  act  of  congress  de- 
claring war  against  Great  Britain.  Notwith- 
standing the  bitter  hostility  of  the  federal 
party  to  the  war,  the  country  in  general  ap- 
proved; and  Mr.  Madison,  on  the  4th  of  March, 
1813,  was  re-elected  by  a large  majority,  and 
entered  upon  his  second  term  of  office.  The 
contest  commenced  in  earnest  by  the  appear- 
ance of  a British  fleet  early  in  February,  1813, 
in  Chesapeake  bay,  declaring  nearly  the  whole 
coast  of  the  United  States  under  blockade. 
The  emperor  of  Russia  offered  his  services 
as  mediator.  America  accepted;  England  re- 
fused. A British  force  of  five  thousand  men 
landed  on  the  banks  of  the  Patuxant  river,  near 
its  entrance  into  Chesapeake  bay,  and  marched 
rapidly,  by  way  of  Bladensburg,  upon  Wash- 
ington. 

The  straggling  little  city  of  Washington 
was  thrown  into  consternation.  The-  cannon 
of  the  brief  conflict  at  Bladensburg  echoed 
through  the  streets  of  the  metropolis.  The 
whole  population  fled  from  the  city.  The 
president,  leaving  Mrs.  Madison  in  the  White 
House,  with  her  carriage  drawn  up  at  the  door 
to  await  his  speedy  return,  hurried  to  meet 
the  officers  in  a council  of  war.  He  met  our 
troops  utterly  routed,  and  he  could  not  go 
back  without  danger  of  being  captured.  But 
few  hours  elapsed  ere  the  presidential  mansion, 
the  Capitol,  and  all  the  public  buildings  in 
Washington  were  in  flames. 

The  war  closed  after  two  years  of  fighting, 
and  on  February  13,  1815,  the  treaty  of  peace 
was  signed  at  Ghent. 


March  4,  1817,  James  Madison’s  second 
term  of  office  expired,  and  he  resigned  the 
presidential  chair  to  his  friend,  James  Monroe. 
He  retired  to  his  beautiful  home  at  Montpelier 
and  there  passed  the  remainder  of  his  days. 
On  June  28,  1836,  then  at  the  age  of  eighty- 
five  years,  he  fell  asleep  in  death.  Mrs.  Madi- 
son died  July  12,  1849. 


AMES  MONROE,  the  fifth  president  of 
the  United  States,  was  born  in  West- 
moreland county,  Va.,  April  28,  1758. 
He  joined  the  colonial  army  when  every- 
thing looked  hopeless  and  gloomy.  The  num- 
ber of  deserters  increased  from  day  to  day. 
The  invading  armies  came  pouring  in,  and  the 
tories  not  only  favored  the  cause  of  the  mother 
country,  but  disheartened  the  new  recruits, 
who  were  sufficiently  terrified  at  the  prospect 
of  contending  with  an  enemy  whom  they  had 
been  taught  to  deem  invincible.  To  such  brave 
spirits  as  James  Monroe,  who  went  right  on- 
ward undismayed  through  difficulty  and  danger, 
the  United  States  owe  their  political  eman- 
cipation. The  young  cadet  joined  the  ranks 
and  espoused  the  cause  of  his  injured  country, 
with  a firm  determination  to  live  or  die  with 
her  strife  for  liberty.  Firmly,  yet  sadly,  he 
shared  in  the  melancholy  retreat  from  Harlaem 
Heights  and  White  Plains,  and  accompanied 
the  dispirited  army  as  it  fled  before  its  foes 
through  New  Jersey.  In  four  months  after 
the  Declaration  of  Independence,  the  patriots 
had  been  beaten  in  seven  battles.  At  the  bat- 
tle of  Trenton  he  led  the  vanguard,  and,  in  the 
act  of  charging  upon  the  enemy  he  received  a 
wound  in  the  left  shoulder.  As  a reward  for 
his  bravery,  Mr.  Monroe  was  promoted  a cap- 
tain of  infantry;  and,  having  recovered  from 
his  wound,  he  rejoined  the  army.  He,  how- 
ever, receded  from  the  line  of  promotion  by 


PRESIDENTS  OE  THE  UNITED  STATES. 


42 


becoming  an  officer  on  the  staff  of  Lord  Stir- 
ling. During  the  campaigns  of  1777  and  1778, 
in  tlie  actioTis  of  Erandywine,  Germantown, 
and  Monmonth,  he  continued  aid-de-camj); 
hut  hecoming  desirous  to  regain  his  position  in 
the  army,  lie  c.xerted  himself  to  collect  a regi- 
ment for  the  Virginia  line.  This  scheme  failed 
owing  to  the  exhausted  condition  of  the  state. 
Ujion  this  failure  he  entered  the  office  of  Mr. 
Jefferson,  at  that  period  governor,  and  pursued 
with  considerable  ardor  the  study  of  common 
law.  He  did  not,  however,  entirely  lay  aside 
the  knapsack  for  the  green  hag;  hut  on  the  in- 
vasions of  the  enemy,  served  as  a volunteer 
during  the  two  years  of  his  legal  pursuits. 

In  1782,  he  was  elected  from  King  George 
county  a member  of  the  legislature  of  Virginia, 
and  by  that  body  he  was  elevated  to  a seat  in 
the  executive  council.  He  was  thus  honored 
with  the  confidence  of  his  fellow offitizens  at 
twenty-three  years  of  age;  and  at  this  early 
period  displayed  some  of  that  ability  and  apti- 
tude for  legislation,  which  were  afterward 
employed  with  unremitting  energy  for  the  pub- 
lic good;  he  was  in  the  succeeding  year  chosen 
a member  of  the  congress  of  the  United  States. 

Deeply  as  Mr.  Monroe  felt  the  imperfec- 
tions of  the  old  confederacy,  he  was  opposed 
to  the  new  constitution,  thinking,  with  many 
others  of  the  republican  party,  that  it  gave  too 
much  power  to  the  central  government,  and 
not  enough  to  the  individual  states.  In  1789 
he  became  a member  of  the  United  States  sen- 
ate, which  office  he  held  for  four  years.  Every 
month  the  line  of  distinction  betw'een  the  tw'o 
great  parties  which  divided  the  nation,  the 
federal  and  the  republican,  was  growing  more 
distinct.  The  two  jmominent  ideas  which  now 
separated  them  were,  that  the  republican  jxirty 
was  in  sym])athy  with  France,  and  also  iti 
favor  of  such  a strict  construction  of  the  con- 
stitution as  to  give  the  central  government  as 
little  ])ow'er,  and  the  state  governments  as 


much  power,  as  the  constitution  would  war- 
rant. The  federalists  sympathized  with  Eng- 
land, and  were  in  favor  of  a liberal  construc- 
tion of  the  constitution,  which  would  give  as 
much  pow'er  to  the  central  government  as  that 
document  could  possibly  authorize. 

Washington  was  then  president.  England 
had  espoused  the  cause  of  the  Bourbons 
against  the  principles  of  the  French  revolu- 
tion. All  Europe  w'as  drawn  into  the  conflict. 
We  w’ere  feeble  and  far  away.  Washington 
issued  a proclamation  of  neutrality  betw'een 
these  contending  powders.  France  had  helped 
us  in  the  struggle  for  our  lilierties.  All  the 
despotisms  of  Europe  were  combined  to  pre- 
vent the  French  from  escaping  from  a tyranny 
a thousand-fold  worse  than  that  which  we  had 
endured.  Col.  Monroe,  more  magnanimous 
than  prudent,  was  anxious  that,  at  whatever 
hazard,  we  should  help  our  old  allies  in  their 
extremity.  It  was  the  impulse  of  a generous 
and  noble  nature.  He  violently  opposed  the 
president’s  proclamation  as  ungrateful  and 
wanting  in  magnanimity. 

Washington,  who  could  appreciate  such  a 
character,  developed  his  clam,  serene,  almost 
divine  greatness,  by  appointing  that  very 
James  Monroe,  who  was  denouncing  the  policy 
of  the  government,  as  the  minister  of  that 
government  to  the  republic  of  France.  Mr. 
Monroe  was  welcomed  by  the  national  conven- 
tion in  France  with  the  most  enthusiastic 
demonstrations. 

Shortly  after  liis  return  to  this  country,  Mr. 
Monroe  was  elected  governor  of  Virginia,  and 
held  the  office  for  three  years.  He  was  again 
sent  to  France  to  co-operate  with  Chancellor 
Livingston  in  obtaining  the  vast  territory 
then  known  as  the  province  of  Louisiana, 
which  h'rance  had  but  shortly  belore  obtainetl 
from  Spain.  'I'heir  united  c'ffoits  were  suc- 
cessful. I'or  the  comiiaratively  small  sum  of 
fifteen  millions  of  dollars,  the  entire  territory 


UB^ARY 
OF  THE 
JmVERSITY  OF 


JOHN  QUINCY  ADAMS. 


presii)e:nTS  oe  the  ignited  states. 


45 


of  Orleans  and  district  of  Louisiana  were 
added  to  the  United  States.  This  was  prob- 
ably the  largest  transfer  of  real  estate  which 
was  ever  made  in  all  the  history  of  the  world. 

From  France  Mr.»Monroe  went  to  England 
to  obtain  from  that  country  some  recognition 
of  oiir  rights  as  neutrals,  and  to  remonstrate 
against  those  odious  impressments  of  our  sea- 
men. But  England  was  unrelenting.  He 
again  returned  to  England  on  the  same  mis- 
sion, but  could  receive  no  redress.  He  returned 
to  his  home  and  was  again  chosen  governor  of 
Virginia.  This  he  soon  resigned  to  accept  the 
position  of  secretary  of  state  under  Madison. 
While  in  this  ofhce  war  with  England  was  de- 
clared, the  secretary  of  war  resigned,  and  dur- 
ing those  trying  times  the  duties  of  the  war  de- 
partment were  also  put  upon  him.  He  was 
truly  the  armor-bearer  of  President  Madison, 
and  the  most  efficient  business  man  in  his  cab- 
inet. Upon  the  return  of  peace  he  resigned 
the  department  of  war,  but  continued  in  the  of- 
fice of  secretary  of  state  until  the  expiration  of 
Mr.  Madison’s  administration.  At  the  election 
held  the  previous  autumn  Mr.  Monroe  had  been 
chosen  president  with  but  little  opposition,  and 
upon  March  4,  1817,  was  inaugurated.  Eour 
years  later  he  was  elected  for  a second  term. 

Among  the  important  measures  of  his  presi- 
dency were  the  cession  of  P'lorida  to  the  United 
States;  the  Missouri  compromise,  and  the 
“Monroe  doctrine.”  This  famous  “Monroe 
doctrine”  was  enunciated  by  him  in  1823.  At 
that  time  the  United  States  had  recognized 
the  independence  of  the  South  American 
states,  and  did  not  wish  to  have  European 
powers  longer  attempt  to  subdue  portions  of 
the  American  continent.  The  doctrine  is  as 
follows;  “That  we  should  consider  any  at- 
tempt on  the  part  of  European  powers  to  ex- 
tend their  system  to  any  portion  of  this  hemi- 
sphere as  dangerous  to  our  peace  and  safety,” 
and  “that  we  could  not  view  any  interposi- 


tion for  the  purpose  of  oppressing  or  controll- 
ing American  governments  or  ])rovinces  in  any 
other  light  than  as  a manifestation  by  Euro- 
pean powers  of  an  unfriendly  disposition  to- 
ward the  United  States.”  This  doctrine  imme- 
diately affected  the  course  of  foreign  govern- 
ments, and  has  become  the  approved  senti- 
ment of  the  United  States. 

At  the  end  of  his  second  term  Mr.  Monroe 
retired  to  his  home  in  Virgiiua,  where  he  lived 
until  1830,  when  he  went  to  New  York  to  live 
with  his  son-in-law.  In  that  city  he  died  on 
the  4th  of  July,  1831. 


OHN  QUINCY  ADAMS,  the  sixth 
president  of  the  United  States,  was 
born  ill  Quincy,  Mass.,  on  the  i ith  of 
July,  1767.  His  mother,  a woman  of 
exalted  worth,  watched  over  his  childhood 
during  the  almost  constant  absence  of  his 
father. 

When  but  eleven  years  old  he  took  a tear- 
ful adieu  of  his  mother,  to  sail  with  his  father 
for  Europe,  through  a fleet  of  hostile  British 
cruisers.  The  bright,  animated  boy  spent  a 
year  and  a half  in  Paris,  where  his  father  was 
associated  with  P'ranklin  and  Lee  as  minister 
plenipotentiary.  His  intelligence  attracted  the 
notice  of  these  distinguished  men,  and  he  re- 
ceived from  them  flattering  marks  of  attention. 

Mr.  John  Adams  had  scarcely  returned  to 
this  country,  in  1779,  ere  he  was  again  sent 
abroad.  Again  John  Quincy  accompanied  his 
father.  At  Paris  he  applied  himself  with  great 
diligence,  for  six  months,  to  study;  then  accom- 
panied his  father  to  Holland,  where  he  entered 
first  a school  in  Amsterdam,  then  the  univer- 
sity at  Leyden.  About  a year  from  this  time, 
in  1781,  when  the  manly  boy  was  but  fourteen 
years  of  age,  he  was  selected  by  Mr.  Dana, 
our  minister  to  the  Russian  court,  as  his  pri- 
vate secretary. 


PRESIDENTS  OF  THE  UNITED  STATES. 


4() 


In  this  school  of  incessant  labor  and  of  en- 
nobling' culture  he  spent  fourteen  months,  and 
then  returned  to  Holland  through  Sweden, 
Denmark,  Hamburg  and  Bremen.  This  long 
journey  he  took  alone,  in  the  winter,  when  in 
his  si.xteenth  year.  Again  he  resumed  his 
studies,  under  a private  tutor,  at  Hague. 
Thence,  in  the  spring  of  1782,  he  accompa- 
nied his  father  to  Paris,  traveling  leisurely,  and 
examining  architectural  remains,  galleries  of 
paintings  and  all  renowned  works  of  art.  At 
Paris  he  again  became  associated  with  the 
most  illustrious  men  of  all  lands  in  the  con- 
templations of  the  loftiest  temporal  themes 
which  can  engross  the  human  mind.  After  a 
short  visit  to  England  he  returned  to  Paris, 
and  consecrated  all  his  energies  to  study  until 
May,  1785,  when  he  returned  to  America. 

After  leaving  Harvard  college  at  the  age 
of  twenty,  he  studied  law  for  three  years.  In 
June,  1794,  being  then  but  twenty-seven  years 
of  age,  he  was  appointed,  by  Washington,  res- 
ident minister  at  the  Netherlands.  Sailing 
from  Boston  in  July,  he  reached  London  in 
October,  where  he  was  immediately  admitted 
to  the  deliberations  of  Messrs.  Jay  and  Pinck- 
ney, assisting  them  in  negotiating  a commer- 
cial treaty  with  Great  Britain.  After  thus 
spending  a fortnight  in  London,  he  proceeded 
to  the  Hague. 

In  July,  1797,  he  left  the  Hague  to  go  to 
Portugal  as  minister  plenipotentiai'y.  On  his 
way  to  Portugal,  upon  arriving  in  London,  he 
met  with  despatches  directing  him  to  the  court 
of  Berlin,  but  requesting  him  to  remain  in 
London  until  he  should  receive  his  instruc- 
tions. While  waiting  he  was  married  to  an 
American  lady  to  whom  he  had  been  previ- 
ously engaged  — Miss  Louisa  Catherine  John- 
son, daughter  of  Mr.  Joshua  Johnson,  Ameri- 
can consid  in  London. 

He  reached  Berlin  with  his  wife  in  Novem- 
ber, 1797,  where  he  remained  until  July, 


1799,  when,  having  fulfilled  all  the  purposes  of 
his  mission,  he  solicited  his  recall.  Soon  after 
his  return,  in  1802,  he  was  chosen  to  the  sen- 
ate of  Massachusetts  from  Boston,  and  then 
was  elected  senator  of  tjie  United  States  for 
six  years,  from  the  4th  of  March,  1804.  His 
reputation,  his  ability  and  his  experience, 
placed  him  immediately  among  the  most  prom- 
inent and  influential  members  of  that  body. 
Especially  did  he  sustain  the  government  in  its 
measures  of  resistance  to  the  encroachments 
of  England,  destroying  our  commerce  and  in- 
sulting our  flag. 

In  1809,  Madison  succeeded  Jefferson  in 
the  presidential  chair,  and  he  immediately 
nominated  John  Quincy  Adams  minister  to  St. 
Petersburg.  Resigning  his  professorship  in 
Harvard  college,  he  embarked  at  Boston,  in 
August,  1809.  While  in  Russia,  Mr.  Adams 
was  an  intense  student.  He  devoted  his  at- 
tention to  the  language  and  history  of  Russia; 
to  the  Chinese  trade;  to  the  European  system 
of  weights,  measures,  and  coins;  to  the 
climate  and  astronomical  observations;  while 
he  kept  up  a familiar  acquaintance  with  the 
Greek  and  Latin  classics.  All  through  life  the 
Bible  constituted  an  important  part  of  bis 
studies.  It  was  his  rule  to  read  five  chapters 
every  day. 

On  the  4th  of  March,  1817,  Mr.  Monroe 
took  the  presidential  chair,  and  immediately 
appointed  Mr.  y\dams  secretary  of  state. 
Taking  leave  of  his  friends  in  public  and  pri- 
vate life  in  Europe,  he  sailed  in  June,  1819, 
for  the  United  States.  On  the  1 8th  of  August, 
he  again  crossed  the  threshold  of  his  home  in 
Quincy.  During  the  eight  years  of  Mr.  Mon- 
roe’s administration,  Mr.  Adams  continued 
secretary  of  state. 

Some  time  before  the  close  of  Mi.  M^ 
roe's  second  term  of  office,  new  candidates 
began  to  be  presented  for  the  j)residency. 
The  friends  of  Mr.  Adams  brought  forwanl 


ANDREW  JACKSON 


PRESIDENTS  OF  THE  UNITED  STA'I'ES. 


40 


his  name.  It  was  an  exciting  campaign. 
Party  spirit  was  never  more  bitter.  Two 
hundred  and  sixty  electoral  votes  were  cast. 
Andrew  Jackson  received  ninety-nine;  John 
Quincy  Adams,  eighty-four;  William  H.  Craw- 
ford, forty-one;  Henry  Clay,  thirty-seven. 
As  there  was  no  choice  by  the  people,  the 
question  went  to  the  house  of  representatives. 
Mr.  Clay  gave  the  vote  of  Kentucky  to  Mr. 
Adams,  and  he  was  elected. 

Mr,  Adams  was,  to  a very  remarkable  de- 
gree, abstemious  and  temperate  in  his  habits; 
always  rising  early,  and  taking  much  exercise. 
When  at  his  home  in  Quincy,  he  has  been 
known  to  walk,  before  breakfast,  seven  miles 
to  Boston.  In  Washington,  it  was  said  that 
he  was  the  first  man  up  in  the  city,  lighting 
his  own  fire  and  applying  himself  to  work  in 
his  library  often  long  before  dawn. 

On  the  4th  of  March,  1829,  Mr.  Adams 
retired  from  the  presidency,  and  was  suceeded 
by  Andrew  Jackson.  John  C.  Calhoun  was 
elected  vice  president.  The  slavery  question 
now  began  to  assume  portentous  magnitude. 
Mr.  Adams  returned  to  Quincy,  and  to  his 
studies,  which  he  pursued  with  unabated  zeal. 
But  he  was  not  long  permitted  to  remain  in 
retirement.  In  November,  1830,  he  was 
elected  representative  to  congress.  For  sev- 
enteen years,  until  his  death,  he  occupied  the 
post  as  representative,  ever  ready  to  do  brave 
battle  for  freedom,  and  winning  the  title  of 
“the  old  man  eloquent.”  Upon  taking  his 
seat  in  the  house,  he  announced  that  he  should 
hold  himself  bound  to  no  party.  He  was 
usually  the  first  in  his  place  in  the  morning, 
and  the  last  to  leave  his  seat  in  the  evening. 
Not  a measure  could  be  brought  forward  and 
escape  his  scrutiny.  The  battle  which  Mr. 
Adams  fought  almost  singly,  against  the 
proslavery  party  in  the  government,  was  sub- 
lime in  its  moral  daring  and  heroism.  For 
persisting  in  presenting  petitions  for  the  aboli- 


tion of  slavery,  he  was  threatened  with  indict- 
ment by  the  grand  jury,  with  expulsion  from 
the  house,  and  also  with  assassination,  but 
no  threats  could  intimidate  him  and  his  final 
triumph  was  complete. 

On  the  2 1st  of  February,  1848,  he  rose  on 
the  floor  of  congress,  with  a paper  in  his  hand, 
to  address  the  speaker.  Suddenly  he  fell, 
again  stricken  by  paralysis,  and  was  caught  in 
the  arms  of  those  around  him.  For  a time  he 
was  senseless,  as  he  was  conveyed  to  the 
sofa  in  the  rotunda.  With  reviving  conscious- 
ness, he  opened  his  eyes,  looked  calmly  around 
and  said:  “This  is  the  end  of  earth;”  then, 
after  a moment’s  pause,  he  added,  “I  am 
content.  ” These  were  the  last  words  of  the  sixth 
president. 

HNDREW  JACKSON,  the  seventh 
president  of  the  United  States,  was 
born  in  Waxhaw  settlement,  N.  C. , 
March  15,  1767,  a few  days  after  his 
father’s  death.  His  parents  were  from  Ireland, 
and  took  up  their  abode  in  Waxhaw  settle- 
ment, where  they  lived  in  deepest  poverty. 

Andrew,  or  Andy,  as  he  was  universally 
called,  grew  up  a very  rough,  rude,  turbulent 
boy.  His  features  were  coarse,  his  form  un- 
gainly; and  there  was  but  very  little  in  his  char- 
acter, made  visible,  which  was  attractive. 

When  oidy  thirteen  years  old  he  joined  the 
volunteers  of  Carolina  against  the  British  in- 
vasion. In  1781,  he  and  his  brother  Robert 
were  captured  and  imprisoned  for  a time  at 
Camden.  A British  officer  ordered  him  to 
brush  his  mud-spattered  boots.  ‘ ‘ I am  a 
prisoner  of  war,  not  your  servant,”  was  the 
reply  of  the  dauntless  boy.  The  brute  drew 
his  sword,  and  aimed  a desperate  blow  at  the 
head  of  the  helpless  young  prisoner.  Andrew 
raised  his  hand,  and  thus  recived  two  fearful 
gashes^ — one  on  the  hand  and  the  other  upon 
the  head.  The  officer  then  turned  to  his 


PRESIDEN'I'S  OE  THE  UNITED  STATES. 


brother  Robert  with  the  same  demand.  He 
also  refused,  and  received  a blow  from  the 
keen-edged  saber,  which  quite  disabled  him, 
and  which  probably  soon  after  caused  his 
death.  They  suffered  much  other  ill-treat- 
ment, and  were  finally  stricken  with  the  small- 
po.\.  Their  mother  was  successful  in  obtain- 
ing their  exchange,  and  took  her  sick  boys 
home.  After  a long  illness  Andrew  recovered, 
and  the  death  of  his  mother  soon  left  him  en- 
tirely friendless. 

Andrew  supported  himself  in  various  ways, 
such  as  working  at  the  saddler’s  trade,  teaching 
school  and  clerking  in  a general  store,  until 
1784,  when  he  entered  a law  office  at  Salis- 
bury, N.  C.  In  1788,  he  was  appointed  solicit- 
or for  the  western  district  of  North  Carolina, 
of  which  Tennessee  was  then  apart.  This  in- 
volved many  long  and  tedious  journeys  amid 
dangers  of  every  kind,  but  Andrew  Jackson 
never  knew  fear. 

In  1791,  Jackson  was  married  to  a woman 
who  supposed  herself  divorced  from  her  former 
husband.  Great  was  the  surprise  of  both 
parties,  two  years  later,  to  find  that  the  con- 
ditions of  the  divorce  had  just  been  definitely 
settled  by  the  first  husband.  The  marriage 
ceremony  was  performed  a second  time,  but 
the  occurrence  was  often  used  by  his  enemies 
to  bring  Mr.  Jackson  into  disfavor.  During 
these  years  he  worked  hard  at  his  profession, 
and  fre<]uently  had  one  or  more  duels  on  hand, 
one  of  which,  when  he  killed  Dickinson,  was 
especially  disgraceful. 

In  January,  1796,  the  territory  of  Tennes- 
see then  containing  nearly  80,000  inhabitants, 
the  people  met  in  convention  at  Knoxville  to 
frame  a constitution.  Five  were  sent  from  each 
of  the  eleven  counties.  Andrew  Jackson  was 
one  of  the  delegates.  The  new  state  was  en- 
titled to  but  one  member  in  tbe  national  house 
of  representatives.  Andrew  Jackson  was 
chosen  that  member.  Mounting  his  horse  he 


rode  to  Philadelphia,  where  congress  then 
held  its  sessions — a distance  of  about  800 
miles. 

Jackson  was  an  earnest  advocate  of  the 
democratic  party.  Jefferson  was  his  idol.  He 
admired  Bonaparte,  loved  France  and  hated 
England.  As  Jackson  took  his  seat,  Gen. 
Washington,  whose  second  term  of  office  was 
then  expiring,  delivered  his  last  speech  to 
congress.  A committee  drew  up  a compli- 
mentary address  in  reply.  Andrew  Jackson 
did  not  approve  of  the  address,  and  was  one 
of  the  twelve  who  voted  against  it.  He  was 
not  willing  to  say  that  Gen.  Washington’s 
administration  had  been  “wise,  firm  and 
patriotic.” 

Jackson  was  elected  to  the  United  States 
senate  in  1797,  but  soon  resigned.  Soon  after 
he  was  chosen  judge  of  the  supreme  court  of 
his  state,  which  position  he,  held  for  six  years. 

When  the  war  of  1812  with  Great  Britain 
commenced,  Madison  occupied  the  presidential 
chair.  Aaron  Burr  sent  word  to  the  president 
that  there  was  an  unknown  man  in  the  west, 
Andrew  Jabkson,  who  would  do  credit  to  a 
commission  il  one  were  conferred  upon  him. 
Just  at  that  time  Gen.  Jackson  offered  his 
services  and  those  of  2,500  volunteers.  His 
offer  was  accepted,  and  the  troops  were  as.sem- 
bled  at  Nashville.  As  the  British  were  hourly 
expected  to  make  an  attack  upon  New  Orleans, 
where  Gen.  Wilkinson  was  in  command,  he 
was  ordered  to  descend  the  river  with  1,500 
troops  to  aid  Wilkinson.  The  expedition 
reached  Natchez,  and  after  a delay  of  several 
weeks  there,  the  men  were  ordered  back  to 
their  homes.  But  the  energy  Gen.  Jackson 
had  displayed,  and  his  entire  devotion  to  the 
comfort  of  his  soldiers,  won  him  golden 
oifinions;  and  he  became  the  most  po|)ularman 
in  the  state.  It  was  in  this  expedition  that  his 
toughness  gave  him  the  nickname  of  ‘‘Old 
Hickory.  ” 


MARTIN  VAN  BUREN. 


PRESIDENTS  OF  THE  UNITED  STATES. 


Soon  after  this,  while  attempting  to  horse- 
whip Col.  Thomas  H.  Benton,  for  a remark 
that  gentleman  made  about  his  taking  a part 
as  second  in  a duel,  in  which  a younger  brother 
of  Benton’s  was  engaged,  he  received  two 
severe  pistol  wounds.  While  he  was  lingering 
upon  a bed  of  suffering  news  came  that  the 
Indians,  who  had  combined  under  Tecumseh 
from  Florida  to  the  lakes,  to  e.xterminate  the 
white  settlers,  were  committing  the  most 
awful  ravages.  Decisive  action  became  neces- 
sary. Gen.  Jackson,  with  his  fractured  bone 
just  beginning  to  heal,  his  arm  in  a sling,  and 
unable  to  mount  his  horse  without  assistance, 
gave  his  amazing  energies  to  the  raising  of  an 
army  to  rendevous  at  Fayettesville,  Ala. 

The  Creek  Indians  had  established  a strong 
fort  on  one  of  the  bends  of  the  Tallapoosa 
river,  near  the  center  of  Alabama,  about  fifty 
miles  below  Fort  Strother.  With  an  army  of 
2,000  men,  Gen.  Jackson  traversed  the  path- 
less wilderness  in  a march  of  eleven  days.  He 
reached  their  fort,  called  Tohopeka  or  Horse- 
shoe, on  the  27th  of  March,  1814.  The  bend 
of  the  river  inclosed  100  acres  of  tangled 
forest  and  wild  ravine.  Across  the  narrow 
neck  the  Indians  had  constructed  a formidable 
breastwork  of  logs  and  brush.  Here  900  war- 
riors, with  an  ample  supply  of  arms,  were  as- 
sembled. The  fort  was  stormed.  The  fight 
was  utterly  desperate.  Not  an  Indian  would 
accept  of  quarter.  When  bleeding  and  dying, 
they  would  fight  those  who  endeavored  to  spare 
their  lives.  From  ten  in  the  morning  until 
dark,  the  battle  raged.  The  carnage  was  awful 
and  revolting.  Some  threw  themselves  into 
the  river;  but  the  unerring  bullet  struck  their 
heads  as  they  swam.  Nearly  every  one  of  the 
900  warriors  was  killed.  This  closing  of  the 
Creek  war  enabled  us  to  concentrate  all  our 
militia  upon  the  British,  who  were  the  allies  of 
the  Indians.  No  man  of  less  resolute  will  than 
Gen.  Jackson  could  have  conducted  this  Indian 


m 


campaign  to  so  successful  an  issue.  Immedi- 
ately he  was  appointed  major-general. 

Late  in  August,  with  an  army  of  2,000 
men,  on  a rushing  march,  Gen.  Jackson  went 
to  Mobile.  A British  fleet  came  from  Pensa- 
cola, landed  a force  upon  the  beach,  anchored 
near  the  little  fort,  and  from  both  ship  and 
shore  commenced  a furious  assault.  The  battle 
was  long  and  doubtful.  At  length  one  of  the 
ships  was  blown  up  and  the  rest  retired. 

Garrisoning  Mobile,  Jackson  moved  his 
troops  to  New  Orleans,  and  the  battle  of  New 
Orleans,  which  soon  ensued,  was  in  reality  a 
very  arduous  campaign.  Here  his  troops, 
which  numbered  about  4,000  men,  won  a 
signal  victory  over  the  British  army  of  about 
9,000.  His  loss  was  but  thirteen,  while  the 
loss  of  the  British  was  2,600. 

The  name  of  Gen.  Jackson  soon  began  to 
be  mentioned  in  connection  with  the  presi- 
dency, but,  in  1824,  he  was  defeated  by  Mr. 
Adams.  He  was,  however,  successful  in  the 
election  of  1828,  and  was  re-elected  for  a 
second  term  in  1832.  In  1829,  he  met  with 
the  most  terrible  affliction  of  his  life  m the 
death  of  his  wife.  At  the  expiration  of  his  two 
terms  of  office  he  retired  to  the  Hermitage, 
where  he  died  June  8,  1845.  The  last  years 
of  Jackson’s  life  were  that  of  a devoted  Chris- 
tian man. 


ARTIN  VAN  BUREN,  the  eighth 
president  of  the  United  States,  was 
born  at  Kinderhook,  N.  Y.,  Decem- 
ber 5,  1782.  He  died  at  the  same 
place,  July  24,  1862,  and  his  body  rests  in  the 
cemetery  at  Kinderhook.  Above  it  is  a plain 
granite  shaft  fifteen  feet  high,  bearing  a sim- 
ple inscription  about  half  way  up  on  the  face. 
The  lot  is  unfenced,  unbordered  or  unbounded 
by  shrub  or  flower.  His  ancestors,  as  his 
name  indicates,  were  of  Dutch  origin,  and 


54 


PRESIDENTS  OF  THE  UNITED  STATES. 


were  among  the  earliest  emigrants  from  Hol- 
land to  the  banks  of  the  Hudson.  His  father 
was  a farmer,  residing  in  the  old  town  of 
Kinderhook.  His  mother,  also  of  Dutch 
lineage,  was  a woman  of  superior  intelligence 
and  exemplary  piety.  At  the  age  of  fourteen, 
he  had  hnished  his  academic  studies  in  his  na- 
tive village,  and  commenced  the  study  of  law. 
As  he  had  not  a collegiate  education  seven 
years  of  study  in  a law  office  were  required  of 
liim  before  he  could  be  admitted  to  the  bar. 
Inspired  with  a lofty  ambition,  and  conscious 
of  his  powers,  he  pursued  his  studies  with  in- 
defatigable industry.  After  spending  six  years 
in  an  office  in  his  native  village,  he  went  to 
the  city  of  New  York,  and  prosecuted  his 
studies  for  the  seventh  year. 

In  1803,  Van  Buren,  then  twenty-one 
years  of  age,  commenced  the  practice  of  law 
in  his  native  village.  The  great  conflict  be- 
tween the  federal  and  republican  parties  was 
then  at  its  height.  Van  Buren  was  in  cordial 
sympathy  with  Jefferson,  and  earnestly  and 
eloquently  espoused  the  cause  of  state  rights; 
though  at  that  time  the  federal  party  held  the 
supremacy  both  in  his  town  and  state.  His 
success  and  increasing  reputation  led  him,  after 
six  years  of  practice,  to  remove  to  Hudson, 
the  county  seat  of  his  county.  Here  he  spent 
seven  years,  constantly  gaining  strength  by 
contending  in  the  courts  with  some  of  the 
ablest  men  who  have  adorned  the  bar  of  his 
state. 

just  before  leaving  Kinderhook  for  Hudson, 
Mr.  VanBuren  married  a lady  alike  distinguished 
for  beauty  and  accomplishments.  After 
twelve  short  years  she  sank  into  the  grave, 
the  victim  of  consumption,  leaving  her  hus- 
band and  four  sons  to  weep  over  her  loss.  In 
1812,  when  thirty  years  of  age,  he  was  chosen 
to  the  state  senate,  and  gave  his  strenuous 
support  to  Mr.  Madison’s  administration.  In 
1815,  he  was  appointed  attorney-general,  and 


the  next  year  moved  to  Albany,  the  capital  of 
the  state. 

While  he  was  acknowledged  as  one  of  the 
most  prominent  leaders  of  the  democratic 
party,  he  had  the  moral  courage  to  avow  that 
true  democracy  did  not  require  that  “univer- 
sal suffrage”  which  admits  the  vile,  the  de- 
graded, the  ignorant,  to  the  right  of  governing 
the  state.  In  true  consistency  with  his  demo- 
cratic principles,  he  contended  that,  while 
the  path  leading  to  the  privilege  of  voting 
should  be  open  to  every  man  without  distinc- 
tion, no  one  should  be  invested  with  that 
sacred  prerogative,  unless  he  were  in  some 
degree  qualified  for  it  by  intelligence,  virtue 
and  some  property  interests  in  the  welfare  of 
the  state. 

In  1821  he  was  elected  a member  of  the 
United  States  senate,  and  in  the  same  year  he 
took  a seat  in  the  convention  to  revise  the 
constitution  of  his  native  state.  His  course  in 
this  convention  secured  the  approval  of  men 
of  all  parties.  In  the  senate  of  the  United 
States,  he  rose  at  once  to  a conspicuous  posi- 
tion as  an  active  and  useful  legislator.  In 
1827,  John  Quincy  Adams  being  then  in  the 
presidential  chair,  Mr.  Van  Buren  was  re- 
elected to  the  senate.  He  had  been,  from  the 
beginning,  a determined  opposer  to  the  ad- 
ministration, adopting  the  state  rights  view  in 
opposition  to  what  was  deemed  the  federal 
proclivities  of  Mr.  Adams. 

Soon  after  this,  in  1828,  he  was  chosen 
governor  of  the  state  of  New  York,  and  ac- 
cordingly resigned  his  seat  in  the  senate. 
Probably  no  one  in  the  United  States  con- 
tributed so  much  towards  ejecting  John  Q. 
Adams  from  the  presidential  chair,  and  placing 
in  it  Andrew  Jackson,  as  did  Martin  Van 
Buren.  Whether  entitled  to  the  reputation 
or  not,  he  certainly  was  regarded  throughout 
the  United  States  as  one  of  the  most  skillful, 
sagacious  and  cunning  politicians.  It  was  sup- 


WILLIAM  HENRY  HARRISON 


PRESIDENTS  OF  THE  UNITED  STATES. 


57 


posed  that  no  one  knew  so  well  as  he  how  to 
touch  the  secret  springs  of  action;  how  to  pull 
all  the  wires  to  put  his  machinery  in  motion; 
and  how  to  organize  a political  army  which 
would,  secretly  and  stealthily,  accomplish  the 
most  gigantic  results.  By  these  powers  it  is 
said  that  he  outwitted  Mr.  Adams,  Mr.  Clay, 
Mr.  Webster,  and  secured  results  which  few 
thought  then  could  be  accomplished. 

When  Andrew  Jackson  was  elected  presi- 
dent, he  appointed  Mr.  Van  Buren  secretary 
of  state.  This  position  he  resigned  in  1831, 
and  was  immediately  appointed  minister  to 
England,  where  he  went  the  same  autumn. 
The  senate,  however,  when  it  met,  refused  to 
ratify  the  nomination,  and  he  returned  home, 
apparently  untroubled;  was  nominated  vice 
president  in  the  place  of  Calhoun,  at  the  re- 
election  of  President  Jackson;  and  with  smiles 
for  all  and  frowns  for  none,  he  took  his  place 
at  the  head  of  that  senate  which  had  refused 
to  confirm  his  nomination  as  ambassador.  His 
rejection  by  the  senate  aroused  all  the  zeal 
of  President  Jackson  in  behalf  of  his  repudiated 
favorite;  and  this,  probably  more  than  any 
other  cause,  secured  his  elevation  to  the  chair 
of  the  chief  executive.  On  the  20th  of  May, 
1836,  Van  Buren  received  the  democratic  nom- 
ination to  succeed  Gen.  Jackson  as  president 
of  the  United  States.  He  was  elected  by  a 
handsome  majority,  to  the  delight  of  the  retir- 
ing president. 

His  administration  was  filled  with  exciting 
events.  The  insurrection  in  Canada,  which 
threatened  to  involve  this  country  in  war  with 
England,  the  agitation  of  the  slavery  question, 
and  finally  the  great  commercial  panic  which 
spread  over  the  country,  all  were  trials  to  his 
wisdom.  The  financial  distress  was  attributed 
to  the  management  of  the  democratic  party, 
and  brought  the  president  into  such  disfavor 
that  he  failed  of  re-election.  With  the  ex- 
ception of  being  nominated  for  the  presidency 


by  the  free  soil  democrats,  in  1848,  Mr.  Van 
Buren  lived  quietly  upon  his  estate  until  his 
death. 

He  had  ever  been  a prudent  man,  of  frugal 
habits,  and,  living  within  his  income,  had  now 
fortunately  a competency  for  his  declining 
years.  It  was  on  the  4th  of  March,  1841, 
that  Mr.  Van  Buren  retired  from  the  presidency. 
From  his  fine  estate  at  Lindenwald,  he  still 
exerted  a powerful  influence  upon  the  politics 
of  the  country.  From  this  time  until  his  death, 
on  the  24th  of  July,  1862,  at  the  age  of  eighty 
years,  he  resided  at  Lindenwald,  a gentleman 
of  leisure,  of  culture  and  of  wealth;  enjoying 
in  a healthy  old  age,  probably  far  more  happi- 
ness than  he  had  before  experienced  amid  the 
stormy  scenes  of  his  active  life. 


ILLIAM  HENRY  HARRISON,  the 
ninth  president  of  the  United 
States;  was  born  at  Berkeley,  Va. , 
Feb.  9,  1773.  His  father,  Benja- 
min Harrison,  was  in  comparatively  opulent 
circumstances,  and  was  one  of  the  most  dis- 
tinguished men  of  his  day.  He  was  an  inti- 
mate friend  of  George  Washington,  was  early 
elected  a member  of  the  continental  congress, 
and  was  conspicuous  among  the  patriots  of 
Virginia  in  resisting  the  encroachments  of  the 
British  crown.  In  the  celebrated  congress  of 
1775,  Benjamin  Harrison  and  John  Hancock 
were  both  candidates  for  the  office  of  speaker. 

Mr.  Harrison  was  subsequently  chosen 
governor  of  Virginia,  and  was  twice  re-elected. 

Having  received  a thorough  common- 
school  education,  William  Henry  Harrison 
entered  Hampden  Sidney  college,  where  he 
graduated  with  honor  soon  after  the  death  of 
his  father.  He  then  repaired  to  Philadelphia 
to  study  medicine  under  the  instructions  of 
Dr.  Rush  and  the  guardianship  of  Robert 


58 


PRESIDENTS  OF  THE  UNITED  STATES. 


Morris,  both  of  whom  were,  with  his  father, 
signers  of  the  Declaration  of  Independence. 

Upon  the  outbreak  of  the  Indian  troubles, 
and  notwithstanding  the  remonstrances  of  his 
friends,  he  abandoned  his  medical  studies  and 
entered  the  army,  having  obtained  a commis- 
sion of  ensign  from  President  Washington.  He 
was  then  but  nineteen  years  old.  P'rom  that 
time  he  passed  gradually  upward  in  rank  until 
he  became  aid  to  Gen.  Wayne,  after  whose 
death  he  resigned  his  commission.  He  was 
then  appointed  secretary  of  the  Northwestern 
territory.  This  territory  was  then  entitled  to 
but  one  member  in  congress,  and  Capt.  Harri- 
son was  chosen  to  fill  that  position. 

In  the  spring  of  1800  the  Northwestern 
territory  was  divided  by  congress  into  two 
portions.  The  eastern  portion,  comprising 
the  region  now  embraced  in  the  state  of  Ohio, 
was  called  “The  Territory  northwest  of  the 
Ohio.”  The  western  portion,  which  included 
what  is  now  called  Indiana,  Illinois,  and  Wis- 
consin, was  called  the  “Indiana  territory.” 
William  Henry  Harrison,  then  twenty-seven 
years  of  age,  was  appointed,  by  John  Adams, 
governor  of  the  Indiana  territory,  and  imme- 
diately after,  also  governor  of  upper  Louisi- 
ana. He  was  thus  ruler  over  almost  as 
extensive  a realm  as  any  sovereign  upon  the 
globe.  He  was  superintendent  of  Indian  af- 
fairs, and  was  invested  with  powers  nearly 
dictatorial  over  the  now  rapidly  increasing 
white  population.  The  ability  and  fidelity 
with  which  he  discharged  these  responsible 
duties  may  be  inferred  from  the  fact  that  he 
was  four  times  appointed  to  this  office — first 
by  John  Adams,  twice  by  Thomas  Jefferson 
and  afterward  by  President  Madison. 

When  he  began  his  administration  there 
were  but  three  white  settlements  in  that  al- 
most boundless  region,  now  crowded  with 
cities  and  resounding  with  all  the  tumult  of 
wealth  and  traffic.  One  of  these  settlements 


was  on  the  Ohio,  nearly  opposite  Louisville; 
one  at  Vincennes,  on  the  Wabash,  and  the 
third  a P’rench  settlement. 

The  vast  wilderness  over  which  Gov.  Har- 
rison reigned  was  filled  with  many  tribes  of 
Indians.  About  the  year  1806,  two  extraordi- 
nary men,  twin  brothers,  of  the  Shawnee 
tribe,  rose  among  them.  One  of  these  was 
called  Tecumseh,  or  “The  Crouching  Pan- 
ther;” the  other,  Olliwacheca,  or  “The  Pro- 
phet. ” Tecumseh  was  not  only  an  Indian 
warrior,  but  a man  of  great  sagacity,  far- 
reaching  foresight  and  indomitable  persever- 
ance in  any  enterprise  in  which  he  might  en- 
gage. He  was  inspired  with  the  highest 
enthusiasm,  and  had  long  regarded  with  dread 
and  with  hatred  the  encroachments  of  the 
whites  upon  the  hunting  grounds  of  his  fath- 
ers. His  brother,  the  Prophet,  was  an  orator, 
who  could  sway  the  feelings  of  the  untutored 
Indian  as  the  gale  tossed  the  tree-tops  beneath 
which  they  dwelt. 

Gov.  Harrison  made  many  attempts  to 
conciliate  the  Indians,  but  at  last  the  war 
came,  and  at  Tippecanoe  the  Indians  were 
routed  with  great  slaughter.  October  28, 
1812,  his  army  began  its  march.  When  near 
the  Prophet’s  town  three  Indians  of  rank  made 
their  appearance  and  inquired  why  Gov.  Har- 
rison was  approaching  them  in  so  hostile  an 
attitude.  After  a short  conference,  arrange- 
ments were  made  for  a meeting  the  next  day, 
to  agree  upon  terms  of  peace.  But  Gov.  Har- 
rison was  too  well  acquainted  with  the  Indian 
character  to  be  deceived  by  such  protestations. 
Selecting  a favorable  spot  for  his  night’s  en- 
campment, he  took  every  precaution  against 
surprise.  flis  troops  were  posted  in  a hollow 
square,  and  slept  upon  their  arms.  The 
troops  threw  themselves  upon  the  ground  for 
rest;  but  every  man  had  his  accoutrements 
on,  his  loaded  musket  by  his  side,  and  his 
bayonet  fixed.  The  wakeful  governor,  between 


PRESIDENTS  OF  THE  UNITED  STATES. 


59 


three  and  four  o’clock  in  the  morning,  had 
risen  and  was  sitting  in  conversation  with  his 
aids  by  the  embers  of  a waning  fire.  It  was  a 
chill,  cloudy  morning  with  a drizzling  rain. 
In  the  darkness,  the  Indians  had  crept  as  near 
as  possible,  and  just  then,  with  a savage  yell, 
rushed  with  all  the  desperation  which  supersti- 
tion and  passion  most  highly  inflamed  could 
give,  upon  the  left  flank  of  the  little  army. 
The  savages  had  been  amply  provided  with 
guns  and  ammunition  by  the  English.  Their 
war-whoop  was  accompanied  by  a shower  of 
bullets.  The  camp-fires  were  instantly  extin- 
guished, as  the  light  aided  the  Indians  in  their 
aim.  With  hideous  yells,  the  Indian  bands 
rushed  on,  not  doubting  a speedy  and  entire 
victory.  But  Gen.  Harrison’s  troops  stood  as 
immovable  as  the  rocks  around  them  until  day 
dawned;  they  then  made  a simultaneous  charge 
with  the  bayonet,  and  swept  everything  before 
them,  and  completely  routed  the  foe.  Gov. 
Harrison  now  had  all  his  energies  tasked  to  the 
utmost.  The  British,  descending  from  the  Can- 
adas, were  of  themselves  a very  formidable 
force;  but  with  their  savage  allies,  rushing  like 
wolves  from  the  forest,  searching  out  every 
remote  farm  house,  burning,  plundering,  scalp- 
ing, torturing,  the  wide  frontier  was  plunged 
into  a state  of  consternation  which  even  the 
most  vivid  imagination  can  but  faintly  con- 
ceive. Gen.  Hull  had  made  the  ignominious 
surrender  of  his  forces  at  Detroit.  Under 
these  despairing  circumstances.  Gov.  Harrison 
was  appointed  by  President  Madison  comman- 
der-in-chief of  the  Northwestern  army,  with 
orders  to  retake  Detroit,  and  to  protect  the 
frontiers. 

Harrison  won  the  love  of  his  soldiers  by 
always  sharing  with  them  their  fatigue.  His 
whole  baggage,  while  pursuing  the  foe  up  the 
Thames,  was  carried  in  a valise;  and  his  bed- 
ding consisted  of  a single  blanket  lashed  over 
his  saddle.  Thirty-five  British  officers,  his 


prisoners  of  war,  supped  with  him  after  the  bat- 
tle. The  only  fare  he  could  give  them  was  beef 
roasted  before  the  fire,  without  bread  or  salt. 

In  i8i6,  Gen.  Harrison  was  chosen  a mem- 
ber of  the  national  house  of  representatives  to 
represent  the  district  of  Ohio.  In  congress  he 
proved  an  active  member,  and,  whenever  he 
spoke,  it  was  with  force  of  reason  and  power 
of  eloquence,  which  arrested  the  attention  of 
all  the  members. 

In  1819,  Harrison  was  elected  to  the  sen- 
ate of  Ohio;  and  in  1824,  as  one  of  the  presi- 
dential electors  of  that  state,  he  gave  his  vote 
for  Henry  Clay.  The  same  year  he  was  chosen 
to  the  United  States  senate. 

In  1836,  the  friends  of  Gen.  Harrison 
brought  him  forward  as  a candidate  for  the 
presidency  against  Van  Buren,  but  he  was  de- 
feated. At  the  close  of  Mr.  Van  Buren’s  term, 
he  was  re-nominated  by  his  party,  and  Harri- 
son was  unanimously  nominated  by  the  whigs, 
with  John  Tyler  for  the  vice  presidency.  The 
contest  was  very  animated.  Gen.  Jackson 
gave  all  his  influence  to  prevent  Harrison’s 
election;  but  his  triumph  was  signal. 

The  cabinet  which  he  formed,  with  Daniel 
Webster  at  its  head  as  secretary  of  state,  was 
one  of  the  most  brilliant  with  which  any  presi- 
dent had  ever  been  surrounded.  In  the  midst 
of  these  bright  and  joyous  prospects,  Gen. 
Harrison  was  seized  by  a pleurisy-fever,  and, 
after  a few  days  of  violent  sickness,  died  on 
the  4th  of  April;  just  one  month  after  his  inau- 
guration as  president  of  the  United  States. 

With  the  exception,  perhaps,  of  the  death 
of  George  Washington,  the  demise  of  no  presi- 
dent of  the  United  States,  down  to  this  time, 
had  created  a deeper  thrill  of  sympathy  through- 
out the  country  than  that  of  President  Harri- 
son. North  and  south,  his  obsequies  were  ob- 
served with  unaffected  sorrow,  and  men  of  all 
parties  seemed  to  forget  differences  of  opinion 
in  doing  honor  to  the  memory  of  the  dead. 


GO 


PRESIDENTS  OF  THE  UNITED  STATES. 


OHN  TYLER,  the  tenth  president  of 
the  United  States,  was  born  in  Charles 
City  county,  Va. , March  29,  1790. 

At  the  early  age  of  twelve,  John  entered 
William  and  Mary  college  and  graduated  with 
much  honor  when  but  seventeen  years  old. 
He  devoted  himself  with  great  assiduity  to  the 
study  of  law,  partly  with  his  father  and  partly 
with  Edmund  Randolph,  one  of  the  most  dis- 
tinguished lawyers  of  Virginia. 

At  nineteen  years  of  age,  he  commenced 
the  practice  of  law.  His  success  was  rapid 
and  astonishing.  It  is  said  that  three  months 
had  not  elapsed  ere  there  was  scarcely  a case 
on  the  docket  of  the  court  in  which  he  was  not 
retained.  When  but  twenty-one  years  of  age, 
he  was  almost  unanimously  elected  to  a seat  in 
the  state  legislature.  He  connected  himself 
with  the  democratic  party,  and  warmly  ad- 
vocated the  measures  of  Jefferson  and  Madison. 
For  five  successive  years  he  was  elected  to  the 
legislature,  receiving  nearly  the  unanimous 
vote  of  his  county. 

When  but  twenty-six  years  of  age,  he  was 
elected  a member  of  congress.  Here  he  acted 
earnestly  and  ably  with  the  democratic  party, 
opposing  a national  bank,  internal  improve- 
ments by  the  general  government,  a protective 
tariff,  and  advocating  a strict  construction  of 
the  constitution,  and  the  most  careful  vigilance 
over  state  rights.  His  labors  in  congress  were 
so  arduous  that  before  the  close  of  his  second 
term  he  found  it  necessary  to  resign  and  retire 
to  his  estate  in  Charles  City  county,  to  recruit 
his  health.  He,  however,  soon  after  consented 
to  take  his  seat  in  the  state  legislature,  where 
his  iniluence  was  powerful  in  promoting  public 
works  of  great  utility.  He  was  then  chosen 
by  a very  large  majority  of  votes,  governor  of 
his  native  state.  His  administration  was  sig- 
nally a successful  one,  and  his  popularity 
secured  his  re-election. 

John  Randolph,  a brilliant,  erratic,  half- 


crazed  man,  then  represented  Virginia  in  the 
senate  of  the  United  States.  A portion  of  the 
democratic  party  was  displeased  with  Mr. 
Randolph’s  wayward  course,  and  brought 
forward  John  Tyler  as  his  opponent,  and 
Tyler  was  the  victor.  In  accordance  with  his 
professions,  upon  taking  his  seat  in  the  senate, 
he  joined  the  ranks  of  the  opposition.  He 
opposed  the  tariff;  he  spoke  against  and  voted 
against  the  bank  as  unconstitutional;  he  stren- 
uously opposed  all  restrictions  upon  slavery, 
resisting  all  projects  of  internal  improvements 
by  the  general  government,  and  avowed  his 
sympathy  with  Mr.  Calhoun’s  view  of  nullifica- 
tion; he  declared  that  Gen.  Jackson,  by  his 
opposition  to  the  nullifiers,  had  abandoned  the 
principles  of  the  democratic  party.  Such  was 
Mr.  Tyler’s  record  in  congress  — a record  in 
perfect  accordance  with  the  principles  which 
he  had  always  avowed. 

Returning  to  Virginia,  he  resumed  the 
practice  of  his  profession.  There  was  a split 
in  the  democratic  party.  His  friends  still  re- 
garded him  as  a true  Jeffersonian,  gave  him  a 
dinner,  and  showered  compliments  upon  him. 
He  had  now  attained  the  age  of  forty-six. 
Soon  after  this  he  removed  to  Williamsburg, 
for  the  better  education  of  his  children;  and 
he  again  took  his  seat  in  the  legislature  of  Vir- 
ginia. 

By  the  southern  wings,  he  was  sent  to  the 
national  convention  at  Harrisburg  to  nominate 
a president  in  1839.  The  majority  of  votes 
were  given  to  Gen.  Harrison,  a genuine  whig, 
much  to  the  disappointment  of  the  south,  who 
wished  for  Henry  C'lay.  'bo  conciliate  the 
southern  wings  and  to  secure  their  vote,  the 
convention  then  nominated  John  Tyler  for 
vice  president.  Thus  it  lnn)pencd  that  a whig 
l)resident  and,  in  reality,  a democratic  vice 
president  were  chosen. 

In  1841,  Mr.  Tyler  was  inaugurated  vice 
president  of  the  United  States.  In  one  short 


JOHN  TYLER. 


library 

OF  Ti-fE 

UNIVERSITY  OF  lU.lNQI^ 


PRESIDENTS  OF  THE  UNITED  STATES. 


03 


month  from  that  time  Pres.  Harrison  died,  and 
Mr.  Tyler  thus  found  himself,  to  his  own  sur- 
prise and  that  of  the  whole  nation,  an  occu- 
pant of  the  presidential  chair.  This  was  a new 
test  of  the  stability  of  our  institutions,  as  it 
was  the  first  time  in  the  history  of  our  country 
that  such  an  event  had  occurred.  Mr.  Tyler 
was  at  home  in  Williamsburg  when  he  received 
the  unexpected  tidings  of  the  death  of  Pres. 
Harrison.  He  hastened  to  Washington,  and 
on  the  6th  of  April  was  inaugurated  to  the  high 
and  responsible  office.  Gen.  Harrison  had 
selected  a whig  cabinet.  Should  he  retain 
them,  and  thus  surround  himself  with  coun- 
selors whose  views  were  antagonistic  to  his 
own.^  or,  on  the  other  hand,  should  he  turn 
against  the  party  which  had  elected  him  and 
select  a cabinet  in  harmony  with  himself,  and 
which  would  oppose  all  those  views  which  the 
whigs  deemed  essential  to  the  public  wel- 
fare.^ This  was  his  fearful  dilemma,  and  so  he 
invited  the  cabinet  which  Pres.  Harrison  had 
selected  to  retain  their  seats. 

The  whigs  carried  through  congress  a bill 
for  the  incorporation  of  a fiscal  bank  of  the 
United  States.  The  president,  after  ten  days’ 
delay,  returned  it  with  his  veto.  He  suggested, 
however,  that  he  would  approve  of  a bill 
drawn  up  upon  such  a plan  as  he  proposed. 
Such  a bill  was  accordingly  prepared,  and 
privately  submitted  to  him.  He  gave  it  his 
approval.  It  was  passed  without  alteration, 
and  he  sent  it  back  with  his  veto.  Here  com- 
menced the  open  rupture.  It  is  said  that  Mr. 
Tyler  was  provoked  to  this  measure  by  a pub- 
lished letter  from  the  Hon.  John  M.  Botts,  a 
distinguished  Virginia  whig,  who  severely 
touched  the  pride  of  the  president. 

The  opposition  now  exultingly  received  the 
president  into  their  arms.  The  party  which 
elected  him  denounced  him  bitterly.  All  the 
members  of  his  cabinet,  excepting  Mr.  Web- 
ster, resigned.  The  whigs  of  congress,  both  the 


senate  and  the  house,  held  a meeting  and  issued 
an  address  to  the  people  of  the  United  States, 
proclaiming  that  all  political  alliances  between 
the  whigs  and  Pres.  Tyler  were  at  an  end. 

Still  the  president  attempted  to  conciliate. 
He  appointed  a new  cabinet  of  distinguished 
whigs  and  conservatives,  carefully  leaving  out 
all  strong  party  men.  Mr.  Webster  soon 
found  it  necessary  to  resign,  forced  out  by  the 
pressure  of  his  whig  friends.  Thus  the  four 
years  of  Mr.  Tylor’s  unfortunate  administra- 
tion passed  sadly  away.  More  and  more, 
however,  he  brought  himself  into  sympathy 
with  his  old  friends,  the  democrats,  until,  at 
the  close  of  his  term,  he  gave  his  whole  influ- 
ence to  the  support  of  Mr.  Polk,  the  demo- 
cratic candidate  for  his  successor. 

On  the  4th  of  March,  1845,  he  retired  from 
office,  to  the  regret  of  neither  party,  and 
prob4b].y.to  his  own  unspeakable  relief.  His 
first  wife.  Miss  Letitia  Christian,  died  in 
Washington,  in  1842;  and  in  June,  1844, 
Pres.  Tyler  was  again  married,  at  New  York,  to 
Miss  Julia  Gardiner,  a young  lady  of  many 
personal  and  intellectual  accomplishments. 

The  remainder  of  his  days  Mr.  Tyler  passed 
mainly  in  retirement  at  his  beautiful  home — 
Sherwood  Forest,  Charles  City  county,  A’a. 
A polished  gentleman  in  his  manners,  richly 
furnished  with  information  from  books  and 
experience  in  the  world,  and  possessing  bril- 
liant powers  of  conversation,  his  family  circle 
was  the  scene  of  unusual  attractions.  With 
sufficient  means  for  the  exercise  of  a generous 
hospitality,  he  might  have  enjoyed  a serene 
old  age  with  the  few  friends  who  gathered 
around  him,  were  it  not  for  the  storms  of  civil 
war  which  his  own  principles  and  policy  had 
helped  to  introduce. 

When  the  great  rebellion  rose,  which  the 
state  rights  and  nullifying  doctrines  of  John  C. 
Calhoun  had  inaugurated.  Pres.  Tyler  re- 
nounced his  allegiance  to  the  United  States, 


64 


PRESIDENTS  OF  THE  UNITED  STATES. 


and  joined  the  confederates.  He  was  chosen 
a member  of  their  congress;  and  while  engaged 
in  active  measures  to  destroy,  by  force  of  arms, 
the  government  over  which  he  had  once  pre- 
sided, he  was  taken  sick  and  soon  died. 


AMES  KNOX  POLK,  the  eleventh 
president  of  the  United  States,  was 
born  in  Mecklenburg  county,  N.  C., 
November  2,  1795.  His  parents  were 
Samuel  and  Jane  (Kn  x)  Polk,  the  former  a 
son  of  Col.  Thomas  Polk,  who  located  at  the 
above  place,  as  one  of  the  first  pioneers,  in 
1735- 

In  the  year  1806,  with  his  wife  and  chil- 
dren, and  soon  after  followed  by  most  of  the 
members  of  the  Polk  family,  Samuel  Polk  emi- 
grated some  two  or  three  hundred  miles  further 
west,  to  the  rich  valley  of  the  Duck  river,  Tenn. 
Here,  in  the  midst  of  the  wilderness,  in  a 
region  which  was  subsequently  called  Maury 
county,  they  reared  their  log  huts,  and  estab- 
lished their  homes.  In  the  hard  toil  of  a new 
farm  in  the  wilderness,  James  K.  Polk  spent 
the  early  years  of  his  childhood  and  youth. 
His  father,  adding  the  pursuit  of  a surveyor  to 
that  of  a farmer,  gradually  increased  in  wealth 
until  he  became  one  of  the  leading  men  of  the 
region. 

Very  early  in  life,  James  developed  a taste 
for  reading  and  expressed  the  strongest  desire 
to  obtain  a liberal  education.  His  mother’s 
training  had  made  him  methodical  in  his  habits, 
had  taught  him  punctuality  and  industry,  and 
had  inspired  him  with  lofty  principles  of 
morality.  His  health  was  frail;  and  his  father, 
fearing  that  he  might  not  be  able  to  endure  a 
sedentary  life,  got  a situation  for  him  behind 
the  counter,  hoping  to  fit  him  for  commercial 
pursuits.  He  remained  in  this  uncongenial 
occupation  but  a few  weeks,  when  at  his 
earnest  solicitation  his  father  removed  him. 


and  made  arrangements  for  him  to  prosecute 
his  studies.  Soon  after  he  sent  him  to  Mur- 
freesboro academy.  In  the  autumn  of  1815  he 
entered  the  sophomore  class  in  the  university 
of  North  Carolina,  at  Chapel  Hill.  He  grad- 
uated in  1818,  with  the  highest  honors,  being 
deemed  the  best  scholar  of  his  class,  both 
in  mathematics  and  classics.  He  w'as  then 
twenty-three  years  of  age.  Mr.  Polk’s  health 
was  at  this  time  much  impaired  by  the  assi- 
duity with  which  he  had  prosecuted  his  studies. 
After  a short  season  of  relaxation  he  went  to 
Nashville,  Tenn.,  and  entered  the  office  of 
Felix  Grundy,  to  study  law.  Here  Mr.  Polk 
renewed  his  acquaintance  with  Andrew  Jack- 
son,  who  resided  on  his  plantation,  the  Her- 
mitage, but  a few  miles  from  Nashville. 

James  K.  Polk  was  a popular  public  speaker, 
and  was  constantly  called  upon  to  address  the 
meetings  of  his  party  friends.  His  skill  as  a 
speaker  was  such  that  he  was  popularly  called 
the  Napoleon  of  the  stump.  He  was  a man 
of  unblemished  morals,  genial  and  courteous 
in  his  bearing,  and  with  that  sympathetic  na- 
ture in  the  joys  and  griefs  of  others  whichever 
gave  him  troops  of  friends.  In  1823,  Mr. 
Polk  was  elected  to  the  legislature  of  Tennes- 
see. Here  he  gave  his  strong  influence  toward 
the  election  of  his  friend,  Mr.  Jackson,  to  the 
presidency  of  the  United  States. 

In  January,  1824,  Mr.  Polk  married  Miss 
Sarah  Childress,  of  Rutherford  county,  Tenn. 
His  bride  was  altogether  worthy  of  him — a 
lady  of  beauty  and  culture.  In  the  fall  of  1825, 
Mr.  Polk  was  chosen  a member  of  congress. 
The  satisfaction  which  he  gave  to  his  constit- 
uents may  be-  inferred  from  the  fact,  that  for 
fourteen  successive  years,  until  1839,  he  was 
continued  in  that  office.  He  then  voluntarily 
withdrew,  only  that  he  might  accept  the 
gubernatorial  chair  of  Tennessee.  In  congress 
he  was  a laborious  member,  a frequent  and 
popular  speaker.  He  was  always  in  his  seat. 


JAMES  KNOX  POLK, 


library 

OF  THE 

university  or 


PRESIDENTS  OF  THE  UNITED  STATES. 


07 


always  courteous;  and  whenever  he  spoke  it 
was  always  to  the  point,  and  without  any  am- 
bitious rhetorical  display. 

During  five  sessions  of  congress,  Mr.  Polk 
was  speaker  of  the  house.  Strong  passions 
were  . aroused,  and  stormy  scenes  were  witness- 
ed; but  Mr.  Polk  performed  his  arduous  duties 
to  a very  general  satisfaction,  and  a unani- 
mous vote  of  thanks  to  him  was  passed  by  the 
house  as  he  withdrew  on  the  4th  of  March, 
1839. 

On  the  14th  of  October,  1839,  he  took  the 
oath  of  office  as  governor  of  Tennessee  at 
Nashville.  In  1841,  his  term  of  office  ex- 
pired, and  he  was  again  the  candidate  of  the 
democratic  party,  but  was  defeated.  On  the 
4th  of  March,  1845,  Mr.  Polk  was  inaugurated 
president  of  the  United  States.  The  verdict 
of  the  country  in  favor  of  the  annexation  of 
Texas  exerted  its  influence  upon  congress;  and 
the  last  act  of  the  administration  of  President 
Tyler  was  to  affix  his  signature  to  a joint  reso- 
lution of  congress,  passed  on  the  3d  of  March, 
approving  of  the  annexation  of  Texas  to  the 
American  Union.  As  Mexico  still  claimed 
Texas  as  one  of  her  provinces,  the  Mexican 
minister,  Almonte,  immediately  demanded  his 
passports  and  left  the  country,  declaring  the 
act  of  annexation  to  be  an  act  hostile  to 
Mexico. 

In  his  message.  President  Polk  urged  that 
Texas  should  immediately,  by  act  of  congress, 
be  received  into  the  Union  on  the  same  foot- 
ing with  the  other  states.  In  the  meantime, 
Gen.  Taylor  was  sent  with  an  army  into  Texas 
to  hold  the  country.  He  was  sent  first  to 
Nueces,  which  the  Mexicans  said  was  the 
western  boundary  of  Texas.  Then  he  was 
sent  nearly  two  hundred  miles  further  west,  to 
the  Rio  Grande,  where  he  erected  batteries 
which  commanded  the  Mexican  city  of  Matamo- 
ras,  which  was  situated  on  the  western  banks. 

The  anticipated  collision  soon  took  place,  and 


war  was  declared  against  Mexico  by  President 
Polk.  The  war  was  pushed  forward  by  Mr. 
Polk’s  administration  with  great  vigor.  Gen. 
Taylor,  whose  army  was  first  called  one  of 
“observation,”  then  of  “occupation,”  then  of 
“invasion,”  was  sent  forward  to  Monte- 
rey. The  feeble  Mexicans,  in  every  encounter, 
were  hopelessly  and  awfully  slaughtered.  It 
was  by  the  ingenuity  of  Mr.  Polk’s  administra- 
tion that  the  war  was  brought  on. 

“To  the  victors  belong  the  spoils.”  Mex- 
ico was  prostrate  before  us.  Her  capital  was 
in  our  hands.  We  now  consented  to  peace 
upon  the  condition  that  Mexico  should  sur- 
render to  us,  in  addition  to  Texas,  all  of  New 
Mexico,  and  all  of  Upper  and  Lower  Califor- 
nia. This  new  demand  embraced,  exclusive 
of  Texas,  800,000  square  miles.  This  was  an 
extent  of  territory  equal  to  nine  states  of  the 
size  of  i^p.w  York.  Thus  slavery  was  securing 
eighteen  majestic  states  to  be  added  to  the 
Union.  In  the  prosecution  of  this  war  we  ex- 
pended 20,000  lives  and  more  than  $100,000,- 
000.  Of  this  more  than  $15,000,000  were 
paid  to  Mexico. 

On  the  3d  of  March,  1849,  Mr.  Polk  re- 
tired from  office,  having  served  one  term.  The 
next  day  was  Sunday.  On  the  5th,  Gen. 
Taylor  was  inaugurated  as  his  successor.  Mr. 
Polk  rode  to  the  capitol  in  the  same  carrriage 
with  Gen.  Taylor;  and  the  same  evening,  with 
Mrs.  Polk,  he  commenced  his  return  to  Ten- 
nessee. He  was  then  but  fifty-four  years  of 
age.  He  had  ever  been  strictly  temperate  in 
all  his  habits  and  his  health  was  good.  With 
an  ample  fortune,  a choice  library,  a cultivated 
mind,  and  domestic  ties  of  the  dearest  nature, 
it  seemed  as  though  long  years  of  tranquility 
and  happiness  were  before  him.  But  the 
cholera — the  awful  scourge — was  then  sweep- 
ing up  the  valley  of  the  Mississippi.  This  he 
contracted,  and  died  on  the  15th  of  June,  1849, 
in  the  fifty-fourth  year  of  his  age. 


68 


PRESIDENTS  OE  THE  UNITED  STATES. 


ACHARY  TAYLOR,  twelfth  presi- 
dent of  the  United  States,  was  born 
on  the  24th  of  November,  1784,  in 
Orange  county,  Va.  His  father. 
Colonel  Taylor,  was  a Virginian  of  note,  and 
a distinguished  patriot  and  soldier  of  the  Revo- 
lution. When  Zachary  was  an  infant,  his 
father,  with  his  wife  and  two  children,  emi- 
grated to  Kentucky,  where  he  settled,  a few 
miles  from  Louisville.  In  this  frontier  home 
young  Zachary  could  enjoy  but  few  social  and 
educational  advantages.  When  six  years  of 
age  he  attended  a common  school,  and  was 
then  regarded  as  a bright,  active  boy,  rather 
remarkable  for  bluntness  and  decision  of  char- 
acter. He  was  strong,  fearless  and  self-reli- 
ant, and  manifested  a strong  desire  to  enter 
the  army  to  fight  the  Indians  who  were  ravag- 
ing the  frontiers. 

In  1808,  his  father  succeeded  in  obtaining 
for  him  the  commission  of  lietenant  in  the 
United  States  army;  and  he  joined  the  troops 
which  were  stationed  at  New  Orleans  under 
Gen.  Wilkinson.  Soon  after  this  he  married 
Miss  Margaret  Smith,  a young  lady  from  one 
of  the  first  families  of  Maryland. 

Immediately  after  the  declaration  of  war 
with  England,  in  1812,  Capt.  Taylor  (for  he 
had  then  been  promoted  to  that  rank)  was  put 
in  command  of  Fort  Harrison,  on  the  Wa- 
bash, about  fifty  miles  above  Vincennes. 
This  fort  had  been  built  in  the  wilderness  by 
Gen.  Harrison,  on  his  march  to  Tippecanoe. 
It  was  one  of  the  first  points  of  attack  by  the 
Indians,  led  by  Tecumseh.  Its  garrison  con- 
sisted of  a broken  company  of  infantry  num- 
bering fifty  men,  many  of  whom  were  sick. 
Early  in  the  autumn  of  1812,  the  Indians, 
stealthily,  and  in  large  numbers,  moved  upon 
the  fort.  Their  approach  was  first  indicated 
by  the  murder  of  two  .soldiers  just  outside  of 
the  stockade.  Capt.  Taylor  made  every  possi- 
ble preparation  to  meet  the  anticipated  as- 


sault. On  the  4th  of  September,  a band  of 
forty  painted  and  plumed  savages  came  to  the 
fort,  waving  a white  flag,  and  informed  Capt. 
Taylor  that  in  the  morning  their  chief  would 
come  to  have  a talk  with  him.  It  was  evident 
that  their  object  was  merely  to  ascertain  the 
state  of  things  at  the  fort,  and  Capt.  Taylor, 
well  versed  in  the  wiles  of  the  savages,  kept 
them  at  a distance.  The  sun  went  down;  the 
savages  disappeared,  the  garrison  slept  upon 
their  arms.  One  hour  before  midnight  the 
war-whoop  burst  from  a thousand  lips  in  the 
forest  around,  followed  by  the  discharge  of 
musketry,  and  the  rush  of  the  foe.  Every 
man,  sick  and  well,  sprang  to  his  post.  Every 
man  knew  that  defeat  was  not  merely  death, 
but  in  case  of  capture,  death  by  the  most 
agonizing  and  prolonged  torture.  The  savages 
succeeded  in  setting  fire  to  one  of  the  block- 
houses. Until  six  o’clock  in  the  morning,  this 
awful  conflict  continued.  The  savages  then, 
baffled  at  every  point,  and  gnashing  their  teeth 
with  rage,  retired.  Capt.  Taylor,  for  this  gal- 
lant defense,  was  promoted  to  the  rank  of 
major  by  brevet. 

Until  the  close  of  the  war,  Major  Taylor 
was  placed  in  such  situations  that  he  saw  but 
little  more  of  active  service.  He  was  sent  far 
away  into  the  depths  of  the  wilderness,  to 
Fort  Crawford,  on  Fox  river,  which  empties 
into  Green  bay.  Gradually  he  rose  to  the 
rank  of  colonel.  In  the  Black  Hawk  war, 
which  resulted  in  the  capture  of  that  renowned 
chieftain.  Col.  Taylor  took  a subordinate  but 
a brave  and  efficient  part.  For  twenty-four 
years  Col.  Taylor  was  engaged  in  the  defense 
of  the  frontiers,  in  scenes  so  remote,  and  in 
employments  so  obscure,  that  his  name  was 
unknown  beyond  the  limits  of  his  own  imme- 
diate ac(|uaintance.  In  the  year  1836,  he  was 
sent  to  Florida  to  compel  the  Seminole  Indians 
to  vacate  that  region  and  retire  beyond  the 
Mississippi,  as  their  chiefs,  by  treaty,  had 


ZACHARY  TAYLOR. 


LIBRARY 
OF  THE 

UNIVERSITY  OF  ILUNQIS 


PRESIDENTvS  OF  THE  UNITED  STATES. 


promised  they  should  do.  The  services  ren- 
dered here  secured  Col.  Taylor  the  high  ap- 
preciation of  the  government;  and  as  a reward, 
he  was  elevated  to  the  rank  of  brigadier-gen- 
eral by  brevet;  and  soon  after,  in  May,  1838, 
was  appointed  to  the  chief  command  of  the 
United  States  troops  in  Florida.  After  two 
years  of  such  wearisome  employment,  Geij. 
Taylor  obtained,  at  his  own  request,  a change 
of  command,  and  was  stationed  over  the  de- 
partment of  the  southwest.  This  field  em- 
braced Louisiana,  Mississippi,  Alabama  and 
Georgia.  Establishing  his  headquarters  at 
Fort  Jesup,  in  Louisiana,  he  removed  his  fam- 
ily to  a plantation  which  he  purchased  near 
Baton  Rouge.  Here  he  remained  for  five 
years,  buried,  as  it  were,  from  the  world,  but 
faithfully  discharging  every  duty  imposed  upon 
him. 

In  1846  Gen.  Taylor  was  sent  to  guard  the 
land  between  the  Nueces  and  Rio  Grande, 
the  latter  river  being  the  boundary  of  Texas, 
which  was  then  claimed  by  the  United  States. 
Soon  the  war  with  Mexico  was  brought  on, 
and  at  Palo  Alto  and  Resaca  de  la  Palma,  Gen. 
Taylor  won  brilliant  victories  over  the  Mex- 
icans. The  rank  of  major-general  by  brevet 
was  then  conferred  upon  Gen.  Taylor,  and 
his  name  was  received  with  enthusiasm  almost 
everywhere  in  the  nation.  Then  came  the 
battles  of  Monterey  and  Buena  Vista,  in  which 
he  won  signal  victories  over  forces  much  larger 
than  he  commanded.  His  careless  habits  of 
dress  and  his  unaffected  simplicity,  secured  for 
Gen.  Taylor  among  his  troops  the  sobriquet  of 
“Old  Rough  and  Ready.” 

The  tidings  of  the  brilliant  victory  of  Buena 
Vista  spread  the  wildest  enthusiasm  over  the 
country.  The  whig  party  decided  to  take  ad- 
vantage of  this  wonderful  popularity  in  bring- 
ing forward  the  unpolished,  uncultured,  honest 
soldier  as  their  candidate  for  the  presidency. 
Gen.  Taylor  was  astonished  at  the  announce- 


ment. and  for  a time  would  not  listen  to  it; 
declaring  that  he  was  not  at  all  qualified  for 
such  an  office.  So  little  interest  had  he  taken 
in  politics  that,  for  forty  years,  he  had  not 
cast  a vote. 

Gen.  Taylor  was  not  an  eloquent  speaker 
nor  a fine  writer.  His  friends  took  possession 
of  him,  and  prepared  such  few  communica- 
tions as  it  was  needful  should  be  presented  to 
the  public.  The  popularity  of  the  successful 
warrior  swept  the  land.  He  was  triumph- 
antly elected  over  two  opposing  candidates — - 
Gen.  Cass  and  ex-Pres.  Martin  Van  Buren. 
Though  he  selected  an  excellent  cabinet,  the 
good  old  man  found  himself  in  a very  uncon- 
genial position,  and  was,  at  times,  sorely  per- 
plexed and  harassed.  His  mental  sufferings 
,W'ere  very  severe,  and  probably  tended  to  has- 
ten his  death.  The  proslavery  party  was 
pushing  its  claims  with  tireless  energy;  expedi- 
tions were  fitting  out  to  capture  Cuba;  Cali- 
fornia was  pleading  for  admission  to  the 
Union,  while  slavery  stood  at  the  door  to  bar- 
ber out.  Gen.  Taylor  found  the  political  con- 
flicts in  Washington  to  be  far  more  trying  to 
the  nerves  than  battles  with  Mexicans  or 
Indians. 

In  the  midst  of  all  these  troubles,  Gen. 
Taylor,  after  he  had  occupied  the  presidential 
chair  but  little  over  a year,  took  cold,  and 
after  a brief  sickness,  of  but  litttle  over  five 
days,  died  on  the  9th  of  July,  1850.  His  last 
words  were;  “ I am  not  afraid  to  die.  I am 
ready.  I have  endeavored  to  do  my  duty.” 
He  died  universally  respected  and  beloved. 

Gen.  Scott,  who  was  thoroughly  acquainted 
with  Gen.  Taylor,  gave  the  following  graphic 
and  truthful  description  of  his  character: 
" With  a good  store  of  common  sense,  Gen. 
Taylor's  mind  had  not  been  enlarged  and  re- 
freshed by  reading,  or  much  converse  with  the 
world.  Rigidity  of  ideas  was  the  consequence. 
The  frontiers  and  small  military  posts  had 


PRESIDENTS  OF  THE  UNITED  STATES. 


72 


been  his  home.  Hence  he  was  quite  ignorant 
for  his  rank,  and  quite  bigoted  in  his  igno- 
rance. His  simplicity  was  child-like  and 
with  innumerable  prejudices,  amusing  and  in- 
corrigible, well  suited  to  the  tender  age. 
Thus,  if  a man,  however,  respectable,  chanced 
to  wear  a coat  of  an  unusual  color,  or  his  hat 
a little  on  one  side  of  his  head;  or  an  officer 
to  leave  a corner  of  his  handkerchief  dangling 
from  an  outside  pocket — in  any  such  case,  this 
critic  held  the  offender  to  be  a coxcomb  (per- 
haps something  worse),  whom  he  would  not, 
to  use  his  oft  repeated  phase,  “touch  with  a 
pair  of  tongs.  ” 


ILLARD  FILLMORE,  thirteenth 
president  of  the  United  States,  wag 
born  at  Summer  Hill,  Cayuga 
county,  N.  Y. , on  the  7th  of  Janu- 
ary, 1800.  His  father  was  a farmer,  and, 
owing  to  misfortune,  in  humble  circumstances. 
Of  bis  mother,  the  daughter  of  Dr.  Abiathar 
Millard,  of  Pittsfield,  Mass.,  it  has  been  said 
that  she  possessed  an  intellect  of  very  high 
order,  united  with  much  personal  loveliness, 
sweetness  of  disposition,  graceful  manners  and 
exquisite  sensibilities.  She  died  in  1831; 
having  lived  to  see  her  son  a young  man  of 
distinguished  promise,  though  she  was  not  per- 
mitted to  witness  the  high  dignity  which  he 
finally  attained. 

In  consequence  of  the  secluded  home  and 
limited  means  of  his  father,  Millard  enjoyed 
but  slender  advantages  for  education  in  his 
early  years.  The  sacred  iniluences  of  home 
had  taught  him  to  revere  the  Bible,  and  had 
laid  the  foundations  of  an  upright  character. 
When  fourteen  years  of  age  his  father  sent 
him  some  hundred  miles  from  home,  to  the 
then  wilds  of  Livingston  county,  to  learn  the 
trade  of  a clothier.  Near  the  mill  there  was 


a small  village,  where  some  enterprising  man 
had  commenced  the  collection  of  a village 
library.  This  proved  an  inestimable  blessing 
to  young  Fillmore.  His  evenings  were  spent 
in  reading.  Soon  every  leisure  moment  was 
occupied  with  books.  His  thirst  for  knowledge 
became  insatiate,  and  the  selections  which  he 
made  were  continually  more  elevating  and 
instructive.  He  read  history,  biography, 
oratory,  and  thus  gradually  there  was  en- 
kindled in  his  heart  a desire  to  be  something 
more  than  a mere  worker  with  his  hands;  and 
he  was  becoming,  almost  unknown  to  himself, 
a well  informed,  educated  man. 

The  young  clothier  had  now  attained  the 
age  of  nineteen  years,  and  was  of  fine  per- 
sonal appearance  and  of  gentlemanly  demeanor. 
It  so  happened  that  there  was  a gentleman  in 
the  neighborhood  of  ample  pecuniary  means 
and  of  benevolence — Judge  Walter  Wood — 
who  was  struck  with  the  prepossessing  appear- 
ance of  young  Fillmore.  He  made  his  ac- 
quaintance, and  was  so  much  impressed 
with  his  ability  and  attainments  that  he  ad- 
vised him  to  abandon  his  trade  and  devote 
himself  to  the  study  of  law.  The  young  man 
replied  that  he  had  no  means  of  his  own,  no 
friends  to  help  him,  and  that  his  previous  edu- 
cation had  been  very  imperfect.  But  Judge 
Wood  had  so  much  confidence  in  him  that  he 
kindly  offered  to  take  him  into  his  own  office, 
and  to  loan  him  such  money  as  he  needed. 
Most  gratefully  the  generous  offer  was  ac- 
cepted. 

In  1823,  when  twenty-three  years  of  age, 
he  was  admitted  to  the  court  of  common  pleas. 
He  then  went  to  the  village  of  Aurora,  and 
commenced  the  practice  of  law.  In  this 
secluded,  peaceful  region,  his  practice,  of 
course,  was  limited,  aiul  there  was  no  opq>or- 
tunity  for  a sudden  rise  in  fortune  or  in  fame. 
Here,  in  the  year  1826,  he  married  a lady  of 
great  moral  worth,  and  one  capable  of  adorn- 


MILLARD  FILLMORE. 


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ing  any  station  she  might  be  called  to  fill — 
Miss  Abigail  Powers. 

His  elevation  of  character,  his  untiring  in- 
dustry, his  legal  acquirements,  and  his  skill  as 
an  advocate,  gradually  attracted  attention; 
and  he  was  invited  to  enter  into  partnership, 
under  highly  advantageous  circumstances,  with 
an  elder  member  of  the  bar  in  Buffalo.  Just 
before  removing  to  Buffalo,  in  1829,  he  took 
his  seat  in  the  house  of  assembly,  of  the  state 
of  New  York,  as  a representative  from  Erie 
county.  Though  he  had  never  taken  a very 
active  part  in  politics,  his  vote  and  his  sympa- 
thies were  with  the  whig  party.  The  state 
was  then  democratic,  and  he  found  him- 
self in  a helpless  minority  in  the  legislature, 
still  the  testimony  comes  from  all  parties,  that 
his  courtesy,  ability,  and  integrity,  won,  to 
a very  unusual  degree,  the  respect  of  his  asso- 
ciates. 

In  the  autumn  of  1832,  he  was  elected  to 
a seat  in  the  United  States  congress.  He  en- 
tered that  troubled  arena  in  some  of  the  most 
tumultuous  hours  of  our  national  history. 
The  great  conflict  respecting  the  national  bank 
and  the  removal  of  the  deposits  was  then 
raging. 

His  term  of  two  years  closed,  and  he  re- 
turned to  his  profession,  which  he  pursued  with 
increasing  reputation  and  success.  After  a 
lapse  of  two  years  he  again  became  a candi- 
date for  congress;  was  re-elected,  and  took  his 
seat  in  1837.  His  past  experience  as  a repre- 
sentative gave  him.  strength  and  confidence. 
The  first  term  of  service  in  congress  to  any 
man  can  be  but  little  more  than  an  introduc- 
tion. He  was  now  prepared  for  active  duty. 
Fillmore  was  now  a man  of  wide  repute,  and 
his  popularity  filled  the  state,  and  in  the  year 
1847  he  was  elected  comptroller  of  the  state. 

Fillmore  had  attained  the  age  of  forty- 
seven  years.  His  labors  at  the  bar,  in  the 
legislature,  in  congress,  and  as  comptroller. 


had  given  him  very  considerable  fame.  The 
whigs  were  casting  about  to  find  suitable  can- 
didates for  president  and  vice  president  at  the 
approaching  election.  Far  away,  on  the 
waters  of  the  Rio  Grande,  there  was  a rough 
old  soldier,  who  had  fought  successful  battles 
with  the  Mexicans,  which  had  caused  his 
name  to  be  proclaimed  in  trumpet-tones  all 
over  the  land.  But  it  was  necessary  to  asso- 
ciate with  him,  on  the  same  ticket,  some 
man  of  reputation  as  a statesman.  Under  the 
influence  of  these  considerations,  the  names  of 
Zachary  Taylor  and  Millard  Fillmore  became 
the  rallying  cry  of  the  whigs,  as  their  candi- 
dates for  president  and  vice  president.  The 
whig  ticket  was  signally  triumphant.  On  the 
4th  of  March,  1849,  Gen.  Taylor  was  inaugu- 
rated president,  and  Millard  Fillmore  vice 
president,  of  the  United  States. 

On  the''''^h  of  July,  1850,  Pres.  Taylor,  but 
one  year  anH'  four  months  after  his  inaugura- 
tion,'*Was''simderiTy  taken  sick  and  died.  By 
the  constitution.  Vice  Pres.  Fillmore  thus  be- 
came president.  He  appointed  a very  able 
cabinet,  of  which  the  illustrious  Daniel  Web- 
ster was  secretary  of  state. 

Fillmore  had  very  serious  difficulties  to 
contend  with,  since  the  opposition  had  a ma- 
jorty  in  both  house.  He  did  everything  in 
his  power  to  conciliate  the  south;  but  the  pro- 
slavery party  in  the  south  felt  the  inadequacy 
of  all  measures  of  transient  conciliation.  The 
population  of  the  free  states  was  so  rapidly  in- 
creasing over  that  of  the  slave  states  that  it 
was  inevitable  that  the  power  of  the  govern- 
ment should  soon  pass  into  the  hands  of  the 
free  states.  The  famous  compromise  meas- 
ures were  adopted  under  Fillmore’s  administra- 
tion, and  the  Japan  expedition  was  sent  out. 
On  the  4th  of  March,  1853,  Fillmore,  having 
served  one  term,  retired. 

In  1856,  Fillmore  was  nominated  for  the 
presidency  by  the  “know  nothing”  party,  but 


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was  beaten  by  Mr.  Buchanan.  After  that 
Fillmore  lived  in  retirement.  During  the  ter- 
rible conllict  of  civil  war  he  was  mostly  silent. 
It  was  generally  supposed  that  his  sympathies 
wei'e  rather  with  those  who  were  endeavoring 
to  overthrow  our  institutions.  He  lived  to  a 
ripe  old  age,  and  died  in  Buffalo,  N.  Y., 
Marchs,  1874. 


BRANKLIN  pierce,  the  fourteenth 
president  of  the  United  States,  was  born 
in  Hillsborough,  N.  H. , November 23, 
1804.  Franklin  was  a very  bright 
and  handsome  boy,  generous,  warm-hearted 
and  brave.  He  won  alike  the  love  of  old  and 
young.  The  boys  on  the  play  ground  loved 
him.  His  teachers  loved  him.  The  neigh- 
bors looked  upon  him  with  pride  and  affection. 
He  was  by  instinct  a gentleman;  always  speak- 
ing kind  words,  doing  kind  deeds,  with  a 
peculiar  unstudied  tact  which  taught  him  what 
was  agreeable.  Without  developing  any  pre- 
cocity of  genius,  or  any  unnatural  devotion  to 
books,  he  was  a good  scholar;  in  body,  in  mind, 
in  affections,  a finely  developed  boy. 

When  si.xteen  years  of  age,  in  the  year 
1820,  he  entered  Bowdoin  college  at  Bruns- 
wick, Maine.  He  was  one  of  the  most  popu- 
lar young  men  in  the  college.  The  purity  of 
his  moral  character,  the  unvarying  courtesy  of 
his  demeanor,  his  rank  as  a scholar,  and  genial 
nature,  rendered  him  a universal  favorite. 
There  was  something  very  peculiarly  winning 
in  his  address,  and  it  was  evidently  not  in  the 
slightest  degree  studied;  it  was  the  simple  out- 
gushing  of  his  own  magnanimous  and  loving 
nature. 

Uj>on  graduating,  in  the  year  1824,  Frank- 
lin Pierce  commenced  the  study  of  law  in  the 
office  of  Judge  Woodbury,  one  of  the  most 
distinguish(ul  lawyers  of  the  state,  and  a miin 
of  great  private  worth.  The  eminent  social 


qualities  of  the  young  lawyer,  his  father’s 
promince  as  a public  man,  and  the  brilliant 
political  career  into  which  Judge  Woodbury 
was  entering,  all  tended  to  entice  Mr.  Pierce 
into  the  fascinating,  yet  perilous,  path  of  po- 
litical life.  With  all  the  ardor  of  his  nature 
he  espoused  the  cause  of  Gen.  Jackson  for  the 
presidency.  He  commenced  the  practice  of 
law  in  Hillsborough,  and  was  soon  elected  to 
represent  the  town  in  the  state  legislature. 
Here  he  served  for  four  years.  The  last  two 
years  he  w'as  chosen  speaker  of  the  house  by  a 
very  large  vote. 

In  1833,  at  the  age  of  twenty-nine,  he  was 
elected  a member  of  congress.  Without  tak- 
ing an  active  part  in  debates,  he  was  faithful 
and  laborious  in  duty,  and  ever  rising  in  the 
estimation  of  those  with  whom  he  was  associ- 
ated. In  1837,  being  then  but  thirty-three 
years  of  age,  he  was  elected  to  the  senate  of 
the  United  States,  taking  his  seat  just  as  Mr. 
Van  Buren  commenced  his  administration. 
He  was  the  youngest  member  in  the  senate. 
In  the  year  1834  he  married  Miss  Jane  Means 
Appleton,  a lady  of  rare  beauty  and  accom- 
plishments, and  one  admirably  fitted  to  adorn 
every  station  with  which  her  husband  was 
honored.  Of  the  three  sons  who  were  born 
to  them,  all  now  sleep  with  their  parents  in 
the  grave. 

In  the  year  1838,  Mr.  Pierce,  with  growing 
fame  and  increasing  business  as  a lawyer,  took 
up  his  residence  in  Concord,  the  capital  of 
New  Hampshire.  President  Polk,  upon  his 
accession  to  office,  ajipointed  Mr.  Pierce  at- 
torney-general of  the  United  States;  but  the 
offer  was  declined  in  consequence  of  numerous 
professional  engagements  at  home  and  the 
precarious  state  of  Mrs.  Pierce's  health.  He 
also  about  the  same  time  declined  the  nomina- 
tion for  governor  by  the  democratic  party. 
The  war  with  Mexico  called  Mr.  Pierce  to  the 
army.  Receiving  the  a{)pointment  of  briga- 


FRANKLIN  PIERCE 


PRESIDKNI'S  OF  THE  UNITED  STATES 


7(j 


dier-general,  he  embarked  with  a portion  of 
his  troojis  at  Newport,  R.  L,  on  the  27th  of 
May,  1847.  took  an  important  ‘part  in 

this  war,  proving  himself  a brave  and  true 
soldier. 

When  Gen.  Pierce  reached  his  home  in  his 
native  state  he  was  received  enthusiastically 
by  the  advocates  of  the  Mexican  war,  and 
coldly  by  its  opponents.  He  resumed  the 
practice  of  his  profession,  very  frequently  tak- 
ing an  active  part  in  political  questions,  giving 
his  cordial  support  to  the  pro-slavery  wing  of 
the  democratic  party.  The  compromise  meas- 
ures met  cordially  with  his  approval;  and  he 
strenuously  advocated  the  enforcement  of  the 
infamous  fugitive-slave  law,  which  so  shocked 
the  religious  sensibilities  of  the  north.  He  thus 
became  distinguished  as  a “northern  man  with 
southern  principles.”  The  strong  partisans  of 
slavery  in  the  south  consequently  regarded 
him  as  a man  whom  they  could  safely  trust  in 
office  to  carry  out  their  plans. 

On  the  I 2th  of  June,  1852,  the  democratic 
convention  met  in  Baltimore  to  nominate  a 
candidate  for  the  presidency.  For  four  days 
they  continued  in  session,  and  in  thirty-five 
ballotings  no  one  had  obtained  a two-thirds 
vote.  Not  a vote  thus  far  had  been  thrown 
for  Gen.  Pierce.  Then  the  Virginia  delega- 
tion brought  forward  his  name.  There  were 
fourteen  more  ballotings,  during  which  Gen. 
Pierce  constantly  gained  strength,  until,  at  the 
forty-ninth  ballot,  he  received  282  votes,  and  1 
all  other  candidates  eleven.  Gen.  Winfield 
Scott  was  the  whig  candidate.  Gen.  Pierce 
was  chosen  with  great  unanimity.  Only  four 
states — Vermont,  Massachusetts,  Kentucky 
and  Tennessee — cast  their  electoral  votes 
against  him.  Gen.  Franklin  Pierce  was  there- 
fore inaugurated  president  of  the  United  States 
on  the  4th  of  March,  1853. 

His  administration  proved  one  of  the  most 
stormy  our  country  had  ever  experienced.  The 


controversy  between  slavery  and  freedom  was 
then  approaching  its  culminating  ])oint.  It 
became  evident  that  there  was  an  “irrepress- 
ible conflict”  between  them,  and  that  the 
nation  could  not  long  exist  “half  slave  and 
half  free.”  President  Pierce,  during  the  wliole 
of  his  administration,  did  everything  he  could 
to  conciliate  the  south;  but  it  was  all  in  vain. 
The  conflict  every  year  grew  more  and  more 
violent,  and  threats  of  the  dissolution  of  the 
Union  were  borne  to  the  north  on  every 
southern  breeze. 

On  the  4th  of  March,  1857,  President 
Pierce  retired  to  his  home  in  Concord.  Of 
three  children,  two  had  died,  and  his  only  sur- 
viving child  had  been  killed  before  his  eyes  by 
a railroad  accident;  and  his  wife,  one  of  the 
most  estimable  and  accomplished  of  ladies, 
was  rapidly  sinking  in  consumption.  The  hour 
of  dreadful  gloom  soon  came,  and  he  was  left 
alone  in  the  world  without  wife  or  child. 

Such  was  the  condition  of  affairs  when 
Pres.  Pierce  approached  the  close  of  his  four 
years’  term  of  office.  The  north  had  become 
thoroughly  alienated  from  him.  The  anti- 
slavery sentiment,  goaded  by  great  outrages, 
had  been  rapidly  increasing;  all  the  intellectual 
ability  and  social  worth  of  Pres.  Pierce  were 
forgotten  in  deep  reprehension  of  his  adminis- 
trative acts.  The  slaveholders  of  the  south, 
also,  unmindful  of  the  fidelity  with  which  he 
had  advocated  those  measures  of  government 
which  they  approved,  and  perhaps,  also,  feel- 
ing that  he  had  rendered  himself  so  unpopular 
as  no  longer  to  be  able  acceptably  to  serve 
them,  ungratefully  dropped  him,  and  nomi- 
nated James  Buchanan  to  succeed  him. 

When  the  terrible  rebellion  broke  forth, 
which  divided  our  country  into  two  parties, 
Mr.  Pierce  remained  steadfast  in  the  principles 
which  he  had  always  cherished  and  gave  his 
sympathies  to  that  pro-slavery  party  with 
which  he  had  ever  been  allied.  He  declined 


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to  do  anything,  either  by  voice  or  pen,  to 
strengthen  the  hand  of  the  national  govern- 
ment. He  continued  to  reside  in  Concord 
until  the  time  of  his  death,  which  occurred  in 
October,  1869.  He  was  one  of  the  most  genial 
and  social  of  men,  an  honored  communicant 
of  the  Episcopal  church,  and  one  of  the  kind- 
est of  neighbors.  Generous  to  a fault,  he  con- 
tributed liberally  for  the  alleviation  of  suffer- 
ing and  want,  and  many  of  his  townspeople 
were  often  gladdened  by  his  material  bounty. 


AMES  BUCHANAN,  the  fifteenth  presi- 
dent of  the  United  States,  was  born  in 
Franklin  county.  Pa.,  on  the  23d  of 
April,  1791.  His  father  was  a native 
of  the  north  of  Ireland;  a poor  man,  who  had 
emigrated  in  1783,  with  little  property  save  his 
own  strong  arms.  Five  years  afterward  he 
married  Elizabeth  Spear,  the  daughter  of  a 
respectable  farmer,  and,  with  his  young  bride, 
plunged  into  the  wilderness,  staked  his  claim, 
reared  his  log  hut,  opened  a clearing  with  his 
ax,  and  settled  down  to  perform  his  obscure 
part  in  the  drama  of  life.  In  this  secluded 
home,  where  James  was  born,  he  remained  for 
eight  years,  enjoying  but  few  social  or  intel- 
lectual advantages.  When  James  was  eight 
years  of  age  his  father  removed  to  the  village 
of  Mercersburg,  where  his  son  was  placed  at 
school,  and  commenced  a course  of  study  in 
English,  Latin  and  Greek.  His  progress  was 
rapid,  and  at  the  age  of  fourteen  he  entered 
Dickenson  college  at  Carlisle.  Here  he  de- 
veloped remarkable  talent,  and  took  his  stand 
among  the  first  scholars  of  the  institution.  His 
application  to  study  was  intense,  and  yet  his 
native  powers  enabled  him  to  master  the  most 
abstruse  subjects  with  facility.  In  the  year 
1809,  he  graduated  with  the  highest  honors  of 
his  class.  He  was  then  eighteen  years  of  age; 


tall  and  graceful,  vigorous  in  health,  fond  of 
athletic  sport,  an  unerring  shot,  and  enlivened 
with  an  exuberant  flow  of  animal  spirits.  He 
immediately  commenced  the  study  of  law  in 
the  city  of  Lancaster,  and  was  admitted  to  the 
bar  in  1812,  when  he  was  but  twenty-one 
years  of  age.  Very  rapidly  he  rose  in  his  pro- 
fession, and  at  once  took  undisputed  stand 
with  the  ablest  lawyers  of  the  state.  When 
but  twenty-six  years  of  age,  unaided  by  coun- 
sel, he  successfully  defended  before  the  state 
senate  one  of  the  judges  of  the  state,  who  was 
tried  upon  articles  of  impeachment.  At  the 
age  of  thirty  it  was  generally  admitted  that  he 
stood  at  the  head  of  the  bar. 

In  1820  he  reluctantly  consented  to  run  as 
a candidate  for  congress.  He  was  elected, 
and  for  ten  years  he  remained  a member  of 
the  lower  house.  During  the  vacations  of 
congress,  he  occasionaily  tried  some  important 
case.  In  1831  he  retired  altogether  from  the 
toils  of  his  profession,  having  acquired  an 
ample  fortune. 

Gen.  Jackson,  upon  his  elevation  to  the 
presidency,  appointed  Mr.  Buchanan  minister 
to  Russia.  The  duties  of  his  mission  he  per- 
formed with  ability  which  gave  satisfaction  to 
all  parties.  Upon  his  return,  in  1833,  he  was 
elected  to  a seat  in  the  United  States  senate. 
He  there  met,  as  his  associates,  Webster, 
Clay,  Wright  and  Calhoun.  He  advocated 
the  measures  proposed  by  Pres.  Jackson,  of 
making  rejuisals  against  France,  to  enforce 
the  payment  of  our  claims  against  that  country; 
and  defended  the  course  of  the  president  in 
his  unprecedented  and  wholesale  removal  from 
office  of  those  who  were  not  supporters  of  his 
administration.  Upon  this  question  he  was 
brought  into  direct  collision  with  Henry  Clay. 
He  also,  with  voice  and  vote,  advocated  ex- 
punging from  the  journal  of  the  senate  the 
vote  of  censure  against  Gen.  Jackson  for  re- 
moving the  deposits.  Earnestly  he  opposed 


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the  abolition  of  slavery  in  the  District  of  Co- 
lumbia, and  urged  the  prohibition  of  the  circu- 
lation of  anti-slavery  documents  by  the  United 
States  mail. 

Upon  Mr.  Polk’s  accession  to  the  presi- 
dency, Mr.  Buchanan  became  secretary  of 
state,  and  as  such  took  his  share  of  the  respon- 
sibility in  the  conduct  of  the  Mexican  war.  Mr. 
Polk  assumed  that  crossing  the  Nueces  by  the 
American  troops  into  the  disputed  territory  was 
not  wrong,  but  for  the  Mexicans  to  cross  the 
Rio  Grande  into  that  territory  was  a declara- 
tion of  war.  Mr.  Buchanan  identified  himself 
thoroughly  with  the  party  devoted  to  the  per- 
petuation and  extension  of  slavery,  and  brought 
all  the  energies  of  his  mind  to  bear  against  the 
Wilmot  Proviso.  He  gave  his  approval  of 
the  compromise  measures  of  1850,  which  in- 
cluded the  fugitive  slave  law.  Mr.  Pierce,  upon 
his  election  to  the  presidency,  honored  Mr. 
Buchanan  with  the  mission  to  England. 

In  the  year  1856,  a national  democratic 
convention  nominated  Mr.  Buchanan  for  the 
presidency.  The  political  conflict  was  one  of 
the  most  severe  in  which  our  country  has  ever 
engaged.  All  the  friends  of  slavery  were  on 
one  side;  all  the  advocates  of  its  restriction 
and  final  abolition  on  the  other.  Mr.  Fre- 
mont, the  candidate  of  the  enemies  of  slavery, 
received  114  electoral  votes.  Mr.  Buchanan 
received  174,  and  was  elected.  The  popular 
vote  stood  1,341,264  for  Fremont,  1,838,160 
for  Buchanan.  On  March  4,  1857,  Mr.  Bu- 
chanan was  inaugurated.  Mr.  Buchanan  was 
far  advanced  in  life.  Only  four  years  were 
wanting  to  fill  up  his  three  score  years  and 
ten.  His  own  friends — those  with  whom  he 
had  been  allied  in  political  principles  and 
action  for  years — were  seeking  the  destruction 
of  the  government,  that  they  might  rear  upon 
the  ruins  of  our  free  institutions  a nation 
whose  corner  stone  should  be  human  slavery. 
In  this  emergency,  Mr.  Buchanan  was  hope- 


lessly bewildered.  He  could  not,  with  his 
long  avowed  principles,  consistently  oppose 
the  state-rights  party  in  their  assumptions. 
As  president  of  the  United  States,  bound  by 
his  oath  faithfully  to  administer  the  laws,  he 
could  not,  without  perjury  of  the  grossest  kind, 
unite  with  those  endeavoring  to  overthrow  the 
republic.  He  therefore  did  nothing.  Mr. 
Buchanan’s  sympathy  with  the  pro-slavery 
party  was  such,  that  he  had  been  willing  to 
offer  them  far  more  than  they  had  ventured  to 
claim.  All  the  south  had  professed  to  ask  of 
the  north  was  non-interference  with  the  sub- 
ject of  slavery.  Mr.  Buchanan  had  been 
ready  to  offer  them  the  active  co-operation  of 
the  government  to  defend  and  extend  the  in- 
stitution. As  the  storm  increased  in  violence, 
the  slave  holders  claiming  the  right  to  secede, 
and  Mr.  Buchanan  avowing  that  congress  had 
no  power  to  prevent  it,  one  of  the  most  piti- 
able exhibitions  of  governmental  imbecility 
was  exhibited  the  world  has  ever  seen.  He 
declared  that  congress  had  no  power  to  enforce 
its  laws  in  any  state  which  had  withdrawn,  or 
which  was  attempting  to  withdraw  from  the 
Union.  This  was  not  the  doctrine  of  Andrew 
Jackson,  when,  with  his  hand  upon  his  sword 
hilt,  he  exclaimed:  “The  Union  must  and 
shall  be  preserved.” 

South  Carolina  seceded  in  December,  i860, 
nearly  three  months  before  the  inauguration 
of  Pres.  Lincoln.  Mr.  Buchanan  looked  on  in 
listless  despair.  The  rebel  flag  was  raised  in 
Charleston;  Fort  Sumter  was  besieged;  our 
forts,  navy  yards  and  arsenals  were  seized; 
our  depots  of  military  stores  were  plundered; 
and  our  custom  houses  and  post  offices  were 
appropriated  by  the  rebels.  The  energy  of 
the  rebels,  and  the  imbecility  of  our  executive, 
were  alike  marvelous.  The  nation  looked  on 
in  agony,  waiting  for  the  slow  weeks  to  glide 
away  and  close  the  administration,  so  terrible 
in  its  weakness.  At  length  the  long  looked 


PRESIDENTS  OF  THE  UNITED  STATED. 


S4 


lor  hour  of  deliverance  came,  when  Abraham 
Lincoln  was  to  receive  the  scepter. 

The  administration  of  President  Buchanan 
was  certainly  the  most  calamitous  our  country 
has  experienced.  His  best  friends  cannot  re- 
call it  with  pleasure.  And  still  more  deplor- 
able it  is  for  his  fame,  that  in  that  dreadful 
conflict  which  rolled  its  billows  of  flame  and 
blood  over  our  whole  land,  no  word  came 
from  his  lips  to  indicate  his  wish  that  our 
country’s  banner  should  triumph  over  the  flag 
of  the  rebellion.  He  died  at  his  Wheatland 
retreat,  June  i,  1868. 


HBRAHAM  LINCOLN,  the  sixteeeth 
president  of  the  United  States,  was 
born  in  Hardin  county,  Ky.,  Febru- 
ary 12,  1809.  About  the  year  1780, 
a man  by  the  name  of  Abraham  Lincoln  left 
Virginia  with  his  family  and  moved  into  the 
then  wilds  of  Kentucky.  Only  two  years  after 
this  emigration,  still  a young  man,  while  work- 
ing one  day  in  a field,  he  was  stealthily  ap- 
proached by  an  Indian  and  shot  dead.  His 
widow  was  left  in  extreme  poverty  with  five 
little  children,  three  boys  and  two  girls, 
Thomas,  the  youngest  of  the  boys,  was  four 
years  of  age  at  his  father’s  death.  This 
Thomas  was  the  father  of  Abraham  Lincoln, 
the  president  of  the  United  States,  whose 
name  must  henceforth  forever  be  enrolled  with 
the  most  prominent  in  the  annals  of  our  world. 

When  twenty-eight  years  of  age  Thomas 
Lincoln  built  a log  cabin  of  his  own,  and  mar- 
ried Nancy  Hanks,  the  daughter  of  another 
family  of  poor  Kentucky  emigrants,  who  had 
also  come  from  Virginia.  Their  second  child 
was  Abraham  Lincoln.  The  mother  of  Abra- 
ham was  a noble  woman,  gentle,  loving,  pen- 
sive; created  to  adorn  a palace,  doomed  to 
toil  and  pine,  and  die  in  a hovel.  “All  that  I 


am,  or  hope  to  be,”  exclaims  the  grateful  son, 
“I  owe  to  my  angel  mother.” 

When  Abraham  was  eight  years  of  age,  his 
father  sold  his  cabin  and  farm,  and  moved  to 
Harrison  county,  Ind,  where  two  years  later 
his  mother  died.  Abraham  soon  became  the 
scribe  of  the  uneducated  community  around 
him.  He  could  not  have  had  a better  school 
than  this  to  teach  him  to  put  thoughts  into 
words.  He  also  became  an  eager  reader.  The 
books  he  could  obtain  were  few;  but  these  he 
read  and  re-read  until  they  were  almost  com- 
mitted to  memory.  As  the  years  rolled  on, 
the  lot  of  this  lowly  family  was  the  usual  lot  of 
humanity.  There  were  joys  and  griefs,  wed- 
dings and  funerals.  Abraham’s  sister,  Sarah, 
to  whom  he  was  tenderly  attached,  was  mar- 
ried when  a child  of  but  fourteen  years  of  age, 
and  soon  died.  The  family  was  gradually 
scattered.  Thomas  Lincoln  sold  out  his 
squatter’s  claim  in  1830,  and  emigrated  to 
Macon  county.  111.  Abraham  Lincoln  was 
then  twenty-one  years  of  age.  With  vigorous 
hands  he  aided  his  father  in  rearing  another 
log  cabin.  Abraham  worked  diligently  at  this 
until  he  saw  the  family  comfortably  settled, 
and  their  small  lot  of  inclosed  prairie  planted 
with  corn,  when  he  announced  to  his  father 
his  intention  to  leave  home,  and  to  go  out  into 
the  world  and  seek  his  fortune.  Little  did  he 
or  his  friends  imagine  how  brilliant  that 
fortune  was  to  be.  He  saw  the  value  of  educa- 
tion and  was  intensely  earnest  to  improve  his 
mind  to  the  utmost  of  his  power.  He  saw  the 
ruin  which  ardent  spirits  were  causing,  and 
became  strictly  temperate;  refusing  to  allow  a 
droj)  of  intoxicating  licpior  to  pass  his  lips. 
And  he  had  read  in  God’s  word,  “Thou  shalt 
not  take  the  name  of  the  Lord  thy  God  in 
vain;”  and  a profane  expression  he  was  never 
heard  to  utter.  Religion  he  revered.  His 
morals  were  juire,  and  he  was  uncontamiuated 
by  a single  vice. 


ABRAHAM  LINCOLN 


UBRA.RV 


PRESIDENTS  OF  THE  UNITED  STATES. 


97 


Young  Abraham  worked  for  a time  as  a 
hired  laborer  among  the  farmers.  Then  he 
went  to  Springfield,  where  he  was  employed  in 
building  a large  fiat-boat.  In  this  he  took  a 
herd  of  swine,  floated  them  down  the  Sanga- 
mon to  the  Illinois,  and  thence  by  the  Missis- 
sippi to  New  Orleans.  In  this  adventure  his 
employers  were  so  well  pleased,  that  upon  his 
return  they  placed  a store  and  mill  under  his 
care.  In  1832,  at  the  outbreak  of  the  Black 
Hawk  war,  he  enlisted  and  was  chosen  captain 
of  a company.  He  returned  to  Sangamon 
county,  and  although  only  twenty-three  years 
of  age,  was  a candidate  for  the  legislature,  but 
was  defeated.  He  soon  afterward  received 
from  Andrew  Jackson  the  appointment  of  post- 
master of  New  Salem.  His  only  postoffice 
was  his  hat.  All  the  letters  he  received  he 
carried  there  ready  to  deliver  to  those  he 
chanced  to  meet.  He  studied  surveying  and 
soon  made  this  his  business.  In  1834  he  again 
became  a candidate  for  the  legislature,  and 
was  elected.  Mr.  Stuart,  of  Springfield,  ad- 
vised him  to  study  law.  He  walked  from  New 
Salem  to  Springfield,  borrowed  of  Mr.  Stuart 
a load  of  books,  carried  them  back  and  began 
his  legal  studies.  When  the  legislature  assem- 
bled he  trudged  on  foot  with  his  pack  on  his 
back  100  miles  to  Vandalia,  then  the  capital. 
In  1836  he  was  re-elected  to  the  legislature. 
Here  it  was  he  first  met  Stephen  A.  Douglas. 
In  1839  he  removed  to  Springfield  and  began 
the  practice  of  law.  His  success  with  the  jury 
was  so  great  that  he  was  soon  engaged  in  al- 
most every  noted  case  in  the  circuit. 

In  1854  the  great  discussion  began  between 
j Mr.  Lincoln  and  Mr.  Douglas,  on  the  slavery 
question.  In  the  organization  of  the  republi- 
can party  in  Illinois,  in  1856,  he  took  an  active 
part,  and  at  once  became  one  of  the  leaders  in 
that  party.  Mr.  Lincoln’s  speeches  in  opposi- 
tion to  Senator  Douglas  in  the  contest  in  1858 
for  a seat  in  the  senate,  form  a most  notable 


part  of  his  history.  The  issue  was  on  the 
slavery  question,  and  he  took  the  broad  ground 
of  the  Declaration  of  Independence,  that  all 
men  are  created  equal.  Mr.  Lincoln  was  de- 
feated in  this  contest,  but  won  a far  higher 
prize — the  presidency. 

The  great  republican  convention  met  at 
Chicago  on  the  i6th  of  June,  i860.  The  del- 
egates and  strangers  who  crowded  the  city 
amounted  to  25,000.  An  immense  building, 
called  “The  Wigwam,”  was  reared  to  accom- 
modate the  convention.  There  were  eleven 
candidates  for  whom  votes  were  cast.  William 
H.  Seward,  a man  whose  fame  as  a statesman 
had  long  filled  the  land,  was  the  most  prom- 
inent. It  was  generally  supposed  he  would  be 
the  nominee.  Abraham  Lincoln,  however, 
received  the  nomination  on  the  third  ballot. 
Little  did  he  then  dream  of  the  weary  years  of 
toil  and  care,  and  the  bloody  death,  to  which 
that  nomination  doomed  him;  and  as  little  did 
he  dream  that  he  was  to  render  services  to  his 
country  which  would  fix  upon  him  the  eyes  of 
the  whole  civilized  world,  and  which  would 
give  him  a place  in  the  affections  of  his  coun- 
trymen, second  only,  if  second,  to  that  of 
Washington. 

Election  day  came  and  Mr.  Lincoln  re- 
ceived 180  electoral  votes  out  of  203  cast,  and 
was,  therefore,  constitutionally  elected  presi- 
dent of  the  United  States.  The  tirade  of 
abuse  that  was  poured  upon  this  good  and 
merciful  man,  especially  by  the  slaveholders, 
was  greater  than  upon  any  other  man  ever 
elected  to  this  high  position.  In  February, 
1861,  Mr.  Lincoln  started  for  Washington, 
stopping  in  all  the  large  cities  on  his  way, 
making  speeches.  The  whole  journey  was 
fraught  with  much  danger.  Many  of  the 
southern  states  had  already  seceded,  and  sev- 
eral attempts  at  assassination  were  afterward 
brought  to  light.  A gang  in  Baltimore  had 
arranged,  upon  his  arrival,  to  ‘ ‘ get  up  a row,  ” 


08 


PRESIDENTS  OF  THE  UNITED  STATES. 


and  in  the  confusion  to  make  sure  of  his  death 
with  revolvers  and  hand  grenades.  A detect- 
ive unraveled  the  plot.  A secret  and  special 
train  was  provided  to  take  him  from  Harris- 
burg, through  Baltimore,  at  an  unexpected 
hour  of  the  night.  The  train  started  at  half- 
past ten;  and  to  prevent  any  possible  com- 
munication on  the  part  of  the  secessionists 
with  their  confederate  gang  in  Baltimore,  as 
soon  as  the  train  had  started  the  telegraph 
wires  were  cut.  Mr.  Lincoln  reached  Wash- 
ington in  safety  and  was  inaugurated,  although 
great  anxiety  was  felt  by  all  loyal  people. 

In  the  selection  of  his  cabinet  Mr.  Lincoln 
gave  to  Mr.  Seward  the  department  of  state, 
and  to  other  prominent  opponents  before  the 
convention  he  gave  important  positions. 

During  no  other  administration  have  the 
duties  devolving  upon  the  president  been  so 
manifold,  and  the  responsibilities  so  great,  as 
those  which  fell  to  the  lot  of  President  Lincoln. 
Knowing  this,  and  feeling  his  own  weakness 
and  inability  to  meet,  and  in  his  own  strength 
to  cope  with  the  difficulties,  he  early  learned 
to  seek  Divine  wisdom  and  guidance  in  deter- 
mining his  plans,  and  Divine  comfort  in  all  his 
trials,  both  personal  and  national.  Contrary 
to  his  own  estimate  of  himself,  Mr.  Lincoln 
was  one  of  the  most  courageous  of  men.  He 
went  directly  into  the  rebel  capital  just  as  the 
retreating  foe  was  leaving,  with  no  guard  but 
a few  sailors.  From  the  time  he  had  left 
Springfield,  in  i86i,  however,  plans  had  been 
made  for  his  assassination,  and  he  at  last  fell 
a victim  to  one  of  them.  April  14,  1865,  he, 
with  General  Grant,  was  urgently  invited  to 
attend  Ford’s  theater.  It  was  announced  that 
they  would  be  present.  Gen.  Grant,  however, 
left  the  city.  Pres.  Lincoln,  feeling,  with  his 
characteristic  kindliness  of  heart,  that  it  would 
be  a disappointment  if  he  should  fail  them, 
very  reluctantly  consented  to  go.  While 
listening  to  the  play  an  actor  by  the  name  of 


John  Wilkes  Booth  entered  the  box  where  the 
president  and  family  were  seated,  and  fired  a 
bullet  into  his  brains.  He  died  the  next  morn- 
ing at  seven  o’clock,  and  now,  if  never  before, 
the  nation  was  plunged  into  the  deepest 
mourning,  and  truly  mourned  the  “country’s 
loss.  ” 


HNDREW  JOHNSON,  the  seventeenth 
president  of  the  United  States,  was 
born  December  29,  1808,  in  Raleigh, 
N.  C.  When  Andrew  was  five  years 
of  age,  his  father  accidentally  lost  his  life 
while  heroically  endeavoring  to  save  a friend 
from  drowning.  Until  ten  years  of  age,  An- 
drew was  a ragged  boy  about  the  streets,  sup- 
ported by  the  labor  of  his  mother,  who  ob- 
tained her  living  with  her  own  hands.  He 
then,  having  never  attended  a school  one  day, 
and  being  unable  either  to  read  or  write,  was 
apprenticed  to  a tailor  in  his  native  town.  A 
gentleman  was  in  the  habit  of  going  to  the 
tailor’s  shop  occasionally  and  reading  to  the 
boys  at  work  there.  He  often  read  from  the 
speeches  of  distinguished  British  statesmen. 
Andrew,  who  was  endowed  with  a mind  of 
more  than  ordinary  native  ability,  became 
much  interested  in  these  speeches;  his  ambi- 
tion was  roused,  and  he  was  inspired  with  a 
strong  desire  to  learn  to  read.  He  according- 
ly applied  himself  to  the  alphabet,  and,  with 
the  assistance  of  some  of  his  fellow-workmen, 
learned  his  letters.  He  then  called  upon  the 
gentleman  to  borrow  the  book  of  speeches. 
The  owner,  pleased  with  his  zeal,  not  only 
gave  him  the  book,  but  assisted  him  in  learn- 
ing to  combine  the  letters  into  words.  Under 
such  difficulties  he  pressed  onward  laboriously, 
spending  usually  ten  or  twelve  hours  at  work 
in  the  shop,  and  then  robbing  himself  of  rest 
and  recreation  to  devote  such  time  as  he  could 
to  reading. 


ANDREW  JOHNSON. 


LIBRARY 
OF  THE 

afHVERSlTY  OF  lUINOlS 


PRESIDENTS  OF  THE  UNITED  STATES. 


101 


He  went  to  Tennessee  in  1 826  and  located 
at  Greenville,  where  he  married  a young  lady 
who  possessed  some  education.  Under  her 
instructions  he  learned  to  write  and  cipher. 
He  became  prominent  in  the  village  debating 
society,  and  a favorite  with  the  students  of 
Greenville  college.  In  1828  he  organized  a 
workingman’s  party,  which  elected  him  aider- 
man,  and  in  1830  elected  him  mayor,  which 
position  he  held  three  years.  He  now  began 
to  take  a lively  interest  in  political  affairs, 
identifying  himself  with  the  working  classes  to 
which  he  belonged.  In  1835  he  was  elected 
a member  of  the  house  of  representatives  of 
Tennessee.  He  was  then  just  twenty-seven 
years  of  age.  He  became  a very  active  mem- 
ber of  the  legislature,  gave  his  adhesion  to  the 
democratic  party,  and  in  1840  “stumped  the 
state,”  advocating  Martin  Van  Buren’s  claims 
to  the  presidency  in  opposition  to  those  of 
Gen.  Harrison.  In  this  campaign  he  ac- 
quired much  readiness  as  a speaker,  and  ex- 
tended and  increased  his  reputation. 

In  1841  he  was  elected  state  senator;  in 
1843  he  was  elected  a member  of  congress, 
and  by  successive  elections  held  that  important 
post  for  ten  years.  In  1853  he  was  elected 
governor  of  Tennessee,  and  was  re-elected  in 
1855.  In  all  these  responsible  positions  he 
discharged  his  duties  with  distinguished  ability 
and  proved  himself  the  friend  of  the  working 
classes.  In  1857  Mr.  Johnson  was  elected  a 
United  States  senator. 

Years  before,  in  1845,  he  had  warmly  ad- 
vocated the  annexation  of  Texas,  stating 
however,  as  his  reason,  that  he  thought 
this  annexation  would  probably  prove  ‘ ‘to  be 
the  gateway  out  of  which  the  sable  sons  of  Africa 
are  to  pass  from  bondage  to  freedom,  and  be- 
come merged  in  a population  congenial  to 
themselves.”  In  1850  he  also  supported  the 
compromise  measures,  the  two  essential  fea- 


tures of  which  were,  that  the  white  people 
of  the  territories  should  be  permitted  to  de- 
cide for  themselves  whether  they  would  en- 
slave the  colored  people  or  not,  and  that  the 
free  states  of  the  north  should  return  to  the 
south  persons  who  attempted  to  escape  from 
slavery. 

Mr.  Johnson  was  never  ashamed  of  his 
lowly  origin;  on  the  contrary  he  often  took 
pride  in  avowing  that  he  owed  his  distinction 
to  his  own  exertions.  “Sir,”  said  he  on  the 
floor  of  the  senate,  “I  do  not  forget  that  I 
am  a mechanic;  neither  do  I forget  that  Adam 
was  a tailor  and  sewed  fig  leaves,  and  that  our 
Savior  was  the  son  of  a carpenter.” 

In  the  Charleston-Baltimore  convention  of 
i860,  he  was  the  choice  of  the  Tennessee 
democrats  for  the  presidency.  In  1861,  when 
the  purpose  of  the  southern  democracy  became 
apparent,  he  took  a decided  stand  in  favor  of 
the  Union,  and  held  “slavery  must  be  held 
subordinate  to  the  Union  at  whatever  cost.” 
He  returned  to  Tennessee,  and  repeatedly  im- 
periled his  own  life  to  protect  the  Unionists  of 
Tennessee.  Tennessee  having  seceded  from 
the  Union,  President  Lincoln,  on  March  4, 
1862,  appointed  him  military  governor  of  the 
state,  and  he  established  the  most  stringent 
military  rule.  His  numerous  proclamations 
attracted  wide  attention.  In  1864  he  was 
elected  vice  president  of  the  United  States,  and 
upon  the  death  of  Mr.  Lincoln,  April  15,  1865, 
became  president.  In  a speech  two  days  later 
he  said:  “The  American  people  must  be 
taught,  if  they  do  not  already  feel,  that  trea- 
son is  a crime  and  must  be  punished;  that  the 
government  will  not  always  bear  with  its  ene- 
mies; that  it  is  strong  not  only  to  protect,  but 
to  punish.  * * The  people  must  under- 

stand that  it  (treason)  is  the  blackest  of  crimes 
and  will  surely  be  punished.”  Yet  his  whole 
administration,  the  history  of  which  is  so  well 


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PRESIDENTS  OE  THE  UNITED  STATES. 


known,  was  in  niter  inconsistency  with,  and 
the  most  violent  opposition  to,  the  principles 
laid  down  in  that  speech. 

In  his  loose  policy  of  reconstruction  and 
general  amnesty  he  was  opposed  by  congress; 
and  he  characterized  congress  as  a new  rebel- 
lion, and  lawlessly  dehed  it  in  everything  pos- 
sible to  the  utmost.  In  the  beginning  of  1868, 
on  account  of  “high  crimes  and  misdemean- 
ors,” the  principal  of  which  was  the  removal 
of  Secretary  Stanton,  in  violation  of  the  Ten- 
ure of  Office  act,  articles  of  impeachment 
were  preferred  against  him,  and  the  trial  began 
March  23. 

It  was  very  tedious,  continuing  for  nearly 
three  months.  A test  article  of  the  impeach- 
ment was  at  length  submitted  to  the  court  for 
its  action.  It  was  certain  that  as  the  court 
voted  upon  that  article,  so  would  it  vote  upon 
all.  Thirty-four  voices  pronounced  the  presi- 
dent guilty.  As  a two-thirds  vote  was  neces- 
sary to  his  condemnation,  he  was  pronounced 
acquitted,  notwithstanding  the  great  majority 
against  him.  The  change  of  one  vote  from 
the  not  guilty  side  would  have  sustained  the 
impeachment. 

The  president  for  the  remainder  of  his 
term  was  but  little  regarded.  He  continued, 
though  impotently,  his  conflict  wdth  congress. 
His  owm  party  did  not  think  it  expedient  to 
renominate  him  for  the  presidency.  The  bul- 
let of  the  assassin  introduced  him  to  the  presi- 
dent's chair.  Notwithstanding  this,  never 
was  there  presented  to  a man  a better  oppor- 
tunity to  immortalize  his  name  and  win  the 
gratitude  of  a nation.  He  failed  utterly.  He 
retired  to  his  home  in  Greenville,  Tenm,  tak- 
ing no  very  active  part  in  politics  until  1875. 
On  January  26,  after  an  exciting  struggle,  he 
was  chosed  by  the  legislature  of  Tennessee 
United  States  senator  in  the  forty-fourth  con- 
gress; and  took  his  seat  in  that  body  at  the 
special  session  convened  by  President  Grant 


on  the  5th  of  March.  On  the  27th  of  July, 
1875,  the  ex-president  made  a visit  to  his 
daughter’s  home,  near  Carter  Station,  Tenn. 
When  he  started  on  his  journey  he  was  appar- 
ently in  his  usual  vigorous  health,  but  on 
reaching  the  residence  of  his  child  the  follow- 
ing day  was  stricken  with  paralysis,  rendering 
him  unconscious.  He  rallied  occasionally,  but 
finally  passed  away  at  2 A.  M.,  July  31,  aged 
sixty-seven  years.  He  was  buried  at  Green- 
ville, on  the  3d  of  August,  1875. 


aLYSSES  S.  GRANT,  the  eighteenth 
president  of  the  United  States,  was 
born  on  the  29th  of  April,  1822,  of 
Christian  parents,  in  a humble  home, 
at  Point  Pleasant,  Va. ,011  the  banks  of  theOhio. 
Shortly  after  his  father  moved  to  Georgetown, 
Brown  county,  Ohio.  In  this  remote  frontier 
hamlet,  Ulysses  received  a common  school 
education.  At  the  age  of  seventeen,  in  the 
year  1839,  he  entered  the  Military  academy  at 
West  Point.  Here  he  w'as  regarded  as  a solid, 
sensible  young  man  of  fair  abilities,  and  of 
sturdy,  honest  character.  He  took  respect- 
able rank  as  a scholar.  In  June,  1843,  he 
graduated,  about  the  middle  in  his  class,  and 
was  sent  as  lieutenant  of  infantry  to  one  of 
the  distant  military  posts  in  the  Missouri  terri- 
tory. Two  years  he  passed  in  these  dreary 
solitudes,  watching  the  vagabond  and  exasper- 
ating Indians. 

The  war  with  Mexico  came.  Lieut.  Grant 
was  sent  with  his  regiment  to  Corpus  Christi. 
His  first  battle  was  at  Palo  Alto.  There  was 
no  chance  here  for  the  exhibition  of  either 
skill  or  heroism,  nor  at  Resaca  de  la  Palma, 
Ins  second  battle.  At  the  battle  of  Monterey, 
his  third  engagement,  it  is  said  that  he  per- 
formed a signal  service  of  daring  and  skillful 
horsemanship.  His  brigade  had  exhausted  its 
ammunition.  A messenger  must  be  sent  for 


ULYSSES  S.  GRANT. 


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more,  along  a route  exposed  to  the  bullets  of 
the  foe.  Lieut.  Grant,  adopting  an  expedient 
learned  of  the  Indians,  grasped  the  mane  of 
his  horse,  and  hanging  upon  one  side  of  the 
animal,  ran  the  gauntlet  in  entire  safety. 
From  Monterey  he  was  sent,  with  the  Fourth 
infantry,  to  aid  Gen.  Scott,  at  the  siege  of 
Vera  Cruz.  In  preparation  for  the  march  to 
the  city  of  Mexico,  he  was  appointed  quarter- 
master of  his  regiment.  At  the  battle  of 
Molino  del  Key,  he  was  promoted  to  a first 
lieutenancy,  and  was  brevetted  captain  at 
Chapultepec. 

At  the  close  of  the  Mexican  war,  Capt. 
Grant  returned  with  his  regiment  to  New 
York,  and  was  again  sent  to  one  of  the  mili- 
tary posts  on  the  frontier.  The  discovery  of 
gold  in  California  causing  an  immense  tide  of 
emigration  to  flow  to  the  Pacific  shores,  Capt. 
Grant  was  sent,  with  a battalion,  to  Fort 
Dallas,  in  Oregon,  for  the  protection  of  the 
interests  of  the  emigrants.  Life  was  weari- 
some in  those  wilds.  Capt.  Grant  resigned 
his  commission  and  returned  to  the  states; 
and  having  married,  entered  upon  the  cultiva- 
tion of  a small  farm  near  St.  Louis,  Mo.  He 
had  but  little  skill  as  a farmer.  Finding  his  toil 
not  remunerative,  he  turned  to  mercantile 
life,  entering  into  the  leather  business,  with  a 
younger  brother  at  Galena,  111.  This  was  in 
the  year  i860.  As  the  tidings  of  the  rebels 
firing  on  Fort  Sumter  reached  the  ears  of 
Capt.  Grant  in  his  counting  room,  he  said — 
“Uncle  Sam  has  educated  me  for  the  army; 
though  I have  served  him  through  one  war,  I 
do  not  feel  that  I have  yet  repaid  the  debt. 
I am  still  ready  to  discharge  my  obligations.  I 
shall  therefore  buckle  on  my  sword  and  see 
Uncle  Sam  through  this  war,  too.” 

He  went  into  the  streets,  raised  a company 
of  volunteers,  and  led  them,  as  their  captain, 
to  Springfield,  the  capital  of  the  state,  where 
their  services  were  offered  to  Gov.  Yates.  The 


governor,  impressed  by  the  zeal  and  straight- 
forward executive  ability  of  Capt.  Grant,  gave 
him  a desk  in  his  office,  to  assist  in  the  volun- 
teer organization  that  was  being  formed  in  the 
state  in  behalf  of  the  government.  On  the 
1 5th  of  June,  1861,  Capt.  Grant  received  a 
commission  as  colonel  of  the  Twenty-first 
regiment  of  Illinois  volunteers.  His  merits  as 
a West  Point  graduate,  who  had  served  for 
fifteen  years  in  the  regular  army,  were  such 
that  he  was  soon  promoted  to  the  rank  of 
brigadier  general  and  was  placed  in  command 
at  Cairo.  The  rebels  raised  their  flag  at  Pa- 
ducah, near  the  mouth  of  the  Tennessee  river. 
Scarcely  had  its  folds  appeared  ere  Gen.  Grant 
was  there.  The  rebels  fled.  Their  banner 
fell,  and  the  stars  and  stripes  were  unfurled  in 
its  stead. 

At  Belmont,  a few  days  later,  he  sur- 
prised and  routed  the  rebels,  then  at  Fort 
Henry  won  another  victory.  Then  came  the 
brilliant  fight  at  Fort  Donelson.  The  nation 
was  electrified  by  the  victory,  and  the  brave 
leader  of  the  boys  in  blue  was  immediately 
made  a major  general,  and  the  military  district 
of  Tennessee  was  assigned  to  him. 

Like  all  great  captains,  Gen.  Grant  knew 
well  how  to  secure  the  results  of  a victory.  He 
immediately  pushed  on  to  the  enemy’s  lines. 
Then  came  the  terrible  battles  of  Pittsburg 
Landing,  Corinth,  and  the  siege  of  Vicksburg, 
where  Gen.  Pemberton  made  an  unconditional 
surrender  of  the  city  with  over  30,000  men 
and  172  cannon.  The  fall  of  Vicksburg  was 
by  far  the  most  severe  blow  which  the  rebels 
had  thus  far  encountered,  and  opened  up  the 
Mississippi  from  Cario  to  the  gulf. 

Gen.  Grant  was  next  ordered  to  co-operate 
with  Gen.  Banks  in  a movement  upon  Texas, 
and  proceeded  to  New  Orleans,  where  he  was 
thrown  from  his  horse  and  received  severe  in- 
juries, from  which  he  was  laid  up  for  months. 
He  then  rushed  to  the  aid  of  Gens.  Rosecrans 


PRESIDENTS  OF  THE  UNITED  STATES. 


and  Thomas  at  Chattanooga,  and  by  a won- 
derful series  of  strategtic  and  technical  measures 
put  the  Union  army  in  fighting  condition. 
Then  followed  the  bloody  battles  of  Chatta- 
nooga, Lookout  Mountain  and  Missionary 
Ridge,  in  which  the  rebels  were  routed  with 
great  loss.  This  won  for  him  unbounded 
praise  in  the  north.  On  the  4th  of  February, 

1 864,  congress  revived  the  grade  of  lieutenant 
general,  and  the  rank  was  conferred  on  Gen. 
Grant.  He  repaired  to  Washington  to  receive 
his  credentials  and  enter  upon  the  duties  of  his 
new  office. 

Gen.  Grant  decided  as  soon  as  he  took 
charge  of  the  army  to  concentrate  the  widely 
dispersed  national  troops  for  an  attack  on 
Richmond,  the  nominal  capital  of  the  rebel- 
lion, and  endeavor  there  to  destroy  the  rebel 
armies  which  would  be  promptly  assembled 
from  all  quarters  for  its  defense.  The  whole 
continent  seemed  to  tremble  under  the  tramp 
of  these  majestic  armies,  rushing  to  the  deci- 
sive battle-field.  Steamers  were  crowded  with 
troops;  railway  trains  were  burdened  with 
closely  packed  thousands.  His  plans  were 
comprehensive  and  involved  a series  of  cam- 
paigns, which  were  executed  with  remarkable 
energy  and  ability,  and  wei'e  consummated  at 
the  surrender  of  Lee,  April  9,  1865. 

The  war  was  ended  The  Union  was  saved. 
The  almost  unanimous  voice  of  the  nation  de- 
clared Gen.  Grant  to  be  the  most  prominent 
instrument  in  its  salvation.  The  eminent 
services  he  had  thus  rendered  the  country 
brought  him  conspicuously  forward  as  the  re- 
publican candidate  for  the  presidential  chair. 
At  the  republican  convention  held  at  Chicago, 
May  21,  1868,  he  was  unanimously  nominated 
for  the  presidency,  and  at  the  autumn  elec- 
tion received  a majority  of  the  popular 
vote,  and  214  out  of  294  electoral  votes.  The 
national  convention  of  the  republican  party 
which  met  at  Philadelphia  on  the  5th  of  June, 


1872,  placed  Gen.  Grant  in  nomination  fora 
second  term  by  a unanimous  vote.  The  selec- 
tion was  emphatically  endorsed  by  the  people 
five  months  later,  292  electoral  votes  being 
cast  for  him. 

Soon  after  the  close  of  his  second  term, 
Gen.  Grant  started  upon  his  famous  trip 
around  the  world.  He  visited  almost  every 
country  of  the  civilized  world,  and  was  every- 
where received  with  such  ovations  and  demon- 
strations of  respect  and  honor,  private,  as  well 
as  public  and  official,  as  were  never  before 
bestowed  upon  any  citizen  of  the  United  States. 

He  was  the  most  prominent  candidate 
before  the  republican  national  convention  in 
1 880  for  a renomination  for  president.  But  he 
went  to  New  York  and  embarked  in  the 
brokerage  business  under  the  firm  name  of 
Grant  & Ward.  The  latter  proved  a villain, 
wrecked  Grant’s  fortune,  and  for  larceny  was 
sent  to  the  penitentiary.  The  general  was 
attacked  with  cancer  in  the  throat,  but  suffered 
in  his  stoic-like  manner,  never  complaining. 
He  was  re-instated  general  of  the  army  and 
retired  by  congress.  The  cancer  soon  finished 
its  deadly  work,  and  July  23,  1885,  the  nation 
went  in  mourning  over  the  death  of  the  illus- 
trious general. 


UTHERFORD  B.  HAYES,  the  nine- 
teenth president  of  the  United  States, 
was  born  in  Delaware,  Ohio,  October 
4,  1852,  almost  three  months  after 
the  death  of  his  father,  Rutherford  Hayes. 
His  ancestry,  an  both  the  paternal  and  mater- 
nal sides,  was  of  the  most  honorable  character. 
It  can  be  traced,  it  is  said,  as  far  back  as 
1280,  when  Hayes  and  Rutherford  were  two 
Scottish  chieftains,  fighting  side  by  side  with 
Baliol,  William  Wallace  and  Robert  Bruce. 
Both  families  belonged  to  the  nohility,  owned 
extensive  estates,  and  had  a large  following. 


RUTHERFORD  B.  HAYES, 


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109 


Misfortune  overtaking  the  family,  George 
Hayes  left  Scotland  in  1680,  and  settled  in 
Windsor,  Conn.  His  son  George  was  born 
in  Windsor,  and  remained  there  during  his 
life.  Daniel  Hayes,  son  of  the  latter,  married 
Sarah  Lee,  and  lived  from  the  time  of  his 
marriage  until  his  death  in  Simsbury,  Conn. 
Ezekiel,  son  of  Daniel,  was  born  in  1724,  and 
was  a manufacturer  of  scythes  at  Bradford, 
Conn.  Rutherford  Hayes,  son  of  Ezekiel  and 
grandfather  of  President  Hayes,  was  born  in 
New  Haven,  in  August,  1756.  He  was  a 
farmer,  blacksmith  and  tavern-keeper.  He 
emigrated  to  Vermont  at  an  unknown  date, 
settling  in  Brattleboro,  where  he  established  a 
hotel.  Here  his  son,  Rutherford  Hayes,  the 
father  of  President  Hayes,  was  born.  He  was 
married,  in  September,  1813,  to  Sophia  Bir- 
chard, of  Wilmington,  Vt.,  whose  ancestors 
emigrated  thither  from  Connecticut,  they  hav- 
ing been  among  the  wealthiest  and  best  fami- 
lies of  Norwich.  Her  ancestry  on  the  male 
side  are  traced  back  to  1635,  to  John  Bir- 
chard, one  of  the  principal  founders  of  Nor- 
wich. Both  of  her  grandfathers  were  soldiers 
in  the  Revolutionary  war. 

The  father  of  President  Hayes  was  an  in- 
dustrious, frugal  and  open-hearted  man.  He 
was  of  a mechanical  turn,  and  could  mend  a 
plow,  knit  a stocking,  or  do  almost  any- 
thing else  that  he  chose  to  undertake.  He 
was  a member  of  the  church,  active  in  all  the 
benevolent  enterprises  of  the  town,  and  con- 
ducted his  business  on  Christian  principles. 
After  the  close  of  the  war  of  1812,  for  reasons 
inexplicable  to  his  neighbors,  he  resolved  to 
emigrate  to  Ohio. 

The  journey  from  Vermont  to  Ohio  in  that 
day,  when  there  were  no  canals,  steamers,  nor 
railways,  was  a very  serious  affair.  A tour  of 
inspection  was  first  made,  occupying  four 
months.  Mr.  Hayes  determined  to  move  to 
Delaware,  where  the  family  arrived  in  1817. 


He  died  July  22,  1822,  a victim  of  malarial 
fever,  less  than  three  months  before  the  birth 
of  the  son,  of  whom  we  now  write.  Mrs. 
Hayes,  in  her  sore  bereavement,  found  the 
support  she  so  much  needed  in  her  brother 
Sardis,  who  had  been  a member  of  the  house- 
hold from  the  day  of  its  departure  from  Ver- 
mont, and  in  an  orphan  girl  whom  she  had 
adopted  some  time  before  as  an  act  of  charity. 

Mrs.  Hayes  at  this  period  was  very  weak, 
and  the  subject  of  this  sketch  was  so  feeble  at 
birth  that  he  was  not  expected  to  live  beyond 
a month  or  two  at  most.  As  the  months  went 
by  he  grew  weaker  and  weaker,  so  that  the 
neighbors  were  in  the  habit  of  inquiring  from 
time  to  time  “if  Mrs.  Hayes’  baby  died  last 
night.”  On  one  occasion  a neighbor,  who 
was  on  familiar  terms  with  the  family,  after 
alluding  to  the  boy’s  big  head,  and  the  moth- 
er’s assiduous  care  of  him,  said  in  a bantering 
way,  “That’s  right!  Stick  to  him.  You  have 
got  him  along  so  far,  and  I shouldn’t  wonder 
if  he  would  really  come  to  something  yet.” 

“You  need  not  laugh,”  said  Mrs.  Hayes. 
“You  wait  and  see.  You  can’t  tell  but  I 
shall  make  him  president  of  the  United  Statec 
yet.”  The  boy  lived  in  spite  of  the  universal 
predictions  of  his  speedy  death;  and  when,  in 
1825,  his  older  brother  was  drowned,  he  be- 
came, if  possible,  still  dearer  to  his  mother. 

The  boy  was  seven  years  old  before  he 
went  to  school.  His  education,  however,  was 
not  neglected.  He  probably  learned  as  much 
from  his  mother  and  sister  as  he  would  have 
done  at  school.  His  sports  were  almost  wholly 
within  doors,  his  playmates  being  his  sis<-er 
and  her  associates.  His  uncle  Sardis  Birchard 
took  the  deepest  interest  in  his  education;  and 
as  the  boy’s  health  had  improved,  and  he  was 
making  good  progress  in  his  studies,  he  pro- 
posed to  send  him  to  college.  His  preparation 
commenced  with  a tutor  at  home;  but  he  was 
afterward  sent  for  one  year  to  a professor  in 


no 


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the  Wesleyan  university,  in  Middletown,  Conn. 
He  entered  Kenyon  college  in  1838,  at  the 
age  of  sixteen,  and  was  graduated  at  the  head 
of  his  class  in  1 842. 

Immediately  after  his  graduation  he  began 
the  study  of  law  in  the  office  of  Thomas  Spar- 
row, Esq.,  in  Columbus.  Finding  his  oppor- 
tunities for  study  in  Columbus  somewhat 
limited,  he  determined  to  enter  the  law  school 
at  Cambridge,  Mass.,  where  he  remained  two 
years.  In  1845,  after  graduating  at  the  law 
school,  he  was  admitted  to  the  bar  at  Marietta, 
Ohio,  and  shortly  afterward  went  into  practice 
as  an  attorney-at-law  with  Ralph  P.  Buck- 
land,  of  Fremont.  Here  he  remained  three 
years,  acquiring  but  a limited  practice,  and 
apparently  unambitious  of  distinction  in  his 
profession. 

In  1849  he  moved  to  Cincinnati,  where  his 
ambition  found  a new  stimulus.  Two  events, 
occurring  at  this  period,  had  a powerful  influ- 
ence upon  his  subsequent  life.  One  of  these 
was  his  marriage  with  Miss  Fucy  Ware  Webb, 
daughter  of  Dr.  James  Webb,  of  Chillicothe; 
the  other  was  his  introduction  to  the  Cincin- 
nati Fiterary  club,  a body  embracing  among 
its  members  such  men  as  Chief  Justice  Salmon 
P.  Chase,  Gen.  John  Pope,  Gov.  Edward  F 
Noyes,  and  many  others  hardly  less  distin- 
guished in  after  life.  The  marriage  was  a 
fortunate  one  in  every  respect,  as  everybody 
knows.  Not  one  of  all  the  wives  of  our  presi- 
dents was  more  universally  admired,  rever- 
enced and  beloved  than  was  Mrs.  Hayes,  and 
no  one  did  more  than  she  to  reflect  honor 
upon  American  womanhood.  The  Fiterary 
club  brought  Mr.  Hayes  into  constant  associa- 
tion with  young  men  of  high  character  and 
noble  aims,  and  lured  him  to  display  the 
qualities  so  long  hidden  by  his  bashfulness  and 
extreme  modesty. 

In  1856  he  was  nominated  to  the  office  of 
judge  of  the  court  of  common  pleas;  but  he 


declined  to  accept  the  nomination.  Two 
years  later,  the  office  of  city  solicitor  becoming 
vacant,  the  city  council  elected  him  for  the  un- 
expired term. 

In  1861,  when  the  rebellion  broke  out,  he 
was  at  the  zenith  of  his  professional  life.  His 
rank  at  the  bar  was  among  the  first.  But  the 
news  of  the  attack  on  Fort  Sumter  found  him 
eager  to  take  up  arms  for  the  defense  of  his 
beloved  country. 

His  military  record  was  bright  and  illus- 
trious. In  October,  1861,  he  was  made 
lieutenant-colonel,  and  August,  1862,  promoted 
colonel  of  the  Seventy-ninth  Ohio  regiment, 
but  he  refused  to  leave  his  old  comrades  and 
go  among  strangers.  Subsequently,  however, 
he  was  made  colonel  of  his  old  regiment.  At 
the  battle  of  South  Mountain  he  received  a 
wound,  and  while  faint  and  bleeding  displayed 
courage  and  fortitude  that  won  admiration 
from  all. 

Col.  Hayes  was  detached  from  his  regiment, 
after  his  recovery,  to  act  as  brigadier-general, 
and  placed  in  command  of  the  celebrated  Kana- 
wha division,  and  for  gallant  and  meritorious 
services  in  the  battles  of  Winchester,  Fisher’s 
Hill  and  Cedar  Creek,  he  was  promoted  briga- 
dier-general. He  was  also  brevetted  major- 
general  "for  gallant  and  distinguished  services 
during  the  campaigns  of  1864  in  West  Vir- 
ginia. ” In  the  course  of  his  arduous  services 
four  horses  were  shot  from  under  him,  and  he 
was  wounded  four  times. 

In  1864,  Gen.  Hayes  was  elected  to  con- 
gress, from  the  Second  Ohio  district,  which 
had  long  been  democratic.  He  was  not  pres- 
ent during  the  canqiaign,  and  after  his  election 
was  importuned  to  resign  his  commission  in 
the  army;  but  he  finally  declared;  " I shall 
never  come  to  Washington  until  I can  come  by 
the  way  of  Richmond.”  He  was  re-elected 
in  1866. 

In  1867,  Gen.  Hayes  was  elected  governor 


LIBRARY 
OF  THE 

UNIVERSITY  OF  ILLINOIS 


JAMES  A.  GARFIELD. 


PRESIDENTS  OF  THE  UNITED  STATES. 


118 


of  Ohio  over  Hon.  Allen  G.  Thurman,  a popu- 
lar democrat.  In  1869  'was  re-elected  over 
George  H.  Pendleton.  He  was  elected  gov- 
ernor for  the  third  term  in  1875. 

In  1876  he  was  the  standard-bearer  of  the 
republican  party  in  the  presidential  contest, 
and,  after  a hard,  long  contest,  was  chosen 
president,  and  was  inaugurated  Monday,  March 

5.  1875. 

He  served  one  full  term  of  four  years,  then 
retired  to  his  peaceful  home,  where  he  expired 
January  17,  1893. 


AMES  A.  GARFIELD,  twentieth  pres- 
ident of  the  United  States,  was  born 
November  19,  1831,  in  the  woods  of 
Orange,  Cuyahoga  county,  Ohio.  His 
parents  were  Abram  and  Eliza  (Ballou)  Gar- 
field, both  of  New  England  ancestry,  and  from 
families  well  known  in  the  early  history  of  that  | 
section  of  our  country,  but  had  moved  to  the 
Western  Reserve,  in  Ohio,  early  in  its  settle- 
ment. 

The  house  in  which  James  A.  was  born 
was  about  20x30  feet,  built  of  logs,  with  the 
spaces  between  the  logs  filled  with  clay.  His 
father  was  a hard-working  farmer,  and  he  soon 
. had  his  fields  cleared,  an  orchard  planted,  and 
a log  barn  built.  The  household  comprised 
the  father  and  mother  and  their  four  children — 
Mehetabel,  Thomas,  Mary  and  James.  In 
May,  1823,  the  father,  Jrom  a cold  contracted 
in  helping  to  put  out  a forest  fire,  died.  At 
this  time  James  was  about  eighteen  months 
old,  and  Thomas  about  ten  years  old.  He 
now  lives  in  Michigan,  and  the  two  sisters  live 
in  Solon,  Ohio,  near  their  birth-place. 

The  early  educational  advantages  young 
Garfield  enjoyed  were  very  limited,  yet  he 
made  the  most  of  them.  He  labored  at  farm 
work  for  others,  did  carpenter  work,  chopped 


wood,  or  did  anything  that  would  bring  in  a 
few  dollars.  Nor  was  Gen.  Garfield  ever 
j ashamed  of  his  origin,  and  he  never  forgot  the 
friends  of  his  struggling  childhood,  youth  and 
manhood,  neither  did  they  ever  forget  him. 
When  in  the  highest  seats  of  honor,  the 
humblest  friend  of  his  boyhood  was  as  kindly 
greeted  as  ever. 

The  highest  ambition  of  young  Garfield 
until  he  was  about  sixteen  years  old  was  to  be 
a captain  of  a vessel  on  Lake  Erie.  He  was 
anxious  to  go  aboard  a vessel,  which  his 
mother  strongly  opposed.  She  finally  con- 
sented to  his  going  to  Cleveland,  with  the 
understanding,  however,  that  he  should  try  to 
obtain  some  other  kind  of  employment.  He 
walked  all  the  way  to  Cleveland.  After 
making  many  applications  for  work,  and  try- 
ing to  get  aboard  a lake  vessel,  and  not  meet- 
ing with  success,  he  engaged  as  a driver  for  his 
cousin,  Amos  Letcher,  on  the  Ohio  & Penn- 
sylvania canal.  He  remained  at  this  work 
but  a short  time  when  he  went  home,  and 
attended  the  seminary  at  Chester  for  about 
three  years,  when  he  entered  Hiram  and  the 
Eclectic  institute,  teaching  a few  terms  of 
school  in  the  meantime,  and  doing  other  work. 
This  school  was  started  by  the  Disciples  of 
Christ  in  1850,  of  which  church  he  was  then 
a member.  He  became  janitor  and  bell-ringer 
in  order  to  help  pay  his  way.  He  then  be- 
came both  teacher  and  pupil.  In  the  fall  of 
1854,  he  entered  Williams  college,  from  which 
he  graduated  in  1856,  taking  one  of  the  high- 
est honors  of  his  class.  He  afterward  re- 
turned to  Hiram  college  as  its  president.  Dr. 
Noah  Porter,  president  of  Yale  college,  says  of 
him  in  reference  to  his  religion: 

“President  Garfield  was  more  than  a man 
of  strong  moral  and  religious  convictions.  His 
whole  history,  from  boyhood  to  the  last, 
shows  that  duty  to  man  and  to  God,  and  de- 
votion to  Christ  and  life  and  faith  and  spiritual 


114 


PRESIDENTS  OF  THE  UNITED  STATES. 


commission  were  controlling  springs  of  his 
being,  and  to  a more  than  usual  degree.” 

Mr.  Garfield  was  united  in  marriage  with 
Miss  Lucretia  Rudolph,  November  ii,  1858, 
who  proved  herself  worthy  as  the  wife  of  one 
whom  all  the  world  loved  and  mourned.  To 
them  were  born  seven  children,  five  of  whom 
are  still  living,  four  boys  and  one  girl. 

Mr.  Garfield  made  his  first  political 
speeches  in  1856,  in  Hiram  and  the  neighbor- 
ing villages,  and  three  years  later  he  began  to 
speak  at  county  mass  meetings,  and  became 
the  favorite  speaker  wherever  he  was.  Dur- 
ing this  year  he  was  elected  to  the  Ohio 
senate.  He  also  began  to  study  law  at  Cleve- 
land, and  in  1861  was  admitted  to  the  bar. 
The  great  rebellion  broke  out  in  the  early  part 
of  this  year,  and  Mr.  Garfield  at  once  resolved 
to  fight  as  he  had  talked,  and  enlisted  to  de- 
fend the  old  flag.  He  received  his  commission 
as  lieutenant-colonel  of  the  Forty-second  reg- 
iment of  Ohio  volunteer  infantry,  August  14, 
1861.  He  was  immediately  put  into  active 
service,  and  before  he  had  ever  seen  a gun 
fired  in  action,  was  placed  in  command  of  four 
regiments  of  infantry  and  eight  companies  of 
cavalry,  charged  with  the  work  of  driving  out 
of  his  native  state  the  officer  (Humphrey  Mar- 
shall) reputed  to  be  the  ablest  of  those,  not 
educated  to  war,  whom  Kentucky  had  given  to 
the  rebellion.  This  work  was  bravely  and 
speedily  accomplished,  although  against  great 
odds.  President  Lincoln,  on  his  success,  com- 
missioned him  brigadier  general,  January  10, 
1862;  and  as  “he  had  been  the  youngest  man 
in  the  Ohio  senate  two  years  before,  so  now 
he  was  the  youngest  general  in  the  army.” 
He  was  with  Gen.  Buell's  army  at  Shiloh,  in 
its  operations  around  Corinth  and  its  march 
through  Alabama.  He  was  then  detailed  as  a 
member  of  the  general  court-martial  for  the 
trial  of  Fitz-John  Porter.  He  was  then  or- 
dered to  report  to  Gen.  Rosecrans,  and  was 


assigned  to  the  chief  of  staff.  The  military 
history  of  Gen.  Garfield  closed  with  his  brill- 
iant services  at  Chickamauga,  where  he  won 
the  stars  of  the  major-general. 

Without  an  effort  on  his  part  Gen.  Garfield 
was  elected  to  congress  m the  fall  of  1862 
from  the  Nineteenth  district  of  Ohio.  This 
section  of  Ohio  had  been  represented  in  con- 
gress for  sixty  years  mainly  by  two  men — 
Elisha  Whittlesey  and  Joshua  R.  Giddings.  It 
was  not  without  a struggle  that  he  resigned 
his  place  in  the  army.  At  the  time  he  entered 
congress  he  was  the  youngest  member  in  that 
body.  Here  he  remained  by  successive  re- 
elections  until  he  was  elected  president  in  1 880. 
Of  his  labors  in  congress  Senator  Hoar  says: 
“Since  the  year  1864  you  cannot  think  of  a 
question  which  has  been  debated  in  congress, 
or  discussed  before  a tribunal  of  the  American 
people,  in  regard  to  which  you  will  not  find, 
if  you  wish  instruction,  the  argument  on  one 
side  stated,  in  almost  every  instance,  better 
than  by  anybod}’  else,  in  some  speech  made  in 
the  house  of  representatives  or  on  the  hustings 
by  Mr.  Garfield.” 

Upon  January  14,  1880,  Gen.  Garfield  was 
elected  to  the  United  States  senate,  and  on 
the  8th  of  June,  of  the  same  year,  was  nom- 
inated as  the  candidate  of  his  party  for  presi- 
dent at  the  great  Chicago  convention.  He  was 
elected  in  the  following  November,  and  on 
March  4,  1881,  was  inaugurated.  Probably 
no  administration  ever  opened  its  existence 
under  brighter  auspices  than  that  of  President 
Garfield,  and  every  day  it  grew  in  favor  with 
the  people,  and  by  the  first  of  July  he  had 
completed  all  the  initiatory  and  preliminary 
work  of  his  administration  and  was  preparing 
to  leave  the  city  to  meet  his  friends  at  Will- 
iams college.  While  on  his  way  and  at  the 
depot,  in  company  with  Secretary  Blaine,  a 
man  stepped  behind  him,  drew  a revolver,  and 
fired  directly  at  his  back.  The  president 


UBRARY 
OF  THE 

miVERSlIY  OF  lltmol? 


CHESTER  A.  ARTHUR, 


PRESIDENTS  OF  THE  UNITED  STATES. 


117 


tottered  and  fell,  and  as  he  did  so  the  assassin 
fired  a second  shot,  the  bullet  cutting  the  left 
coat  sleeve  of  his  victim,  but  inflicting  no 
further  injury.  For  eighty  days  all  during 
the  hot  months  of  July  and  August,  he  lingered 
and  suffered.  He,  however,  remained  master 
of  himself  till  the  last,  and  by  his  magnificent 
bearing  was  teaching  the  country  and  the 
world  the  noblest  of  human  lessons — how  to 
live  grandly  in  the  very  clutch  of  death.  He 
passed  serenely  away  September  19,  1881,  at 
Elberon,  N.  J.,  on  the  seashore,  where  he  had 
been  taken  shortly  previous.  The  murderer 
was  tried,  found  guilty  and  executed,  in  one 
year  after  he  committed  the  foul  deed. 


a HESTER  A.  ARTHUR,  twenty-first 
president  of  the  United  States,  was 
born  in  Franklin  county,  Vermont, 
on  the  fifth  of  October,  1830,  and  is 
the  eldest  of  a family  of  two  sons  and  five 
daughters.  His  father  was  the  Rev.  Dr. 
William  Arthur,  a Baptist  clergyman,  who 
emigrated  to  this  country  from  the  county 
Antrim,  Ireland,  in  his  eighteenth  year,  and 
died  in  1875,  in  Newtonville,  near  Albany,  N. 
Y.,  after  a long  and  successful  ministry. 

Young  Arthur  was  educated  at  Union  col- 
lege, Schenectady,  N.  Y. , where  he  excelled 
in  all  his  studies.  After  his  graduation,  he 
taught  school  in  Vermont  for  two  years,  and 
at  the  expiration  of  that  time  went  to  New 
York,  with  $500  in  his  pocket,  and  entered 
the  office  of  ex-Judge  E.  D.  Culver,  as  student. 
After  being  admited  to  the  bar  he  formed  a 
partnership  with  his  intimate  friend  and  room- 
mate, Henry  D.  Gardiner,  with  the  intention 
of  practicing  in  the  west,  and  for  three  months 
they  roamed  about  in  the  western  states  in 
search  of  an  eligible  site,  but  in  the  end  re- 
turned to  New  York,  where  they  entered  upon 
a successful  career  almost  from  the  start. 


Gen.  Arthur  soon  afterward  married  the  daugh- 
ter of  Lieut.  Herndon,  of  the  United  States 
navy,  who  was  lost  at  sea.  Congress  voted  a 
gold  medal  to  his  widow  in  recognition  of  the 
bravery  he  displayed  on  that  occasion.  Mrs. 
Arthur  died  shortly  before  Mr.  Arthur’s  nomi- 
nation to  the  vice  presidency,  leaving  two 
children. 

Gen.  Arthur  obtained  considerable  legal 
celebrity  in  his  first  great  case,  the  famous 
Lemmon  suit,  brought  to  recover  possession  of 
eight  slaves  who  had  been  declared  free  by 
Judge  Paine,  of  the  superior  court  of  New 
York  city.  It  was  in  1852  that  Jonathan 
Lemmon,  of  Virginia,  went  to  New  York  with 
his  slaves,  intending  to  ship  them  to  Texas, 
when  they  were  discovered  and  freed.  The 
judge  decided  that  they  could  not  be  held  by 
the  owner  under  the  Fugitive  Slave  law.  A 
howl  of  rage  went  up  from  the  south,  and  the 
Virginia  legislature  authorized  the  attorney 
general  of  that  state  to  assist  in  an  appeal. 
William  M.  Evarts  and  Chester  A.  Arthur 
were  employed  to  represent  the  people,  and 
they  won  their  case,  which  then  went  to  the 
supreme  court  of  the  United  States.  Charles 
O’Conor  here  espoused  the  cause  of  the  slave- 
holders, but  he  too,  was  beaten  by  Messrs. 
Evarts  and  Arthur,  and  a long  step  was  taken 
toward  the  emanicipation  of  the  black  race. 

Another  great  service  was  rendered  by 
Gen.  Arthur  in  the  same  cause  in  1856.  Liz- 
zie Jennings,  a respectable  colored  woman, 
was  put  off  a Fourth  avenue  car  with  violence 
after  she  had  paid  her  fare.  Gen.  Arthur  sued 
on  her  behalf,  and  secured  a verdict  of  $500 
damages.  The  next  day  the  company  issued 
an  order  to  admit  colored  persons  to  ride  on 
their  cars,  and  the  other  car  companies  quickly 
followed  their  example.  Before  that  the  Sixth 
avenue  company  ran  a few  special  cars  for  col- 
ored persons  and  the  other  lines  refused  to  let 
them  ride  at  all. 


118 


PRESIDENTS  OF  THE  UNITED  STATES. 


Gen.  Arthur  was  a delegate  to  the  conven- 
tion at  Saratoga  that  founded  the  republican 
party.  Previous  to  the  war  he  was  judge-ad- 
vocate of  the  Second  brigade  of  the  state  of 
New  York,  and  Governor  Morgan,  of  that 
state,  appointed  him  engineer-in-chief  of  his 
staff.  In  1 86 1,  he  was  made  inspector  gen- 
eral, and  soon  afterward  became  quartermas- 
ter general.  In  each  of  these  offices  he  ren- 
dered great  service  to  the  government  during 
the  war.  At  the  end  of  Gov.  Morgan’s  term 
he  resumed  the  practice  of  the  law,  forming  a 
partnership  with  Mr.  Ransom,  and  then  Mr. 
Phelps,  the  district  attorney  of  New  York, 
was  added  to  the  firm.  The  legal  practice  of 
this  well  known  firm  was  very  large  and  lucra- 
tive; each  of  the  gentlemen  composing  it  was 
an  able  lawyer,  and  possessed  a splendid  local 
reputation,  if  not  indeed  one  of  national 
extent. 

Arthur  was  appointed  collector  of  the  port 
of  New  York  by  President  Grant,  November 
2 1,  1873,  to  succeed  Thomas  Murphy,  and 
held  the  office  until  July  20,  1878.  when  he 
was  succeeded  by  Collector  Merritt.  Mr. 
Arthur  was  nominated  on  the  presidential 
ticket,  with  Gen.  James  A.  Garfield,  at  the 
famous  national  republican  convention  held  at 
Chicago  in  June,  1880.  This  was  perhaps  the 
greatest  political  convention  that  ever  assem- 
bled on  the  continent.  It  was  composed  of 
the  leading  politicians  of  the  republican  party, 
all  able  men,  and  all  stood  firm  and  fought 
vigorously  and  with  signal  tenacity  for  their 
respective  candidates  that  were  before  the  con- 
vention for  the  nomination.  Finally  Gen. 
Garfield  received  the  nomination  for  president 
and  Gen.  Arthur  for  vice  president.  The  cam- 
paign which  followed  was  one  of  the  most 
animated  known  in  the  history  of  our  country. 
Gen.  Hancock,  the  standard-bearer  of  the 
democratic  party,  was  a po])ular  man,  and  his 
party  made  a valiant  fight  tor  his  election. 


Finally  the  election  came  and  the  country’s 
choice  was  Garfield  and  Arthur.  They  were 
inaugurated  March  4,  1881,  as  president  and 
vice-president.  A few  months  only  had  passed 
ere  the  newly  chosen  president  was  the 
victim  of  the  assassin’s  bullet.  The  remarka- 
ble patience  that  Garfield  manifested  during 
those  hours  and  weeks,  and  even  months,  of 
the  most  terrible  suffeidng  man  has  often  been 
called  upon  to  endure,  was  seemingly  more 
than  human.  It  was  certainly  God-like. 
During  all  this  period  of  deepest  anxiety  Mr. 
Arthur’s  every  move  was  watched,  and  be  it 
said  to  his  credit,  that  his  every  action  dis- 
played only  an  earnest  desire  that  the  suffer- 
ing Garfield  might  recover,  to  serve  the  re- 
mainder of  the  term  he  had  so  auspiciously 
begun.  Not  a selfish  feeling  was  manifested 
in  deed  or  look  of  this  man,  even  though  the 
most  honored  position  in  the  world  was  at  any 
moment  likely  to  fall  to  him. 

At  last  God  in  his  mercy  relieved  President 
Garfield  from  further  suffering.  Then  it  be- 
came the  duty  of  the  vice  president  to  assume 
the  responsibilities  of  the  high  office,  and  he 
took  the  oath  in  New  York,  September  20, 
1881.  The  position  was  an  embarrassing  one 
to  him,  made  doubly  so  from  the  facts  that  all 
eyes  were  on  him,  anxious  to  know  what  he 
would  do,  what  policy  he  would  pursue,  and 
whom  he  would  select  as  advisers.  The  duties 
of  the  office  had  been  greatly  neglected  during 
the  president’s  long  illness,  and  many  import- 
ant measures  were  to  be  immediately  decided 
by  him;  and  still  farther  to  embarrass  him  he 
did  not  fail  to  realize  under  what  circumstances 
he  became  president,  and  knew  the  feelings  of 
many  on  this  ])oint.  Under  these  trying  cir- 
cumstances President  Arthur  took  the  reins  of 
the  government  in  his  own  hands;  and  as  em- 
barrassing as  was  the  condition  of  affairs,  he 
haj)pily  surprised  the  nation,  actign  so  wisely 
that  but  few  criticised  his  administration.  He 


f-lBRARY 


STEPHEN  GROVER  CLEVELAND, 


PRESIDENTS  OF  THE  UNITED  STATES. 


121 


served  until  the  close  of  his  administration, 
March  4,  1885,  and  was  a popular  candidate 
before  his  party  for  a second  term.  His  name 
was  ably  presented  before  the  convention  at 
Chicago,  and  was  received  with  great  favor, 
and  doubtless  but  for  the  personal  popularity 
of  one  of  the  opposing  candidates,  he  would 
have  been  selected  as  the  standard-bearer  of 
his  party  for  another  campaign.  He  retired 
to  private  life  carrying  with  him  the  best 
wishes  of  the  American  people,  whom  he  had 
served  in  a manner  satisfactory  to  them  and 
with  credit  to  himself.  Although  not  a man 
of  the  transcendent  ability  possessed  by  the 
lamented  Garfield,  Mr.  Arthur  was  able  for 
the  emergency  he  was  so  unexpectedly  called 
to  fill,  and  was  a worthy  successor  to  his  chief. 


TEPHEN  GROVER  CLEVELAND, 
the  twenty-second  and  twenty-fourth 
president  of  the  United  States,  was 
born  in  1837,  in  the  town  of  Cald- 
well, Essex  county,  N.  J.,  and  in  a little  two- 
and-a-half  story  w'hite  house  which  is  still 
standing,  characteristically  to  mark  the  hum- 
ble birth-place  of  one  of  America’s  great  men 
in  striking  contrast  with  the  old  world,  where 
all  men  high  in  office  must  be  high  in  origin, 
and  born  in  the  cradle  of  wealth.  When  three 
years  of  age,  his  father,  who  was  a Presbyte- 
rian minister  with  a large  family,  and  a small 
salary,  moved  by  the  way  of  the  Hudson  river 
and  Erie  canal  to  Fayetteville  in  search  of  an 
increased  income  and  a larger  field  of  work. 
Fayetteville  was  then  the  most  straggling  of 
country  villages,  about  five  miles  from  Pompey 
Hill,  where  Gov.  Seymour  was  born.  At  the 
last  mentioned  place  young  Grover  commenced 
going  to  school  in  the  “good  old-fashioned 
way,”  and  presumably  distinguished  himself 
after  the  manner  of  all  village  boys  in  doing 


the  things  he  ought  not  to  do.  Such  is  the 
distinguishing  trait  of  all  village  geniuses  and 
independent  thinkers.  When  he  arrived  at 
the  age  of  fourteen  years  he  had  outgrown  the 
capacity  of  the  village  school  and  expressed  a 
most  emphatic  desire  to  be  sent  to  an  acad- 
emy. To  this  his  father  decidedly  objected. 
Academies  in  those  days  cost  money;  besides, 
his  father  wanted  him  to  become  self-support- 
ing by  the  quickest  possible  means,  and  this 
at  that  time  in  Fayetteville  seemed  to  be  a 
position  in  a country  store,  where  his  father, 
with  the  large  family  on  his  hands,  had  con- 
siderable influence.  Grover  was  to  be  paid 
$50  for  his  services  the  first  year,  and  if  he 
proved  trustworthy  he  was  to  receive  $100  the 
second  year.  Here  the  lad  commenced  his 
career  as  a salesman,  and  in  two  years  he  had 
earned  so  good  a reputation  for  trustworthi- 
ness that  his  employers  desired  to  retain  him 
longer. 

But  instead  of  remaining  with  this  firm  in 
Fayetteville,  he  went  with  the  family  in  their 
removal  to  Clinton,  where  he  had  an  oppor- 
tunity of  attending  a high  school.  Here  he 
industriously  pursued  his  studies  until  the 
family  removed  with  him  to  a point  on  Black 
river  known  as  the  Holland  Patent,  a village 
of  500  or  600  people,  fifteen  miles  north  of 
Utica,  N.  Y.  At  this  place  his  father  died, 
after  preaching  but  three  Sundays.  This  event 
broke  up  the  family,  and  Grover  set  out  for 
New  York  city  to  accept,  at  a small  salary, 
the  position  of  “under-teacher”  in  an  asylum 
for  the  blind.  He  taught  faithfully  for  two 
years,  and  although  he  obtained  a good  repu- 
tation in  this  capacity,  he  concluded  that 
teaching  was  not  his  calling  for  life,  and,  re- 
versing the  traditional  order,  he  left  the  city  to 
seek  his  fortune,  instead  of  going  to  a city. 
He  first  thought  of  going  to  Cleveland,  Ohio, 
as  there  was  some  charm  in  that  name  for  him; 
but  before  proceeding  to  that  place  he  went  to 


122 


PRESIDENTS  OF  THE  UNITED  STATES. 


Buffalo  to  ask  advice  of  his  uncle,  Lewis 
F.  Allan,  a noted  stock  breeder  of  that  place. 
After  a long  consultation,  his  uncle  offered 
him  a place  temporarily  as  assistant  herdkeeper 
at  $50  a year,  while  he  could  “look  around.” 
One  day  afterward  he  boldly  walked  into  the 
office  of  Rogers,  Bowers  & Rogers,  of  Buffalo, 
and  told  them  what  he  wanted.  A number  of 
young  men  were  already  engaged  m the  office, 
but  Grover’s  persistency  won,  and  he  was  fin- 
ally permitted  to  come  as  an  office  boy  and 
have  the  use  of  the  law  library  for  the  nomi- 
nal sum  of  $3  or  $4  a week.  Out  of  this  he 
had  to  pay  for  his  board  and  washing.  The 
walk  to  and  from  his  uncle’s  was  a long  and 
rugged  one;  and,  although  the  first  winter  was 
a memorably  severe  one,  yet  he  was  neverthe- 
less prompt  and  regular.  On  the  first  day  of 
his  service  there,  his  senior  employer  threw 
down  a copy  of  Blackstone  before  him  with  a 
bang  that  made  the  dust  fly,  saying,  “That’s 
where  they  all  begin.”  A titter  ran  around 
the  little  circle  of  clerks  and  students,  as  they 
thought  that  was  enough  to  scare  young 
Grover  out  of  his  plans;  but  in  due  time  he 
mastered  that  cumbersome  volume.  Then,  as 
ever  afterward,  however,  Mr.  Cleveland  exhib- 
ited a talent  for  executiveness  rather  than  for 
chasing  principles  through  all  their  metaphys- 
ical possibilities.  “Let  us  quit  talking  and  go 
and  do  it,”  was  practically  his  motto. 

The  first  public  office  to  which  Mr.  Cleve- 
land was  elected  was  that  of  sheriff  of  Erie 
county,  N.  Y.,  in  which  Buffalo  is  situated; 
and  in  such  capacity  it  fell  to  his  duty  to  in- 
flict capital  punishment  upon  two  criminals. 
In  1881  he  was  elected  mayor  of  the  city  of 
Buffalo  on  the  democratic  ticket,  with  especial 
reference  to  the  bringing  about  certain  reforms 
in  the  administration  of  the  municipal  affairs 
of  that  city.  In  this  office,  as  well  as  that  of 
sheriff,  his  performance  of  duty  has  generally 
been  considered  fair,  with  possibly  a few  ex- 


ceptions, which  were  ferreted  out  and  magni- 
fied during  his  last  presidential  campaign. 
The  editorial  manager  or  the  New  York  Sun 
afterward  very  highly  commended  Mr.  Cleve- 
land’s administration  as  mayor  of  Buffalo,  and 
thereupon  recommended  him  for  governor  of 
the  Empire  state.  To  the  latter  office  he  was 
elected  in  1882,  and  his  administration  of  the 
affairs  of  state  was  generally  satisfactory.  The 
mistakes  he  made,  if  any,  were  made  very 
public  throughout  the  nation  after  he  was  nom- 
inated for  president  of  the  United  States.  For 
this  high  office  he  was  nominated  July  ii, 
1884,  by  the  national  democratic  convention 
at  Chicago,  when  other  competitors  were 
Thomas  F.  Bayard,  Roswell  P.  Flower,  Thomas 
A.  Hendricks,  Benjamin  F'.  Butler,  Allen  G. 
Thurman,  etc. ; and  he  was  elected  by  the 
people  by  a majority  of  about  a thousand  over 
the  brilliant  and  long-tried  James  G.  Blaine. 
President  Cleveland  resigned  his  office  as  gov- 
erner  of  New  York  in  January,  1885,  in  order 
to  prepare  for  his  duties  as  the  chief  executive 
of  the  United  States,  in  which  capacity  his  term 
commenced  at  noon  on  the  4th  of  March,  1885. 

In  November,  1892,  Mr.  Cleveland  was  re- 
elected to  the  presidency  by  the  democratic 
party,  the  candidate  of  the  republican  party 
being  their  ex-chief,  Benjamin  Harrison,  a 
sketch  of  whom  follows  this.  The  popular 
vote  on  this  occasion  stood;  Cleveland,  5,556- 
562;  Harrison,  5,162,874;  the  electoral  vote 
was  277  for  Cleveland,  and  145  for  Harrison. 
During  the  early  part  of  his  first  administra- 
tion, Mr.  Cleveland  was  married  to  Miss 
Frances  Folsonq  of  Buffalo,  N.  Y. , and  in  Oc- 
tober, 1891,  a daughter,  Ruth,  came  to  bless 
the  union,  and  a second  daughter,  Esther,  was 
born  in  July,  1893.  The  first  act  of  Mr. 
Cleveland,  on  taking  his  seat  for  his  second 
term,  was  to  convene  congress  in  extra  session 
for  the  j^urpose  of  rej)ealing  the  Sherman  sil- 
ver bill,  and  accordingly  that  body  met  Sep- 


] 


BENJAMIN  HARRISON, 


PRESIDENTS  OF  THE  UNITED  STATES. 


teniber  4,  1893,  and  both  houses  being  demo- 
cratic, the  bill,  in  accordance  with  the  recom- 
mendation ot  the  president,  was  uncondition- 
ally repealed.  The  special  feature,  however, 
ot  the  second  administration  of  Grover  Cleve- 
land was  the  repeal  of  the  McKinley  tariff  bill 
by  congress  and  the  substitution  of  the  bill  re- 
ported by  William  L.  Wilson,  of  West  Vir- 
ginia, as  chairman  of  the  ways  and  means  com- 
mittee of  the  house  of  representatives,  which 
bill,  being  concurred  in,  with  sundry  amend- 
ments, by  the  senate,  was  finally  passed  and 
went  into  effect  in  the  latter  part  of  1894, 
materially  reducing  the  duties  on  imports. 


ENJAMIN  HARRISON,  the  twenty- 
third  president,  is  the  descendant  of 
one  of  the  historical  families  of  this 
country.  The  head  of  the  family 
was  a Major  General  Harrison,  one  of  Oliver 
Cromwell’s  trusted  followers  and  fighters.  In 
the  zenith  of  Cromwell’s  power  it  became  the 
duty  of  this  Harrison  to  participate  in  the 
trial  of  Charles  I,  and  afterward  to  sign  the 
death  warrant  of  the  king.  He  subsequently 
paid  for  this  with  his  life,  being  hung  October 
13,  1660.  His  descendants  came  to  America, 
and  the  next  of  the  family  that  appears  in  his- 
tory is  Benjamin  Harrison,  of  Virginia,  great- 
grandfather of  the  subject  of  this  sketch,  and 
after  whom  he  was  named.  Benjamin  Har- 
rison was  a member  of  the  continental  con- 
gress during  the  years  1774-5-6,  and  was  one 
of  the  original  signers  of  the  Declaration  of 
Independence.  He  was  three  times  elected 
governor  of  Virginia. 

Gen.  William  Henry  Harrison,  the  son  of 
the  distinguished  patriot  of  the  Revolution, 
after  a successsul  career  as  a soldier  during  the 
war  of  1812,  and  with  a clean  record  as  gov- 
ernor of  the  Northwestern  territory,  was 
elected  president  of  the  United  States  in  1840. 


His  career  was  cut  short  by  death  in  one 
month  after  his  inauguration. 

President  Benjamin  Harrison  was  born  at 
North  Bend,  Hamilton  county,  Ohio,  August 
20,  1833.  His  life  up  to  the  time  of  his  grad- 
uation by  the  Miami  university,  at  Oxford, 
Ohio,  was  the  uneventful  one  of  a country  lad 
of  a family  of  small  means.  His  father  was 
able  to  give  him  a good  education,  and  nothing 
more.  He  became  engaged  while  at  college 
to  the  daughter  of  Dr.  Scott,  principal  of  a 
female  school  at  Oxford.  After  graduating, 
he  determined  to  enter  upon  the  study  of  the 
law.  He  went  to  Cincinnati  and  there  read 
law  for  two  years.  At  the  expiration  of  that 
time  young  Harrison  received  the  only  inher- 
itance of  his  life;  his  aunt,  dying,  left  him  a 
lot  valued  at  $800.  He  regarded  this  legacy 
as  a fortune,  and  decided  to  get  married  at 
once,  take  this  money  and  go  to  some  eastern 
town  and  begin  the  practice  of  law.  He  sold 
his  lot,  and  with  the  money  in  his  pocket,  he 
started  out  with  his  young  wife  to  fight  for  a 
place  in  the  world.  He  decided  to  go  to 
Indianapolis,  which  was  even  at  that  time  a 
town  of  promise.  He  met  with  slight  encour- 
agement at  first,  making  scarcely  anything  the 
first  year.  He  worked  diligently,  applying 
himself  closely  to  his  calling,  built  up  an  ex- 
tensive practice  and  took  a leading  rank  in  the 
legal  profession.  He  is  the  father  of  two 
children. 

In  i860  Mr.  Harrison  was  nominated  for 
the  position  of  supreme  court  reporter,  and 
then  began  his  experience  as  a stump  speaker. 
He  canvassed  the  state  thoroughly,  and  was 
elected  by  a handsome  majority.  In  1862  he 
raised  the  Seventeenth  Indiana  infantry,  and 
was  chosen  its  colonel.  His  regiment  was 
composed  of  the  rawest  of  material,  but  Col. 
Harrison  employed  all  his  time  at  first  master- 
ing military  tactics  and  drilling  his  men;  when 
he  therefore  came  to  move  toward  the  east 


PR1-:S11)ENTS  OF  THE  UNITED  STATE.S. 


l!>() 


with  Slierman  his  re^^iinent  was  one  of  the 
best  drilled  and  organized  in  the  army.  At 
Kesaca  he  especially  distinguished  himself, 
and  for  his  hraveiy  at  Peachtree  Creek  he  was 
made  a brigadier  general,  Gen.  Hooker  speak- 
ing of  him  in  the  most  complimentary  terms. 

During  the  absence  of  Gen.  Harrison  in 
the  field  the  supreme  court  declared  the  office 
of  the  supreme  court  reporter  vacant,  and 
another  person  was  elected  to  the  position. 
P'rom  the  time  of  leaving  Indiana  with  his 
regiment  until  the  fall  of  1864  he  had  taken 
no  leave  of  absence,  but  having  been  nomi- 
nated that  year  for  the  same  office,  he  got  a 
thirty-day  leave  of  absence,  and  during  that 
time  made  a brilliant  canvass  of  the  state,  and 
was  elected  for  another  term.  He  then  started 
to  rejoin  Sherman,  but  on  the  way  was 
stricken  down  with  scarlet  fever,  and  after  a 
most  trying  siege  made  his  way  to  the  front  in 
time  to  participate  in  the  closing  incidents  of 
the  war. 

In  1868  Gen.  Harrison  declined  a re-elec- 
tion as  reporter,  and  resumed  the  practice  of 
law.  In  1 876  he  was  a candidate  for  governor. 
Although  defeated,  the  brilliant  campaign  he 
made  won  for  him  a national  reputation,  and 
he  was  much  sought,  especially  in  the  east,  to 
make  speeches.  In  1880,  as  usual,  he  took 
an  active  part  in  the  campaign,  and  was  elected 
to  the  United  States  senate.  Here  he  served 
six  years,  and  was  known  as  one  of  the  ablest 
men,  best  lawyers  and  strongest  debaters  in 
that  body.  With  the  expiration  of  his  sena- 
torial term  he  returned  to  the  practice  of  his 
profession,  becoming  the  head  of  one  of  the 
strongest  firms  in  the  state  of  Indiana. 

The  political  campaign  of  1888  was  one  of 
the  most  memorable  in  the  history  of  our  coun- 
try. The  convention,  which  assembled  in 
Chicago  in  June  and  named  Mr.  Harrison  as 
the  chief  standard  bearer  of  the  republican 
party,  was  great  in  every  particular,  and  on 


this  account,  and  the  attitude  it  assumed  upon 
the  vital  questions  of  the  day,  chief  among 
which  was  the  tariff,  awoke  a deep  interest  in 
the  campaign  throughout  the  nation.  Shortly 
after  the  nomination  delegations  began  to  visit 
Mr.  Harrison  at  Indianapolis,  his  home.  This 
movement  became  popular,  and  from  all  sec- 
tions of  the  country  societies,  clubs  and  dele- 
gations journeyed  thither  to  pay  their  respects 
to  the  distinguished  statesman.  The  popu- 
larity of  these  was  greatly  increased  on  ac- 
count of  the  remarkable  speeches  made  by  Mr. 
Harrison.  He  spoke  daily  all  through  the 
summer  and  autumn  to  these  visiting  delega- 
tions, and  so  varied,  masterly  and  eloquent 
were  his  speeches  that  they  at  once  placed 
him  in  the  foremost  rank  of  Ameiican  orators 
and  statesmen.  On  account  of  his  eloquence 
as  a speaker  and  his  power  as  a debater,  he 
was  called  upon  at  an  uncommonly  early  age 
to  take  part  in  the  discussion  of  the  great 
questions  that  then  began  to  agitate  the  coun- 
try. He  was  an  uncompromising  anti-slavery 
man,  and  was  matched  against  some  of  the 
most  eminent  democratic  speakers  of  his  state. 
No  man  who  felt  the  touch  of  his  blade  de- 
sired to  be  putted  with  him  again.  With  all 
his  eloquence  as  an  orator  he  never  spoke  for 
oratorical  effect,  but  his  words  always  went 
like  bullets  to  the  mark.  He  is  purely  Ameri- 
can in  his  ideas  and  is  a splendid  type  of  the 
American  statesman.  Gifted  with  quick  per- 
ception, a logical  mind  and  a ready  tongue,  he 
is  one  of  the  most  distinguished  impromptu 
speakers  in  the  nation.  Original  in  thought, 
jirecise  in  logic,  terse  in  statement,  yet  withal 
faultless  in  eloquence,  he  is  recognized  as  the 
sound  statesman  and  brilliant  orator  of  the 
day.  His  term  of  office  as  president  ol  the 
United  States  expired  on  March  4,  1893,  when 
he  surrendered  the  high  position  to  Stephen 
Grover  Cleveland,  allusion  to  which  fact  is 
made  on  a preceding  page. 


PRESIDENTS  OE  THE  UNITED  STATES. 


ional  Memoranda  for  Presidents  of  the  United  States. 


128 


PRESIDENTS  OF  THE  UNITED  STATES. 


Additional  Memoranda  for  President.s  of  the  Pdiited  States. 


GOVERNORS  OF  INDIANA 

. . . AND  . . . 


REPRESENTATIV§  MEN. 


MEN. 


COfEltSORS  OE  ISDUNi  ANII  BEPItESENTlTHE 


HRTHUR  ST.  CLAIR,  one  of  the  most 
noted  characters  of  our  early  colonial 
days,  was  a native  of  Scotland,  being 
born  at  Edinburg,  in  1735  Becom- 
ing a surgeon  in  the  British  army,  he  subse- 
quently crossed  the  Atlantic  with  his  regiment 
and  thenceforward  was  identified  with  the 
history  of  this  country  until  the  day  of  his 
death.  Serving  as  a lieutenant  with  Wolfe  in 
the  memorable  campaign  against  Quebec,  St. 
Clair  won  sufficient  reputation  to  obtain  ap- 
pointment ascommander  of  Fort  Ligonier,  Pa., 
where  a large  tract  of  land  was  granted  to  him. 
During  the  Revolutionary  war  he  espoused  the 
colonial  cause,  and  before  its  close  had  risen 
to  the  rank  of  major  general.  In  1785  he  was 
elected  a delegate  to  the  Continental  congress 
and  afterward  became  its  president.  After  the 
passage  of  the  ordinance  of  1 787,  St.  Clair 
was  appointed  first  military  governor  of  the 
Northwest  territory,  with  headquarters  at  Fort 
Washington,  now  Cincinnati.  In  1791  he 
undertook  an  expedition  against  the  north- 
western Indians,  which  resulted  in  the  great 
disaster  known  in  western  history  as  “St. 
Clair’s  defeat.”  On  November  4 the  Indians 
surprised  and  routed  his  whole  force  of  about 
1,400  regulars  and  militia,  in  what  is  now 
Darke  county,  Ohio,  killing  over  900  men  and 
capturing  his  artillery  and  camp  equipage. 


Gen.  St.  Clair  held  the  office  of  territorial 
governor  until  1802,  when  he  was  removed  by 
President  Jefferson.  He  returned  to  Ligonier, 
Pa. , poor,  aged  and  infirm.  The  state  granted 
him  an  annuity  which  enabled  him  to  pass  the 
last  years  of  his  life  in  comfort.  He  died  near 
Greensburgh,  Pa.,  August  31,  1818,  leaving  a 
family  of  one  son  and  three  daughters. 


ILLIAM  HENRY  HARRISON,  first 
(territorial)  governor  of  Indiana,  and 
ninth  president  of  the  United  States, 
was  a native  of  Virginia,  born  in 
the  town  of  Berkeley,  Charles  City  county, 
February  9,  1773.  [See  presidential  sketch.] 


HOMAS  POSEY,  the  second  and  last 
governor  of  Indiana  territory,  was 
born  near  Alexandria,  Va. , on  July  9, 
1750.  His  educational  training  was 
limited,  being  confined  to  the  branches  taught 
in  the  different  schools  of  those  days.  In 
1774  he  took  part  in  the  expedition  originated 
by  Gov.  Dunmore,  of  Virginia,  against  the 
Indians,  and  was  present  at  the  battle  of 
Mount  Pleasant.  At  the  close  of  the  war  Mr. 


(JOVERNORS  OF  INDIANA 


RW 


Rosey  went  back  to  his  home  in  Virginia,  but 
did  not  long  pursue  his  peaceful  vocations, 
being  called  upon,  the  following  year,  to  take 
the  part  of  the  colonies  in  their  struggle  for 
liberty  against  the  mother  country.  He  par- 
ticipated in  the  battle  of  Bemis  Heights,  as 
captain  in  Col.  Morgan’s  command;  in  1779 
was  colonel  of  the  Eleventh  Virginia  regiment, 
and  afterward  commanded  a battery  under 
Gen.  Wayne.  He  bore  a gallant  part  in  the 
storming  of  Stony  Point,  was  at  the  capitula- 
tion of  Cornwallis  at  Yorktown,  and  continued 
in  the  service  some  time  after  peace  was  de- 
clared. In  1793,  he  was  appointed  brigadier 
general  in  the  army  of  the  Northwest,  and 
being  pdeased  with  the  appearance  of  the 
country,  settled  in  Kentucky  hot  long  after. 
In  that  state  he  was  a member  of  the  state 
senate,  being  president  of  the  body  from 
November  4,  1805,  to  November  3,  1806,  per- 
forming the  duties  of  lieutenant  governor  at 
the  same  time.  He  removed  to  Louisiana  in 
1812,  and  afterward  represented  the  state  in 
the  senate  of  the  United  States.  While  a 
resident  of  Louisiana  he  was  appointed  gov- 
ernor of  Indiana  territory,  by  President  Mad- 
ison, and  in  May,  1813,  he  moved  to  Vin- 
cennes, and  entered  upon  the  discharge  of  his 
official  duties.  When  his  term  as  governor 
expired  by  reason  of  the  admission  of  Indiana 
into  the  Union,  in  1816,  Col.  Posey  was 
appointed  Indian  agent  for  Illinois  territory, 
with  headquarters  at  Shawneetown,  where 
his  death  occurred  March  19,  1818. 


>^ONATHAN  JENNINGS,  the  first  gov- 
^ ernor  of  Indiana,  was  born  in  Hunter- 
y don  county,  N.  J.,  in  the  year  1784. 
His  father,  a Presbyterian  clergyman, 
moved  to  Pennsylvania  shortly  after  Jona- 


than’s birth,  in  which  state  the  future  gov- 
ernor received  his  early  educational  training 
and  grew  to  manhood.  He  early  began  train- 
ing himself  for  the  legal  profession,  but  before 
his  admission  to  the  bar  he  left  Pennsylvania 
and  located  at  Jeffersonville,  Ind. , where  he 
completed  his  preparatory  study  of  the  law, 
and  became  a practitioner  in  the  courts  of 
that  and  other  towns  in  the  territory.  He 
was  subsequently  made  clerk  in  the  territorial 
legislature,  and  while  discharging  the  duties 
of  that  position  became  a candidate  for  con- 
gress, against  Thomas  Randolph,  attorney 
general  of  the  territory.  The  contest  between 
the  two  was  exciting  and  bitter,  the  principal 
question  at  issue  being  slavery,  which  Mr. 
Randolph  opposed,  while  his  competitor  was 
a firm  believer  in  the  divine  right  of  the  insti- 
tution. Jennings  was  elected  by  a small 
majority.  He  was  re-elected  in  1811,  over 
Walter  Taylor,  and  in  1813  was  chosen  the 
third  time,  his  competitor  in  the  last  race 
being  Judge  Sparks,  a very  worthy  and  popular 
man.  Early  in  1816,  Mr.  Jennings  reported  a 
bill  to  congress,  enabling  the  people  of  the 
territory  to  take  the  necessary  steps  to  convert 
it  into  a state.  Delegates  to  a convention  to 
form  a state  constitution  were  elected  in  May, 
1816,  Mr.  Jennings  being  chosen  one  from  the 
County  of  Clark.  He  was  honored  by  being 
chosen  to  preside  over  this  convention,  and  in 
the  election  which  followed  he  was  elected 
governor  of  the  new  state  by  a majority  of 
i, 277  votes  over  his  competitor.  Gov.  Posey. 
In  this  office  he  sei'ved  six  years,  also  acting 
as  Indian  commissioner  in  1818  by  appoint- 
ment of  President  Monroe.  At  tlie  close  of 
his  term  as  governor,  he  was  elected  as  repre- 
sentative in  congress,  and  was  chosen  for  four 
terms  in  succession.  He  was  nearly  always 
in  ]ud)lic  life  and  filled  his  jdaces  accci)tably. 
He  died  near  Charlestown,  July  26,  1834. 


AND  REPRESENT7\TIVP:  men. 


1) 


ATLIFF  BOON,  who  became  gov- 
ernor of  Indiana  upon  the  resignation 
of  Jonathan  Jennings,  September  12, 
1 822,  was  born  in  the  state  of  Georgia 
January  18,  1781.  When  he  was  young  his 
father  emigrated  to  Kentucky,  settling  in  War- 
ren county.  Ratliff  Boon  learned  the  gun- 
smith trade  in  Danville,  Ky.,  and  in  1809 
came  to  Indiana  and  settled  on  the  present 
site  of  Boonville,  in  what  is  now  Warrick 
county.  In  the  organization  of  this  county 
he  took  a prominent  part,  was  elected  its  first 
treasurer,  in  the  session  of  1816-17  he  was  a 
member  of  the  house  of  representatives,  and 
in  1818  was  elected  to  the  state  senate.  In 
1819  he  was  elected  lieutenant  governor  on 
the  ticket  with  Jonathan  Jennings,  whom  he 
succeeded,  as  stated  above.  He  was  re-elected 
to  the  office  of  lieutenant  governor  in  1822, 
but  resigned  that  office,  in  1824,  to  become  a 
candidate  for  congress,  to  which  he  was  elected 
in  August  of  the  same  year.  He  was  re-elected 
in  1829-1831-1833-1835  and  1837,  serving 
most  of  the  time  as  chairman  of  the  com- 
mittee of  public  lands.  In  1836  he  was  a 
c.-udidate  for  United  States  senator,  but  was 
defeated  by  Oliver  H.  Smith.  His  congres- 
sional career  ended  March,  1839,  ^ few 

months  afterward  he  removed  to  Missouri, 
settling  in  Pike  county.  In  that  state  Gov. 
Boon  became  active  in  public  affairs,  and  was 
one  of  the  leading  men  of  the  state.  Placing 
himself  in  antagonism  to  Col.  Thomas  H. 
Benton,  who  then  controlled  the  politics  of 
Missouri,  he  incurred  the  latter’s  deadly 
enmity.  He  again  became  a candidate  for 
congress  in  1844,  but  his  death  on  November 
20th  of  that  year  put  an  end  to  his  earthly 
career.  Mr.  Boon  was  a pioneer  of  two  states 
and  left  the  impress  of  his  character  upon 
both  of  them. 


ILLIAM  HENDRICKS,  governor  of 
Indiana  from  1822  to  1825,  was 
born  at  Ligonier,  Westmoreland 
county.  Pa.,  in  1783.  His  parents 
were  Abraham  and  Ann  (Jamison)  Hendricks, 
descendants  from  old  families  of  New  Jersey. 
William  Hendricks  was  educated  at  Cannons- 
burg.  Pa.,  and  shortly  after  his  graduation,  in 
1810,  went  to  Cincinnati,  Ohio,  where  he 
studied  law  in  the  office  of  Mr.  Carry,  sup- 
porting himself  in  the  meantime  by  teaching 
school.  In  1814  he  removed  to  Indiana,  and 
located  at  Madison,  which  continued  to  be  his 
home  during  the  rest  of  his  life.  He  began 
the  practice  of  law  at  Madison,  where  he  was 
also  identified  with  journalism  for  some  time, 
and  shortly  after  his  removal  to  the  state  he 
was  made  secretary  of  the  territorial  legisla- 
ture at  Vincennes.  In  June,  1816,  he  was 
appointed  secretary  of  the  constitutional  con- 
vention, and  in  August  of  the  same  year  was 
elected  as  the  first  and  sole  representative  to 
congress  from  the  newly  created  state,  serving 
three  successive  terms.  He  discharged  the 
duties  of  his  high  position  with  so  much 
acceptability  that  at  the  end  of  his  third  term, 
1822,  he  was  elected  governor  of  the  state 
without  opposition.  Before  the  expiration  of 
his  term  as  governor,  the  legislature  elected 
him  a senator  of  the  United  States,  and  on 
February  12,  1825,  he  filed  his  resignation  as 
governor.  In  1831  he  was  re-elected,  and  at 
the  expiration  of  this  term,  in  1837,  he  retired 
to  private  life  and  never  afterward  took  upon 
himself  the  cares  of  public  office.  In  1840 
he  was  one  of  the  state  electors  on  the  Van 
Buren  ticket,  and  it  was  during  the  campaign 
of  that  year  that  he  contracted  a disease  from 
which  he  suffered  the  remainder  of  his  life. 
Gov.  Hendricks  was  a man  of  imposing  ap- 
pearance. He  was  six  feet  in  height,  hand- 


GOVERNORS  OF  INDIANA 


I K) 


some  in  face  and  figure,  and  had  a ruddy  com- 
plexion. He  was  easy  in  manner,  genial  and 
kind  in  disposition,  and  was  a man  who  at- 
tracted the  attention  of  all  and  won  the  warm 
friendship  of  many.  He  was  brought  up  in 
the  Presbyterian  faith,  early  united  with  that 
church,  and  lived  a consistent,  earnest,  Chris- 
tian life.  The  Indiana  Gazette  of  1850  has 
the  following  mention  of  him:  “Gov.  Hen- 
dricks was  for  many  years  by  far  the  most 
popular  man  in  the  state.  He  had  been  its 
sole  representative  in  congress  for  six  years, 
elected  on  each  occasion  by  large  majorities, 
and  no  member  of  that  body,  probably,  was 
more  attentive  to  the  interests  of  the  state  he 
represented,  or  more  industrious  in  arranging 
all  the  private  or  local  business  intrusted  to 
him.  He  left  no  letter  unanswered,  no  public 
office  or  document  did  he  fail  to  visit  or 
examine  on  request;  with  personal  manners 
very  engaging,  he  long  retained  his  popular- 
ity.” He  died  May  16,  1850. 


AMES  BROWN  RAY, governor  of  Indi- 
ana, was  born  in  Jefferson  county,  Ky. , 
February  19,  1794.  Early  in  life  he 
went  to  Cincinnati,  Ohio,  and  after 
studying  law  in  that  city  he  was  admitted  to 
the  bar.  He  began  the  practice  at  Brookville, 
Ind.,  where  he  soon  ranked  among  the  ablest 
and  most  influential  of  an  able  and  ambi- 
tious bar. 

In  1822  he  was  elected  to  the  legislature. 
On  the  30th  of  January,  1824,  Lieut.  Gov. 
Ratliff  Boon  resigned  his  office,  and  Mr.  Ray 
was  elected  president  pro  tern,  of  the  senate, 
and  presided  during  the  remainder  of  the  ses- 
sion. He  was  governor  of  the  state  from  1825 
to  1831,  and  during  this  time  was  appointed 
United  States  'commissioner  with  Lewis  Gass 
and  John  Tipton,  to  negotiate  a treaty  with 


the  Miami  and  Pottawatomie  Indians.  The 
constitution  of  the  state  prevented  the  gov- 
ernor from  holding  an  office  under  the  United 
States  government,  in  consequence  of  which 
he  became  involved  in  a controversy.  He 
remembered  the  difficulty  Jonathan  Jennings 
had  encountered  under  like  circumstances,  and 
sought  to  avoid  trouble  by  acting  without  a 
regular  commission,  but  his  precaution  did  not 
save  him  from  trouble.  Through  his  exertions 
the  Indians  gave  land  to  aid  in  building  a road 
from  Lake  Michigan  to  the  Ohio  river.  Gov. 
Ray  was  active  in  promoting  railroad  concen- 
tration in  Indianapolis,  and  took  an  active 
part  in  the  internal  improvement  of  the  state. 
At  the  expiration  of  his  term  of  office  he 
resumed  the  practice  of  law,  and  in  1837  was 
candiate  for  congress  in  the  Indianapolis  dis- 
trict, but  was  defeated  by  a large  majority. 
This  want  of  appreciation  by  the  public  soured 
him,  and  in  later  years  he  became  very  eccen- 
tric. In  1848,  while  at  Cincinnati,  he  was 
taken  with  the  cholera,  which  terminated  in 
his  death,  August  4th  of  that  year.  In  person 
Gov.  Ray,  in  his  younger  days,  was  very  pre- 
possessing. He  was  tall  and  straight,  with  a 
body  well  proportioned.  He  wore  his  hair 
long  and  tied  in  a queue.  His  forehead  was 
broad  and  high,  and  his  features  denoted  intel- 
ligence of  high  order.  For  many  years  he  was 
a leading  man  of  Indiana,  and  no  full  history 
of  the  state  can  be  written  without  a mention 
of  his  name. 


OAH  NOBLE,  the  fifth  governor  of 
Indiana,  was  born  in  Clark  county, 
Va.,  January  15,  1794.  When  a 

small  boy  he  was  taken  by  his  parents 
to  Kentucky  in  which  state  he  grew  to  man- 
hood. About  the  time  Indiana  was  admitted 
into  the  Union,  Mr.  Noble  came  to  the  state 


AND  REPRESENTATIVE  VrEN. 


Ml 


and  located  at  Brookville,  where  a few'years 
later,  he  was  elected  sheriff  of  Franklin  county. 
In  1824  he  was  chosen  a representative  to  the 
state  legislature  from  Franklin  county,  in 
which  body  he  soon  became  quite  popular  and 
gained  a state  reputation.  In  1826  he  was 
appointed  receiver  of  public  moneys  to  suc- 
ceed his  brother,  Lazarus  Noble,  who  died 
while  moving  the  office  from  Brookville  to 
Indianapolis,  in  which  capacity  he  continued 
with  great  acceptability  until  his  removal,  in 
1829,  by  President  Jackson,  In  1830  he  was 
appointed  one  of  the  commissioners  to  locate 
and  lay  out  the  Michigan  road.  In  1831  he 
was  candidate  for  governor,  and  although  a 
whig,  and  the  democracy  had  a large  majority 
in  the  state,  he  was  elected  by  a majority  of 
2,791.  This  was  remarkable,  for  Milton  Stapp, 
also  a whig,  was  a candidate,  and  polled  4,422 
votes.  In  1834  Gov.  Noble  was  a candidate 
for  re-election,  when  he  was  also  successful, 
defeating  his  competitor,  James  G.  Reed,  by 
7,662  votes.  In  1839,  after  his  gubernatorial 
term  had  expired,  he  was  elected  a member  of 
the  board  of  internal  improvements.  In  1841 
he  was  chosen  a fund  commissioner,  and  the 
same  year  was  offered  by  the  president  of  the 
United  States  the  office  of  general  land  com- 
missioner, which  he  declined.  Gov.  Noble 
died  at  his  home,  near  Indianapolis,  February 
8,  1844.  Gov.  Noble  had  a laudable  ambition 
to  go  to  the  United  States  senate,  and  in  1836 
was  a candidate  to  succeed  William  Hen- 
dricks, but  was  defeated  by  Oliver  H.  Smith. 
In  1839  he  was  again  a candidate  to  succeed 
Gen.  John  Tipton,  but  was  defeated  by  Albert 
S.  White  on  the  thirty-sixth  ballot.  Oliver  H. 
Smith  says  that  Gov.  Noble  “was  one  of  the 
most  popular  men  with  the  masses  of  the  state. 
His  person  was  tall  and  slim,  and  his  consti- 
tution delicate,  his  smile  wftining,  his  voice 
feeble,  and  the  pressure  of  his  hand  irresisti- 
ble. He  spoke  plainly  and  well,  but  made  no 


pretense  to  oratory.  As  governor  he  was  very 
popular,  and  his  social  entertainments  will 
long  be  remembered. 


AVID  WALLACE,  governor  of  Indi- 
ana from  1837  to  1840,  was  a native 
of  Mifflin  county.  Pa. , born  April  24, 
1799.  He  removed  with  his  father 
to  Brookville,  Ind.,  when  quite  young,  and  in 
early  manhood  began  the  study  of  law  in  the 
office  of  Miles  Eggleston,  a distinguished  jurist 
of  that  day.  In  1823  he  was  admitted  to  the 
bar  and  soon  obtained  a large  practice.  He 
served  in  the  legislature  from  1828  to  1830, 
and  in  1831  was  elected  lieutenant  governor 
of  Indiana,  and  re-elected  in  1834.  In  1837 
he  was  elected  governor  over  John  Dumont, 
an  able  and  distinguished  lawyer,  who  lived  at 
Vevay,  on  the  southern  border  of  the  state. 
During  his  periods  of  service  as  legislator  and 
lieutenant  governor,  he  was  active  as  an  advo- 
cate of  internal  improvements  and  in  estab- 
lishing a school  system,  and  he  was  elected 
governor  upon  those  issues. 

In  1841  he  was  elected  to  congress  from 
the  Indianapolis  district,  defeating  Col.  Nathan 
B.  Palmer.  As  a member  of  the  committee 
on  commerce,  he  gave  the  casting  vote  in  favor 
an  appropriation  to  develop  Col.  S.  F.  B. 
Morse’s  magnetic  telegraph,  which  vote  had 
great  weight  in  defeating  him  for  re-election  in 
1843.  At  the  expiration  of  his  term  in  con- 
gress he  resumed  the  practice  of  law,  which  he 
continued  uninterruptedly  until  1850,  when  he 
was  elected  a delegate  to  the  constitutional 
convention  from  the  county  of  Marion.  In 
1856  he  was  elected  judge  of  the  court  of  com- 
mon pleas,  which  position  he  held  until  his 
death,  on  the  4th  of  September,  1859.  Gov. 
Wallace  was  twice  married.  His  first  wife  was 
a daughter  of  John  Test,  and  his  second  a 


142 


GOVERNORS  OF  INDIANA 


daughter  of  John  H.  Sanders.  The  latter  was 
active  and  prominent  in  reformatory  and 
religious  work.  When  a young  man,  Governor 
Wallace  had  a well  proportioned  body,  but  in 
his  later  years  its  symmetry  was  marred  by  an 
undue  amount  of  flesh.  He  had  black  hair, 
dark  eyes,  and  a ruddy  complexion.  He  was 
cultured  and  well  bred,  his  address  was  good 
and  his  manners  unexceptionable.  He  was  a 
laborious  and  impartial  jurist,  a painstaking 
executive,  and  as  an  orator  had  few  equals  in 
the  nation. 


AMUEL  BIGGER,  who  succeeded 
David  Wallace  as  governor  of  Indi- 
ana, was  born  in  Warren  county, 
Ohio,  March  20,  1802,  and  was  the 
eldest  son  of  John  Bigger,  a western  pioneer, 
and  for  many  years  a member  of  the  Ohio  leg- 
islature. He  was  prepared  for  college  in  his 
own  neighborhood,  graduated  with  honors  from 
the  university  at  Athens,  and  afterward  began 
the  study  of  law.  In  1829  he  removed  to  Lib- 
erty, Ind. , where  he  was  duly  admitted  to  the 
bar,  and  soon  secured  a lucrative  practice.  He 
remained  at  Liberty  but  a short  time,  remov- 
ing thence  to  Rushville,  where  his  public  life 
began  in  1834  as  representative  of  Rush  coun- 
ty in  the  state  legislature.  He  was  re-elected 
in  1835,  and  shortly  after  the  expiration  of  his 
term  was  chosen  judge  of  the  eastern  circuit, 
a position  for  which  he  proved  himself  ably 
qualified,  and  which  he  held  in  an  acceptable 
manner  for  many  years.  In  1840  he  was  nom- 
inated for  governor  by  the  whig  state  conven- 
tion, and  after  an  exciting  race  was  elected, 
defeating  Gen.  Tilghman  A.  Howard.  He  was 
a candidate  for  re-election  in  1843,  but  was 
defeated  by  James  Whitcomb.  After  the  ex- 
piration of  his  gubernatorial  term.  Gov.  Big- 
ger moved  to  Fort  Wayne,  Ind.,  and  resumed 
the  practice  of  law,  which  he  continued  until 


his  death,  September  9,  1845.  “Gov.  Bigger 
possessed  talents  of  a high  order,  rather  sub- 
stantial than  brilliant.  His  judgment  was 
remarkably  sound,  dispassionate  and  discrimi- 
nating, and  it  was  this  chiefly  that  made  him 
eminently  a leader  in  every  circle  in  which  he 
moved,  whether  in  political  life,  at  the  bar,  or 
society  at  large.  ” He  was  a man  of  fine  form 
and  presence.  He  was  six  feet  two  inches  in 
height  and  weighed  240  pounds.  His  hair  was 
black,  his  eyes  a blue  hazel,  and  his  complex- 
ion dark.  The  expression  of  his  face  was  kind 
and  benignant,  and  denoted  goodness  of  heart. 
He  was  a patriotic  citizen,  an  incorruptible 
judge,  and  an  executive  officer  of  very  respec- 
table ability. 


AMES  WHITCOMB  was  born  near 
Windsor,  Vt.,  December  i,  1795.  His 
father  removed  to  Ohio,  and  settled 
near  Cincinnati,  when  James  was  quite 
young,  and  it  was  there  upon  a farm  that  the 
youthful  years  of  the  future  governor  and 
senator  were  passed.  He  received  a classical 
eductaion  at  Transylvania  university,  subse- 
quently studied  law,  and  in  March,  1822,  was 
admitted  to  the  bar  in  Lexington,  Fayette 
county,  Ky.  Two  years  later  he  came  to  Indi- 
ana and  located  at  Bloomington,  where  he  soon 
became  known  as  an  able  advocate  and  suc- 
cessful practitioner.  In  1 826  he  was  appointed 
prosecuting  attorney  of  his  circuit,  and  in  the 
discharge  of  the  duties  of  this  office  traveled 
over  a large  scope  of  country  and  became 
acquainted  with  many  leading  men  of  the  state. 
El  1830  and  1836  he  was  elected  to  the  state 
senate,  where  he  did  much  to  stay  the  progress 
of  the  internal  improvement  fever  which  was 
then  at  its  highest  point.  In  October.  1836, 
President  jackson  appointed  Mr.  Whitcomb 
commissioner  of  the  general  land  office,  to 


AND  REPRESENTATIVE  MEN. 


148 


which  he  was  reappointed  by  President  Van 
Buren,  and  served  as  such  until  the  expiration 
of  the  latter’s  term  of  office.  Early  in  1841 
he  returned  to  Indiana  and  resumed  the  prac- 
tice of  law  in  Terre  Haute,  where  he  soon 
acquired  a large  and  lucrative  business.  He 
was  at  that  time  one  of  the  best  known  and 
most  popular  members  of  his  party,  and  at  the 
democratic  state  convention  of  1843,  he  was 
nominated  for  governor  of  the  state.  His  op- 
ponent was  Samuel  Bigger,  whom  he  defeated 
by  a majority  of  2,013  votes.  Three  years 
afterward  he  was  re-elected,  beating  Joseph  G. 
Marshall,  the  whig  candidate,  by  3,958  votes. 
When  he  became  governor  he  found  the  state 
loaded  down  with  debt,  upon  which  no  inter- 
est had  been  paid  for  years,  but  when  he  left 
the  office  the  debt  was  adjusted  and  the  state’s 
credit  restored.  He  also,  by  his  efforts,  crea- 
ted a public  sentiment  that  demanded  the 
establishment  of  benevolent  and  reformatory 
institutions,  and  he  awakened  the  people  to 
the  importance  of  establishing  common  schools 
and  providing  a fund  for  their  maintenance. 
During  his  term  of  office  he  raised  five  reg- 
iments of  infantry  that  represented  the  state 
in  the  war  with  Mexico.  The  legislature  of 
1849  elected  Gov.  Whitcomb  to  the  senate  of 
the  United  States,  for  which  high  position  he 
was  well  qualified  by  talent,  by  education  and 
by  experience.  Owing  to  feeble  health  he 
was  unable  to  discharge  his  senatorial  duties 
as  he  wished,  and  he  died  from  a painful  dis- 
ease when  he  had  served  little  more  than  half 
the  term.  In  1843  he  wrote  a pamphlet 
entitled,  “Facts  for  the  People,”  the  most 
effective  treatise  against  protective  tariff  ever 
known.  As  a lawyer,  Mr.  Whitcomb  ranked 
among  the  ablest  in  the  country,  and  as  gov- 
ernor will  always  be  remembered  as  one  of  the 
ablest  of  the  distinguished  men  who  have 
occupied  that  position.  Gov.  Whitcomb  was 
compactly  and  strongly  built;  he  Vv^as  some- 


what above  the  average  size  of  man;  he  had  a 
dark  complexion  and  black  hair.  His  features 
were  good  and  expressive,  and  his  manners  the 
most  elegant.  He  was  a talented  and  an 
honest  man,  and  when  the  roll  of  Indiana’s 
gi'eat  men  is  made  up,  among  the  first  m the 
list  will  be  the  name  of  Whitcomb. 


ARIS  C.  DUNNING  was  born  in  Guil- 
ford county,  N.  C.,  in  March,  1806, 
but  emigrated  to  Indiana  with  his 
mother  and  elder  brother,  and  located 
at  Bloomington  in  1823.  He  studied  law  and 
was  admitted  to  practice  about  1830.  In  1833 
he  was  elected  to  represent  Monroe  county  in 
the  state  legislature,  and  was  three  times 
re-elected.  In  1836  he  was  elected  to  the 
state  senate  from  Monroe  and  Brown  counties, 
and  remained  there  until  1840,  when  he  vol- 
untarily retired.  He  was  chosen  as  a demo- 
cratic presidential  elector  in  1844,  and  during 
the  campaign  exhibited  extraordinary  energy 
and  ability  as  a public  speaker.  In  1846  he 
was  elected  lieutenant  governor  on  the  demo- 
cratic ticket,  and  when  Gov.  Whitcomb  was 
elected  to  the  United  States  senate,  Mr.  Dun- 
ning succeeded  him  as  governor.  After  his 
retirement  in  1850,  he  practiced  his  profession 
for  many  years,  having  meantime  declined  a 
nomination  for  congress.  In  i860  he  was  a 
delegate  to  the  Charleston  and  Baltimore 
national  conventions,  where  he  distinguished 
himself  as  an  earnest  advocate  of  Stephen  A. 
Douglas,  and  subsequently  worked  assiduously 
for  that  statesman’s  election  to  the  presidency. 
At  the  breaking  out  of  the  rebellion  in  1861, 
Mr.  Dunning  identified  himself  with  the  Union 
cause,  and  throughout  the  war  rendered  val- 
iant aid  to  the  country.  In  1861  he  was 
elected  to  the  state  senate  without  distinction 
of  party.  Subsequently  he  was  elected  twice 
as  president  of  the  senate.  Govenor  Dunning 


144 


GOVERNORS  OF  INDIANA 


was  twice  married,  first  to  Miss  Sarah  Alex- 
ander, and  the  second  time  to  Mrs.  Ellen  D. 
Ashford.  Ex-Gov.  Dunning  took  high  rank 
as  one  of  the  self-made  men  of  Indiana,  and 
he  filled  the  many  positions  of  honor  and  trust 
conferred  upon  him  with  great  credit  to  him- 
self and  to  the  entire  satisfaction  of  the  cit- 
izens of  the  State. 


OSEPH  A.  WRIGHT,  for  seven  years 
governor  of  Indiana,  was  born  in  Wash- 
ington, Pa.,  April  17,  1810.  In  1819 
his  family  moved  to  Bloomington, 
Ind.,  where  he  and  his  two  brothers  assisted 
their  father  at  work  in  a brickyard,  and  in  the 
brick  business  generally.  In  1822  his  father 
died  and  he,  then  fourteen  years  of  age,  hav- 
ing but  little  if  any  aid  from  others,  was  left 
entirely  npon  his  own  resources.  He  attended 
school,  and  college  about  two  years,  and  while 
at  college  was  janitor,  rang  the  bell  and  took 
care  of  the  buildings.  It  is  said  that  what 
little  pocket  money  he  had  was  made  by  gath- 
ering walnuts  and  hickory  nuts  in  the  fall  and 
selling  them  to  students  in  the  winter.  He 
subsequently  studied  law  with  Craven  P.  Hes- 
ter, of  Bloomington,  and  began  the  practice  of 
his  profession,  in  1829,  at  Rockville,  Parke 
county,  where  he  met  with  good  success  from 
the  start.  In  1833  he  was  elected  to  the  state 
legislature,  and  in  1840,  the  year  of  the  Har- 
rison political  tornado,  was  chosen  a member 
of  the  state  senate.  He  was  also  elected  dis- 
trict attorney  for  two  terms  in  1836  and  1837, 
and  later  was  appointed  by  President  Polk 
United  States  commissioner  to  Texas.  In 
1843  he  was  elected  to  congress  from  the 
Seventh  district,  over  Edward  McGaughey,  by 
three  majority,  and  served  until  Polk  was  in- 
augurated, March  4,  1845.  hi  1849  he  was 
elected  governor  of  Indiana,  under  the  old 
constitution,  and  in  1852  was  re-elected  by  1 


over  20,000  majority,  and  served  until  1857. 
In  the  summer  of  the  latter  year  he  was 
appointed  minister  to  Prussia  by  James 
Buchanan,  and  as  such  served  until  1861.  In 
1862  he  was  appointed  by  Gov.  Morton  United 
States  senator,  and  sat  in  the  senate  until  the 
next  January.  He  was  appointed  commis- 
sioner to  the  Hamburg  exposition  in  1863, 
and  in  1865  went  again  to  Prussia  as  United 
States  minister,  and  remained  there  until  his 
death,  which  occurred  at  Berlin,  March  ii, 
1867.  Gov.  Wright  will  be  best  remembered 
as  governor  of  Indiana,  his  services  in  the 
general  assembly,  senate  and  congress  being 
too  brief  for  him  to  make  much  impression  in 
any  of  those  bodies. 

As  governor,  he  was  an  important  factor 
in  shaping  legislation  and  molding  public 
opinion.  He  was  an  orthodox  democrat  of 
the  straightest  sect,  stood  high  in  the  councils 
of  his  party,  and  contested  with  Jesse  D. 
Bright  for  the  leadership,  but  without  success. 
He  was  strong  with  the  people  but  weak  with 
I the  leaders.  In  personal  appearance  Gov. 
Wright  was  tall  and  raw-boned.  He  had  a 
large  head  and  an  unusually  high  forehead. 
His  hair  was  light  and  thin,  his  eyes  blue,  and 
his  nose  and  mouth  large  and  prominent.  He 
was  an  effective  speaker,  mainly  on  account 
I of  his  earnestness  and  simplicity.  While  not 
I the  greatest  man  in  the  state,  he  was  one  of 
the  most  influential;  and  to  his  honor  be  it 
said,  his  inlluence  was  exercised  for  the  public 
good.  Economy  and  honesty  in  public  life, 
and  morality  and  religion  in  private  station, 
had  in  him  an  advocate  and  an  exemplar. 


SHBEL  PARSONS  WILEARD  was 
born  October  31,  1820,  at  Vernon, 
Oneida  county,  N.  Y.,  the  son  of 
Col.  Erast  us  Willard,  at  one  time 
sheriff  of  Oneida  county.  He  pursued  his  pre- 


AND  REPRESENTATIVE  MEN. 


145 


parator}'  studies  in  the  Oneida  Liberal  insti- 
tute, and  when  eighteen  years  of  age  entered 
Hamilton  college  in  the  class  of  1842.  After 
graduating  from  that  institution  he  studied 
law  for  some  time  with  Judge  Baker,  of  his 
native  county,  and  later  emigrated  to  Michi- 
gan, locating  in  the  town  of  Marshall,  where 
he  remained  for  over  a year.  He  then  made 
a trip  to  Texas  on  horseback,  and  on  his 
return  stopped  at  Carrollton,  Ky. , and  there 
taught  school.  After  this  he  taught  for  some 
time  at  Louisville,  but  subsequently  left  the 
school  room  for  the  political  arena.  In  the 
contest  for  the  presidency  in  1844,  between 
Clay  and  Polk,  young  Willard  began  stump- 
ing for  the  latter,  and  during  the  campaign 
made  a speech  in  New  Albany,  Ind. , which  made 
such  a favorable  impression  that  many  of  the 
first  men  of  the  town  solicited  him  to  come 
and  settle  among  them.  He  soon  afterward 
located  in  New  Albany,  which  place  remained 
his  home  until  his  death.  He  at  once  opened 
a law  office,  but  was  compelled  to  encounter  a 
very  able  bar,  in  consequence  of  which  his 
practice  for  some  time  was  by  no  means  lucra- 
tive. The  first  office  he  held  was  that  of  com- 
mon councilman.  He  took  pride  in  the  place 
and  won  the  good  opinion  of  the  people  irre- 
spective of  party.  In  1850  he  was  elected  to 
the  state  legislature,  and  from  that  time  until 
his  death  he  occupied  a conspicuous  place  in 
the  public  mind.  Such  was  his  career  in  the 
legislature  that  when  the  democratic  conven- 
tion of  1852  convened  the  delegates  were  met 
by  an  everwhelming  public  sentiment  demand- 
ing the  nomination  of  Willard  for  lieutenant 
governor.  The  demand  was  recognized  and 
the  nomination  made.  He  filled  this  office 
until  1856,  when  he  was  elected  governor, 
after  a very  bitter  and  exciting  political  con- 
test. In  the  summer  of  i860  his  health  gave 
way,  and  he  went  to  Minnesota  in  quest  of 
health,  which  he  did  not  find,  but  died  there 


on  October  4th  of  that  year.  Gov.  Willard 
was  the  first  governor  of  Indiana  to  die  in 
office.  The  people,  without  respect  to  party, 
paid  homage  to  his  remains,  and  a general 
feeling  of  the  most  profound  sorrow  was  felt 
at  his  untimely  taking  off.  “In  person  Gov. 
Willard  was  very  preposessing.  His  head  and 
face  were  cast  in  finest  molds,  his  eyes  were 
blue,  his  hair  auburn,  and  his  complexion 
florid.  A more  magnetic  and  attractive  man 
could  nowhere  be  found,  and  had  he  lived  to 
the  allotted  age  of  mankind  he  must  have 
reached  still  higher  honors.  ” 


HBRAM  ADAMS  HAMMOND,  who 
succeeded  to  the  governorship  on  the 
death  of  A.  P.  Willard,  by  virtue  of 
his  office  of  lieutenant  governor,  was 
a n8.tive  of  Vermont,  born  in  the  town  of 
Brattleboro,  March  21,  1814.  He  came  to 
Indiana  when  six  years  of  age,  and  was  reared 
near  Brookville,  where  he  began  the  study  of 
law  in  the  office  of  John  Ryman,  a lawyer  of 
note  in  that  town.  He  was  admitted  to  the  bar 
in  1835,  moved  to  Columbus,  Bartholomew 
county,  in  1840,  where  he  was  afterward 
chosen  prosecuting  attorney,  an  office  which 
he  filled  with  more  than  ordinary  ability.  In 
1846  he  became  a resident  of  Indianapolis, 
and  the  following  year  removed  to  Cincinnati, 
Ohio.  He  returned  to  Indianapolis  in  1849, 
and  in  1850  was  chosen  first  judge  of  the  com- 
mon pleas  court  of  Marion  county.  In  1852 
he  emigrated  to  California,  and  for  some  time 
practiced  his  profession  in  San  Francisco. 
He  soon  returned  to  his  adopted  state,  loca- 
ting in  Terre  Haute,  where  he  resided  until 
his  election  as  lieutenant  governor  in  1852. 
He  made  a most  excellent  presiding  officer  of 
the  senate,  his  rulings  being  so  fair  and  his 
decisions  so  just  that  even  his  political  oppo-_^ 


COVERNORS  Ol''  INDLVNA 


1 IC) 


nents  bestowed  encomiums  upon  him.  On 
the  death  of  Gov.  Willard,  in  i860,  Mr.  Ham- 
mond became  governor,  and  as  such  served 
with  dignity  until  the  inauguration  of  Gov. 
Lane,  in  January,  1861.  Gov.  A.  A.  Hammond 
was  not  a showy  man,  but  he  was  an  able 
one.  He  possessed  an  analytic  and  logical 
mind,  and  was  remarkably  clear  in  stating  his 
positions  when  drawing  conclusions.  When 
in  his  prime  he  was  a fine  specimen  of  physi- 
cal manhood.  He  was  of  medium  height, 
compacrly  built,  and  of  dark  complexion. 
His  head  was  large  and  well  shaped,  while  the 
expression  of  his  countenance  was  mild  and 
gentle.  Frank  in  manners,  honorable  in  his 
dealings,  and  dignified  in  his  deportment,  he 
commanded  the  esteem  of  all  with  whom  he 
came  in  contact. 


ENRY  SMITH  LANE,  for  two  days 
governor  of  Indiana,  was  born  Feb- 
ruary 24, 1 8 1 1 , in  Montgomery  county, 
Ky.  He  secured  a good  practical 
education,  and  at  the  age  of  eighteen  com- 
menced the  study  of  law.  Soon  after  attain- 
ing his  majority  he  was  admitted  to  the  bar, 
and  in  1835  came  to  Indiana  and  located  at 
Crawfordsville,  where  he  soon  obtained  a good 
legal  practice.  His  winning  manners  made 
him  very  popular  with  the  people,  and  in  1837 
he  was  elected  to  represent  Montgomery  county 
in  the  state  legislature.  In  1840  he  was  a 
candidate  for  congress  against  Edward  A.  Han- 
negan,  whom  he  defeated  by  1,500  votes.  He 
was  re-elected  the  next  year  over  John  Eryce, 
and  as  a national  representative  ranked  with 
the  ablest  of  his  colleagues.  He  took  an 
active  part  in  the  presidential  campaign  of 
1844,  and  made  a brilliant  canvass  throughout 
Indiana  for  his  favorite  candidate,  Henry  Clay. 
On  the  breaking  out  of  the  Mexican  war,  Mr. 
Lane  at  once  organised  a company,  was 
chosen  captain,  and  later  became  a major  and 


lieutenant  colonel  of  the  regiment,  and  fol- 
lowed its  fortunes  until  mustered  out  of  the 
service. 

In  1858,  Col.  Lane  was  elected  to  the 
United  States  senate,  but,  owing  to  opposition 
on  the  part  of  democratic  senators,  he  did  not 
take  his  seat.  Eebruary  27,  i860,  he  was 
nominated  by  acclamation  for  governor,  and 
was  elected  over  Hon.  Thomas  A.  Hendricks 
by  a majority  of  about  10,000  votes.  Two 
days  after  the  delivery  of  his  first  message. 
Gov.  Lane  was  elected  to  the  senate  of  the 
United  States.  He  at  once  resigned  the  gov- 
ernorship, the  shortest  term  in  that  office  on 
record  in  Indiana.  In  the  senate,  Mr.  Lane 
did  not  attain  any  great  distinction,  as  it  was 
not  the  place  for  the  exercise  of  his  peculiar 
talents  as  an  orator,  which  were  better  suited 
to  the  hustings  than  to  a dignified  legislative 
body.  When  Col.  Lane’s  senatorial  term  ex- 
pired, he  returned  to  his  home  in  Crawfords- 
ville, and  never  afterward  held  public  office 
except  the  appointment  of  Indian  commis- 
sioner, by  President  Grant.  He  was  chosen 
president  of  the  first  national  convention  that 
assembled  in  1856,  and  nominated  John  C. 
Fremont.  It  is  worthy  of  note  that  every  nomi- 
nation ever  conferred  upon  him  was  by  accla- 
mation and  without  opposition  in  his  party. 
In  person.  Col.  Lane  was  tall,  slender  and 
somewhat  stoop-shonldered.  His  face  was 
thin  and  wore  a kindly  expression.  In  his 
later  days,  the  long  beard  he  wore  was  white 
as  snow.  He  moved  quickly,  and  his  bearing 
was  that  of  a cultured  man.  He  departetl  this 
life  at  his  home  in  Crawfordsville,  on  the  1 8th 
day  of  June,  1881. 

OLIVER  PIHxRV  MORTON,  Indiana’s 
great  war  governor  and  United  States 
senator,  was  born  in  Saulsbtiry, 
Wayne  county,  I nd.,  August  4,  1823. 
The  family  name  was  originally  Throckmorton, 


AND  REPRESENTATIVE  MEN. 


147 


and  was  so  written  by  the  grandfather,  who 
emigrated  from  England  about  the  beginning 
of  the  Revolutionary  war  and  settled  in  New 
Jersey.  Gov.  Morton’s  father  was  James  T. 
Morton,  a native  of  New  Jersey,  who  moved 
in  an  early  day  to  Wayne  county,  Ind.,  where 
he  married  the  mother  of  Oliver  P. , whose 
maiden  name  was  Sarah  Miller.  Of  the  early 
live  of  Gov.  Morton  but  little  is  known. 
When  a boy  he  attended  the  academy  of  Prof. 
Hoshour,  at  Centerville,  but  owing  to  the 
poverty  of  the  family,  he  was  taken  from 
school,  and  at  the  age  of  fifteen,  with  an  older 
brother,  began  learning  the  hatter's  trade. 
After  working  at  his  trade  a few  years,  he  de- 
termined to  fit  himself  for  the  legal  profession, 
and  with  this  object  in  view  he  entered  the 
Miami  university  in  1843,  where  he  pursued 
his  studies  vigorously  for  a period  of  two 
years.  While  in  college  he  earned  the  repu- 
tation of  being  the  best  debater  in  the  institu- 
tion, and  it  was  here  that  he  developed  those 
powers  of  ready  analysis  and  argument  which 
made  him  so  celebrated  in  after  life.  He  be- 
gan his  professional  reading  in  the  office  of 
Judge  Newman,  of  Centerville,  and  after  his 
admission  to  the  bar  was  not  long  in  rising  to 
an  eminent  place  among  the  successful  law- 
yers of  Indiana.  In  1852  he  was  elected  cir- 
cuit judge,  but  resigned  at  the  end  of  one 
year  and  afterward  increased  his  knowledge  j 
of  the  profession  by  an  attendance  at  a Cin- 
cinnati law  school.  On  resuming  the  prac- 
tice the  number  of  his  friends  and  legal  cases 
rapidly  increased,  and  his  reputation  soon  ex- 
tended beyond  the  limits  of  his  own  state.  As 
a lawyer  he  possessed  the  faculty  of  selecting 
the  salient  points  of  a case  and  getting  at  the 
heart  of  a legal  question.  His  mind  was 
massive  and  logical,  and  he  could  apply  great 
principles  to  given  cases,  discard  non-essen- 
tials and  reach  decisive  points.  Mr.  Morton’s 
political  career  was  of  such  a brilliant  char- 


acter that  his  great  achievements  in  the  arena 
of  statesmanship,  his  wonderful  j)ower  as  an 
organizer,  won  for  him  a recognition  from  the 
strongest  opponents,  and  faith  in  his  powers, 
and  the  lasting  fealty  and  admiration  of  thous- 
ands of  friends  until  he  reached  the  highesi 
point  among  the  great  American  statesmen. 

Up  to  his  thirty-first  year,  Mr.  Morton 
I was  a democrat.  The  county  in  which  he 
1 lived  was  largely  whig,  thus  virtually  preclud- 
ing him  from  holding  elective  offices.  He 
was  opposed  to  the  extension  of  slavery,  how- 
ever, and  upon  the  organization  of  the  repub- 
lican party  he  entered  the  movement,  and  in 
1856  was  one  of  the  three  delegates  from 
Indiana  to  the  Pittsburgh  convention. 

His  prominence  was  such  that  in  1856  he 
was  unanimously  nominated  by  the  new  party 
for  governor  of  Indiana,  against  Ashbel  P.  Wil- 
lard, an  able  and  brilliant  speaker,  the  superior 
of  Mr.  Morton  as  an  orator,  but  his  inferior  as 
a logician  and  debater.  These  two  distin- 
j guished  men  canvassed  the  state  together,  and 
drew  immense  crowds.  The  speeches  of  Wil- 
lard were  florid,  eloquent  and  spirit-stirring, 
while  Mr.  Morton’s  style  was  earnest,  convinc- 
ing and  forcible.  He  never  appealed  to  men’s 
passions,  but  always  to  their  intellect  and  rea- 
son, and  whether  in  attack  or  defense,  proved 
himself  a ready,  powerful  debater.  Although 
beaten  at  the  polls,  he  came  out  of  the  contest 
with  his  popularity  increased,  and  with  the 
reputation  of  being  one  of  the  ablest  public 
men  in  the  state.  In  i860  he  was  nominated 
for  lieutenant  governor  on  the  ticket  with  Hon. 
Henry  S.  Lane,  with  the  understanding  that  if 
successful  he  should  go  to  the  senate,  and  Mr. 
Morton  become  governor.  He  made  a vigor- 
ous canvass,  and  the  result  of  the  election  was 
a republican  success,  which  placed  Mr.  Lane 
in  the  senate  and  Mr.  Morton  in  the  guberna*- 
torial  chair.  From  the  day  of  his  inauguration 
Mr.  Morton  gave  evidence  of  possessing  extra- 


148 


GOVERNORS  OF  INDIANA 


ordinary  executive  ability.  It  was  while  filling 
this  term  of  governor  that  he  did  his  best  pub- 
lic work  and  created  for  him  a fame  as 
lasting  as  that  of  his  state.  A great  civil  war 
was  breaking  out  when  he  became  governor, 
and  few  so  well  comjirehendcd  what  would  be 
its  magnitude  as  he.  He  was  one  of  the  first 
to  forsee  the  coming  storm  of  battle  and  most 
active  in  his  preparations  to  meet  it.  Perceiv- 
ing the  danger  of  a dilatory  policy,  he  visited 
Washington  soon  after  the  inauguration  of 
President  Lincoln,  to  advise  vigorous  action 
ami  to  give  assurance  of  Indiana’s  support  to 
such  a policy.  He  commenced  preparing  for 
the  forthcoming  conflict,  and  when  Sumter 
was  fired  on,  April  12,  1861,  he  was  neither 
surprised  nor  appalled.  Three  days  after  the 
attack.  President  Lincoln  called  for  75,000 
men  to  put  down  the  rebellion,  and  the  same 
day  Governor  Morton  sent  him  the  following 
telegram : 

“iNDiANAPoniS,  April  IS,  1861. 

“To  Abkaham  Lincoln,  President  of  the  United 
States:  On  behalf  of  the  State  of  Indiana,  I tender 

you,  for  the  defense  of  the  nation,  and  to  uphold  the 
authority  of  the  government,  10,000  men. 

“Oliver  P.  Morton, 

“Governor  of  Indiana.” 

In  seven  days  from  the  date  of  this  offer 
over  three  times  the  number  of  men  required 
to  fill  Indiana’s  quota  of  the  president’s  call 
offered  their  services  to  the  country.  Never 
in  the  world’s  history  did  the  people  of  a state 
respond  more  cheerfully  and  more  enthusias- 
tically to  the  call  of  duty,  than  did  the  pieople 
of  Indiana  in  1861.  This  record  of  the  state, 
which  Mr.  Morton  was  instrumental  in  plan- 
ning, reflects  imperishable  honor  on  his  name, 
and  from  that  time  forth  he  was  known  through- 
out the  nation  as  the  “Great  War  Governor.” 
During  the  entire  period  of  the  war  he  per- 
formed an  incredible  amount  of  labor,  coun- 
seling the  ]iresident,  encour.iging  the  jieojile, 
organizing  regiments,  hurrying  tro  )['■;  1 > Ihe 


field,  forwarding  stores,  and  inspiring  all  with 
the  enthusiasm  of  his  own  earnestness.  His 
labors  for  the  relief  of  the  soldiers  and  their 
dependent  and  needy  families- were  held  up  as 
matters  of  emulation  by  the  governors  of  other 
states,  and  the  result  of  his  efforts  seconded  by 
the  people  was  that  during  the  war  over 
$600,000  of  moneys  and  supplies  were  col- 
lected and  conveyed  to  Indiana  soldiers  in 
camp,  field,  hospital  and  prison.  The  limits 
of  a sketch  like  this  forbid  a detailed  account 
of  Gov.  Morton’s  public  acts.  He  displayed 
extraordinary  industry  and  ability,  and  in  his 
efforts  in  behalf  of  the  soldier  justly  earned 
the  title  of  “The  Soldiers’  Friend.”  The 
legislature  of  1862  was  not  in  accord  with  the 
political  views  of  Gov.  Morton,  and  it  refused 
to  receive  his  message,  and  in  other  ways 
treated  him  with  want  of  consideration  and 
respect.  It  was  on  the  point  of  taking  from 
him  the  command  of  the  militia,  when  the 
republican  members  withdrew,  leaving  both 
houses  without  a quorum.  In  order  to  carry 
on  the  state  government  and  pay  the  state 
bonds  he  obtained  advances  from  banks  and 
county  boards,  and  appointed  a bureau  of 
finance,  which  for  two  years  made  all  dis- 
bursements of  the  state,  amounting  to  more 
than  $1,000,000.  During  this  period  he  refused 
to  summon  the  legislature,  and  the  supreme 
court  condemned  his  arbitrary  course,  but  the 
people  subsequently  applauded  his  action.  By 
assuminggreat  responsibilities  he  kept  the  ma- 
chinery of  the  state  in  motion  and  preserved 
the  financial  credit  of  the  commonwealth  by 
securing  ailvances  through  an  eastern  banking 
house  to  pay  the  interest  on  tlie  public  debt. 
In  1864  he  was  again  nominated  for  governor 
against  Hon.  Joseph  K.  McDonald,  whom  he 
defeated  by  an  overwhelming  majority.  These 
two  distinguished  men  made  a joint  canvass 
of  the  state,  and  jiassed  through  it  with  the 
inmost  good  feeling. 


AND  REPRESENTATIVE  MEN. 


140 


In  1865  Gov.  Morton  received  a partial 
paralytic  stroke,  affecting  the  lower  part  of  the 
body,  so  that  he  never  walked  afterward 
without  the  use  of  canes.  His  mind,  how- 
ever, was  in  no  wise  affected  by  the  shock, 
but  continued  to  grow  stronger  while  he  lived. 
In  January,  1 867,  he  was  elected  to  the  United 
States  senate,  and  immediately  thereafter  re- 
signed the  governorship  to  Conrad  Baker,  who 
served  the  remainder  of  the  gubernatorial 
term.  In  1873  he  was  re-elected  to  the  senate 
and  continued  a leading  member  of  that  body 
while  he  lived.  In  the  senate  he  ranked 
among  the  ablest  members,  was  chairman  of 
the  committee  on  privileges  and  elections, 
was  the  acknowledged  leader  of  the  republi- 
cans, and  for  several  years  exercised  a deter- 
mining influence  over  the  course  of  the  party. 
He  labored  zealously  to  secure  the  passage  of 
the  fifteenth  amendment,  was  active  in  the 
impeachment  proceedings  against  Andrew 
Johnson,  and  was  the  trusted  adviser  of  the 
republicans  of  the  south.  In  the  national 
republican  convention  of  1876  he  received 
next  to  the  highest  number  of  ballots  for  the 
presidential  nomination,  and  in  1877  was  a 
member  of  the  celebrated  electoral  commis- 
sion. In  1870  President  Grant  offered  Sena- 
tor Morton  the  English  mission,  which  was 
declined.  After  visiting  Oregon  in  the  spring 
of  1877,  as  chairman  of  a committee  to  inves- 
tigate the  election  of  Senator  Grover,  of  that 
state,  he  suffered  another  stroke  of  paralysis, 
which  terminated  in  his  death,  November  ist, 
of  the  same  year.  The  death  of  no  man,  with 
the  exception  of  President  Lincoln,  ever  cre- 
ated so  much  grief  in  Indiana  as  did  that  of 
Senator  Morton,  and  he  was  mourned  almost 
as  much  throughout  the  entire  nation.  On 
the  17th  of  the  next  January,  Mr.  McDonald 
offered  in  the  senate  a series  of  resolutions  in 
relation  to  Senator  Morton's  death,  which  were 
unanimously  adopted.  In  speaking  on  these 


resolutions,  Mr.  McDonald  said:  “Naturally 
combative  and  aggressive,  intensely  in  earnest 
in  his  undertakings,  and  intolerant  in  regard 
to  those  who  differed  with  him,  it  is  not 
strange  that  while  he  held  together  his  friends 
and  followers  with  hooks  of  steel,  he  caused 
many,  whose  patriotism  and  love  of  country 
were  as  sincere  and  unquestioned  as  his  own, 
to  place  themselves  in  political  hostility  to  him. 
That  Oliver  P.  Morton  was  a great  man  is 
conceded  by  all.  In  regard  to  his  qualities  as 
a statesman,  men  do  differ  now  and  always 
will.  But  that  he  was  a great  partisan  leader 
— the  greatest  of  his  day  and  generation — will 
hardly  be  questioned,  and  his  place  in  that 
particular  field  will  not,  perhaps,  be  soon  sup- 
plied.” Senator  Burnside  said:  “Morton  was 
a great  man.  His  judgment  was  good,  his 
power  of  research  was  great,  his  integrity  was 
high,  his  patriotism  was  lofty,  his  love  of 
family  and  friends  unlimited;  his  courage 
indomitable.”  The  following  is  from  Senator 
Edmonds:  “He  was  a man  of  strong  passions 
and  great  talents,  and  as  a consequence  a 
devoted  partisan.  In  the  field  in  which  his 
patriotism  was  exerted  it  may  be  said  of  him, 
as  it  was  of  the  Knights  of  St.  John,  in  the 
holy  wars:  ‘In  the  fore  front  of  every  battle 
was  seen  his  burnished  mail  and  in  the  gloomy 
rear  of  every  retreat  was  heard  his  voice  of 
constancy  and  courage.’  ” The  closing  speech 
upon  the  adoption  of  the  resolutions  was  made 
by  his  successor,  D.  W.  Voorhees,  who  used 
the  following:  “Senator  Morton  was  without 
doubt  a very  remarkable  man.  His  force  of 
character  cannot  be  over-estimated.  His  will 
power  was  simply  tremendous.  He  threw 
himself  into  all  his  undertakings  with  that 
fixedness  of  purpose  and  disregard  of  obstacles 
which  are  always  the  best  guarantees  of 
success.  This  was  true  of  him  whether  en- 
gaged in  a lawsuit,  organizing  troops  during 
I the  war,  conducting  a political  campaign,  or  a 


150 


GOVERNORS  OF  INDIANA 


debate  in  the  senate.  The  same  daring, 
aggressive  policy  characterized  his  conduct 
everyw'here.  ” 


aONRAD  BAKER,  governor  of  Indiana 
from  1867  to  1873,  was  born  in 
Franklin  county,  Penn.,  February  12, 
1817.  He  was  educated  at  the  Penn- 
sylvania college,  Gettysburg,  and  read  law  at 
the  office  of  Stevens  & Smyser,  and  was  ad- 
mitted to  the  bar  in  the  spring  of  1839,  at 
Gettysburg,  where  he  had  a lucrative  practice 
for  two  years.  He  came  to  Indiana  in  1841, 
and  settled  at  Evansville,  where  he  practiced 
his  profession  until  after  the  commencement 
of  the  rebellion.  He  was  elected  to  the  lower 
house  of  the  general  assembly  of  Indiana  in 
1845,  served  one  session;  elected  judge  of 
the  district  composed  of  the  counties  of  Van- 
d^rburg  and  Warrick,  in  1852,  in  which  capac- 
ity he  served  about  one  year,  when  he  re- 
signed. In  1856  he  was  nominated  for 
lieutenant  governor  by  the  republican  party, 
without  his  knowledge,  on  the  ticket  with 
Oliver  P.  Morton.  They  were  defeated  by 
Willard  and  Hammond.  In  1861  Mr.  Baker 
was  commissioned  colonel  of  the  First  cavalry 
regiment  of  Indiana  volunteers,  which  he  or- 
ganized, and  with  which  he  served  until  Sep- 
tember, 1864,  in  which  year  he  was  elected 
lieutenant  governor.  In  1865  Gov.  Morton 
convened  the  general  assembly  in  special  ses- 
sion, and  immediately  after  delivering  his  mes- 
sage, started  for  Europe  in  quest  of  health, 
leaving  Col.  Baker  in  charge  of  the  executive 
department  of  the  state  government.  Gov. 
Morton  was  absent  five  months,  during  which 
time  the  duties  of  the  executive  office  were 
performed  by  Fieut.  Gov.  Baker.  In  Febru- 
ary, 1867,  Gov.  Morton  was  elected  to  the 
senate  of  the  United  States,  in  consequence  of 


which  the  duties  of  governor  devolved  upon 
Mr.  Baker.  He  was  unanimously  nominated 
by  the  republican  convention  of  1868,  for 
governor,  and  was  elected  over  Thomas  A. 
Hendricks,  by  a majority  of  961  votes.  He 
served  as  governor  with  ability  and  dignity, 
until  the  inauguratioa  of  Mr.  Hendricks  in 
1873,  since  which  time  he  has  been  engaged 
in  the  practice  of  law  in  Indianapolis,  being  a 
member  of  one  of  the  strongest  and  most 
widely  known  firms  in  the  state. 


HOMAS  A.  HENDRICKS  was  the 
son  of  Maj.  John  Hendricks,  and  the 
grandson  of  Abraham  Hendricks,  a 
descendant  of  the  Huguenots,  who 
emigrated  to  New  Jersey  and  thence  to  Penn- 
sylvania prior  to  the  Revolution.  Abraham 
Hendricks  was  a man  of  remarkable  force  of 
character.  He  was  elected  to  the  Pennsyl- 
vania assembly  first  in  1792,  and  served  four 
terms,  the  last  ending  in  1798.  William  Hen- 
dricks, second  governor  of  Indiana,  preceded 
his  brother  John  in  moving  to  this  state  from 
Ohio,  and  had  gained  much  notoriety  as  a tal- 
ented and  public  man  when  Major  John  finally 
concluded  to  risk  his  fortunes  in  the  wilds  of 
the  new  west.  John  Hendricks,  prior  to  1829, 
resided  with  his  family  at  Zanesville,  Ohio. 
His  wife,  whose  maiden  name  was  Jane 
Thompson,  and  a niece,  were  the  only  mem- 
bers of  the  Thompson  family  who  emigrated 
west,  the  others  remaining  in  Pennsylvania 
and  other  eastern  states,  where  some  of  them 
gained  enviable  reputations  in  law,  medicine, 
politics  ‘ and  ministry.  Shortly  after  their 
marriage  John  Hendricks  and  wife  moved  to 
Muskingum,  (^hio,  where  they  lived  for  some 
time  in  a rude  log  house  — one  story, one  room, 


AM)  REPRESENTATIVE  MEN. 


151 


one  door  and  two  windows — built  of  round  logs 
and  chinked  and  daubed  after  the  pioneer 
fashion.  In  this  little  domicile  were  born  two 
sons,  Abraham  and  Thomas  A.  The  last 
named,  Thomas  A.,  was  born  September  7, 
1819.  The  next  year,  1820,  lured  by  the 
brilliant  career  of  William  Hendricks,  hereto- 
fore spoken  of,  Maj.  John  Hendricks,  with  his 
little  family,  removed  to  Madison,  Ind.,  then 
the  metropolis  of  the  state.  Two  years  later 
the  family  removed  to  Shelby  county,  at  that 
time  a wilderness,  and  settled  on  the  present 
site  of  Shelbyville.  Here  the  father  com- 
menced to  erect  a house  and  carve  a career 
for  their  hopeful  son,  then  scarcely  three  years 
of  age.  A dwelling  was  soon  constructed, 
trees  felled,  and  a farm  opened,  and  the 
Hendricks  house  early  became  a favorite  stop- 
ping place  for  all  who  saw  fit  to  accept  its  hos- 
pitalities. The  future  vice  president  received 
his  early  educational  training  in  the  schools  of 
Shelbyville,  and  among  his  first  teachers  was 
the  wife  of  Rev.  Eliphalet  Kent,  a lady  of  ex- 
cellent culture,  fine  education,  graceful,  and 
nobly  consecrated  to  the  Master,  to  whom  Mr. 
Hendricks  was  largely  indebted  for  much  of 
his  training  and  success.  Having  completed 
his  course  in  the  common  schools,  he  entered 
Hanover  college  in  1836,  where  he  remained 
for  the  greater  part  of  the  time  until  1841. 
On  leaving  college  he  returned  to  Shelbyville, 
and  commenced  the  study  of  law  in  the  office 
of  Stephen  Major,  then  a young  lawyer  of 
brilliant  attainments  and  considerable  tact  and 
experience.  In  1843  Mr.  Hendricks  went  to 
Chambersburg,  Penn.,  where  he  entered  the 
law  school,  in  which  he  had  for  an  instructor 
a man  of  distinguished  ability,  extensive  learn- 
ing, and  much  experience  as  judge  o^  the  six- 
teenth judicial  district  of  that  state.  After 
eight  months’  arduous  work  in  this  institution, 
he  returned  to  Shelbyville,  passed  an  exam- 
ination, and  was  the  same  year  admitted  to  the 


bar.  His  first  case  was  before  Squire  Lee, 
his  opponent  being  Nathan  Powell,  a young 
acqaintance,  who  had  opened  up  an  office 
about  the  same  time.  The  case  was  a trivial 
one,  yet  the  young  attorneys  worked  hard  and 
with  the  vim  of  old  practitioners  for  their  re- 
spective clients.  Mr.  Hendricks  won,  and 
after  complimenting  Mr.  Powell  upon  his  ef- 
fort, he  gracefully  served  the  apples  which  had 
been  generously  furnished  by  an  enthusiastic 
spectator.  Thus  started  the  young  advocate 
who  was  destined  to  become  one  of  the  na- 
tion’s greatest  and  most  beloved  statesmen. 
In  1843,  he  formed  the  acquaintance  of  Miss 
Eliza  Morgan,  who  was  tlie  daughter  of  a 
widow,  living  at  North  Bend,  and  two  years 
later,  September  26,  1845,  the  two  were 

united  in  the  bonds  of  wedlock. 

So  soon  as  Mr.  Hendricks  emerged  from 
boyhood,  his  success  as  a lawyer  and  public 
man  was  assured.  Having  established  an 
office  in  Shelbyville,  he  gained  in  a short  time 
a fair  competence,  and  soon  became  one  of 
the  leading  attorneys  of  the  place.  As  an 
advocate  he  had  few  equals,  and  as  a safe 
counselor  none  surpassed  him  at  the  Shelby 
county  bar.  In  the  year  [848  Mr.  Hendricks 
was  nominated  for  the  lower  house  of  the  gen- 
eral assembly,  was  elected  after  a brilliant 
canvass,  and  served  his  term  with  marked  dis- 
tinction. In  1850  he  was  chosen  a delegate 
to  the  state  constitutional  convention,  in  the 
deliberations  of  which  he  took  an  active  part, 
having  served  on  two  very  important  commit- 
tees, and  won  distinction  by  a brilliant  speech 
upon  the  resolution  relative  to  the  abolition  of 
the  grand  jury  system.  The  following  year 
was  the  beginning  of  Mr.  Hendricks’  career  in 
national  politics.  He  was  nominated  for  con- 
gress at  Indianapolis,  May  16,  1851,  over 

several  other  candidates,  made  a vigorous 
canvass,  and  was  elected  by  a decided  majority 
over  Col.  James  P.  Rush,  the  whig  candidate. 


152 


GOVERNORS  OF  INDIANA 


In  congress  he  progressed  with  signal  ability, 
and  was  called  to  act  on  some  of  the  most 
important  committees,  and  soon  won  a national 
reputation.  Scarce  had  congress  adjourned 
when  he  was  required  to  make  another  cam- 
paign, for  the  constitution  had  transferred  the 
congressional  elections  to  even  years,  and  the 
month  to  October.  The  whig  candidate,  John 
H.  Bradley,  of  Indianapolis,  was  a brilliant 
man  and  a public  speaker  of  rare  attainments, 
whom  Mr.  Hendricks  defeated  by  a largely 
increased  majority.  In  1854,  when  the  north- 
ern whigs  were  in  a chaotic  condition,  pro- 
slavery, anti-slavery,  free-soilers,  abolitionists, 
know-nothings  and  democrats  commingling  in 
a storm  of  confusion,  a “ fusion  ” state  and 
congressional  ticket  was  formed  for  the  oc- 
casion. Opposed  to  Mr.  Hendricks  was  Lucian 
Barbour,  a talented  lawyer  of  Indianapolis, 
who  exerted  himself  to  combine  all  the  oppo- 
nents of  democracy.  Mr.  Hendricks  made  a 
vigorous  and  manly  contest,  but  was  defeated, 
after  which  he  retired  to  his  profession  and  his 
home  at  Shelby ville.  In  1855  he  was  ap- 
pointed by  President  Pierce  general  land  com- 
missioner, in  which  capacity  he  served  nearly 
four  years,  and  i860  was  nominated  for  gov- 
ernor of  Indiana  against  Henry  S.  Lane. 
After  a brilliant  and  able  canvass,  during 
which  the  two  competitors  spoke  together  in 
nearly  every  county  in  the  state,  defeat  again 
came  to  Mr.  Hendricks.  In  the  same  year  he 
moved  to  Indianapolis,  where  he  lived  until 
his  death.  In  January,  1863,  he  was  elected 
to  the  United  States  senate,  which  position 
he  held  for  six  years.  In  1872  he  was  again 
nominated  for  governor,  his  opponent  being 
Gen.  Thomas  Brown,  a man  of  ability  and 
enviable  reputation.  This  campaign  was 
peculiar  in  one  particular.  The  republicans 
had  infused  the  crusaders  with  the  idea  that 
they  were  the  salvation  of  their  cause,  while 
the  democracy  opposed  all  sumptuary  laws. 


Yet  Mr.  Hendricks  went  before  the  people  as 
a temperance  man — opposed  to  prohibition, 
but  willing  to  sign  any  constitutional  legisla- 
tion looking  toward  the  amelioration  of  crime 
and  the  advancement  of  temperance.  He  was 
elected  and  kept  his  pledges  to  the  letter.  He 
always  kept  his  pledges  inviolate,  and  ever 
remained  true  to  his  friends.  He  had  a high 
sense  of  duty,  and  a spirit  of  philanthropy 
pervaded  his  whole  nature.  In  1876  he  was 
nominated  for, the  vice  presidency  on  the  dem- 
ocratic ticket  with  Samuel  J.  Tilden,  of  New 
York,  and  of  this  election  it  was  claimed  they 
were  flagrantly  defrauded  by  returning  boards 
and  the  electoral  commission.  In  1880  the 
name  of  Thomas  A.  Hendricks  was  placed  in 
nomination  for  the  presidency  at  Cincinnati, 
by  Indiana,  and  his  nomination  was  strongly 
urged  in  the  convention.  In  1884  he  was  a 
delegate  to  the  Chicago  convention,  and  as 
chairman  of  the  Indiana  delegation  presented 
in  fitting  terms  and  masterly  manner  the  name 
of  Joseph  E.  McDonald  for  the  presidency. 
After  the  latter  had  positively  refused  to 
accept  the  second  place  on  tlie  ticket,  Mr. 
Hendricks  was  unanimously  chosen,  and  the 
successful  ticket  for  1884,  the  first  in  twenty- 
five  years,  became  Grover  Cleveland  and 
Thomas  A.  Hendricks.  But  few  greater  calam- 
ities ever  befell  the  people  than  the  death  of 
Vice  President  Hendricks,  which  occurred  on 
the  25th  day  of  November,  1885,  at  his  home 
in  Indianapolis,  of  heart  disease.  Mr.  Hen- 
dricks was  one  of  the  nation’s  greatest  men; 
deep,  broad-minded,  diplomatic  and,  above  all, 
a true  man.  His  acts  and  speeches  in  con- 
gress, both  in  the  house  and  senate,  his  defense 
of  what  he  conceived  to  be  right,  his  labors 
for  the  poor,  the  oppressed  and  the  wronged 
of  every  class  in  this  and  other  countries,  were 
of  great  interest  to  his  jieojile  and  worthy  of 
emulation  by  all.  His  devotion  to  his  party, 
his  candor  and  honesty  of  purpose,  his  noble 


AND  REPRESENTATIVE  MEN. 


153 


ambition  to  serve  the  people  faithfully,  his 
philanthropy  and  universal  love  of  mankind, 
all  combined  to  make  him  one  of  the  noblest 
of  men.  Strong  in  his  convictions,  yet  court- 
eous to  opponents;  great  in  intellect,  yet 
approachable  by  the  humblest  of  men;  high  in 
position,  he  met  every  man  as  his  equal; 
independent  in  thought,  self-reliant  in  prin- 
ciple, and  rich  in  pleasant  greeting  to  all  whom 
he  met;  though  dead,  he  yet  lives  in  the  hearts 
of  the  people,  and  his  noble  characteristics 
stand  out  in  bold  relief  as  beacon  lights  to 
guide  and  direct  generations  yet  to  be. 


AMES  D.  WILLIAMS  was  born  in 
Pickaway  county,  Ohio,  January  i6, 
1808,  and  moved  with  his  parents  to 
Indiana  in  1818,  settling  near  the 
town  of  Vincennes,  Knox  county.  He  grew 
to  manhood  there,  and  upon  the  death  of  his 
father,  in  1828,  the  support  of  the  family  de- 
volved on  him.  He  received  a limited  educa- 
tion in  the  pioneer  log  school-house,  but,  by 
mingling  with  the  best  people  in  the  neighbor- 
hood, he  obtained  a sound  practical  knowledge 
of  men  and  things,  which,  in  a great  measure, 
compensated  for  his  early  deficiency  in  liter- 
ary studies,  so  that  when,  on  reaching  his  ma- 
jority, he  was  unusually  well  versed  for  one  in 
his  circumstances.  He  was  rearbd  a farmer, 
and  naturally  chose  agriculture  for  his  life 
work,  and  followed  it  with  much  more  than 
ordinary  success,  until  the  close  of  his  long 
and  useful  life.  Gov.  Williams  entered  public 
life,  in  1839,  as  justice  of  the  peace,  the  duties 
of  which  he  discharged  in  an  eminently  satis- 
factory manner  for  a period  of  four  years,  re- 
signing  in  1843.  In  the  latter  year  he  was 
elected  to  the  lower  house  of  the  state  legisla- 
ture, and  from  that  time  until  his  election  to 
the  national  congress,  in  1874,  he  was  almost 


continuously  identified  v ith  the  legislative 
service  of  the  state.  Few  men  in  Indiana 
have  been  so  long  in  the  public  service,  and 
few  have  been  identified  with  more  popular 
legislative  measures  than  he.  It  is  to  him 
that  the  widows  of  Indiana  are  indebted  for 
the  law  which  allows  them  to  hold,  without 
administration,  the  estates  of  their  deceased 
husbands,  when  they  do  not  exceed  $300  in 
value.  He  was  the  author  of  the  law  which 
distributed  the  sinking  fund  among  the  coun- 
ties of  the  state,  and  to  him  are  the  people 
largely  indebted  for  the  establishment  of  the 
state  board  of  agriculture,  an  institution  that 
has  done  much  to  foster  and  develop  the  agri- 
cultural interests  of  Indiana.  He  was  a dele- 
gate to  the  national  democratic  convention  at 
Baltimore  in  1872,  and  in  1873  was  the  nomi- 
nee for  United  States  senator  against  Oliver 
P.  Morton,  but  the  party  being  in  the  minor- 
ity, he  was  defeated.  He  served  in  the 
national  house  of  representatives  from  Decem- 
ber, 1875,  till  December,  1876.  when  he  re- 
signed, having  been  elected  governor  in  the 
latter  year.  The  campaign  of  1876  was  a 
memorable  one,  during  which  the  opposition, 
both  speakers  and  press,  ridiculed  the  demo- 
cratic nominee  for  governor,  making  sport  of 
his  homespun  clothes  and  plain  appearance, 
but  the  democracy  seized  upon  his  peculiari- 
ties and  made  them  the  watchwords  of  victory. 
Gov.  Williams,  or  “ Blue  Jeans,”  as  his  friends 
were  pleased  to  call  him,  was  a man  of  the 
strictest  integrity,  and  was  known  as  a careful, 
painstaking  executive,  entering  into  the  minut- 
est details  of  his  office.  He  was  self-willed 
and  self-reliant,  and  probably  consulted  fewer 
persons  about  his  official  duties  than  any  of 
his  predecessors.  In  personal  appearance, 
Gov.  Williams  was  over  six  feet  high,  remark- 
ably straight,  had  large  hands  and  feet,  high 
cheek  bones,  long  sharp  nose,  gray  eyes,  and 
a well  formed  head,  covered  profusely  with 


GOVERNORS  OF  INDIANA 


ir>i 


black  hair.  He  was  courteous  in  his  inter- 
course with  others,  a good  conversationalist, 
and  possessed  in  a very  marked  degree  shrewd- 
ness and  force  of  character.  He  died  in  the 
year  1880. 


HLBERT  G.  porter.— Among  the 
self-made  men  of  Indiana,  none  stand 
higher  or  have  a more  noteworthy 
career  than  the  distinguished  gentle- 
man whose  name  heads  this  sketch.  Alberc 
G.  Porter  was  born  in  Lawrenceburg,  Ind., 
April  20,  1824.  He  graduated  at  Asbury  uni- 
versity in  1843,  studied  law,  was  admitted  to 
the  bar  in  1845  and  began  to  practice  in 
Indianapolis,  where  he  was  councilman  and 
corporation  attorney.  In  1853  he  was  ap- 
pointed reporter  of  the  supreme  court  of  Indi- 
ana, and  was  subsequently  elected  to  the  same 
position  by  a very  large  majority  of  the  voters 
of  the  state.  He  was  elected  to  congress 
from  the  Indianapolis  district  in  1858,  on  the 
republican  ticket,  overcoming  an  adverse 
democratic  majority  of  800,  which  he  con- 
verted into  a majority  for  himself  of  1,000. 
Two  years  subsequently,  he  was  re-elected  by 
a smaller  majority.  On  March  5,  1878,  he 
was  appointed  first  comptroller  of  the  United 
States  treasury,  which  position  he  filled  with 
distinguished  ability  until  called  therefrom  to 
become  a candidate  for  governor  of  Indiana  on 
the  republican  ticket.  He  resigned,  and  en- 
tered into  the  campaign  of  1880,  which  will 
ever  be  memorable  in  the  history  of  the  state. 
After  a canvass  of  remarkable  bitterness  and 
excitement,  in  which  every  inch  of  ground  was 
stubbornly  contested,  Mr.  Porter  was  elected 
governor  by  a handsome  majority.  He  held 
the  office  from  1881  to  1884,  his  administra- 
tion being  regarded  by  friend  and  foe,  alike, 
as  cuic  of  the  ablest  in  the  history  of  the  state. 


Mr.  Porter  has  for  many  years  ranked  as  one 
of  the  ablest  and  most  successful  lawyers  in 
Indiana,  and  his  “Decisions  of  the  Supreme 
Court  of  Indiana”  (5  vols.,  1853-6),  are  re- 
garded as  among  the  best  of  their  kind  in  the 
state.  Besides  his  talent  in  politics  and  law 
Mr.  Porter  enjoys  a literary  reputation  of  no 
mean  rank,  attained  chiefly  from  his  law  writ- 
tings  and  lectures.  He  is  especially  good 
authority  on  matters  relating  to  pioneer  his- 
tory in  the  west,  and  has  in  preparation  a 
history  of  Indiana,  which  will  undoubtedly 
rank  as  a classic  in  that  line  of  literature. 
Mr.  Porter  also  filled  the  position  of  United 
States  minister  to  Rome,  which  high  honor 
was  conferred  upon  him  by  his  friend.  Presi- 
dent Benjamin  Harrison. 


ISAAC  P.  GRAY  is  a native  of  Pennsyl- 
vania, having  been  born  near  Downing- 
town,  in  Chester  county,  October  18, 
1828.  His  father,  John  Gray,  moved 
to  Ohio  and  settled  near  Urbana,  when  Isaac 
was  almost  eight  years  old.  Within  a short 
time  thereafter  his  parents  removed  to  near 
Dayton,  Ohio,  but  did  not  long  remain  there, 
when  they  moved  to  New  Madison,  Darke 
county,  Ohio,  where  young  Gray  grew  to  man- 
hood and  became  proprietor  of  a dry  goods 
store.  He  married  Eliza  Jaqua,  a few  years 
his  junior,  and  the  daughter  of  Judson  and 

Jaqua,  who  resided  about  two  miles  from 

New  Madison,  in  a neighborhood  (which  had 
a postoffice)  called  Yankee  Town.  Gray’s 
parents  are  of  Quaker  descent,  but  they  never 
adhered  to  the  society.  Their  ancestors  came 
over  with  William  Penn  and  took  a prominent 
part  in  early  colonial  times.  On  November 
30,  1855,  Isaac  P.  located  at  Union  City,  Ind., 
his  family  then  consisting  of  his  wife  and  two 
baby  boys,  Pierre  and  Bayard  S.  From  the 


AND  REPRESENTATIVE  MEN. 


155 


time  of  his  arrival  he  became  one  of  the  lead- 
ing citizens  of  the  then  small  town.  He  was 
always  active,  energetic  and  progressive,  and 
no  work  or  enterprise  in  the  town  was  consid- 
ered without  his  advice  and  counsel,  and  in 
many  cases  financial  co-operation.  He  always 
bore  a prominent  part  in  all  public  matters  and 
was  depended  upon  to  speak  for  the  interests 
of  the  place. 

He  was  engagrd  in  the  dry  goods  business 
for  a while  after  he  came  to  Union  City,  then 
in  the  banking  business,  finally  drifting  into 
the  law,  where  by  reason  of  his  pleasant 
speech,  excellent  judgment  of  human  nature 
and  the  happy  faculty  of  condensing  and  mak- 
ing plain  his  thought,  he  became  a successful 
advocate. 

After  a few  years  of  practice  in  the  law, 
however,  the  civil  war  came  on,  and  Gray, 
being  a strong  unionist,  was  appointed  colonel 
of  the  Fourth  Indiana  cavalry,  which  position 
he  held  from  September  4,  1862,  to  February 
II,  1864.  He  also  raised  and  organized  the 
147th  regiment  Indiana  volunteers,  mustered 
in  March  13,  1865,  Col.  Peden;  mustered  out 
August  4,  1865.  He  was  also  colonel  of  the 
105th  Indiana  (minute  men).  Served  five 
days — July  12-17,  1863.  At  the  close  of  the 
war  he  became  a banker,  organizing  with  Hon. 
N.  Cadwallader,  the  Citizen’s  bank,  of  which 
he  is  a prominent  stockholder  and  vice  presi- 
dent. In  1866  he  was  a candidate  of  the  anti- 
Julian  wing  of  the  republican  party  for  con- 
gress. Entered  the  law  in  1868,  and,  was 
state  senator  of  Randolph  county  in  1868-72, 
on  the  republican  ticket,  of  which  body  he 
took  position  as  a leading  member.  In  1870, 
he  was  appointed  by  President  Grant  consul  to 
St.  Thomas,  West  Indies,  and  confirmed  by 
the  senate,  but  declined.  In  1872  he  was  ap- 
pointed a delegate  at  large  for  the  state  of 
Indiana  to  the  national  liberal  republican  con- 
vention at  Cincinnati,  and,  by  that  conven- 


tion, w'as  made  the  member,  for  the  state  of 
Indiana,  of  the  liberal  republican  national  ex- 
ecutive committee. 

Dissatisfied  with  the  administration  of  Gen. 
Grant,  he  joined  the  Greeley  liberal  move- 
ment in  1872,  and  from  that  time  on  acted 
with  the  democrats.  In  1 876  the  democratic 
state  convention  nominated  him  by  acclama- 
tion for  lieutenant  governor,  and  he  was  elected 
to  that  office  in  October,  1876.  In  1880  he 
was  a candidate  for  governor  before  the  demo- 
cratic state  convention,  and  lost  the  nomina- 
tion by  four  votes,  but  was  named  by  accla- 
mation a second  time  for  lieutenant  governor. 
In  the  general  democratic  defeat  incurred  in 
October,  1880,  Col.  Gray  shared  the  catas- 
trophe. But,  by  the  death  of  Gov.  J.  D.  Wil- 
liams, in  November,  1880,  Lieut.  Gov.  Gray 
was  promoted  to  the  position  of  governor  of 
Indiana,  which  honor  he  sustained  with  appro- 
priate dignity,  addressing  the  legislature  in 
perhaps  the  most  voluminous  message  ever 
presented  by  any  occupant  of  the  gubernatorial 
chair  to  any  legislative  body.  In  1884  he 
received  the  democratic  nomination  for  gov- 
ernor, to  which  position  he  was  triumphantly 
elected  in  the  fall  of  that  year,  and  for  four 
years  served  in  a manner  so  satisfactory  to  his 
partisan  friends  that  he  became  the  recognized 
leader  of  the  democratic  party  in  Indiana,  and 
it  has  always  been  insisted  by  his  supporters 
that  his  name,  on  the  ticket  with  Cleveland, 
in  1888,  would  have  that  year  secured  the 
presidency  of  the  United  States  to  the  dem- 
ocratic party.  In  the  spring  of  1894  Mr. 
Gray  was  appointed  by  the  Cleveland  admin- 
istration United  States  minister  to  the  republic 
of  Mexico. 

Isaac  Pusey  Gray  is  a man  about  five  feet 
ten  inches  high,  well  proportioned,  and  stands 
erect,  with  a semi-military  carriage,  and 
weighs  about  180  pounds;  his  hair  was  black 
and  curly,  but  is  now  somewhat  tinged  wdth 


15G 


GOVERNORS  OF  INDIANA 


gra)  ; bold,  prominent  forehead;  a full,  frank, 
])luinp  and  florid  face,  strongly  indicative  of  a 
l.igh  order  of  intelligence,  and  light  blue  eyes, 
beaming  with  good  nature.  His  face  is  un- 
adorned, except  with  small  chin  whiskers. 
Suave  of  address  and  of  kind  disposition,  he 
is  always  cordial  and  pleasant  with  strangers 
and  extremely  sociable  among  his  friends  and 
acquaintances.  He  enjoys  the  society  of  his 
friends.  Perhaps  one  of  the  elements  of  his 
great  popularity  and  steadfast  hold  upon  his 
friends,  is  his  freedom  from  any  aristocratic 
reserve,  and  yet  no  one  has  a keener  sense  of 
the  demands  of  true  dignity;  a man  of  great 
decision  and  firmness,  yet  always  respectful  of 
others’  feelings.  The  home  Gray  left  in  Union 
City  was  and  is  to-day  one  of  its  finest  resi- 
dences, a spacious  brick  dwelling  located  on  a 
large  plat  of  ground.  He  has  built  and  owned 
some  of  the  best  residence  properties  in  the 
city.  He  took  great  pride  in  his  house,  which 
was  nicely  furnished  and  supplied  with  a fine 
library,  where  he  and  his  wufe,  v.'ho  were 
great  readers,  gratified  their  literary  tastes. 

Mrs.  Gray  is  a blonde  of  medium  height, 
with  gray  eyes,  well  defined  features,  clear 
complexion,  good  figure,  easy  and  graceful 
carriage.  She  is  regarded  as  a fine  looking 
lady,  whose  years  rest  upon  her  with  becom- 
ing grace  and  dignity.  By  descent  she  comes 
from  an  honorable  French  family,  whose  an- 
cestors at  an  early  date  settled  in  New  Eng- 
land and  New  York. 

His  son  Pierre,  the  elder,  graduated  at  the 
Indiana  State  university  in  1874,  and  his 
y(junger  son,  Bayaril  S.,  graduated  at  DePauw 
university  in  1876.  Pierre  followed  his  grad- 
uation by  a course  of  law,  and  has  ever  since 
practiced  his  chosen  profession,  except  while 
he  acted  as  private  secretary  to  his  father 
as  governor,  1885-1889.  He  is  now  associ- 
ated w'ith  his  father,  in  the  practice,  at  Indi- 
anapolis. Pierre  was  married,  about  the  year 


1883,  to  Miss  Kate  Alma  McDonald  of  Union 
City;  they  have  no  children.  Bayard  S., 
after  returning  from  his  alma  mater,  studied 
in  his  father’s  law  office,  but  soon  thereafter 
took  up  journalism,  in  which  he  made  a brill- 
iant success.  He  has  however  abandoned 
that  field  and  located  in  Chicago,  where  he  is 
again  at  the  law.  Like  his  father,  Bayard  S. 
has  a taste  for  politics,  and  being  a fluent 
speaker,  with  an  unlimited  vocabulary,  he  has 
taken  a more  or  less  active  part  in  politics 
since  his  majority.  Since  his  removal  to  Chi- 
cago he  has  achieved  considerable  prominence 
and  IS  now  regarded  as  one  of  their  public 
speakers. 


HLVIN  P.  HOVEY.— This  gentleman, 
who  was  elected  governor  of  Indiana 
in  1888,  has  had  a notable  career, 
both  civil  and  military.  He  was 
born  in  1821,  in  Posey  county,  Ind. , where  he 
has  spent  his  whole  life.  After  a common 
school  education,  he  studied  law  and  was  ad- 
mitted to  the  Mt.  Vernon  bar  in  1843,  where 
he  has  practiced  with  success.  The  civil  posi- 
tions he  held  previous  to  the  war  were  those 
of  delegate  to  the  constitutional  convention  of 
1850;  judge  of  the  third  judicial  circuit  of  Indi- 
ana from  1851  to  1854,  and  judge  of  the  su- 
preme court  of  Indiana.  From  185610  1858 
he  served  as  United  States  district  attorney 
for  the  state  During  the  civil  war  he  entered 
the  national  service  as  colonel  of  the  Twenty- 
fourth  Indiana  volunteers,  in  July,  1861.  He 
was  promoted  brigadier  general  of  volunteers 
on  April  28,  1862,  and  brevetted  major  general 
for  meritorious  and  distinguished  services  iu 
July,  1864.  He  was  in  command  of  the  east- 
ern district  of  Arkansas  in  1863,  and  of  the 
district  of  Indiana  in  1864-1865.  Gen.  Grant, 
in  his  official  reports,  awards  to  Gen.  Hovey 


AND  REPRESENTATIVE  MEN. 


157 


the  honor  of  the  key  battle  of  the  Vicksburg 
campaign,  that  of  Champion’s  Hill.  This  is 
no  small  prize;  also,  it  is  remembered  that 
military  critics,  in  view  of  the  vast  conse- 
quences that  flowed  therefrom,  have  ranked 
Champion’s  Hill  as  one  of  the  five  decisive 
battles  of  the  civil  war,  and  second  in  impor- 
tance to  Gettysburg  alone.  Gen.  Hovey  re- 
signed his  commission  on  October  i8,  1865, 
and  was  appointed  minister  to  Peru,  which 
office  he  held  until  1870.  In  1886  he  was 
nominated  for  congress  by  the  republicans  in 
the  Evansville  district,  which  heretofore  had 
steadily  given  a large  democratic  majority. 
Gen.  Hovey’s  personal  popularity  and  military 
prestige  overcame  this,  and  he  was  elected  by 
a small  majority.  In  congress,  he  attracted 
attention  by  his  earnestness  in  advocating 
more  liberal  pension  laws,  and  every  measure 
for  the  benefit  of  the  ex-Union  soldiers. 
Largely  to  this  fact  was  due  his  nomination 
for  the  governorship  of  Indiana,  by  the  repub- 
lican party  in  1888,  the  soldier  element  of  the 
state  being  a very  important  factor  in  securing 
his  nomination,  and  his  subsequent  election. 
In  his  social  relations.  Gov.  Hovey  has  always 
been  very  popular,  and  his  family  circle  is  one 
of  the  happiest  in  the  state.  Though  a strong 
partisan,  he  is  never  abusive  or  vindictive,  and 
at  every  trial  of  strength  at  the  polls  he  has 
received  strong  support  from  many  personal 
friends  in  the  ranks  of  the  opposite  party. 


IRA.  J.  CHASE  was  born  in  Clarkson, 
Monroe  county,  N.  Y. , December  7, 
1834.  His  father,  Benjamin  Chase, 
moved  into  Orleans  county,  where  most 
of  Ira’s  years  were  spent  up  to  the  age  twenty. 
After  leaving  the  public  school  of  that  day, 
he  attended  the  Milan  (Ohio)  seminary  and 
Medina  academy.  At  twenty  he  accompanied 


his  father  to  Illinois,  driving  a team  much  of 
the  time  alone  through  Michigan  and  Indiana, 
landing  in  Chicago  in  the  spring  of  1855. 
Farming,  merchandising  and  school  teaching 
filled  up  the  time  until  the  war  broke  out.  In 
1857  he  united  with  the  Christian  church. 
March  24,  1859,  he  married  Miss  Rhoda  J. 
Castle,  of  Cook  county.  In  1861  he  was  the 
first  man  to  enlist  in  the  town  of  Barrington, 
111.  He  assisted  in  raising  a company  of  men 
and  was  unanimously  elected  first  lieutenant. 
The  enlistments  were  so  numerous  that  the 
government  could  not  accept  them  all,  and 
the  organization  disbanded,  a part  going  into 
company  C,  Nineteenth  Illinois,  June  17,  1861, 
of  which  Chase  was  made  sergeant.  This 
regiment  saw  hard  and  continuous  service  from 
the  start,  being  always  on  the  move,  serving 
in  Missouri,  Kentucky  and  Tennessee  the  first 
year  of  the  war.  While  in  camp  at  Elizabeth- 
town, Ky.,  he  heard  the  news  of  the  birth  of 
his  second  child.  He  was  appointed  drill  ser- 
geant and  placed  on  special  duty,  owing  to 
poor  health.  In  this  capacity  the  Eighteenth 
O.  V.  I.  officers  invited  him  to  aid  in  drilling 
their  men,  as  they  were  fresh  from  the  farms 
of  their  state.  A petition,  signed  by  Col. 
Stanle3^  Lieut.  Col.  Grim,  for  years  chief 
justice  of  Iowa,  and  Major  C.  H.  Grosvenor, 
famous  as  a soldier  and  statesman,  was  pre- 
sented to  the  field  officers  of  the  Nineteenth 
Illinois,  asking  for  his  transfer  to  a lieutenancy 
in  the  Eighteenth  Ohio.  This  was  endorsed 
by  Gen.  J.  B.  Turchin,  brigade  commander, 
and  by  Maj.  Gen.  O.  M.  Mitchell,  division 
commander,  but  denied  by  Maj.  Gen.  Buell, 
department  commander.  Our  soldier  was  in 
the  siege  of  Nashville,  1862;  was  discharged 
and  returned  home  from  Nashville  in  1863, 
and  entered  into  business,  but  sold  out,  owing 
to  a long  and  very  serious  illness  of  his  wife, 
that  left  her  blind  and  lame  for  years.  He 
prepared  himself  for  the  ministry  and  became 


158 


BIOGRAPHICAL  HISTORY 


[lastor  of  the  Christian  church  in  Mishawaka 
in  1867,  and  has  served  at  La  Porte,  Wabash 
and  Danville.  For  a period  of  time  he  la- 
bored in  Pittsburg  and  Peoria.  He  has  been 
prominent  in  G.  A.  R.  circles,  was  twice  de- 
partment chaplain  and  once  department  com- 
mander. In  1886,  while  in  California,  he  was 
nominated  for  congress  by  the  fifth  district. 
Upon  his  return  he  accepted  and  made  his 
first  political  campaign.  Col.  C.  C.  Matson  had 
received  his  fourth  nomination.  His  average 
majority  for  the  three  terms  previous  had  been 
about  1,800.  In  1886  it,  was  532.  In  1888 
Mr.  Chase  was  spoken  of  for  governor,  and 
though  there  was  no  activity  manifested,  re- 
ceived a handsome  vote.  Gen.  Hovey  was 
nominated  and  private  Chase  was  nominated 
for  lieutanant  governor  by  acclamation.  He 
served  two  terms  as  presiding  officer  of  the 
senate. 

On  the  death  of  Gen.  Hovey  he  served  the 
state  as  governor  from  November  24,  1891,  to 
January  8,  1893.  At  the  state  convention 
called  by  the  republicans  to  nominate  state 
officers.  Gov.  Chase  was  nominated  by  accla- 
mation to  succeed  himself.  He  entered  into 
the  campaign  with  all  the  earnestness  of  his 
nature,  and  everywhere  it  has  been  said  that 
no  man  ever  fought  a harder  fight. 


aLAUDE  MATTHEWS,  who  at  this 
time  fills  most  acceptably  the  office 
of  governor  of  Indiana,  was  born  in 
Bethel,  Bath  county,  Ky.,  December 
14,  1845.  father,  'riiomas  A.  Matthews, 

was  a farmer,  and  also  f(jr  a time  a commis- 
sion merchant  at  Maysville.  His  ])aternal 
grandfather,  Capt.  George  Matthews,  com- 
manded a company  of  soldiers  at  the  battle  of 
the  River  'I'liames,  in  the  war  of  1812. 
Through  his  mother,  Eliza  (b'lctcher)  Mat- 


thews, Mr.  Matthews  traces  his  origin  to 
one  of  the  most  worthy  names  in  the  common- 
wealth, and  his  maternal  grandfather,  Jefferson 
Fletcher,  represented  the  Bath  district  in  the 
national  house  of  representatives  in  the  days 
of  Henry  Clay.  Young  Matthews  attended  such 
schools  as  the  county  of  his  nativity  afforded 
until  his  fifteenth  year,  then  removed  to  Mason 
county,  Ry.,  his  father  having  purchased  a 
farm  near  Maysville.  Here  the  schools  were 
of  a better  class,  and  he  availed  himself  of 
their  advantage  by  riding  six  miles  each  way 
daily.  In  1863  he  entered  Center  college, 
Danville,  Ky.,  where  he  graduated  in  June, 
1867.  January  i,  1868,  he  married  Miss 
Martha  Renick  Whitcomb,  only  daughter  of 
James  Y’hitcomb,  one  of  the  honored  govern- 
ors of  this  state,  from  1843  to  1849.  The 
marriage  took  place  in  Ross  county,  Ohio, 
where  Mrs.  Matthews  is  connected  on  her 
mother’s  side  with  the  Renicks,  well  known  for 
their  wealth  and  public  spirit.  The  young 
people  moved  to  \"ermillion  county,  Ind.,  in 
1869,  where  Mr.  Matthews  settled  down  to 
the  occupation  he  had  chosen  for  his  life  work, 
the  useful  and  honest  calling  of  farming.  His 
capacity  for  public  affairs,  aiul  the  evidence  he 
gave  of  sensible  ideas  as  to  public  needs,  led 
to  his  selection  by  the  democrats  of  Vermillion 
county,  in  1877,  as  their  candidate  for  repre- 
tentative  in  the  legislature.  That  he  was  well 
aiipreciated  by  his  neighbors  was  shown  by 
some  five  hundred  republicans  of  his  county 
voting  for  him,  and  he  had  the  honor  of  being 
the  first  democrat  elected  from  that  county  of 
heavy  adverse  majorities.  His  record  in  the 
legislature  is  a tine  one,  and  in  1880  he  had 
a strong  following  for  lieutenant  governor.  In 
1882  Mr.  Matthews  was  a candidate  for  state 
scMiator  in  his  district,  and  cut  down  the 
republican  majority  of  900  to  300.  In  August, 
1890,  he  was  nominated  b}’  the  democrats  for 
secretary  of  the  state  and  triumphantly  elected 


OF  BOONE  COUNTY. 


159 


at  the  ensuing;-  election,  his  plurality  reaching 
the  astonishing  and  almost  nnparalled  ligure 
of  20,000,  in  round  mnnbers.  His  conduct  of 
the  office  of  secretary  of  state  was  so  satisfac- 
tory to  the  people,  that  he  was  called  upon  to 
head  the  democratic  state  ticket  in  1892. 
Although  being  a candidate  before  the  state 
convention  for  renomination  as  secretary  of 
state,  he  was  nominated  candidate  for  gov- 
ernor, and  in  the  following  November  elected 
to  that  office  by  a plurality  of  nearly  7,000, 
leading  the  state  ticket  by  several  hundred 
votes,  and  higher  than  the  average  upon  the 
electoral  vote.  He  was  inaugurated  governor 
January  9,  1893,  and  is  now,  with  the  same 
earnestness  and  conscientious  regard  of  public 
duty,  performing  the  work  of  that  office.  Gov. 
Matthews,  while  faithfully  attending  to  his 
duties  as  a state  officer,  still  keeps  up  his 
interest  in  farming  and  the  class  of  workers  to 
which  he  belongs.  He  has  done  much  in  the 
way  of  improving  the  breeds  of  cattle  and 
domestic  animals  by  importing  valuable  speci- 
mens, and  was  the  founder  of  the  Short  Horn 
Breeders’  association  of  Indiana,  the  first  asso- 
ciation of  the  kind  ever  organized  in  the 
United  States.  He  was  also  originator  of  the 
American  Short  Horn  association  of  the  United 
States  and  Canada.  While  his  business  is 
that  of  farming,  he  is,  nevertheless,  a fluent 
* speaker,  and  withal  a man  of  fine  address  and 
genial  manners.  Mr.  Matthews  has  three 
children;  the  eldest,  Mary,  is  the  wife  of  Sen- 
ator Cortez  Ewing,  of  Greensburg;  Renick 
Seymour  Matthews,  who,  after  a course 
in  the  Rose  Polytechnic  institute,  is  fitting 
himself  in  electrical  engineering,  and  Miss 
Helen,  an  accomplished  young  lady.  Mr. 
Matthews  is  a man  of  positive  character  and 
strong  intellect,  and  no  man  is  more  loyal  in 
his  citizenship,  more  faithful  in  his  friendship, 
more  devoted  in  his  home  life,  or  more  worthy 
the  regard  of  his  fellow  men. 


ALLER  TAYECR,  one  of  the  first 
senators  from  Indiana,  after  her 
admission  as  a state,  was  born  in 
Eunenburg  county,  Va.,  before 
1786,  and  died  there  before  1826.  He  re- 
ceived a common  school  education,  studied 
law,  and  served  one  or  two  terms  in  the  Virginia 
legislature  as  a representative  from  Eunenburg 
county.  In  1805  he  settled  in  Vincennes, 
Ind,  having  been  appointetl  a township  judge. 
He  served  as  aid  de  camp  to  Gen.  ^^ulliam  H. 
Harrison  at  the  battle  of  Tippecanoe,  and  in 
the  war  of  1812-15.  On  the  admission  of  In- 
diana as  a state,  he  was  elected  United  States 
senator,  and  at  the  close  of  his  term  was  re- 
elected, serving  from  December  12,  1816,  un- 
til March  3,  1825.  He  w'as  a man  of  fine  lit- 
erary attainments  and  a prominent  political 
leader  of  his  day. 


AMES  NOBLE  was  the  son  of  Thomas 
T.  Noble,  who  moved  from  Virginia  to 
Kentucky,  near  the  close  of  the  eight- 
eenth century.  James  Noble  grew  to 
manhood  in  Kentucky,  and  after  his  marriage, 
which  was  consummated  before  he  had  at- 
tained his  majority,  began  the  study  of  law  in 
the  office  of  Mr.  Southgate,  of  Covington. 
After  finishing  his  legal  studies  and  being  ad- 
mitted to  the  bar,  he  removed  to  Brookville, 
Ind.,  and  commenced  the  practice  of  his  pro- 
fession, and  soon  became  known  as  one  of  the 
mose  successful  lawyers  and  most  eloquent  ad- 
vocates of  the  Whitewater  country.  When 
Indiana  became  a state  Mr.  Noble  I'epresented 
Eranklin  county  in  the  constitutional  conven- 
tion, in  which  he  was  chairman  of  the  legisla- 
tive and  judiciary  committees.  In  August, 
1810,  he  was  elected  a member  of  the  first 
legislature  under  the  state  government,  which 
met  at  Corydon,  November,  1816,  and  ad- 


ir.o 


niOGRAPinCAL  HISTORY 


journed  Januar}-,  1817.  November  8,  1816, 
the  general  assembly,  by  a joint  vote,  elected 
|anies  Noble  and  Waller  Taylor  to  represent 
Indiana  in  the  senate  of  the  United  States. 
“In  the  senate  Gen.  Noble  had  for  associates 
the  ablest  men  the  country  has  yet  produced. 
He  was  not  dwarfed  by  their  stature,  but 
maintained  a respectable  standing  among 
them.”  He  remained  in  the  senate  until  his 
death,  which  occurred  I'ebruary  26,  1831. 

Mr.  Noble  was  a large,  well  proportioned  man 
of  fine  address  and  bearing.  He  was  a good 
lawyer  and  as  a speaker  was  ver}'  effective  be- 
fore a jury  or  promiscuous  assembly.  Person- 
all}’  he  was  quite  popular  and  his  warm  heart 
and  generous  nature  made  him  the  idol  of  the 
people  of  his  section  of  the  state. 


EN.  JOHN  TIPTON  was  born  in 
Sevier  county,  Tenn.,  August  14, 
1786,  and  was  the  son  of  Joshua 
Tipton,  a native  of  Maryland,  a man 
who  possessed  great  positiveness  of  character, 
with  keen  preceptions  and  uncommon  execu- 
tive ability.  These  peculiarities  induced  him 
to  remove  from  his  native  state  and  settle  in  a 
home  further  west,  where  he  afterward  became 
a leader  in  the  defense  of  the  frontier  against 
the  hostile  Indians.  He  was  murdered  by  the 
savages  on  the  i8th  of  April,  1793.  Left  thus 
early  in  life  in  the  midst  of  a frontier  settle- 
ment, surrounded  by  the  perils  incident  there- 
to, the  son,  inheriting  the  sagacity  and  self-re- 
liance of  his  father,  soon  began  to  develop 
that  positive  energy  of  ch:iractcr  which  dis- 
tinguished his  after  life.  In  the  fall  of  1807, 
with  his  mother  and  two  sisters  and  a half- 
brother,  he  removed  to  Indiana  territory  and 
settled  near  Hringley’s  h'erry,  on  the  Ohio  river, 
where  he  purchased  a homestead  of  fifty  acres, 
which  he  paid  for  out  of  his  scanty  earnings. 


making  rails  at  fifty  cents  a hundred.  These 
early  experiences  laid  the  foundation  of 
his  future  success  in  life.  June,  1809,  he  en- 
listed in  a company  recruited  in  his  neighbor- 
hood, which  was  soon  afterward  ordered  to 
the  frontier  for  the  protection  of  the  settle- 
ments. September,  1811,  the  company  en- 
tered the  campaign  which  terminated  in  the 
battle  of  Tippecanoe.  Early  in  that  memor- 
able engagement  all  his  superior  officers  were 
killed,  and  he  was  promoted  to  the  captaincy, 
when  the  conflict  was  at  its  height.  Subse- 
quently he  rose,  by  regular  gradation,  to  the 
rank  of  brigadier  general.  At  the  first  elec- 
tion under  the  state  constitution  he  was 
chosen  sheriff  of  Harrison  county,  which  posi- 
tion he  filled  two  terms,  and  in  1819  was 
elected  to  represent  this  county  in  the  state 
legislature.  While  a member  of  that  body  he 
served  on  the  committe  to  select  a site  for 
the  location  of  the  state  capital,  which  selec- 
tion was  made  in  June,  1820,  and  approved 
January,  1821.  He  was  re-elected  in  1821, 
and  at  the  following  session  was  chosen  one  of 
the  commissioners  to  locate  the  boundary  line 
between  the  states  of  Indiana  and  Illinois.  In 
March,  1823,  he  was  appointed  by  Pres.  Mon- 
roe general  agent  for  the  Pottawatamie  and 
Miami  Indians  on  the  upi)er  Wabash  and  Tip- 
pecanoe rivers,  and  immediately  thereafter 
moved  to  Port  Wayne,  the  seat  of  the  agency. 
At  his  instance  the  agency  was  removed  from 
Et.  Wayne  to  Logansport,  in  the  spring  of 
1828,  where  he  continuetl  to  discharge  the 
functions  of  his  trust  with  fidelity  and  success. 
At  the  session  of  the  legislature,  December, 
1831,  he  was  elected  United  States  senator 
from  Indiana,  to  fill  the  vacancy  occasioned 
by  the  death  of  Hon.  James  Noble,  and  was 
re-elected  at  the  session  of  1832-33,  fora  full 
term  (E  six  years.  While  a member  of  that 
distinguished  body,  he  was  noted  for  the 
soundness  of  his  judgment  and  the  independ- 


OF  BOONE  COUNTY. 


161 


ence  of  his  actions  on  all  questions  involving 
the  interests  of  the  state  or  general  govern- 
ment. He  opposed  the  views  of  President 
Jackson  in  reference  to  the  re-charter  of  the 
United  States  bank,  and  recognized  no  party- 
in  determining  the  line  of  duty,  always  acting 
from  motives  of  public  right.  As  a civilian 
and  citizen,  he  was  alike  successful  in  direct- 
ing and  executing,  to  the  extent  of  his  power, 
whatever  purpose  his  conscience  approved  or 
his  judgment  dictated.  After  locating  in 
Logansport  he  directed  his  energies  toward 
the  development  of  the  natural  resources  of 
that  town  and  surrounding  country,  and  to 
him  more  than  to  any  other  man  is  due  the 
credit  of  supplying  the  settlements  with  grist 
and  saw-mills  and  other  improvements,  and 
for  taking  the  initial  step  which  led  to  the  or- 
ganization of  the  Eel  river  seminary,  at  that 
time  one  of  the  best  known  educational  insti- 
tutions of  northern  Indiana.  He  was  also  pro- 
prietor of  four  additions  to  the  town  of  Lo- 
gansport and  was  interested  with  Mr.  Carter 
in  the  plan  and  location  of  the  original  plat 
thereof.  Mr.  Tipton  was  twice  married,  the 
first  time  to  Miss  Shields,  who  died  within  two 
years  after  their  marriage.  ► The  second  time 
was  in  April,  1825,  to  Matilda,  daughter  of 
Capt.  Spier  Spencer,  who  was  killed  at  the 
battle  of  Tippecanoe.  The  second  Mrs.  dip- 
ton  died  in  the  spring  of  1839,  about  the  close 
of  her  husband’s  senatorial  career.  Gen.  Tip- 
ton  closed  an  honorable  life  on  the  morning 
of  April  5,  1839,  in  the  full  meridian  of  his 
usefulness,  and  received  the  last  sad  honors  of 
his  masonic  brethern  on  Sunday,  April  7, 
1839. 


OBEKT  HANNA  was  born  in  Laur- 
ens district,  S.  C. , April  6,  1786, 

and  removed  with  his  parents  to 
Indiana  in  an  early  day,  setting  in 
Brookville  as  long  ago  as  1802.  He  was 


elected  sheriff  of  the  eastern  district  of  Indiana 
in  1809,  and  held  the  position  until  the  organ- 
ization of  the  state  government.  He  was 
afterward  appointed  register  of  the  land  office, 
and  ren-ioved  to  Indianapolis  in  1825.  In 
1831  he  was  appointed  United  States  senator, 
to  fill  the  unexpired  term  caused  by  the'death 
of  James  Noble,  and  served  with  credit  in  that 
capacity  from  December,  of  the  above  year, 
until  January  3,  1832.  when  his  successor  took 
his  seat.  He  was  afterward  elected  a member 
of  the  state  senate,  but  suffered  defeat,  when 
making  the  race  for  re-election.  He  was  acci- 
dentally killed  by  a railroad  train  while  walk- 
ing on  the  track  at  Indianapolis,  November  19, 
1859. 


OLIVER  HAMPTON  SMITH,  congress- 
man and  senator,  was  born  on 
Smith’s  island,  near  Trenton,  N.  J., 
October  23,  1794.  He  attended 

school  near  his  home  at  intervals  until  1813, 
at  which  time,  owing  to  the  death  of  his 
father,  he  was  thrown  upon  his  own  resources. 
He  afterward  found  employment  in  a woolen 
mill  in  Pennsylvania,  and  on  attaining  his 
majority,  received  $1,500  from  his  father’s 
estate,  which  he  soon  lost  in  an  unfortunate 
business  investment.  Mr.  Smith  came  to  In- 
diana in  1817,  and  settled  at  Rising  Sun,  Ohio 
county,  but,  in  a short  time,  moved  to 
Lawrenceburg,  and  began  the  stud}^  of  law. 
In  March,  1820,  he  was  licensed  to  practice, 
and  soon  afterward  removed  to  Versailles,  Ripley 
county,  where  he  opened  an  office,  but,  be- 
coming dissatisfied  with  the  location,  in  a few 
months  he  located  at  Connersville,  thence  in 
1839  moved  to  the  state  caj)ital.  In  August, 
1822,  he  was  elected  to  the  legislature  from 
Layette  county,  and  while  a member  of  that 
body  served  as  chairman  of  the  judiciary  com- 
mitttee,  an  important  position,  and  one  usually 


V,  I OG  R A PI  I IC  A L 1 1 1 STORY 


11)2 


f^iven  to  the  ablest  lawyer  of  the  body.  In 
1824  he  was  aj)])ointed  ])rosecutor  of  tlie  third 
judicial  district,  and  in  1 82C,  became  a candi- 
date for  congress  against  Hon.  John  Test,  who 
had  rejn'esented  the  district  for  three  full  terms. 
He  made  a vigorous  canvass,  and  defeated  his 
popular  competitor  by  1,500  majority.  Mr. 
Smith  served  with  distinction  in  congress,  and 
was  ever  attentive  and  industrious  in  his  pub- 
lic duties.  In  December,  1836,  he  was  a can- 
didate for  United  States  senator,  his  cempeti- 
tors  being  Noah  Noble,  \\'illiam  Hendricks  and 
Ratliff  Boon.  He  was  elected  on  the  ninth 
ballot.  In  the  senate,  Mr.  Smith  was  chair- 
man of  the  committee  on  jinblic  lands,  and 
took  great  pride  in  the  place,  which  he  lilletl 
with  distinguished  ability.  In  1842  he  was  a 
canditlate  for  re-election,  but  was  defeated  by 
Hdward  A.  Hannegan;  in  March,  1843,  his 
senatorial  services  terminated.  Soon  after  his 
return  ho'.ne,  his  attention  was  directed  to 
railroads,  and  Indianapolis  is  mainly  indebted 
to  him  for  the  building  of  the  Indianapolis  N 
Bellfonte  road,  now  known  as  the  “Bee  Line.” 
In  1857  he  commenced  writing  a series  of 
sketches  for  the  Indianai)olis  Journal  on  early 
times  in  Indiana,  which  attracted  much  atten- 
tion, and  which  were  afterward  brought  out  in 
book  form.  This  volume  is  valuable  as  a rec- 
ord of  early  Indiana  times,  and  contains 
much  information  not  otherwise  noted.  Mr. 
Smith  died  \farch  19,  1859.  As  a political 
speaker,  he  e.xhibited  much  the  same  (jualities 
and  ])owers  of  mastery  that  he  did  as  a forensic 
sjieaker,  but  he  was  less  successful  on  the 
stump,  because  argument  and  close  reasoning, 
which  were  his  mode  of  dealing  with  ])olitical 
questions,  were  not  as  popular  as  anecdotal 
and  declamatory  style.  “As  a lawyer,  Mr. 
Smith  was  ever  true  to  tlu'  iuterc^sts  ol  his  client, 
and  in  the  prosecution  of  his  cases  in  court,  he 
disiilayed  much  ^'eal  and  earnestness.  I h'  was 
an  honest  oppoiumt,  and  \'ery  liberal  in  his 


practice,  and  yet  very  capable,  and  sometimes 
ready  to  seize  upon  the  weakness  or  oversight 
on  an  adversary.  His  career  at  the  bar  was  a 
successful  one,  and  he  \vell  merited  the  high 
tribute  paid  to  his  memory  at  the  time  of  his 
death;  “In  person,  Mr.  Smith  was  five  feet 
ten  inches  in  height  and  weighed  about  180 
pounds.  He  was  broad  chested,  and  large 
from  the  waist  up  His  eyes  were  dark,  his 
hair  was  black  and  stood  up  upon  his  head. 
He  had  large  shaggy  eyebrows,  and  the  general 
contour  of  his  features  denoted  energy,  pluck 
and  endurance.  His  place  is  in  the  front  rank 
of  the  great  men  of  Indiana.” 


HLBERT  S.  WHITE,  one  of  the  most 
scholarly  of  Indiana’s  distinguished 
men,  was  born  in  Blooming  Grove, 
N.  Y. , October  24,  1803.  He  gradu- 
ated from  Union  college,  that  state,  in  1822, 
in  the  same  class  with  Hon.  William  H.  Sew- 
ard, and  after  studying  law  for  some  time  at 
Newburg,  was  licensed  to  practice  his  pro- 
fession in  1825.  Soon  after  this,  he  came  to 
Indiana  and  located  at  Rushville,  thence  one 
year  later,  moved  to  Paoli  and  subsequently 
took  uj;)  his  permanent  abode  in  Lafayette. 
In  1830  and  1831  he  was  assistant  clerk  of 
the  Indiana  house  of  representatives,  and 
served  as  clerk  of  the  same  from  183210  1835. 
In  1833  he  was  a candidate  for  congress  against 
Edward  H.  Hannegan,  by  whom  he  was  de- 
feated. “He  had  m'ither  the  brilliancy  nor 
the  elotpience  of  Mr.  Hannegan,  but  was  the 
sui)erior  of  that  erratic  man  in  education,  cul- 
ture and  in  most  of  the  (pialities  which  go  to 
mak('  Uj)  the  successful  man.”  In  1837  he 
was  more  successful.  Inn  ing  been  elected  to 
congress  bv  an  overwhelming  majority  over 
Nathan  Jackson.  The  year  j)revious,  he  was 
on  tlu'  whig  electoral  ticket,  and  in  the  elec- 


AND  REPRESENTATIVE  MEN. 


103 


tonil  collef;e  cast  his  vote  for  Villiain  Henry 
Harrison.  In  i 839  he  was  elected  to  succeed 
(fen.  John  Tipton  in  the  United  States  sen- 
ate, the  struggle  having  been  an  animated  one, 
requiring  thirty-si.x  ballots  divided  among  Mr. 
V'hite,  Noah  Noble  and  Col.  Thomas  H. 
Blake.  He  entered  the  senate  a young  man, 
but  his  training  eminently  fitted  him  for  the 
duties  of  that  distinguished  body,  in  the  delib- 
erations of  which  he  bore  an  active  part.  He 
strenuously  opposed  the  annexation  of  Texas, 
as  he  did  every  measnre  which  w’as  calculated 
to  extend  the  area  of  slavery.  “ He  was  of  a 
conservative  temperament,  and  usually  voted 
with  the  moderate  men  of  his  party,  but  he 
was  conscientiously  an  anti-slavery  man  and 
always  acted  with  those  who  strove  to  confine 
slavery  to  the  territory  it  then  polluted.”  He 
was  active  in  securing  grants  of  land  to  aid  in 
the  extension  of  the  Wabash  & Erie  canal, 
and  took  a prominent  part  in  shaping  legislation 
to  promote  other  internal  improvements.  On 
the  expiration  of  his  term,  Mr.  White  resumed 
the  practice  of  law,  but  soon  abandoned  the 
profession  and  entered  actively  into  the  busi- 
ness of  railroad  building.  He  was  president 
of  the  Indianapolis  & Lafayette  railroad  from 
its  organization  until  1856,  and  during  a part 
of  that  time  was  at  the  head  of  the  Wabash 
& Western  railway.  In  i860  he  was  again 
called  into  public  life  as  a member  of  congress, 
where  his  thorough  knowledge  of  political  and 
state  affairs  soon  enabled  him  to  take  high 
rank.  He  was  made  chairman  of  a select  com- 
mittee, raised  to  consider  the  question  of  com- 
pensated emancipation,  and  also  reported  a 
bill  appropriating  $180,000,000  to  pay  loyal 
men  for  their  slaves,  and  $20,000,000  to  aid 
in  the  colonization  of  freedmen.  His  con- 
gressional career  was  eminently  honorable,  but 
he  failed  of  a renomination,  mainly  on  account 
of  his  action  in  regard  to  the  emancipation 
question.  In  January,  1 864,  he  was  appointed 


by  President  Lincoln  United  States  judge  for 
the  district  of  Indiana,  to  fill  the  vacancy 
caused  by  the  death  of  Hon.  Caleb  B.  Smith. 
He  soon  adapted  himself  to  his  new  position, 
and  had  he  lived,  would  have  proved  a worthy 
successor  of  his  eminent  predecessor.  His 
term  was  cut  short  by  his  death,  w'hich  oc- 
curred on  the  4th  day  of  September,  1864. 
“ Mr.  \Vhite  had  but  little  in  common  with  the 
typical  rvestern  pioneer,  and  it  is  therefore 
somewhat  strange  that  he  should  have  reached 
the  eminence  he  did.  He  never  sunk  his  man- 
hood nor  lowered  his  self-respect,  by  trying  to 
get  down  to  the  level  of  every  man  that  ap- 
proached him.  He  was  in  no  sense  a dema- 
gogue, and  never  sought  to  curry  favor  by 
pretending  to  be  what  he  was  not.  He  was 
always  dignified  and  always  a gentleman.”  In 
personal  appearance,  Mr.  White  was  below 
the  medium  height,  quite  spare  and  had  a nar- 
row visage  with  a prominent  Roman  nose. 
Physically  he  was  weak,  but  intellectually 
ranked  with  the  strong  men  of  the  state  and 
nation.  “He  was  one  of  the  first  men  of  the 
Wabash  country,  and  of  the  state,  and  his 
name  will  not  be  forgotten  while  learning  and 
scholarship  are  cherished  and  honor  and  pat- 
riotism revered.” 


eDWARD  A.  HANNEGAN  was  a na- 
tive of  Ohio,  but  in  early  life  moved 
to  Kentucky,  and  settled  at  Lexing- 
I ton,  where  he  grew  to  manhood.  He 

! received  a liberal  education,  and  after  several 
I years  spent  in  the  study  of  law,  was  admitted 
to  practice  at  the  Lexington  bar  at  the  early 
! age  of  twenty-three.  Not  long  after  this  he 
settled  a*-  Covington,  Ind.,  where  he  opened 
an  office  and  practiced  his  profession  with  flat- 
tering success  for  a number  of  years.  He 
soon  entered  the  political  arena  and  ere  long 


(K)VERN()RS  OF  INDIANA 


i(;4 


was  honored  by  an  election  to  the  state  legis- 
lature, in  the  deliberations  of  which  he  soon 
took  an  active  and  brilliant  part.  His  career 
in  the  legislature  brought  him  into  prominent 
notice,  and  in  January,  1833,  he  was  elected 
to  the  congress  of  the  United  States,  defeating 
Albert  S.  White,  afterward  his  colleague  in  the 
senate.  In  i S40  he  was  again  a candidate  for 
congress,  but  after  a very  e.xciting  contest  was 
defeated  by  Hon.  Henry  S.  Lane,  afterward 
governor  and  United  States  senator.  In  1842, 
much  to  the  surprise  of  every  one,  Mr.  Han- 
negan  was  elected  United  States  senator,  de- 
feating Oliver  H.  Smith  and  Tilghman  A. 
Howard  on  the  sixth  ballot.  He  took  his  seat 
in  the  senate  on  the  4th  of  December,  1843, 
and  served  until  March  4,  1849,  during  which 
time  he  made  several  speeches  which  attracted 
the  attention  of  the  country.  While  a mem- 
ber of  that  body  his  votes  were  always  in 
accord  with  his  party.  In  March,  1849,  Pres- 
ident Polk  nominated  him  for  minister  to  Prus- 
sia, but  being  unfit  for  diplomacy  by  nature 
and  habit  it  is  no  wonder  that  his  career  at 
Berlin  added  nothing  to  the  character  of  the 
government  he  represented.  He  was  recalled 
the  next  January,  and  with  that  recall  the  pub- 
lic life  of  the  brilliant  but  erratic  statesman 
ended.  He  returned  to  his  home  at  Coving- 
ton, and  the  next  year  was  defeated  in  a race 
for  the  legislature,  which  he  took  much  to 
heart  and  which  served  to  drive  him  further 
into  the  convivial  habits  which  ultimately 
])roved  his  ruin.  The  habit  of  drink  con- 
tinued to  grow  uj)on  him  until  in  a fit  of 
drunken  frenzy  he  took  the  life  of  one  whom 
he  dearly  loved  his  hrother-in-law,  Cai)t. 
Duncan.  The  two  had  been  drinking  deeply 
and  angry  words  passed  between  them.  Mr. 
Hannegan  finally  went  into  a separate  ai)art- 
nient,  but  was  followed  by  Capt.  Duncan,  who 
applied  some  bitter  e])ithets  to  him  and 
slapped  him  in  the  face.  Upon  this  Mr.  Han- 


negan seized  a dagger  and  buried  it  to  the 
hilt  in  Duncan's  body,  the  effect  of  which  was 
death  the  following  day.  He  was  not  indicted 
and  tried  for  this  killing,  the  universal  senti- 
ment of  the  people  being  in  his  favor.  He  re- 
moved to  St.  Louis,  in  1857,  and  on  the  25th 
of  January,  1859,  he  died  in  that  city.  Mr. 
Hannegan  was  warm  in  his  friendships  and 
had  a large  personal  following.  His  manners 
were  elegant,  and  he  was  ardent,  impulsive 
and  undaunted,  thinking,  acting  and  speaking 
with  the  utmost  freedom.  In  person  he  was 
beknv  the  medium  height,  firmly  and  compact- 
ly built,  but  in  after  years  became  quite  cor- 
pulent. He  was  a charming  companion,  and 
as  an  orator  was  more  eloquent  than  logical. 
“He  was  not  a profound  man  nor  a great 
scholar,  but  what  he  lacked  in  profundity  he 
made  up  in  brilliancy,  and  his  deficiency  in 
scholarship  was  largely  compensated  for  by 
his  (]uick  wit  and  fertile  imagination,  and  his 
power  to  express  himself  in  the  choicest  lan- 
guage. He  was  of  Irish  descent,  and  inherited 
many  of  the  characteristics  of  that  warm- 
hearted, impulsive  race." 


ESSE  I).  BRIGHT,  for  twenty  years  a 
leading  politician  of  Indiana,  was  horn 
in  Norwich,  N.  Y.,  December  18,  1812, 
and  came  to  this  state  when  a boy,  lo- 
cating with  his  parents  at  Madison,  where  he 
grew  to  manhood's  estate.  He  received  an 
academic  education,  and  after  a |u‘eparatory 
course  of  reading  was  admitted  to  the  har, 
where  his  talents  soon  won  for  him  a cons])ic- 
uous  place  among  the  successful  lawyers  of 
Indiana.  He  was  not  profound  in  the  philos- 
o])hy  of  jurisju'iidence,  but,  being  a fluent 
sj)eakcr  and  cpiite  popular  with  the  people,  he 
succeeded  iu  gaining  a lucrative  practice,  which 
extended  throughout  the  counties  of  the  lower 


AND  REPRESENTATIVE  MEN. 


105 


Vahasli  and  elsewhere.  He  was  elected 
judf,'e  of  probate  in  Jefferson  county,  and  sub- 
sequently received  the  appointment  of  United 
States  marshal  for  Indiana,  and  it  was  while 
holding  the  latter  office  that  he  laid  the  found- 
ation of  his  political  career.  In  the  'forties, 
he  made  the  race  for  the  state  senate  against 
Villiamson  Dunn  and  Shadrack  Wilber,  whom 
he  defeated,  and  in  that  body  was  soon  recog- 
nized as  the  leader  of  the  party.  In  fact,  he 
was  a born  leader  of  men,  and  always  stood 
at  the  fore-front  of  the  line.  In  1843  he  was 
lieutenant  governor  on  the  ticket  ivith  James 
Whitcomb,  and  such  was  the  ability  he  dis- 
played in  the  discharge  of  the  duties  of  that 
position  that  the  senators  and  representatives, 
with  all  of  whom  he  sustained  relations  of  the 
warmest  friendship,  afterward  elected  him  to 
the  senate  of  the  United  States.  At  this  time 
he  was  barely  eligible  to  a seat  in  the  senate, 
on  account  of  his  age,  being  the  youngest  man 
ever  elected  to  that  distinguished  body.  In 
1850,  he  was  a candidate  for  re-election 
against  Hon.  Robert  Dale  Owen,  who  subse- 
quently withdrew  from  the  contest,  thus  mak- 
ing Mr.  Bright’s  election  without  opposition. 
In  1856,  his  term  having  e.xpired,  he  again 
sought  a re-election,  which  was  granted  him 
after  a memorable  contest  which  was  decided 
by  the  United  States  senate,  in  a strictly  party 
vote.  In  the  senate,  Mr.  Bright  ranked  high 
as  a committee  worker,  and  enjoyed  a great  per- 
sonal popularity.  Such  was  his  standing  that 
on  the  death  of  Vice  President  King,  in  1853, 
he  was  elected  president  pro  tempore  of  the 
senate,  which  he  filled  with  ability  untd  the 
inauguration  of  John  C.  Breckinridge,  in  1857. 
In  the  latter  year,  when  forming  his  cabinet. 
President  Buchanan  offered  Mr.  Bright  the 
secretaiyship  of  state,  which  position  he  saw 
fit  to  decline.  He  continued  a senator  until 
1862,  when  he  was  expelled  for  disloyalty,  by 
a vote  of  thirty-two  to  fourteen.  The  princi- 


pal proof  of  his  crime  was  in  recommending  to 
Jefferson  Davis,  in  March,  i86r,  Thomas  Lin- 
coln, of  Texas,  a person  desirous  of  furnishing 
arms  to  the  confederacy.  Mr.  Bright  oi'ganized 
and  led  the  Breckinridge  party  in  Indiana  in 
i860,  and  in  stumping  for  the  brilliant  young 
Kentuckian  gave  the  movement  all  the  force 
and  vitality  it  had  in  this  state.  He  left  Indi- 
ana soon  after  the  legislature  of  1863  refused 
to  return  him  to  the  United  States  senate,  and 
took  up  his  residence  in  Kentucky,  in  the  legis- 
lature of  which  state  he  subsequently  served 
two  terms.  In  1874  he  removed  to  Balti- 
more, in  which  city  he  died  on  the  20th  of 
May,  1875,  of  organic  disease  of  the  heart. 
Mr.  Bright  had  a splendid  physique,  and 
weighed  about  200  pounds.  He  had  a good 
head  and  a good  face,  but  was  imperious  in 
manner  and  brooked  no  opposition  from  either 
friend  or  foe.  “He  was  the  Danton  of  Indiana 
democracy,  and  was  both  loved  and  feared  by 
his  followers.” 


OHN  PETTIT  was  born  at  Sackett’s 
Harbor,  N.  Y. , July  24,  1807,  and 

died  in  Lafayette,  Ind.,  June  17,  1877. 
After  receiving  a classical  education 
and  studying  law,  he  was  admitted  to  the  bar 
in  1838,  and  commenced  the  practice  of  his 
profession  at  Lafayette,  Ind.  He  soon  became 
active  in  state  politics,  was  in  the  legislature 
two  terms  ami  served  as  United  States  district 
attorney.  He  was  elected  to  congress  as  a 
democrat  in  1842,  re-elected  to  the  next  con- 
gress and  served  with  distinguished  ability  in 
that  body  from  December  4,  1843,  to  March 
3,  1849.  was  a democratic  elector  in 

1852,  and  in  January,  1853,  was  chosen 
United  States  senator  to  fill  the  unexpired 
term  occasioned  by  the  death  of  James  Whit- 
comb, serving  as  such  until  March  3,  181;; 


100 


GOX^EKNOKS  OF  INDIANA 


duriiif;'  which  time  he  earned  the  reputation  of 
an  able  and  painstakinj^  legislator.  In  1859 
he  was  appointed,  by  James  Buchanan,  chief 
justice  of  Kansas,  and  in  1870  was  elected 
supreme  judge  of  Indiana.  He  was  a delegate 
to  the  Chicago  democratic  convention  in  1864, 
and  as  a political  leader  wdelded  a strong  in- 
lluence  in  Indiana  in  a number  of  state  and 
national  contests.  He  was  renominated  for 
supreme  judge  in  1876,  hut  owing  to  scandals 
connected  with  the  court,  which  excited  popu- 
lar indignation,  he  was  forced  off  the  ticket, 
and  the  name  of  Judge  Perkins  substituted. 


aHARLES  W.  CATHCART,  of  whose 
public  and  private  history  but  little  is 
now  known,  was  born  on  the  island 
of  Madeira,  in  1809.  He  received  a 
liberal  education  and  early  in  life  shipped  as  a 
sailor,  and  after  a number  of  years  spent  on 
the  sea,  located,  in  1831,  at  LaPorte,  Ind., 
where  he  engaged  in  farming.  He  served  sev- 
eral years  as  land  surveyor,  was  a representa- 
tive in  the  legislature,  and  in  1845  was  an 
elector  on  the  democratic  ticket.  He  was 
elected  to  the  congress  of  the  United  States 
in  1845-47,  re-electetl  the  latter  year  to  serve 
until  1849,  and  was  afterward  appointed  to 
fill  the  unexpired  term  occasioned  by  the 
death  of  James  Wdiitcomb.  He  served  as 
senator  from  December  6,  1852,  to  March  3, 
1853,  and  at  the  expiration  of  his  term  re- 
turned to  LaPorte  county,  where  his  death 
subsequently  occurred. 


RAHAM  N.  h'lTCH  was  born  in  Le 
Roy,  (lenesee  county,  N.  Y'.,  on  the 
5th  of  December,  1810,  and  is  said 
to  have  been  the  first  white  child 
born  in  that  town.  His  grandfather  was  a 


soldier  in  the  revolutionary  war,  and  his 
father,  a soldier  in  the  war  of  1812,  was 
wounded  in  the  battle  of  Queenstown.  Mr. 
Fitch  received  a liberal  education,  and  in 
early  life  chose  the  medical  ])rofession  for  a 
life  work,  and  completed  a course  of  study  in 
the  same  in  the  college  of  jihysicians  and  sur- 
geons of  western  New  York.  He  came  to 
Indiana  in  1834,  and  settled  at  Logansport, 
where  his  successful  career  soon  won  for  him 
the  reputation  of  one  of  the  most  skillful  sur- 
geons and  thorough  practitioners  in  the  west. 
In  1844  he  accepted  a professorship  in  Rush 
Medical  college,  at  Chicago,  and  occupied  the 
chair  of  theory  and  practice  during  the  years 
1844-47.  Though  not  naturally  a politician, 
Dr.  I'itch,  from  force  of  circumstances,  was 
drawn  into  the  arena  of  politics,  where  his 
commanding  talents  and  energy  marked  him 
as  the  people’s  choice.  In  1836  and  again  in 
1839,  he  was  chosen  to  represent  Cass  county 
in  the  state  legislature.  Subsequently,  at  the 
election  in  August,  1847,  he  was  chosen  to 
represent  his  district  in  the  lower  house  of 
congress,  holding  that  responsible  position 
until  1852.  During  his  membership  he  was 
active  and  efficient  in  the  discharge  of  his 
duties,  earning  the  reputation  of  a good  legis- 
lator. His  legislative  capacity  was  further 
tested  by  an  experience  in  the  senate  of  the 
United  States,  commencing  in  1860-61.  The 
honorable  distinction  accpiired  in  subordinate 
legislative  positions  was  not  dimmed  by  his 
senatorial  experience,  and  he  left  that  distin- 
guished body  with  a record  of  which  posterity 
need  not  be  .ashamed.  Although  a democrat 
in  political  affiliations,  he  always  esteemed 
principle  abovi'  mere  partisanshi])  and  was 
not  slow  to  manifest  disapprobation  when  his 
party  seemed  disposed  to  pursue  a course  of 
policy  in  antagonism  to  his  better  judgment. 
In  the  triangular  contest  for  the  iiresidency, 
between  Mr.  Lincoln,  Mr.  Douglas  and  Mr. 


AND  REPRESENTATIVE  MEN. 


Breckinridge,  he  gave  his  undivided  support 
to  the  last  named  gentleman,  influenced  there- 
to by  a belief  that  his  election  would  prevent 
the  threatening  civil  war.  Again,  when  his 
jiarty  rallied  to  the  support  of  Mr.  Greeley,  he 
manifested  his  dissent  by  supporting  Mr. 
O'Conor  for  the  presidency.  M’hen  the  war 
came  on,  he  raised  a regiment,  the  Forty-sixth 
Indiana,  and  at  its  head  entered  the  federal 
service.  He  did  brilliant  service  in  several 
campaigns,  but  owing  to  an  injury  received  by 
the  falling  of  his  horse,  was  compelled  to  leave 
the  service  before  the  expiration  of  the  war. 
After  the  close  of  the  war,  he  still  continued 
to  practice  his  profession,  not  interfering  in 
political  affairs  except  to  preserve  the  integ- 
rity of  his  inherent  ideas  with  the  vigor  of  his 
palmier  days,  opposing  whatever  he  conceived 
to  be  wrong  in  civil  and  political  affairs.  _ In 
personal  appearance.  Dr.  Fitch  was  an  unusual 
specimen  of  physical  manhood,  having  a well 
knit  frame  and  a couidly  dignity  which 
bespoke  the  polished  gentleman.  In  his 
prime  he  appeared  a knight  among  men,  and 
while  a member  of  the  United  States  senate 
is  said  to  have  been  the  finest  looking  man  in 
that  body.  The  death  of  Ur.  Fitch  took 
place  November  29,  1892. 


AVID  S.  TUKPIE,  born  in  Hamil- 
ton county,  Ohio,  in  i 829,  graduated 
at  Kenyon  college,  studied  law,  and 
began  practice  at  Logansport,  Ind., 
in  1849.  He  was  a member  of  the  legislature 
in  1852,  was  appointed  judge  of  the  court  of 
common  pleas  in  1854,  and  of  thecircu’t  court 
in  1856,  which  post  he  resigned.  He  was 
again  a member  of  the  state  house  of  repre- 
sentatives in  1856,  and  was  elected  to  the 
United  States  senate  from  Indiana,  as  a dem- 
ocrat, in  place  of  Jesse  D.  Bright,  who  had 
been  expelled,  serving  from  January  22  to 


107 


March  3,  1863.  Nearly  twenty-four  years 

afterward  he  was  again  called  on  by  his  party 
to  represent  them  in  the  senate,  to  which 
body  he  was  elected  by  the  Indiana  legislature, 
at  the  session  of  1886-7,  after  a memorable 
struggle.  His  opponent  was  Benjamin  Harri- 
son, afterward  elected  president,  and  he  was 
defeated  by  the  votes  of  one  or  two  independ- 
ents in  the  legislature  who  held  the  balance 
of  power  between  the  two  great  parties,  which 
were  almost  equally  divided  in  voting  sti'ength 
among  the  members.  Mr.  Turpie  enjoys  the 
reputation  of  being  one  of  the  ablest  constitu- 
tional lawyers  in  Indiana,  and  is  also  graded 
high  as  a man  of  literary  attainments. 


ANIEL  D.  PRATT  was  born  at  Pal- 
ermo, Maine,  October  24,  1813,  and 
died  at  Logansport,  Ind.,  June  17, 
1877.  His  father  was  a physicain 
and  the  son  of  David  Pratt,  a revolutionary 
soldier,  of  Berkshire  county.  Mass.  Mr. 
Pratt’s  early  years  were  years  of  excessive  toil, 
necessitated  by  the  circumstances  of  his  fath- 
er’s family.  His  early  education  was  acquired 
in  the  district  schools  of  Madison  county,  N. 
Y. , and  in  1825  he  entered  the  seminary  at 
Cazenovia,  that  state,  and  two  years  later 
cntei'ed  Hamilton  college,  from  which  he 
graduated  in  1831.  He  was  a natural  orator, 
and  as  a classical  scholar  was  rarely  excelled. 
Immediately  after  graduating  he  accepted  a 
professorship  in  Madison  university,  and  with 
the  means  thus  earned  began  the  study  of  law. 
In  the  spring  of  1832,  he  decided  to  move 
west.  Accordingly  he  set  out  for  Cincinnati, 
making  a part  of  the  journey  on  foot,  and  later 
made  his  way  to  Rising  Sun,  Ind.,  where  he 
taught  a term  of  school.  Subsequently  he  en- 
tered the  law  office  of  Calvin  I'letcher,  at 
Indianapolis,  and  in  1836  located  in  Logans- 
port, at  that  time  a mere  opening  in  the 


(JOVERNOKS  OF  INDLXXA 


wilderness.  The  brij^dit  {)roinises  of  his  early 
youth  were  soon  fully  realized,  for  no  sooner 
was  he  admitted  to  the  bar  than  he  rapidly 
rose  in  his  profession,  and  in  a few  years  the 
fame  of  the  eloquent  youii"  advocate  resounded 
throuj.;hout  northern  Indiana.  He  was  one 
who  never  courted  notoriety,  but  he  made 
himself  a necessity  in  the  field  of  action,  and 
it  was  often  a race  between  htii;ants  to  see 
who  could  reach  his  office  first.  At  the  time 
of  his  election  to  the  United  States  senate  in 
1869,  he  was  recof.^nized  as  the  ablest  lawyer 
in  northern  Indiana,  and  his  fame  was  not 
confined  to  this  state  alone,  but  extended 
throughout  the  western  country.  For  twenty- 
five  years  he  was  without  a rival  in  northern 
Indiana,  before  a jury.  Gov.  Hendricks  and 
Sec.  Thompson  divided  the  palm  with  him  in 
the  south  and  west  parts  of  the  state.  His 
eminent  merits  were  recoj^nized,  and  in  1847 
he  was  nominated  for  congress,  but  was  de- 
feated by  Charles  Cathcart.  In  1848,  he  was 
one  of  the  presidential  electors,  and  in  1851- 
53  was  elected  to  the  legislature,  and  soon  be- 
came the  leader  in  the  house.  In  i860  he 
was  secretary  of  the  national  convention  at 
Chicago,  which  nominated  Abraham  Lincoln 
for  the  presidency,  and  attracted  great  atten- 
tion by  his  eloquence  and  commanding  pres- 
ence. During  the  war  Mr.  Pratt  was  a zeal- 
ous and  patriotic  advocate  of  the  Union  cause. 
In  1863  he  received  the  unanimous  vote  of  his 
party,  then  in  the  minority,  for  United  States 
senator,  and  in  1 868  was  elected  to  congress 
by  a handsome  majority.  In  1868  the  legisla- 
ture, without  solicitation  on  his  part,  iiromoted 
him  to  the  United  States  senate.  It  was  un- 
fortunate that  he  entered  that  body  so  late  in 
life,  as  he  was  then  fifty-six  years  of  age,  and 
with  the  exception  of  two  terms  in  the  state 
legislature  was  without  public  training.  'I'lie 
artificial  rc!straint  thrown  around  him  in  the 
national  ca])ital  disgusted  him,  and  interfered 


with  his  sjdendid  oratorical  powers.  As  it 
was,  however,  he  was  recognized  as  one  of  the 
ablest  men  of  that  body  during  the  period  of 
his  service,  and  although  he  made  but  few 
speeches,  those  he  delivered  were  sound,  log- 
ical and  comprehensive.  For  six  years  he  was 
a member  of  both  claim  and  pension  com- 
mittees, and  for  two  years  was  chairman  of 
the  pension  committee.  Millions  of  dollars 
were  allowed  and  dis-allowed  on  his  recom- 
mendation. So  conscientious  was  he  that 
Wendell  Phillijis  once  remarked  that  “Pratt  is 
the  most  absolutely  honest  man  I ever  knew.” 
Upon  the  expiration  of  his  term  as  senator,  at 
the  solicitation  of  Pres.  Grant  he  took  charge 
of  the  internal  revenue  department.  In  1 876, 
the  republicans  urged  Mr.  Pratt  to  become  a 
candidate  for  governor  of  the  state,  but  he  de- 
clined. Personally  Mr.  Pratt  was  one  of  the 
most  cheerful  and  genial  of  men,  and  in  his 
social  life,  and  all  his  associations,  shed  an  in- 
finence  around  him  which  was  like  sunshine. 
Although  he  never  sought  literary  honors,  his 
talents  could  not  be  unappreciated,  and  in 
1872  Hamilton  college  conferred  upon  him 
the  honorary  degree  of  LL.  D.  In  appear- 
ance he  was  above  the  average  height,  being 
over  six  feet  and  corresjiondingly  portly.  His 
presence  was  dignified  and  he  moved  among 
men  as  one  born  to  command.  In  his  death 
the  nation  lost  one  of  its  faithful  public  serv- 
ants, the  state  a great  man,  the  legal  jirofes- 
sion  one  of  its  ablest  members  and  the  com- 
munity one  of  its  best  citizens. 


OSFPH  E.  McDonald  was  born  in 
Butler  county,  Ohio,  August  29,  1819, 
the  son  of  |ohn  McDonald,  a native  of 
Pensylvania,  and  of  Scotch  tlcsccnt. 
Matcunally,  Mr.  McDonald  is  descended  from 
I'rench  Huguenot  ancestry.  His  mother, 


AM)  REPRESENTATIVE  MEN. 


IGI) 


Ellcanor  (Piatt)  McDonald,  was  a native  of 
Pennsylvania,  and  a woman  of  snj)erior  order 
of  intellect.  Seven  years  after  the  death  of 
John  McDonald  she  married  John  Kerr,  who 
moved  with  his  family  to  Montgomery  count}", 
Ind.,  in  the  fall  of  1826.  Joseph  McDonald 
was  seven  years  of  age  when  the  family  moved 
to  Indiana,  and  until  his  twelfth  year  he  lived 
upon  the  home  farm.  In  his  twelfth  year  he 
became  an  apprentice  to  the  saddler’s  trade  in 
Lafayette,  in  which  capacity  he  served  out 
five  years,  studying  law  in  the  meantime,  for 
which  he  early  manifested  a decided  taste.  At 
the  age  of  eighteen  he  entered  VMbash  col- 
lege, began  the  study  of  the  higher  branches, 
supporting  himself  mainly  by  plying  at  his  trade 
when  it  was  possible  for  him  to  do  so.  He 
afterward  became  a student  in  the  Asbury 
university,  and  in  1842  began  the  systematic 
study  of  law  at  Lafayette,  Ind.,  in  the  office 
of  Zebulon  Beard,  one  of  the  leading  lawyers 
of  the  state.  He  was  nominated  for  the  office 
of  prosecuting  attorney  before  his  admission  to 
the  bar,  and  was  elected  to  that  position  over 
one  of  the  prominent  lawyers  of  Lafayette. 
He  was  re-elected  prosecutor,  and  discharged 
the  duties  of  the  office  for  a period  of  four 
years.  In  the  fall  of  1847,  he  moved  to 
Crawfordsville,  which  place  was  his  home 
until  1859.  In  1 849  he  was  elected  from  the 
old  eighth  district  and  to  the  twenty-first  con- 
gress, and  served  one  term,  and  in  1856  was 
elected  attorney  general  of  Indiana,  being  the 
first  chosen  to  this  office  by  the  people.  He 
was  re-elected  in  1858,  and  served  two  terms. 
In  1864  he  was  nominated  for  governor  of 
Indiana  by  the  democratic  state  convention, 
and  made  a joint  canvass  with  Oliver  P.  Mor- 
ton, the  republican  nominee.  At  the  election 
he  received  6,000  more  votes  for  governor 
than  the  state  ticket  did  in  1862,  but  Mr. 
Morton  was  elected  by  nearly  20,000  votes. 
Throughout  his  entire  life  he  has  strictly 


adhered  to  his  resolution  to  follow  the  law  and 
make  a success  of  the  profession,  and  as  a 
lawyer  he  has  for  years  ranked  among  the 
most  successful  and  profound  in  the  nation. 
He  was  elected  to  the  United  States  senate 
for  si.x  years,  to  succeed  Daniel  D.  Pratt,  and 
entered  upon  the  duties  of  that  position  March 
5,  1875.  While  a member  of  that  body  he 
was  chairman  of  the  committee  on  public 
lands,  a member  of  the  judiciary  committee, 
took  a conspicuous  part  in  the  debates  on 
finance,  and  ranked  as  one  of  the  ablest  law- 
yers in  that  body  of  distinguished  men.  He 
served  with  distinction  until  1881,  since  which 
time  he  has  given  his  attention  principally  to 
the  practice  of  his  profession,  though  taking 
an  active  part  in  political  affairs,  being  one  of 
the  recognized  leaders  of  the  democracy  in  the 
United  States.  He  made  the  principal  argu- 
ment for  the  objectors  in  the  count  of  the 
electoral  vote  of  Louisiana  before  the  electoral 
commission  appointed  to  determine  the  result 
of  the  presidential  election  in  1876.  In  the 
national  democratic  convention,  held  in  Chi- 
cago, in  1884,  Mr.  McDonald’s  name  was  pre- 
sented as  a candidate  for  the  presidential 
nomination,  and  he  had  a strong  following  in 
the  delegation  from  a number  of  states.  He 
is  and  always  has  been  a representative  demo- 
crat of  the  Jeffersonian  school,  and  believes 
that  the  true  idea  of  democracy  is  to  preserve, 
unimpaired,  all  the  rights  reserved  to  the 
states  respectively,  and  to  the  people,  without 
infringing  upon  any  of  the  powers  delegated  to 
the  general  government  by  the  constitution. 
“He  believes  in  the  virtue  of  the  people,  and 
in  their  ability  and  purpose  to  maintain  their 
institutions  inviolate  against  the  assaults  of 
designing  men.  ” “As  an  orator,  both  at  the 
bar  and  on  the  hustings,  he  is  cool,  logical  and 
forcible,  and,  as  a citizen,  he  has  the  confi- 
dence and  respect  of  all  who  know  him,  re- 
gardless of  political  creeds.”  “His  views  are 


170 


(lOVERNOKS  OF  INDIANA 


broad  and  coni])rc‘hensive  on  all  questions  of 
public  interest,  and  his  steadfastness  of  pur- 
pose, his  honest  (.lesire  of  accoinplishinj:;'  what 
is  best  for  the  jieople,  have  j^iven  him  a home 
in  their  hearts,  and  won  for  him  the  j^o'eatest 
honors  they  had  to  bestow.” 


ANIEL  W.  VOORHEES  was  born 
in  Eutler  county,  Ohio,  September 
26,  1827,  and  was  brought  to  Indiana 
by  his  parents  when  two  months  old. 
The  family  settled  in  Fountain  county,  where 
Mr.  \'oorhees  grew  to  manhood  on  a farm 
about  ten  miles  from  the  town  of  Covington. 
His  father,  Stephen  Voorhees,  was  a native  of 
Mercer  county,  Ky. , and  a descendant  of  an 
old  Holland  famil}’,  many  representatives  of 
which  were  among  the  early  settlers  of  the 
eastern  states  in  the  time  of  the  colonies.  His 
mother  was  Rachel  (Elliot)  Voorhees,  born  in 
Maryland  of  Irish  ancestry,  and  married 
Stephen  \"oorhecs  in  the  year  1821.  The  early 
farm  e.xperience  of  Mr.  Voorhees  pnjved  of 
great  value  to  him  in  after  life,  and  served  to 
bind  him  in  ties  of  sympathy  with  the  com- 
mon people.  He  graduated  from  the  Asbury, 
now  DePauw,  university,  at  Greencastle,  in 
1849,  and  soon  afterward  entered  the  law  office 
of  Lane  & Wilson,  Crawfordsville,  and  on 
his  admission  to  the  bar,  began  the  practice  of 
his  profession  at  Covington,  Fountain  county, 
where  he  soon  effected  a co-partnership  with 
Hon.  E.  A.  Hannegan  in  1852.  In  June,  1853, 
Mr.  \'oorhees  was  appointed  by  Cov.  Wright 
prosecuting  attorney  of  the  circuit  court,  in 
which  ))osition  he  soon  established  a fine  repu- 
tation as  a criminal  lawyer.  In  1856  he  was 
nominated  by  acclamation  democratic  candi- 
date fer  congress,  but  was  defeated  by  230 
majority  in  a district  ])reviously  republican  by 
2,600.  In  1857  he  removed  to  Teria'  Haute, 


and  the  following  year  was  a])pointed  United 
States  district  attorney  for  the  state  of  Indi- 
ana by  President  Puchanan.  He  was  elected 
to  congress  in  i860  and  1862,  and  in  1864  was 
again  a successful  candidate,  but  in  the  last 
election  his  majority  of  634  votes  was  contested 
by  his  competitor,  Henry  D.  Washburn,  who 
obtained  the  seat.  He  was  again  elected  in 
1868,  re-elected  in  1870,  but  in  1872  was  de- 
feated by  Hon.  Morton  C.  Hunter.  In  1859 
Voorhees  was  retained  as  counsel  to  defend 
Col.  Cook,  arrested  with  John  Brown  as  an 
accomplice  of  the  latter  in  the  celebrated 
Harper’s  Ferry  raid,  and  his  speech  at  the 
trial  was  one  of  the  greatest  ever  delivered 
before  an  American  jury,  and  it  gained  him  a 
national  reputation.  It  was  listened  to  with 
rapt  attention  by  a vast  audience,  and  was 
afterward  published  all  over  the  country,  and 
in  Europe  in  several  different  languages.  Mr. 
Voorhees  was  appointed  November  6,  1877,  to 
succeed  Cov.  Morton  in  the  United  States 
Senate,  and  has  served  by  successive  re-elec- 
tions in  that  distinguished  body  until  the  pres- 
ent time.  From  his  entrance  into  public  life 
he  has  occupied  a conspicuous  place  in  the 
eyes  of  the  public,  and  at  the  bar,  on  the  stump 
or  in  the  halls  of  national  legislation,  he  has 
been  a man  of  mark.  His  powers  as  a parlia- 
mentary orator  and  a statesman  are  a jxirtion 
of  the  histor}-  of  the  nation,  and  as  a ])arty 
leader  few  if  any  have  e.xercised  as  great  an 
influence  upon  the  people  of  Iiuliana  as  he. 
“From  the  sobriijuet  of  the  Tall  Sycamore  of 
the  Wabash,  so  often  applied  to  him,  it  will  be 
inferred  that  he  is  of  tall  stature,  which  is  the 
case,  as  he  is  o\  cr  six  feet  in  height  and  weighs 
over  200  pounds.  He  carries  himself  erect, 
and  his  commanding  presence  and  dignified 
bearing  make  him  a conspicuious  figure  in  the 
senate  chambc'r.  ” 1 luring  his  term  of  service 

in  the  senate  he  has  hecn  assiduous  in  his 
attention  to  the  i)ublic  needs.  He  is  always 


AND  REPRESENTATIVE  MEN. 


171 


present  and  allows  no  measure  of  his  political 
opponents  to  pass  without  the  severest  scru- 
tiny, and  with  him  vigilance  is  the  price  of 
liberty. 

K.  DAVID  J.  JORDAN. — The  above 
named  gentleman  is  one  of  the  most 
prominent  of  that  coterie  of  scientific 
writers  who  have  done  so  much  to 
attract  the  attention  to  the  physical  resourses  of 
Indiana.  For  many  years  Prof.  Jordan  has 
been  president  of  the  state  university.  He 
was  educated  at  Cornell  university,  and  after- 
wards tudied  biology  under  the  famous  Agassiz, 
in  his  celebrated  summer  school,  Penikese  is- 
land. Coming  west,  Jordan  taught  his  spec- 
ialty in  the  university  of  Wisconsin,  Indianapo- 
lis high  school,  Butler  university,  and  then  at  the 
Indiana  university,  of  which  his  talents  even- 
tually made  him  president.  Prof.  Jordan  de- 
voted most  of  his  attention  for  many  years  to 
the  study  of  the  habits  and  classification  of  the 
fishes  of  North  America.  On  this  subject  he 
has  published  over  200  papers,  besides  a large 
work  which  has  become  a standard  authority 
on  ichthyology,  In  enthusiastic  pursuit  of  his 
favorite  study,  Dr,  Jordan  made  a fine  and 
extensive  collection  of  nearly  ten  thousand 
specimens  of  fishes,  reptiles  and  birds,  but  un- 
fortunately these  were  all  destroyed  hy  a dis- 
astrous fire  in  1883.  With  characteristic 
energy  he  set  to  work  to  repair  the  damage, 
and  soon  had  a better  collection  than  ever. 
He  has  been  a voluminous  writer  on  scientific 
subjects;  the  greater  part  being  devoted  to  his 
specialty,  the  fishes  of  the  western  states. 
He  gathered  around  him,  at  Bloomington,  a 
school  of  students  who  grew  up  under  his 
care,  imbibed  his  tastes,  and  greatly  a.ssisted 
him  in  his  scientific  researches.  The  re- 
sult of  their  conjoint  labors  and  writings  was 
to  make  the  state  university  the  center  and 
authority  on  subjects  relating  to  biological 


work.  In  the  fall  of  1892,  Dr.  Jordan  was 
transferred  to  the  presidency  of  the  Stanford 
university  of  California. 


ROF.  JOHN  COLLETT,  the  most 
distinguished  of  Indiana  geologists, 
is  a native  of  this  state,  having  been 
born  in  Vermillion  county  in  1828  and 
graduated  at  Wabash  college  in  1847.  He 
has  taken  an  active  part  in  politics,  having 
been  state  senator,  state-house  commissioner, 
state  statistician  and  state  geologist.  But  his 
chief  fame  and  his  chief  claim  upon  the  grati- 
tude of  his  state,  are  based  upon  his  work  as  a 
scientist.  Prof.  Collett’s  life  has  been  studi- 
ous, useful  to  the  geology  of  Indiana,  and  has 
done  more  than  any  other  person  to  make 
known  the  natural  resources  of  the  state,  es- 
pecially to  advertise  to  the  world  the  value  ..f 
its  coal  measures  and  stone  quarries.  Clnefiy 
through  his  efforts,  the  building  stone  of  In- 
diana has  been  introduced  to  commerce,  and 
is  now  used  extensively  for  the  construction  of 
public  buildings  in  all  parts  of  the  Union.  He 
proved  its  superiority  by  a series  of  tests. 
From  1880  to  1884,  he  was  state  geologist, 
and  for  many  years  previously  had  served  as 
an  assistant  in  that  office,  to  which  he  contri- 
buted his  most  earnest  labor  and  the  riches  of 
his  well  stored  mind.  In  1884,  he  published 
the  first  and  best  geological  map  of  the  state 
ever  issued,  and  has  written  voluminously  on 
all  subjects  relating  to  the  geology  of  the  state. 
There  is  not  a county  he  has  not  visited  and 
studied,  nor  one  with  whose  geological  history, 
dating  far  back  into  the  dim  twilight  of  the 
pre-historic  periods,  he  is  not  so  familiar  as  to 
be  able  to  trace  and  read  like  an  open  book. 
Prof.  Collett  belongs  to  that  useful  class  of 
citizens  which,  while  not  obtaining  the  passing 
applause  and  glittering  fame  that  is  conferred 
upon  the  politician  in  high  office,  confer  more 
lasting  benefits  upon  mankind  and  are  of  more 


GOVERNORS  OF  INDIANA 


I 72 


actual  value  to  the  state  than  all  its  politicians 
[uit  tof^ether.  Indiana  needs  more  John  Col- 
letts and  fewer  “statesmen”  of  the  Col,  Mul- 
berry Sellers  and  Senator  Dillworthy  type. 


(D 


AURICE  THOMPSON.— There  is 
no  more  jricturespue  personality  in 
the  Hoosier  state  than  the  poet, 
naturalist,  essayist,  story  writer  and 
publicist,  whose  name  heads  this  sketch.  A 
native  of  the  south,  he  possesses  the  frank- 
ness, ardor,  f^eniality  of  disposition  and  fervent 
feelings  so  characteristic  of  the  warm  latitudes. 
H is  home,  however,  since  the  war  has  been  in 
Indiana,  with  whose  institutions  and  people 
he  has  become  thoroughly  identified.  Mr. 
Thompson’s  tastes  are  literary  and  his  occupa- 
tion and  fame  lie  in  that  direction,  but  occa- 
sionally he  takes  an  excursive  flight  into  poli- 
tics, more  by  way  of  diversion  than  otherwise. 
He  has  served  one  or  two  terms  as  member  of 
the  lower  house  of  the  legislature,  and  one 
term  also  as  state  geologist  by  appointment  of 
Gov.  Gray.  He  prefers,  however,  to  wander 
over  the  fields  and  woodlands,  watching  the 
habits  of  birds,  and  studying  nature  in  all  her 
vaiying  moods.  On  these  subjects  he  writes 
most  entertainingly  in  stories,  in  jroems,  and 
in  magazine  essays.  He  is  a born  naturalist 
and  is  never  so  hap])y  as  when  study  ing  the  in- 
teresting flora  and  fauna  of  his  adopted  state. 
He  views  nature  with  the  eye  of  an  artist,  and 
describes  her  charms  with  the  heart  of  a poet. 
()ne(T  liis  books  covering  these  subjects,  en- 
titled “Sylvan  Secrets,”  is  as  charming  as  an 
Arabian  tale.  “The  Red-head  P'amily”  is  a 
bird  sketch  of  the  most  delightful  description, 
in  which  the  imaginings  ol  a |)oet,  and  the 
word  painting  of  an  artist  are  mingled  with, 
and  give  color  to,  ornithological  information  of 
the  most  exact  kind  because  gathered  by  a 


student  of  nature  in  actual  contact  with  what 
he  describes.  Bird  song,  nest  building,  bird 
anatomy,  the  loves,  hates,  trials  and  habits  of 
the  songsters  of  the  grove,  are  themes  which 
the  poet-naturalist  has  enriched  with  the  ap- 
preciation of  a Thoreau,  and  the  descriptive 
powers  of  a Goldsmith.  One  of  his  articles,  a 
gem  of  its  kind,  describes  the  habits  of  the 
mocking-bird  in  his  native  southern  haunts. 
Mr.  Thompson  says,  what  is  not  generally 
known,  that  the  mocker  sometimes  sings  as  it 
flies,  after  the  manner  of  the  skylark,  and  he 
dwells  at  length  on  one  of  these  “descending 
songs,”  which  the  mocker  poured  forth  as  he 
fluttered  on  ecstatic  wing  from  branch  to 
branch,  and  finally,  by  slow  degrees,  to  the 
earth,  where  he  fell  exhausted  with  the  efforts 
to  produce  his  own  exquisite  melody.  Mr. 
Thompson  is  a voluminous  magazine  writer 
and  covers  a wide  variety  of  topics  with  un- 
flagging ability.  He  is  a conspicuous  member 
of  that  galaxy  of  literary  stars  w’ho  have  shed 
such  luster  upon  Indiana,  since  the  war  period, 
and  contributed  so  much  to  give  her  high  rank 
in  the  world  of  letters. 


>^AMES  WHITCOMB  RIEIvY.— Some 
f fifteen  or  twenty  years  ago  there 
A 1 commenced  to  tipjiear  in  various  pa- 
pers of  Indiana  poems  in  dialect,  re- 
lating to  homely  phases  of  human  life  and 
touching  on  those  domestic  topics  that  are 
common  to  every  fireside.  At  first  they  only 
attracted  the  attention  of  a few,  but  by  de- 
grees their  fame  spread  as  they  were  more  and 
more  appreciated,  and  people  began  to  en- 
(|uire  the  author  of  such  jiieces  as  “The  Old 
Swimmin'  Hole,”  “Wdien  the  b'rost  is  on  the 
Punkin  and  the  Eodder’s  in  the  Shock,”  “The 
b'lyiug  Islands”  and  other  gems,  the  charac- 
teristicsof  which  were  a gentle  humor,  always 


AND  REPRESENTATIVE  MEN. 


m 


accompanied  by  a rich  vein  of  tenderest 
pathos.  Usually  these  poems  purported  to  be 
written  by  “ Mr.  Johnson,  of  Boone,”  or  some 
other  bucolic  individual  unknown  to  fame. 
Most  of  them  were  published  in  the  various 
newspapers  edited  by  the  late  George  C. 
Harding,  himself  a universal  genius  of  the 
first  water,  and  always  in  sympathy  with  ris- 
ing literary  talent,  which  he  did  more  than 
any  other  newspaper  proprietor  of  the  state 
to  foster  and  develop.  By  degrees  it  leaked 
out  that  the  author  of  the  popular  dialect 
poems  was  none  other  than  James  Whitcomb 
Riley,  a young  man  of  Hancock  county,  who 
from  the  rude  life  of  a farmer  boy  found  him- 
self drifting  irresistibly  into  rhyme,  like  the 
noted  Mr.  Wegg.  In  the  course  of  time,  Mr. 
Riley’s  fugitive  pieces  were  collected  and  pub- 
lished in  a volume,  which  was  succeeded,  at 
intervals,  by  others  of  a similar  tenor,  all 
of  which  were  warmly  welcomed  and  gen- 
erally read  by  lovers  of  that  kind  of  verse 
which  deals  with  lowly  human  nature,  and  as 
it  comes  from  the  heart  of  the  writer,  goes  di- 
rectly to  the  hearts  of  the  readers.  Soon  Mr. 
Riley  had  a state  reputation  and  was  wel- 
comed everywhere  with  affection  as  the  typi- 
cal “Hoosier  Poet.”  It  was  not  until  the 
national  meeting  of  authors  in  New  York,  in 
the  winter  of  1886-87,  that  Riley’s  fame 
spread  across  the  state  lines  and  extended  to 
boundaries  that  are  touched  by  the  two  great 
oceans.  The  select  critics  of  literature  in  the 
east  fell  easy  victims  to  his  genial  personal 
address  and  platform  ability,  and  when  the 
meeting  adjourned,  Mr.  Riley  was,  by  general 
consent,  placed  high  up  on  the  temple  of  fame 
alongside  of  the  most  popular  American  poets. 
After  that,  he  figured  conspicuously  on  the 
lecture  platform  as  a reciter  of  his  poems, 
and  has  been  much  sought  after  for  concert 
and  lyceum  work.  Mr.  Riley  is  a distinctive 
Hoosier  product  and  his  poems  are  rich  with 


the  flavor  of  the  soil  from  which  their  author 
sprang.  He  has  done  much  to  give  Indiana 
high  rank  in  the  literary  world,  and  for  this, 
as  well  as  for  the  intrinsic  merits  of  his  compo- 
sitions, enjoys  a warm  place  in  the  hearts  of 
his  fellow  citizens  in  the  Hoosier  state.  In  the 
fall  of  1894  he  issued  “Anna  Zindy. ” 


EWIS  WALLACE.— Though  a sol- 
dier of  distinction  in  two  wars,  it  is 
not  as  a military  man  that  Gen.  Wal- 
lace has  achieved  his  principal  fame. 
It  has  been  rather  with  the  pen  than  the 
sword  he  has  conquered,  and  no  Indianian  has 
carved  his  name  so  high  on  the  literary  temple 
as  the  distinguished  subject  of  this  sketch.  A 
son  of  Gov.  David  Wallace,  he  was  born  in 
Brookville,  Ind.,  on  the  lOth  of  April,  1827. 
He  received  a common  school  education  and 
was  studying  law  when  the  Mexican  war  roused 
him  from  his  reveries.  He  served  in  that  war 
with  credit  as  a first  lieutenant,  and  at  its  close 
resumed  iiis  profession,  which  he  practiced 
chiefly  in  the  cities  of  Covington  and  Craw- 
fordsville,  Ind.  He  served  a term  of  four 
years  in  the  state  senate,  but  never  took  kindly 
t*^^"  polities.  At  the  breaking  out  of  the  civil 
war,  he  was  appointed  adjutant  general  of 
Indiana,  soon  after  becoming  colonel  of  the 
Eleventh  Indiana  volunteers,  with  which  he 
served  in  West  Virginia,  participating  in  the 
capture  of  Romney  and  the  ejection  of  the 
enemy  from  Harper’s  Ferry.  He  became  a 
brigadier  general  of  volunteers  in  the  fall  of 
1861,  led  a division  at  the  capture  of  Fort 
Uonelson,  and  displayed  such  ability  as  to 
receive  a major  general’s  commission  in  the 
following  spring.  He  participated  conspicu- 
ously in  the  fated  field  of  Shiloh.  In  1864  he 
was  assigned  to  the  command  of  the  middle 
department,  with  headquarters  at  Baltimore, 
Md.  With  5,800  men,  he  marched  to  the 


174 


GOVERNORS  OF  INDIANA 


hanks  of  the  Monocacy,  and  there  offered  bat- 
tle to  tlie  overwhelming  forces  of  Gen,  Jubal 
A.  Early,  who,  with  28,000  men,  was  march- 
ing trinmphantly  npon  the  national  capital. 
On  the  afternoon  of  the  9th  of  Jnly  hard  by 
the  railroad  bridge  that  spans  the  Monocacy, 
near  Frederick,  Md.,  was  fought  one  of  the 
bloodiest  engagements  of  the  war,  in  propor- 
tion to  the  number  engaged.  Gen.  Wallace 
was  entrenched  behind  stone  fences  that 
stretched  along  the  heights  near  the  bridge  and 
at  right  angles  with  the  river.  McCausland’s 
cavalry,  which  led  the  vanguard  of  Early’s 
army,  crossed  the  stream  and  made  a vigorous 
assault  upon  Wallace’s  lines,  but,  after  a very 
spirited  and  bloody  engagement,  they  were 
forced  to  retreat,  but  took  up  and  held  a posi- 
tion in  the  rear.  Soon  thereafter  a long  line 
of  infantry  were  seen  fording  the  >fonocacy, 
and  filing  right  under  cover  of  hills  and  trees 
to  a position  in  front  of  Gen.  Wallace’s  center. 
These  troops  were  the  famous  “Stonewall 
brigade,”  formerly  made  immortal  by  Jackson, 
but  now  consolidated  with  other  seasoned  vet- 
erans into  a division  commanded  by  Major 
Gen.  John  C.  Breckinridge.  They  deployetl 
and  were  ordered  to  advance  directly  to  the 
assault  of  Gen.  V’allace’s  main  jiosition.  The 
onset  was  furious  and  the  fatalities  on  both 
sides  many  hundreds  in  a few  minutes.  The 
Union  troops  resisted  stubbornly,  but  were 
finally  forced  to  give  way,  and  the  hundreds  of 
dead  bodies  observable  on  the  field  after  the 
fight  showed  how  bravely  they  had  endeavored 
to  stem  the  tide  of  invasion.  Though  defeated, 
Gen.  Wallace  and  his  troojis  had  accomplished 
the  important  duty  of  delaying  Ifarly  until 
reinforcements  could  reach  Washington. 

(7en.  Wallace  was  second  member  of  the 
court  that  tried  the  assassins  of  Eincoln  and 
j)resident  of  that  which  convicted  Wir/  of  the 
Anderson  vide  |)risoTi  horrors.  In  1878  Gen. 
Wallace  was  govcjrnor  of  Utah  and  served 


from  1881  to ’85  as  minister  to  Turkey.  He 
has  lectured  e.xtensively  and  is  one  of  the  most 
popular  of  the  platform  speakers  of  the  day. 
His  chief  fame,  however,  rests  npon  his 
anthorshi])  of  the  religio-historical  novel, 
“Ben  Hnr;  a Tale  of  the  Christ,”  of  which 
over  290,000  have  beeir  sold  without  diminu- 
tion in  the  demand.  It  has  already  become 
an  American  classic,  and  takes  front  rank 
among  the  imaginative  works  of  the  world. 
Other  popular  works  by  Gen.  M’allace  are, 
“The  I'air  God,”  a story  of  the  conquest  of 
Mexico,  “ Fife  of  Benjamin  Harrison”  “The 
Boyhood  of  Christ”  and  “ The  Prince  of  India.” 
No  other  Indianian  has  done  so  much  to  give 
his  state  high  rank  in  the  field  of  polite  liter- 
ature. 


CHUYEER  COEFAX,  statesman,  and 
vice  president  of  the  United  States, 
was  born  in  the  city  of  New  York, 
March  23,  1823.  His  grandfather, 
Gen.  William  Colfax,  was  a native  of  Con- 
necticut, and  served  with  distinction  in  the 
war  of  American  independence.  His  father 
died  before  his  son’s  birth,  as  did  also  a sister, 
and  thus  he  became  the  oidy  child  of  his  wid- 
owed mother.  The  early  years  of  Mr.  Colfax 
were  spent  in  his  n itive  city,  where  he  attend- 
ed the  ])ubhc  schools  and  afterward  became 
clerk  in  a store.  In  1836  he  came  to  Indiana, 
and  located  at  New  Carlisle,  St.  Joseph  coun- 
ty, where  he  again  entered  a store  as  clerk, 
and  in  1841  he  became  a resident  of  South 
Bend,  in  which  cit)'  he  snbse(]uently  received 
the  appointment  of  deputy  auditor.  In  1842 
he  was  active  in  organizing  a temperance  soci- 
ety at  South  Bend,  and  continued  a total 
abstainer  throughout  his  life.  At  this  time  he 
reported  the  proceedings  of  the  state  senate 
for  the  Indianapolis  Journal,  and  in  1844 
entered  the  i)ohtical  arena  as  a public  speaker 


AND  representativp:  men. 


170 


for  Henry  Clay.  In  1845  became  editor 
and  proprietor  of  the  St.  Joseph  Valley  Reg- 
ister, of  which  he  was  also  founder,  and  he 
continued  its  jniblication  for  a period  of  eight- 
een years.  He  was  secretary  of  the  Chicago 
harbor  and  river  convention  in  1847,  and  in 
1848  was  elected  secretary  of  the  national 
whig  convention,  at  Baltimore,  which  nomin- 
ated Gen.  Zachary  Taylor  for  the  presidency. 
He  was  a member  of  the  Indiana  constitution- 
al convention  in  1850,  and  in  1851  received 
the  whig  nomination  for  congress.  His  oppo- 
nent was  Hon.  Graham  N.  Fitch,  an  able  pol- 
itician and  a fine  speaker,  with  whom  he 
engaged  in  a joint  canvass,  during  which  the 
two  men  traveled  over  1,000  miles,  and  held 
over  seventy  discussions.  The  district  was 
strongly  democratic,  yet  Mr.  Colfax  was 
defeated  by  only  200  votes.  In  1852  he  w'as 
a delegate  to  the  national  convention  which 
nominated  Gen.  Scott  for  the  presidency,  and 
in  1854  was  elected  to  the  Thirty-fourth  con- 
gress by  the  memorable  majority  of  1,776 
votes,  although  the  same  district  in  previous 
years  gave  a democratic  majority  of  1,200.  In 
1858  he  was  again  triumphantly  elected  to 
congress,  and  served  as  a member  of  that  body 
by  successive  elections  until  1869.  He  was 
elected  speaker  of  the  house  in  December, 
1863,  and  on  April  8th,  of  the  following  year, 
he  descended  from  the  chair  to  move  the 
expulsion  of  Mr.  Long,  of  Ohio,  who  had 
made  a speach  favoring  the  recognition  of  the 
southern  confederacy.  The  resolution  was 
afterward  changed  to  one  of  censure,  and  Mr. 
Colfax’s  action  was  generally  sustained  by 
Union  men.  On  the  convening  of  the  Thirty- 
ninth  congress,  Mr.  Colfax  was  again  elected 
speaker  by  139  votes,  his  opponent,  Mr. 
Brooks,  of  New  York,-  receiving  but  thirty-six. 
March  4,  1867,  he  was  for  the  third  time 

chosen  speaker,  and  his  skill  as  a presiding 
officer,  often  shown  under  very  trying  circum- 


stances, gained  the  applause  of  both  friends 
and  political  opponents.  In  May,  1868,  the 
republican  national  convention  at  Chicago 
nominated  him  on  the  first  ballot  for  vice  pres- 
ident, Gen.  Grant  being  the  presidential  nom- 
inee, and  the  ticket  having  been  successful,  he 
took  his  seat  as  president  of  the  senate  March 
4,  1869.  In  August,  1871,  the  president 
offered  him  the  position  of  secretary  of  state 
for  the  remainder  of  his  term,  but  he  declined. 
In  1872  he  was  prominently  mentioned  as  a 
presidential  candidate,  and  the  same  year  he 
refused  the  editorship  of  the  New  York  Trib- 
une. “In  1873,  Mr.  Colfax  was  implicated  in 
the  charges  of  corruption  brought  against 
members  of  congress  who  had  received  shares 
in  the  credit  mobilier  of  America.  The  house 
committee  reported  that  there  was  no  ground 
for  his  impeachment,  as  the  alleged  offense,  if 
committed  at  all,  was  committed  before  he 
became  vice  president.”  “He  denied  the 
truth  of  the  charges,  and  his  friends  have  al- 
ways regarded  his  character  as  irreproach- 
able.” His  latter  years  were  spent  mostly  in 
retirement  at  his  home  in  South  Bend,  and  in 
delivering  public  lectures,  which  he  frequently 
did,  before  large  audiences.  The  most  popu- 
lar of  his  lectures  was  that  on  “Lincoln  and 
Garfield.”  He  died  at  Mankota,  Minn  , Jan- 
uary 13,  1885. 


OBERT  DALE  OWEN  was  the  son 
of  Robert  J.  Owen,  a celebrated 
English  reformer,  who  was  born  in 
1771  and  died  1858.  He  was  born 
near  Glasgow,  Scotland,  November  7,  1801, 
and  after  receiving  a liberal  education  in  his 
native  country,  came  to  the  United  States  in 
1823  and  settled  at  New  Harmony,  Posey 
county,  Ind.  In  1828,  in  partnership  with 
Mrs.  Frances  Wright,  he  began  the  publica- 


ISO 


GOVERXOHS  OF  INDIANA 


tion  of  a ])apor  called  the  Free  iMujuirer, 
which  made  its  periodical  visits  al)out  three 
years.  He  was  tliree  times  elected  tcj  tlie 
Indiana  le|:;islature,  and  in  1843  was  elected  to 
con<,n-ess,  in  which  body  he  served  until  1847, 
having;'  been  re-elected  in  1845.  When  in 
congress  lie  took  a prominent  part  in  the  set- 
tlement of  the  northwestern  boundary  dispute, 
and  was  largely  instrumental  in  establishing 
the  Smithsonian  institute  at  Washington,  of 
which  he  became  one  of  the  regents,  and 
served  on  the  building  committee.  He  was  a 
delegate  to  the  constitutional  con.vention  in 
1850,  and  no  one  bore  a more  prominent  part 
in  the  deliberations  of  that  body  than  he.  In 
1853  he  was  appointed  charge  d'  affaires  at 
Naples,  and  in  1855  was  minister  at  Naples, 
holding  the  position  until  1858.  During 
the  civil  war  he  was  a firm  sipiporter  of  the 
Union,  and  one  of  the  first  to  advocate  the 
emancipation  of  the  slaves.  Hr.  Owen  was  a 
firm  believer  in  the  doctrines  of  spiritualism, 
and  was  fearless  in  his  advocac}'  of  the  same. 
He  inherited  the  communistic  notions  of  his 
father,  who  had  failed  in  numerous  attempts 
to  carry  the  system  into  practical  operation, 
and  he  also  signall}'  failed  in  his  attempts  to 
accomplish  a similar  purpose.  His  scholastic 
attainments  were  of  the  highest  order,  and  he 
possessed  a mind  well  stored  with  general 
knowledge.  He  was  indeed  a man  of  tran- 
scendent ability  and  may  justly  be  regarded  as 
one  of  the  greatest,  as  well  as  one  of  the  best, 
men  Indiana  has  ever  claimed.  He  contrib- 
uted largely  to  the  literature  of  his  day,  and  the 
following  is  a partial  list  of  his  best  known 
W(jrks:  “Moral  Physiology,”  “Discussion 

with  (Original  Pachelor  on  the  Personality  of 
Hod,  and  tlu'  Authenticity  of  the  lUble,” 
“Hints  on  Public  Architecture,”  “I'ootfalls 
on  the  Ponndaries  of  Another  World,”  “The 
Wrong  of  Slavery  and  the  Right  ol  Fmancipa- 
tion,  ” “Beyond  the  Bi'eakers,  ” a no\’el. 


“The  Debatable  Land  Between  This  World 
and  the  Ne.xt,”  “Treading  My  WMy,”  an  au- 
tcjbiography.  Mr.  Owen  departed  this  life  at 
Lake  George,  N.  Y.,  January  24,  1877,  aged 
seventy-si.x  years. 


ICHARI)  W.  THOMPSON,  ex-sec- 
retary of  the  navy,  is  a native  of  Vir- 
ginia, born  in  Cmlpeper  county,  June 
9,  1809.  In  the  fall  of  1831  he  emi- 
grated to  Indiana,  and  taught  school  in  the 
town  of  Bedford,  afterward  establishing  the 
Lawrence  county  seminary,  which  he  con- 
tlucted  about  one  year.  Abandoning  school 
work  he  embarked  in  the  mercantile  business 
in  Lawrence  county,  and  while  thus  engaged 
began  the  study  of  law.  He  was  admitted  to 
the  bar  in  1834,  and  the  same  year  he  was 
elected  a member  of  the  Indiana  legislature, 
in  which  body  he  not  only  displayed  great 
ability  and  foresight,  but  was  also  instrument- 
al in  shaping  much  important  legislation.  In 
1838  he  was  returned  to  the  house  and  the 
following  year  was  chosen  state  senator,  of 
which  he  was  jnesident  pro  tempore  on  the 
occasion  of  the  resignation  of  Lieutenant  Gov. 
Wallace.  In  1841  he  was  elected  to  the 
United  States  congress  over  Hon.  John  W. 
Davis,  but  declineil  a renomination  to  the 
same  position,  and  in  1843  removed  to  Terre 
Haute,  in  which  city  he  has  since  resided. 
He  was  a presidential  elector  on  the  Harrison 
ticket  in  1840,  zealously  supporting  Gen.  Har- 
rison in  j)ublic  sjieeches,  and  by  his  ])en,  and 
was  a defeated  candidate  for  elector  on  the 
(day  ticket  in  1844.  In  1847  he  was  again 
elected  to  congress  by  the  whig  party,  and  be- 
came prominent  in  national  legislation  during 
Ins  term,  but  at  the  expiration  retired  from 
public  life.  In  1849  he  was  appointed  United 
States  minister  to  Austria,  by  Gen.  Taylor, 


AND  REPRESENTATIVE  MEN. 


181 


but  declined  to  accept  the  honor,  and  was  also 
tendered  several  other  appointments  hy  the 
general  government,  all  of  which  he  saw  ht  to 
refuse.  During  the  war  for  the  Union  he  was 
active  and  rendered  valuable  service  to  his 
country,  was  commandant  of  Camp  Dick 
Thompson,  near  Terre  Haute,  and  also  served 
as  provost  marshal  of  the  district.  He  was 
again  a presidential  elector  on  the  republican 
ticket  in  1864,  and  a delegate  to  the  national 
conventions  of  that  party  in  1872,  and  1876, 
in  the  latter  of  which  he  nominated  Oliver  P. 
Morton  for  the  presidency.  In  1867-69  he 
was  judge  of  the  eighteenth  circuit  of  the  state, 
and  on  March  12,  1877,  he  entered  Pres. 

Hayes’  cabinet,  as  secretary  of  the  nav.y.  He 
served  nearly  through  the  administration,  but 
resigned  the  position  in  1881,  to  become  chair- 
man of  the  American  committee  of  the  Pana- 
ma Canal  company.  Mr.  Thompson  has 
written  many  political  platforms,  and  obtained 
a reputation  for  his  ability  in  formulating 
party  principles.  He  is  an  eloquent  and  effec- 
tive speaker,  and  a man  of  benevolence  and 
unassuming  manners. 


aOL.  FRANCIS  VIGO,  whose  name  is 
prominently  identified  with  the  early 
history  of  Indiana,  was  born  in  the 
kingdom  of  Sardinia  in  1 740,  and 
died  at  Vincennes,  Ind.,  in  1836.  Until  1778 
he  was  a resident  of  the  Spanish  port  of  St. 
Louis,  where,  as  an  Indian  trader,  he  acquired 
the  title  of  the  “ Spanish  Merchant.”  He  re- 
moved to  Vincennes  a short  time  previous  to 
its  capture  by  Gen.  George  Rogers  Clark, 
whom  he  was  instrumental  in  assisting,  for 
which  he  was  afterward  arrested  by  the  British 
as  a spy.  In  the  Illinois  campaigns  of  1778 
and  1779,  Col.  Vigo  rendered  valuable  service 
to  the  army  of  Clark  by  advancing  large  sums 


of  money  for  food  and  clothing.  Through  his 
patriotism  and  self-sacrifice,  he  served  the 
army  and  gave  victory  to  the  cause  of  the  col- 
onies of  the  west.  He  was  made  commandant 
of  the  militia  of  Vincennes  in  1790,  and  in 
1810  was  one  of  Gen.  Harrison’s  confidential 
messengers  to  the  Indians.  His  name  will 
not  only  ever  be  associated  with  the  early 
history  of  the  Wabash  valley,  but  is  perpetu- 
ated in  the  name  of  Vigo  county,  Ind.,  for  the 
capital  city  of  which,  Terre  Haute,  he  be- 
queathed a bell  for  the  court  house. 


OHN  W.  DAVIS,  one  of  Indiana’s  most 
noted  men,  was  born  in  Cumberland 
county,  Penn.,  July  17,  1799,  and 

died  in  1859.  He  was  well  educated 
and  graduated  in  medicine  at  Baltimore  in 
1821,  shortly  afterward  removing  to  Carlisle, 
Ind.  He  was  soon  embarked  on  a political 
career  and  graduated  for  the  purpose  in  that 
universal  and  popular  school  the  state  legis- 
lature. He  served  several  years  in  that  body, 
and  was  chosen  speaker  of  the  house  in  1832. 
In  1834  he  was  appointed  a commissioner  to 
negotiate  a treaty  with  the  Indians.  He  was 
elected  to  congress  by  the  democrats,  and 
served  from  December  7,  1835,  until  March  3, 
1837,  was  re-elected,  and  again  served  from 
1839  until  1841,  and  from  1843  till  1847. 
During  his  last  term  he  was  speaker  of  the 
house  of  representatives,  having  been  elected 
on  December  1,  1845.  He  was  United  States 
commissioner  to  China  in  1843  50,  and  gov- 
ernor of  Oregon  in  185  3-54.  He  presided  over 
the  convention  held  at  Baltimore  in  1852,  that 
nominated  Franklin  Pierce  for  the  presidency. 
Mr.  Davis  was  a strong  man  and  a party  leader 
of  long  continued  popularity  and  well  recog- 
nized ability.  He  was  also  a decided  feature 
of  the  list  of  self-made  Indiana  publicists. 


182 


CJOVERNORS  OF  INDIANA 


Additional  Memoranda  for  Governors  of  Indiana  and  Representative  Men. 


AND  REPRESENTATIVE  MEN. 


18B 


Additional  Memoranda  for  C'lovernors  of  Indiana  and  Representative  Men. 


184 


COVERNOHS  OF  INDIANA 


Additional  Memoranda  for  Governors  of  Indiana  and  Representative  Men. 


AM)  REPRESENTATIVE  MEN. 


185 


Additional  Memoranda  for  (Governors  of  Indiana  and  Representative  Men. 


GOVERNORS  OF  INDIANA 


Additional  Memoranda  for  Governors  of  Indiana  and  Kepiesentative  Men 


► 

AND  REPRESENTATIVE  MEN.  187 

Additional 

Memoranda  for  Governors  of  Indiana  and  Representative  Men. 

188 


GOVERNORS  OF  INDIANA 


Additional  Memoranda  for  Governors  of  Indiana  and  Representative  Men. 


AND  REPRESENTATIVE  MEN. 


180 


Additional  Memoranda  for  Governors  of  Indiana  and  Representative  Men. 


]00 


GOVERNORS  OF  INDIANA, 


Additional  Memoranda  for  Governors  of  Indiana  and  Representative  Men. 


BOONE  COUNTY, 


BOONE  COUNTY,  INDlANi. 


UDGE  JOHN  A.  ABBOTT,  one  of 
Boone  county’s  eminent  lawyers  and 
ex-judge  of  the  circuit  court,  comes 
from  an  old  colonial  family  of  sturdy 
English  stock.  George  Abbott  was  the 
founder  of  the  family  in  America,  and  came 
over  with  the  Puritans,  who  settled  Massachu- 
setts, The  American  branch  has  always  been 
famous,  and  included  many  renowned  clergy- 
men and  distinguished  authors,  such  as  Jacob 
Abbott,  the  writer  for  the  young,  and  John  S. 
C.  Abbott,  the  author  of  the  life  of  Napoleon. 
Samuel  Abbott,  the  grandfather  of  the  subject 
of  this  sketch,  was  born  in  New  Hampshire 
April  8,  1771,  and  early  settled  in  Concord; 
he  was  a soldier  in  the  war  of  1812,  and  was 
shot  by  an  Indian  at  the  burning  of  Buffalo, 
N.  Y. ; he  was  married  at  Concord,  N.  H.,  to 
Mary  Currier,  daughter  of  William  C.  Currier, 
and  to  this  union  were  born  eleven  children, 
eight  of  whom  lived  to  manhood  and  woman- 
hood, namely:  Betsey,  Hiram,  Harriet, 
Mary,  Belinda,  Isaac,  Edward  and  Samuel. 
In  1816  or  1817,  Mr.  Abbott  relinquished  his 
trade  of  chair  making  and  removed  to  New 
York  state,  where  he  engaged  in  farming  until 
1818,  when  he  came  to  Indiana,  and  settled 
at  Vevay,  in  Switzerland  county,  in  January, 


1819,  where  he  and  wife  both  died  the  follow- 
ing year — 1820. 

Isaac  Abbott,  son  of  the  above  and  father 
of  John  A.,  was  born  in  New  Hampshire,  Feb- 
ruary 22,  1805,  and  was  but  thirteen  years  of 
age  when  he  was  brought  by  his  parents  to 
Indiana,  and  left  an  orphan  at  the  age  of  fif- 
teen. He  was  retired  in  Switzerland  and 
Dearborn  counties,  living  in  the  latter  county 
with  a farmer  named  Burgess  until  he  was  old 
enough  to  take  care  of  himself.  He  learned 
the  trade  of  a millwright  and  was,  in  fact,  a 
natural  born  mechanic.  He  married  in  Dear- 
born county,  at  the  age  of  twenty-three, 
Betsey  Faulkner,  daughter  of  Cornelius  and 
Lucinda  (Halsted)  Faulkner — the  former  a 
substantial  farmer,  who  came  to  Indiana  from 
Rochester,  N.  Y.,  in  1819,  and  whose  mother 
was  a Schumacher,  of  Holland-Dutch  descent. 
To  Isaac  Abbott  and  wife  were  born  fourteen 
children,  viz;  Mary,  Hiram,  Martha,  Cornelius 
S.,  Lewis  C.,  William  M.,  John  A.,  Lydia  A., 
Isaac  M.,  Rebecca  J.,  and  Elizabeth  C.,  and 
Sarah  J.  (the  last  two  being  twins),  Marilla  M. 
and  Levi  E.  Of  these  children  eleven  grew 
to  maturity  and  became  heads  of  families, 
Sarah,  Marilla,  and  Levi  dying  in  infancy. 
Mr.  Abbott  remained  in  Dearborn  county. 


I<)1 


P.KXiK  APIIICAL  inSTORV 


workiiij^  at  his  trade,  until  1S65,  when  he  came 
to  lUrone  county  and  bought  a tract  of  land 
one  mile  northwest  of  Lebanon,  and  ei^^hteen 
months  later  entered  land  in  Meeker  county, 
Minn.  His  wife  died  at  Wilmington,  fnd.,  in 
1854,  and  he  next  married  Rebecca  G.  I'lem- 
ing,  who  bore  two  children,  now  living — Ella 
i\r.  and  Robert  L, , and  one  child,  Franklin  H., 
who  died  at  about  fourteen  years  of  age.  Mr. 
Abbott  died  in  ^feeker  county,  Minn.,  May  4, 
1872,  at  the  age  of  67.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  xVbbott 
were  members  of  the  Free  Wall  Baptist 
church.  In  politics  he  was  a free  soiler  and 
an  abolitionist.  I'or  three  years  his  house  was 
a station  on  the  “Underground  railroad,” 
which  in  that  time  safely  landed  thirty-eight 
dusky  passengers  in  Canada.  Fraternally  he 
was  a Freemason,  a member  of  Boone  lodge, 
Xo.  9,  and  was  one  of  the  charter  members  of 
Allen  lodge,  Xhj.  165,  at  Moore's  Hill,  Dear- 
born county,  Ind.  He  was  greatly  beloved  by 
all  who  knew  him;  was  a true  patriot  and  sent 
four  of  his  sons  to  the  front  to  assist  in  the 
preservation  of  the  Union,  vi/:  John  .V., 
whose  military  record  will  be  found  below; 
Hiram,  who  served  three  years  in  an  Iowa 
regiment;  William  M.  and  Isaac  M.,  both  of 
whom  were  three  years  in  company  K,  Sixty- 
eighth  Indiana  infantry,  in  which  William  was 
severely  wounded  at  the  battle  of  Missionary 
Ridge.  Mr.  Abbott  was  an  inti'lligent  man, 
and  a very  extensive  reader,  and  gave  all  his 
children  the  best  education  his  means  afforded. 

John  A.  Abbott  was  born  Novembc;r  5, 
1839,  in  Dearborn  county,  Ind.  He  was  edu- 
cated in  the  common  schools,  in  the  county 
academy  at  Wilmington  and  at  Moore’s  Hill 
college,  and  taught  two  terms  of  school.  On 
June  5,  1861,  he  enlisted  in  com])any  I,  d'hir- 
teenth  Indiana  iidantry,  Capt.  B.  b'.  Myers, 
with  Col.  J.  C.  Sullivan  commanding  the  regi- 
ment. The  regiment  left  Indianai)olis  Jul}'  4, 
1861,  and  joiiu!d  McClelland’s  forces  in  West 


I Virginia  on  the  loth,  and  on  the  i ith  engaged 
I in  the  battle  of  Rich  Mountain;  October  3d, 
in  the  battle  of  Greenbriar;  in  November  went 
j on  a scout  of  nine  days  through  the  mountains, 

: carrying  their  sn]:)plies  on  pack-horses,  break- 
I ing  up  the  guerrilla  band  led  by  McCool  and 
I Bennett,  and  greatly encouragingthe  Unionists 
I of  that  section;  December  13  it  was  in  the 
battle  of  Allegheny  Summit,  under  Gen.  Mil- 
roy;  transferred  to  the  valle}^  of  Virginia,  it 
took  part  in  the  first  battle  of  Winchester, 
March  23,  1861,  and  followed  Jackson’s  forces 
up  the  valley  as  far  as  New  Market;  from 
here  they  marched  into  the  Luray  valley,  and 
in  May  marched  through  to  Fredericksburg 
and  joined  McDowell’s  army;  but  the  second 
day  after  started  on  the  return  to  the  valley, 
on  account  of  Stonewall  Jackson’s  having 
driven  Gen.  Banks  down  the  valley  and  across 
the  Potomac.  After  the  battle  of  Port  Repub- 
lic, the  regiment  was  taken  by  transports  from 
Alexandria,  down  the  Potomac  and  Chesa- 
peake and  up  the  James,  to  Harrison’s  Land- 
ing, where  it  joined  McClelland’s  army  after 
the  seven  days’  fight.  After  the  evacuation  of 
of  the  Peninsnla,  it  went  to  Suffolk,  August 
30,  where  it  remained  till  the  last  of  June, 
1863,  taking  i)art  in  numerous  scouts  and  skir- 
mishes in  the  vicinity,  and  in  the  siege  of  that 
place  by  Longstreet.  In  July,  18C3,  it  embarked 
I at  Portsmouth  for  Charleston,  S.  C.,  where  it 
remained  till  February,  1864,  taking  an  active 
part  in  the  siege  of  b'ort  Wagner  and  Fort 
Sumter.  In  b'ebruary,  1864,  it  went  to  Jack- 
sonville, Pda.,  and  from  there  to  Gloucester 
Point,  opposite  Yorktown,  in  April.  Here  it 
was  attached  to  Butler’s  command;  went  to 
Bermuda  Huudreds,  where  it  took  part  in 
every  engagement  j)rior  to  May  26th,  at  which 
time  it  was  again  sent  to  the  arm3’of  the  Poto- 
mac at  Cold  Harbor,  where  it  took  part  in  the 
unsuccessful  assault  on  Lee’s  works;  June  13th 
it  again  ascended  the  james  river,  landed  at 


OF  liOONE  COUNTY. 


195 


City  Point,  and,  on  the  15th,  assisted  in  taking 
the  outer  works  at  Petersburg.  All  this  time 
Mr.  Abbott  was  with  the  regiment,  except 
from  May  30  to  June  ii,  1864,  and  was  in 
every  expedition  and  engagement  in  which  the 
regiment  took  part,  except  the  battle  of  Cold 
Harbor.  He  was  promoted  to  second  lieuten- 
ant June  I,  1863,  and  was  discharged  with  his 
regiment  at  Indianapolis,  June  i,  1864.  On 
the  26th  of  December  following,  he  re-enlisted 
at  Washington,  D.  C. , in  company  B,  First 
U.  S.  veteran  volunteers  (Hancock’s  corps), 
was  on  detached  duty  in  Washington  city  from 
January  1 1 to  April  21,  1865,  and  witnessed  the 
demonstrations  of  joy  over  the  fall  of  Richmond 
and  surrender  of  Lee,  and  of  sorrow  over  the 
assassination  of  Mr.  Lincoln.  June  12,  his 
regiment  was  a part  of  the  guard  at  the  hang- 
ing of  Mrs.  Surratt,  and  he  was  the  sentinel 
immediately  in  fi'ont  of  the  scaffold.  The 
regiment  was  sent  to  Baltimore  to  relieve  the 
Eleventh  Indiana  regiment  in  July,  and  com- 
pany B went  on  duty  as  provost  guards,  at  the 
old  slave  market;  and  here  Mr.  Abbott  was 
discharged,  at  the  expiration  of  his  term, 
January  26,  1865. 

Returning  to  Indiana,  he  came  to  Lebanon 
and  attended  the  Presbyterian  academy  six 
months,  and  then  studied  law  with  Messrs. 
Cason  & Harrison  and  Boone  & Harrison,  of 
which  latter  firm  he  became  a member  in  1871; 
but  retired  in  1873  to  engage  in  the  newspaper 
business,  purchasing  an  interest  in  the  Leban- 
on Patriot,  the  county  organ  of  the  republican 
party,  of  which  party  he  was  a zealous  mem- 
ber. Five  years  of  newspaper  experience, 
covered  the  panic  period  from  1873  to  1878, 
served  to  bankrupt  him,  and  he  returned  to 
the  law  practice  in  1879.  In  1888  he  became 
a democrat,  and  in  November  of  that  year  was 
appointed  judge  of  the  Boone  circuit  court,  to 
fill  a vacancy  caused  by  the  resignation  of 
Hon.  T.  J.  Terhune.  Mr.  Abbott  was  mar- 


ried, March  22,  1868,  to  Miss  Laura  Williams, 
daughter  of  Eliphalet  and  Mary  (Harding) 
Williams,  at  Lancaster,  Jefferson  county,  Ind. 
To  them  have  been  born  five  children,  viz: 
Edgar  W.,  Mabel,  Grade,  Walter  A.  and 
Edith.  Gracie  died  in  infancy.  The  others 
are  living,  and,  with  their  parents,  are  mem- 
bers of  the  Missionary  Baptist  church  at  Leb- 
anon, of  which  Mr.  and  ISIrs.  Abbott  are  con- 
sistent members,  he  having  been  its  first  clerk, 
and  now  being  one  of  its  trustees.  Edgar  W. 
and  Mabel  are  engaged  in  teaching  in  the 
graded  schools. 


ENRY  ADAMS,  a substantial  farmer 
of  Center  township,  Boone  county, 
Ind.,  is  a veteran  of  the  Civil  war, 
and  almost  totally  disabled  through 
service  in  defense  of  his  country.  He  is  of 
English  extraction,  but  comes  directly  from  a 
long  line  of  Kentuckians,  his  grandfather, 
Gowan  Adams,  having  been  a pioneer  of  Old- 
ham county,  that  state.  Absalom,  father  of 
Henry,  was  born  in  Kentucky  in  1801,  and 
married  Sallie,  daughler  of  Henry  and  Polly 
A.  (Beasley)  Varble,  the  former  a German  and 
an  old  settler  of  Kentucky,  and  to  Absalom 
and  Sallie  were  born  ten  children,  viz. : Reu- 
ben, ArmildaJ.,  John,  Henry,  William,  Har- 
rison, Polly  A.,  Willis,  Eliza  and  Absalom. 
The  father  of  this  family  was  a much  respected 
farmer,  a member  of  the  Baptist  church  and  a 
strong  Union  man,  which  latter  fact  caused 
him  a great  deal  of  trouble  with  his  neighbors, 
who  persecuted  him  and  at  times  caused  him 
to  sleep  out  at  night  to  avoid  annoyance  at 
their  hands.  Although  too  old  to  take  an  act- 
ive part  in  the  conflict  himself,  he  gave  to  the 
Union  cause  two  sons,  both  of  whom,  Henry 
and  Willis,  served  in  company  F,  Ninth  Ken- 
tucky cavalry. 

Henry  Adams  was  born  on  the  Kentucky 


P.  I ( )( ; R A PI  1 1 C x\  L 1 1 rST( ) R Y 


p.)() 

homestead,  December  19,  1S37,  was  educated  ' 
in  tile  subscription  schools  of  bis  neighborhood, 
and  in  1861  enlisted  in  the  Home  guards  at 
C'ovington  church,  Oldham  county,  under 
Capt.  Morris,  in  an  independent  company,  and  i 
was  principally  on  guard  duty,  although  he 
took  part  in  a skirmish  near  Campbellsburg, 
and  another  near  New  Castle,  hie  next  enlisted 
August  I,  1862,  at  Eminence,  Henry  count}', 
Ky.,  in  company  F,  Ninth  Kentucky  cavalry, 
alluded  to  above,  in  which  his  brother  Willis 
also  served  twelve  months.  With  this  regi- 
ment Henry  took  part  in  the  battle  at  Crab 
Orchard  and  a skirmish  at  Cumberland  Gap. 
The  last  of  August,  1862,  at  12  o’clock  at 
night,  Mr.  Adams  and  his  brother  were  guard- 
ing prisoners,  and,  their  company  being  at  a 
distance  on  picket  duty,  the  brothers  joined 
Capt.  Lucket's  company  of  the  same  regiment 
and  engaged  in  the  two  days’  fight  at  Rich- 
mond, Ky.,  and  here  Mr.  Adams  was  struck  by 
a piece  of  shell  in  the  side  and  his  horse  killed 
under  him.  Mr.  Adams  had  the  ribs  of  his 
right  side  crushed,  was  paralyzed,  placed  on 
horse-back  and  ridden  185  miles  to  Louisville, 
unconscious  of  his  condition  or  his  actions,  and 
did  not  recover  his  senses  until  the  lapse  of  a 
month,  when  he  found  himself  in  the  hospital, 
in  which  he  was  confined  from  September  1, 
1862,  until  February,  1863.  He  was  dis- 
charged for  disability  in  January,  however,  and 
sent  home  in  February.  He  was  granted  a 
pension,  at  first  of  $18  a month,  with  a little 
over  $ 1 ,000  back  pay;  in  1887  it  was  increascnl 
to  $30,  and  in  1890  to  -$72  per  month;  he  also 
received  $200  on  account  of  total  disability  of 
right  leg,  with  $100  to  be  alk)wed  every  three' 
years.  The  marri:igc  of  Mr.  Adams  took  ))lace 
July  25,  1858,  to  Louisa  F.,  daughter  of  James 
and  Nancy  (’.  Padgc'tt.  Mr.  Padgett  was  a 
highly  resjiected  farmer  of  'rrimble  count}', 
Ky.,  and  tlu'  father  of  nine  children,  who  were 
named  as  follows;  Louisa  F.,  Mary  J.,  |ohn 


W. , Julia  A.,  Mildred,  Sally,  James  H., 
Thomas  and  Mitchel.  He  died  at  the  age  of 
sixty-five  years  in  Kentucky,  a member  of  the 
BajTist  church.  To  the  union  of  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Adams  have  also  been  born  eleven  chil- 
dren, who  are  named  James  W.,  Thomas, 
Willis,  Nancy  J.,  George,  Joel,  Sarah  E, 
John,  Vdna,  Agnes,  and  an  infant,  deceased. 
In  1886  Mr.  Adams  came  to  Boone  county, 
Ind.,  where  he  owns  a snug  farm  of  fifty-six 
acres  and  a neat  home.  He  and  wife  are 
members  of  the  Christian  church,  and  in  politics 
he  is  a stanch  republican.  He  is  a member, 
also,  of  the  Silas  J.  Long  post,  G.  A.  R.,  of 
Elizaville,  Boone  county,  Ind.,  and  is  a man 
of  sterling  worth  and  a good  citizen. 


EDGE  JOSHUA  G.  ADAMS.— One 
generation  has  passed  away  since  the 
young  men  of  the  nation  were  aroused 
to  action  by  the  outbreak  of  the  rebell- 
ion. At  that  time,  the  subject  of  this  sketch 
was  a boy  at  school,  with  as  little  thought  of 
becoming  a soldier  as  any  little  boy  of  to-day. 
Possessed  of  a strong  frame,  sturdy  limbs  and 
an  intelligent  mind,  he  was  of  good  material 
for  a soldier,  and  he  promptly  'volunteered  his 
service  in  behalf  of  his  country,  and  on  serving 
out  his  first  term  he  re-enlisted  and  served  to 
the  close  of  the  war.  His  battles,  skirmishes 
and  marches  are  the  best  evidences  of  his 
valor  as  a soldier,  and  his  jiatient  endurance 
of  prison  life  his  most  noble  tribute  of  love  to 
his  country.  A boy  thrown  at  so  early  an 
ag('  nnder  the  rough  inlluence  of  army  life 
either  developes  and  strengthens  character  or 
takes  the  downward  course.  Young  Adams, 
after  his  long  service  of  four  years  and  four 
months  as  a soldier,  came  out  of  military  life 
with  his  ambition  strengthened  and  a deternh- 
nation  to  make  his  life  a success  and  become  a 
useful  citizen.  How  well  he  has  fulfilled  his 


LIBRARY 
OF  THE 

UNIVERSITY  OF  ILtlNOIS 


OF  HOONE  COUNTY. 


lUl) 


resolution,  will  be  attested  by  every  citizen  of  In- 
diana who  is  familiar  with  his  record  as  a man, 
a lawyer  and  a jurist.  Judge  Adams  is  of 
English  stock  and  an  old  American  family. 
His  grandfather  was  one  of  the  pioneers  of 
Kentucky,  contemporaneous  with  Daniel 
Boone.  He  settled  in  Bath  county,  where  he 
reared  four  sons — James,  Aaron,  Thomas  and 
Solomon  the  father  of  our  subject,  who  was 
born  in  Bath  county,  Ky. , in  1803  and  was 
reared  a farmer. 

Solomon  Adams  married  Nancy,  daughter 
of  William  J.  and  Catharine  (Sequist)  Griffiths, 
and  a large  family,  consisting  of  eleven  chil- 
dren resulted  from  this  marriage;  John,  IMary, 
Catharine,  William  J.,  Thomas  J.,  James  M., 
Gabriel  H.,  Joshua  G.,  Hiram  F. , Caleb  F. 
and  Solomon  T.  This  is  the  proper  order  of 
birth  and  all  were  born  in  Indiana — the  first 
two  in  Switzerland  county,  but  reared  in  Hen- 
dricks county.  Mr.  Adams  came  to  Indiana 
and  settled  in  Switzerland  county  about  1825- 
30,  and  moved,  after  thirty-five  years  of  age, 
to  Hendricks  county,  where  he  made  his  home, 
clearing  up  a farm  from  the  wilderness  and  be- 
coming a substantial  farmer.  He  was  a well- 
known  pioneer  citizen,  much  respected  by  the 
old  settlers,  and  was  justice  of  the  peace,  and 
held  other  township  offices.  He  was  an  officer 
in  the  Christian  church,  of  which  his  wife  was 
also  a member.  He  was  an  old-line  whig, 
afterward  a republican  and  a strong  Union  man 
during  the  war,  in  which  he  had  four  sons — 
Thomas  J.,  Gabriel  H.,  Joshua  G.,  and  Hiram 
F.  The  two  latter  were  in  company  I,  Ninth 
regiment,  Indiana  volunteer  cavalry.  Thomas 
J.  served  through  the  war  and  Vvas  in  all  the 
battles  of  his  regiment;  Hiram  F.  was  taken 
prisoner  at  Florence,  Ala.,  and  was  never  after 
heard  from;  Gabriel  H.  was  in  company  C, 
Fifty-first  regiment,  Indiana  volunteer  infantry 
as  a private,  but  was  promoted  through  the 
grades  to  captain.  He  was  wounded  at  the 


battle  of  Nashville,  and  he  was  a prisoner,  be- 
ing ca})tured  at  Rome,  Ga.,  in  Gen.  Straight’s 
raid,  and  was  confined  at  Belle  Isle.  Solo- 
mon Adams  died  on  his  farm  in  Hendricks 
county,  aged  sixty-three  years.  He  was  one 
of  those  American  patriots  who  sent  an  unus- 
ual number  of  sons  to  fight  for  the  Union. 

Joshua  G.  Adams,  our  subject,  was  born  in 
^Hendricks  county,  Ind.,  February  19,  1845, 
on  his  father’s  farm.  He  first  attended  the 
district  school,  and  at  the  age  of  sixteen  years 
enlisted  at  Lizton,  Hendricks  county,  Septem- 
ber 10,  1861,  in  company  C,  Fifty-first  regi- 
ment Indiana  volunteer  infantry,  for  three 
years.  He  was  honorably  discharged  at 
Louden,  Tenn.,  where  he  re-enlisted  as  a vet- 
eran on  Januar}'! , 1864,  and  was  honorably 
discharged  January  10,  1866,  at  Indianapolis, 
as  a corporal,  serving  in  all  four  years  and 
four  months.  He  was  in  the  battles  of  Shiloh, 
the  two  days’  battle  with  Buell,  andi;i  the  cam- 
paign from  Pittsburg  Landing  to  the  siege  of 
Corinth.  This  campaign  was  almost  one  con- 
tinued battle  until  the  evacuation  of  Corinth. 
He  was  also  in  the  battle  of  Stone  River  from 
beginning  to  end.  Missionary  Ridge,  Dalton 
and  Nashville.  He  was  in  Gen.  Straight’s 
raid,  his  regiment  being  mounted,  the  horses 
having  been  captured  from  the  surrounding 
farmers.  On  this  raid  he  was  in  the  battles 
of  Day’s  Gap  and  Crooked  Creek,  the  fighting 
continuing  five  days  and  nights,  during  which 
time  the  command  marched  a great  distance, 
from  Decatur,  Ala.,  to  Rome,  Ga. , and  des- 
troyed a great  amount  of  Confederate  property 
and  railroad  communications.  The  brigade 
lost  one-fourth  of  their  men  in  killed  and 
wounded.  They  had  no  sleep  during  the 
night  except  such  as  they  could  get  upon  their 
horses.  This  brigade  consisted  of  1,300  select 
men  from  different  commands.  They  were 
vigorously  pursued  by  Confederate  forces  of 
8,000  cavalry  under  Gen.  Forrest  from  the 


p>i()(;rai>iiicat>  history 


L>()() 


Ix'jj^iniiing  to  the  end  of  the  raid.  At  Rome, 
(hi.,  the  hridf^e  was  destro3-ed,  and  on  Ma}'  3, 
i(Sr)3,  C'ol.  Strai^dit  was  obliged  to  surrender 
the  brigade  near  Rome,  Ga.,  and  our  subject 
found  himself  a prisoner,  his  brother — Ca])t. 
Adams — being  with  him.  They  were  taken  in 
cattle  cars  to  Atlanta,  thence  to  Danville 
junction,  V'a.,  and  from  there  to  Richmond, 
and  confined  at  Belle  Isle  four  months.  Gen. 
Straight  and  his  officers  were  confined  in 
Libby  prison,  and  he  planned  and  successfully 
carried  out,  with  the  help  of  his  fellow-officers, 
by  means  of  a tunnel,  their  famous  escape  from 
that  den  of  misery.  During  Mr.  Adams  four 
months’  confinment  he  had  barely  enough  corn 
bread  and  rotten  bacon,  filled  with  ashes  and 
maggots,  to  subsist  upon.  This  bacon,  with 
nigger  peas,  was  often  made  into  soup,  from 
which  the  soldiers  would  skim  the  maggots 
before  eati  ng.  The  island  was  a sand  bar, 
and  there  was  no  shelter  of  tents  or  shade,  and 
the  camp  had  been  used  so  long  as  to  be  alive 
with  vermin. 

Mr.  Adams  was  young  and  had  a powerful 
constitution,  and  endured  the  terrible  ordeal 
with  little  sickness.  He  was  paroled  and 
marched  to  City  Point,  Va.,  where  they 
embarked  on  a vessel  and  went  to  Baltimore, 
thence  to  Columbus,  Ohio,  and  Camp  Chase. 
The  regiment  reached  Colnmbus  about  350 
strong,  ragged,  filthy,  bare-footed  and  bare- 
headed. Here  they  received  supplies  and  went 
to  Indianapolis  on  a furlough,  where  they  were 
e.xchanged,  and  in  the  fall  of  1H63  went  to 
Chattanooga.  As  the  officers  were  in  Libby 
prison,  the  ri'giment  for  awhile  worked  in  the 
National  cemeterv.  Receiving  officers,  the 
regiment  was  assigned  to  Wood’s  division, 
h'ourth  corps,  army  of  the  Cumberland,  and 
was  in  the  battle  of  Nashville  and  down  the 
Ohio  and  Mississippi  rivers  to  Cairo,  and  were 
at  New  Orleans  on  july  4,  i<Sr)5,  on  their  way 
to  Te.xas,  where  they  remained  until  late  in 


December.  January  10,  1866,  they  were  dis- 
banded. Mr.  Adams  was  neither  wounded  nor 
in  the  hospital,  and  his  regiment  was  never  on 
a march  or  in  a single  battle  or  skirmish,  in 
which  he  did  not  take  active  part.  He  was  a 
brave,  efficient,  and  gallant  soldier  during  the 
long  service  of  over  four  years,  and  was  not 
yet  twenty-one  years  of  age  when  honorably 
discharged  from  his  country’s  service  at  the 
close  of  the  war,  after  which  he  returned  home 
to  find  his  father  and  mother  both  dead.  The 
April  following  he  entered  Danville  academy 
for  one  year,  and  taught  and  attended  school 
for  two  3'ears.  He  then  attended  the  North- 
western university  at  Indianapolis,  now  Butler 
university,  for  two  years,  and  began  the  study 
of  law  with  Hon.  Levi  Ritter,  also  teaching 
school  at  Coatsville,  Amo,  and  other  places. 
Judge  Adams  was  admitted  to  the  bar  in  1871 
at  Danville,  Hendricks  count\’,  where  he  began 
to  practice,  continuing  until  1876.  He  was 
here  appointed  deputy  prosecuting  attorney,  and 
this  year,  1876,  was  elected  prosecuting  attor- 
ney for  the  circuit  comprising  Hendricks  and 
Marion  counties,  and  in  1878  was  elected  judge 
of  this  circuit,  after  which  he  moved  to  Indian- 
apolis, while  he  held  this  office,  and  remained 
for  six  years.  In  1885  he  moved  to  Frank- 
fort, where  he  practiced  law  until  1893,  when 
he  moved  to  Lebanon,  where  he  is  now  prac- 
ticing his  jirofession.  In  political  opinions  he 
is  a stanch  republican.  He  is  a non-affili- 
ating Odd  Fellow  and  K.  of  P.  Judge  Adams 
married  July  2,  1873,  Augusta  1'.,  daughter  of 
William  and  Rachael  (Piiier)  Brown.  They 
bi'came  the  parents  of  two  children  -Mary 
F.  and  Paul  B.,  who  died  aged  eleven  years. 
Judge  Abbott  is  a member  of  the  law  firm  of 
Adams  A Garter.  He  has  always  taken  an 
active  interest  in  educational  matters,  and  was 
a member  of  the  school  board  at  Danville,  and 
has  aided  in  all  public  improvements.  The 
judge  is  a man  of  broad  ideas  and  lilieral  views 


OF  BOONE  COUNTY. 


201 


of  life,  founded  on  a wide  experience  of  men 
and  affairs.  He  is  a friend  to  the  oppressed, 
and  a strong  sense  of  justice  will  not  allow 
him  to  see  injustice  go  nnrebnked,  nor  the 
strong  oppress  the  weak,  without  more  than  a 
l)rotest  on  his  part.  His  life  is  an  excellent 
example  of  what  onr  best  American  volunteer 
soldiers  have  accomplished  during  and  since 
the  war. 


ESLEY  W.  ALEXANDER.— 
Among  the  farmers  of  Boone 
county,  Ind.,  is  the  gentleman 
whose  biography  follows:  His  an- 
cestors settled  in  Rowan  county,  N.  C.,  at  a 
period  antedating  the  war  for  independence. 
Travis  Alexander,  who  was  our  subject’s  grand- 
father, was  a patriot,  and  bore  arms  seven 
years  in  our  struggle  for  freedom.  He  was  a 
member  of  the  Ancient  Order  of  Free  and  Ac- 
cepted Masons  when  Gen.  Warren,  who  fell  at 
the  battle  of  Bunker  Hill,  was  the  grand  wor- 
shipful master  of  America.  After  independ- 
ence was  achieved,  Travis  sold  his  plantation 
in  North  Carolina  and  moved  out  to  Scott 
county,  Ry.,  where  he  again  bought  an  exten- 
sive body  of  land,  and  engaged  in  raising 
mules,  negroes  and  cattle,  until  the  time  of  his 
death.  His  second  son,  William,  onr  subject’s 
father,  was  born  in  Rowan  county,  N.  C. , 
June  5,  1790.  When  but  a child  he  came 
with  his  father  to  Kentucky.  In  early  man- 
hood he  was  raised  to  the  degree  of  master 
mason  and  enlisted  as  a soldier  in  the  war  of 
1812.  He  was  at  the  massacre  of  the  River 
Raisin  and  with  a few  others  merely  escaped 
with  life.  He  was  married  to  Elizabeth 
Denny  on  Christmas  day,  1814,  soon  after 
which  event  he  moved  to  Owen  county,  Ken- 
tucky, where  he  bought  a body  of  laud  and 
followed  the  occupation  of  his  father.  There 

were  born  unto  them  five  children,  /.  c. : 

9 


Lewis,  Francis,  Jane,  Elijah,  and  Wesley. 
His  wife  died  August  25,  1825.  He  was  next 
married  to  Parmelia  Buford  in  1829.  His 
widow  survived  him  until  1855. 

Wesley  W.  Alexander,  whose  name  intro- 
duces this  sketch,  was  born  on  his  father’s 
plantation  October  30  1824.  Left  an  orphan 
when  too  young  to  know  his  loss,  he  lived 
with  his  grandfather,  Lewis  Denny,  who  emi- 
grated to  Boone  county,  Ind.,  in  the  autumn 
of  1830.  He  dwelt  with  his  grandfather  until 
he  was  eighteen  years  of  age.  He  then  went 
to  Delphi,  Ind.,  where  he  served  three  years, 
under  Arthur  Coudle}',  learning  the  cabinet- 
maker’s trade.  He  then  came  to  Thorntown, 
Ind.,  and  opened  a business  with  Samuel  An- 
tonian. At  this  time  he  was  initiated  into 
Boone  lodge.  No.  9,  F.  & A.  M.,  and  now 
holds  the  oldest  membershiji  in  his  lodge. 
Although  he  did  inherit,  as  a part  of  his  father's 
estate,  some  slaves,  yet  he  was  an  avowed 
abolitionist  in  the  'forties,  when  to  be  an  aboli- 
tionist was  as  much  an  outrage  against  society 
as  to  be  a thief  or  an  atheist.  He  supported 
John  C.  Fremont  in  1856,  and  Lincoln  in 
i860.  He  fled  the  republican  camp  in  1872 
and  now  gingerly  votes  the  democratic  ticket. 
He  was  married  to  Miss  Miriam  Hill,  in  Thorn- 
town,  on  the  ninth  day  of  November,  1847, 
and  the  fruits  of  their  union  have  been : Francis, 
John,  William,  Medora,  James  and  Harrison, 
the  last  named  deceased.  In  1851,  he  nnwit- 
tingly  mixed  a bottle  of  nitric  acid  and  linseed 
oil.  It  exploded  in  his  hands  and  so  impaired 
his  vision  that  he  determined  to  again  engage 
in  agriculture;  accordingly  he  located  on  the 
Grand  Prairie,  west  of  Lafayette,  and  then,  in 
1855,  bought  the  land  where  he  now  resides. 
As  a mechanic  in  wood,  he  has  few  equals  and 
no  superiors.  His  industry  and  frugality  have 
enabled  him  to  possess  many  of  the  necessi- 
ties and  most  of  the  comforts  of  so  simple  and 
nsefnl  a life  as  is  his.  He  has  seen: 


202 


BIOGRAPHICAL  HISTORY 


“•  Behind  the  scared  squaw's  V^ark  canoe 
A steamboat  rant  and  rave; 

Seen  town  lots  staked  for  sale 
Above  the  Indian’s  grave.” 

As,  in  his  greener  years,  he  was  a cunning 
artificer  in  wood,  nor  employed  a journeyman 
to  e.xecute  his  best  designs,  so  notv,  that  the 
evening  of  his  life  has  come,  he  gathers  intelli- 
gence from  afar,  nor  asks  any  aid  to  frame  his 
actions. 


OHN  T.  ALEXANDER  is  one  of  the 
soldiers  of  the  Civil  war,  a native  of 
Boone  county,  Ind.,  and  a respected 
citizen,  descending  from  an  old  Ameri- 
can family  of  North  Carolina.  His  father, 
William  Alexander,  a native  of  North  Carolina, 
was  a soldier  of  the  Mexican  war,  and  came 
when  a young  man  to  Boone  county,  Ind., 
among  the  pioneers.  He  married  in  Rush 
county,  Ind.,  Ruah  Lyons,  and  they  were  the 
parents  of  seven  children,  as  follows;  John, 
who  died  aged  twenty-one  years;  Ira,  William, 
Sarah  J.,  Andrew,  Elizabeth,  and  John  T. 
Mr.  Alexander  settled  in  Clinton  township  in 
the  woods  during  the 'thirties,  entered  land  and 
cleared  np  a farm,  where  he  passed  the  re- 
mainder of  his  days  and  died  in  middle  life. 
He  and  his  wife  were  members  of  the  Baptist 
church  and  in  politics  he  was  an  old  line  whig. 
He  was  a major  in  the  Mexican  war  and  was 
afterward  known  as  Major  Alexander.  Mr. 
Alexander  was  a man  of  ability  and  integrity 
of  character.  He  had  three  sons  in  the  Civil 
w'ar — Ira,  in  company  I,  Tenth  regiment  Indi- 
ana volunteer  infantry,  as  a private,  whoserved 
three  months  and  was  in  the  battle  of  Rich 
Mountain;  William,  who  was  in  the  Morgan 
raid;  and  John  T.,  our  subject. 

J(dm  T.  Alexander  was  born  March  lo, 
1844,  in  Clinton  township,  received  a common- 
school  education,  and  was  but  seventeen  years 
of  age  when  he  enlisted  in  comi)any  E,  b'or- 


tieth  regiment,  Indiana  volunteer  infantry,  at 
Eebanon,  in  October,  1861,  under  Capt.  Elias 
Neff  and  Col.  William  Wilson.  His  enlist- 
ment was  for  three  years  or  during  the  war. 
He  served  out  his  enlistment  and  was  honorably 
discharged  in  December,  1863,  at  Loudon, 
Tenn.,  and  immediately  re-enlisted  the 
same  day  as  a veteran,  and  served  to  the 
close  of  the  w’ar  and  was  honorably  dis- 
charged at  Texarkana,  Texas,  in  December, 
1865.  He  was  in  the  battles  of  Shiloh,  the 
last  day's  siege  of  Corinth,  Perry ville,  Stone 
River;  Missionary  Ridge,  and  then  to  the  re- 
lief of  Burnside  at  Knoxville.  He  was  in 
many  hard  skirmishes  and  also  participated  in 
the  Atlanta  campaign.  He  was  severely 
wounded  in  the  battle  of  Kenesaw  Mountain, 
while  in  charge  on  the  rebel  works — shot 
through  the  right  thigh — and  was  in  the  hos- 
pital at  Nashville,  Tenn.,  and  at  home  on  a 
furlough  from  June  27th  until  the  battle  of 
Franklin,  Tenn.,  in  which  he  took  an  active 
part.  He  was  knocked  down  and  stunned 
during  a charge  at  this  battle,  the  fight  being 
hand  to  hand,  but  was  not  disabled.  He  was 
then  in  the  two  days’  battle  at  Nashville,  and 
crossed  the  gulf  of  Mexico  with  his  regiment 
and  returned  after  the  close  of  the  war.  He 
was  always  an  efficient  soldier  and  took  an  ac- 
tive part  in  all  the  battles  and  skirmishes  of 
his  regiment,  except  when  wounded  and  in 
hospital.  Mr.  Alexander  was  promoted  to 
first  duty  sergeant. 

After  the  war  he  returned  to  Eebanon  and 
engaged  in  the  milling  and  elevator  business. 
He  filled  the  offices  of  constable  six  years, 
deputy  sheriff  two  years,  and  city  clerk  two 
years.  Upon  November  16,  1868,  Mr.  Alex- 
ander married  Julia  A.  Shirley  (see  sketch  of 
James  W.  Shirley),  daughter  of  lUija  and 
Elizabeth  (Darnall)  Shirley. 

Mr.  Shirley  was  a prosperous  farmer  in 
Perry  township  and  died  in  middle  life.  To 


OF  BOONE  COUNTY 


203 


him  and  wife  were  born  four  children,  of  whom 
but  one  lived  to  maturity,  Julia  A.  Mr.  Shir- 
ley was  a member  of  the  Christian  church. 
Mrs.  Shirley  still  survives  him.  JohnT.  Alex- 
ander and  his  wife  Julia  are  the  parents  of 
three  children — Frorence  Etta,  Lizzie  Maud, 
and  William  Albert.  Mr.  Alexander  has  been 
engaged  in  the' milling  and  elevator  business 
for  years,  has.  been  generally  successful  .and 
owns  a pleasant  home.  The  family  are  all 
members  of  the  Christian  church  and  he  has 
been  deacon  of  same  for  ten  years.  Politi- 
cally he  is  a republican.  Fi'aternally  he  is  an 
Odd  Fellow,  is  a member  of  Ben  Adhem 
lodge.  No,  472,  and  has  passed  all  the  chairs 
of  both  the  subordinate  lodge  and  the  encamp- 
ment; he  is  also  a member  of  the  G.  A.  R., 
Rich  Mountain  post,  Lebanon.  Mr.  Alexander 
has  a splendid  military  record,  among  the  best 
in  Boone  county.  He  served  with  credit  to 
his  country  and  himself  and  is  now  the  head 
of  a respectable,  family.  His  daughter, 
Florence  E.,  married  Lloyd  Nelson,  a farmer 
in  Boone  county;  Lizzie  Maud  married  Lora 
Masters,  and  they  have  one  child — Ruth.  Mr. 
Alexander  met  with  a severe  accident  in  cele- 
brating at  a soldiers’  meeting  in  the  first  Grant 
campaign.  He  was  loading  a cannon  and  had 
just  rammed  the  load  home  when  the  thumber 
took  his  thumb  from  the  vent  and  a premature 
discharge  occurred  which  tore  his  left  hand 
badly,  breaking  his  arm  and  throwing  him  ten 
feet  into  the  air,  rendering  him  senseless.  He 
had  a narrow  escape  from  death  and  was  con- 
fined to  his  bed  for  ten  weeks.  His  hand  was 
ruined  for  life. 


IN.  ARMSTRONG,  a farmer  of  Sugar 
Creek  township,  Boone  county,  Ind., 
and  a practical  blacksmith,  was  born  in 
the  state  of  Ohio  in  the  year  1824.  His 
father,  Christopher  Armstrong,  died  in  1834, 


having  lost  his  wife  some  years  previously,  our 
subject  thus  becoming  an  orphan  at  the  early 
age  of  ten  years.  The  parents  were  church 
members,  and  carefully  reared  their  three 
children  to  a life  of  morality  as  long  as  they 
were  spared  to  them,  and  instilled  such  les- 
sons of  usefulness  and  industry  as  made  their 
offspring  the  valued  members  of  society  they 
afterward  became.  The  family  early  settled 
in  Franklin  county,  Ind.,  and  in  Metamora, 
that  county,  I.  N.  Armstrong  served  an  ap- 
prenticeship of  four  years  at  blacksmithing, 
becoming  an  adept  at  the  trade.  From 
Metamora  he  moved  to  New  Ti'enton,  in  the 
same  county,  where,  for  twelve  years,  he  fol- 
lowed his  trade  with  much  pecuniary  profit. 
While  a resident  of  New  Trenton  he  married, 
in  1844,  Miss  Mary  Sparks,  a native  of  Frank- 
lin county,  born  in  1825.  This  marriage  was 
blessed  with  four  children,  viz:  Charles  A., 
who  died  an  infant;  George,  also  deceased; 
Frank,  now  a hardware  merchant  at  Thorn- 
town,  Ind.,  and  Willie,  a babe  that  died  when 
five  weeks  old.  Relinquishing  his  trade  in  New 
Trenton  for  the  pursuit  of  agriculture,  Mr. 
Armstrong  traded  off  his  establishment  for  a 
farm  of  160  acres  in  the  vicinity  and  cultivated 
it  for  ten  years,  and  then  came  to  Boone 
county,  in  1866,  and  bought  a farm  of  160 
acres,  which  he  partially  improved,  but  in  a 
short  time  moved  to  Colfax,  Clinton  county, 
Ind.,  and  followed  his  trade  for  eight  years;  he 
then  returned  to  his  farm  in  Boone  county,  on 
which  he  resided  two  years.  He  again  became 
tired  of  farm  life  and  moved  back  to  Colfax, 
where,  in  partnership  with  his  son  Frank,  he 
went  into  the  hardware  business.  Four  years 
later,  he  returned  to  his  farm  in  Boone  coun- 
ty, where  he  has  since  lived  in  peace  and  com- 
fort, being  the  owner  of  100  well  improved 
acres,  and  enjoying  the  respect  of  his  neigh- 
bors and  his  fellow-members  of  the  Presbyter- 
ian chnrch.  In  politics  he  is  a democrat. 


204 


l^IOGRAPIIICAL  HISTORY 


HBKAHAM  AKTMAN  was  born  near 
the  town  of  Aiif^nsta,  Marion  connty, 
Ind.,  December  i<S,  i860,  and  is 
descended  from  German  ancestors, 
who  settled  many  years  ago  in  the  state  of 
Pennsylvania.  His  grandfather,  Andrew  Art- 
man,  was  a native  of  the  Keystone  state,  born 
near  the  city  of  Pittsburg,  and  reared  a family 
consisting  of  the  following  children;  Joseph, 
Michael,  William,  John,  Abraham,  Catharine, 
Annie  and  Janies  A.  The  eldest  son,  Joseph 
Artman,  father  of  Abraham,  left  Pennsylvania 
a number  of  years  ago  and  became  a resident 
of  Indiana,  where  he  is  still  living  at  an  ad- 
vanced age;  his  wife,  whose  maiden  name  was 
Elizabeth  Dunlap,  daughter  of  Robert  and 
Elizabeth  Dunlap,  is  also  a native  of  Pennsyl- 
vania, and  has  borne  her  husband  the  follow- 
ing children:  Rosanna,  Amanda,  Mdlliam, 
Sarah,  Samuel  R.,  Mary  J.,  Erancis  S.,  and 
Eli,  all  of  whom,  with  the  exception  of 
Amanda,  who  died  while  quite  young,  grew  to 
years  of  maturity. 

Abraham  Artman  was  reared  to  agricultur- 
al pursuits  and  remained  under  the  parental 
roof  until  attaining  his  majority,  attending,  in 
the  meantime,  the  common  schools,  in  which 
he  obtained  a fair  knowledge  of  the  English 
branches.  Subsecjuently  he  pursued  his  stud- 
ies in  the  luiion  high  school,  Westfield,  ami 
in  1881  engaged  in  teaching,  which  profession 
he  followed  with  the  most  gratifying  success 
for  a period  of  eight  years.  Mr.  Artman  is  a 
natural-born  teacher,  and  his  success  as  an 
educator  is  sufficiently  attested  by  his  retention 
for  a number  of  terms  in  the  same  locality, 
having  taught  for  a ])eriod  of  seven  snccc.ssive 
years  in  three  buildings.  In  March,  1891,  he 
became  a resident  of  Marion  township,  Boone 
county,  where  he  has  since  resided  and  where 
he  has  accnmnlated  a sufficiency  of  worldly 
goods  to  place  him  in  easy  circumstances.  He 
is  an  enterprising,  intelligent  man,  a close  ob- 


server, interested  in  all  movements  that  per- 
tain to  the  well-being  of  the  community,  and 
has  before  him  a promising  future.  Politically 
he  wields  an  influence  for  the  democratic 
party,  the  principles  of  which  he  has  earnestly 
advocated  ever  since  his  twenty-first  year. 
On  the  9th  day  of  June,  1883,  Mr.  Artman 
and  Miss  Euella,  daughter  of  Stephen  and 
Mary  ("Newby)  Moulton,  were  united  in  the 
bonds  of  wedlock,  a union  Iflessed  by  the  birth 
of  the  following  children:  Grade  N.,  born  Jan- 
uary 12,  1885,  died  October  7,  1892;  Minnie 
E.,  born  August  17,  1886;  Lacie  I.,  born  Sep- 
tember 18,  1888;  Alva  C.,  born  July  4,  1890, 
died  December  10,  1890;  Ogle  J.,  born  Octo- 
ber II,  1891,  and  Alta  N.,  born  January  18, 

1892. 

I 

AMUEL  R.  ARTMAN,  chairman  of 
the  Boone  county  republican  central 
committee,  and  city  attorney  of 
Lebanon,  Ind.,  is  a native  of  the 
connty  of  Boone,  and  was  born  May  15,  1866. 
His  parents  were  Joseph  and  Elizabeth  (Dun- 
lap) Artman,  both  natives  of  Pennsylvania. 
Joseph  was  a son  of  Andrew  Artman,  also  a 
native  of  the  Keystone  state,  where  he  passed 
his  life  in  the  peaceful  pursuit  of  agriculture. 
Joseph  was  also  reared  to  farming  in  his  native 
state,  and  was  there  married.  He  started  out 
in  life  a jioor  boy,  and  in  1855  came  to  Indi- 
ana and  located  in  Marion  county  about  six 
miles  from  Indianapolis,  where  he  tilled  the 
soil  until  early  in  the  spring  of  1866,  when  he 
moved  to  l.Tnion  township,  Boone  county, 
where  he  has  made'  for  himsell  and  family  a 
good  home  and  where  he  has  ever  since  re- 
sided. 'riierc  have  been  born  to  him  five  sons 
and  four  daughters,  of  whom  one  daughter 
died  in  childhood.  Mr.  Artman  is  a democrat 
in  his  j)olitical  |)rocli\  ities,  and  socially  he  and 
his  family  enjoy  the  gooil  oi)inion  and  confi- 
dence of  the  entire  community. 


OF  BOOXE  COUNTY. 


205 


Samuel  R.  Art  man  was  reared  to  manhood 
in  Union  township,  Boone  county,  attended 
the  common  school  until  seventeen  years  of 
age,  and  then  taught  two  consecutive  terms  in 
Marion  townshijv  During  this  time  and  for 
some  time  following  he  attended  the  State 
Normal  institute,  where  he  lacked  but  one 
term  of  taking  a full  course,  and  this  lack  was 
owing  to  a failure  of  his  eyes,  which  caused 
him  temporarily  to  leave  the  school-room.  In 
the  winter  of  1886-87  and  1887-88,  however, 
he  was  assistant  principal  of  the  Lebanon  high 
school  and  began  reading  law  in  the  interim. 
In  the  fall  of  1888  he  was  nominated  on  the 
republican  ticket  for  county  surveyor,  was 
elected,  and  for  two  years  performed  the  du- 
ties of  the  office  most  efficiently.  He  then 
read  law  with  T.  W.  Lockhart,  of  Lebanon, 
was  admitted  to  the  Boone  county  bar  in  the 
fall  of  1890,  but  continued  as  a student  until 
the  fall  of  1891,  when  he  formed  a partnership 
with  his  former  preceptor,  which  connection, 
however,  lasted  but  one  year,  as  Mr.  Lock- 
hart then  moved  to  Bakersfield,  Cal.  ; Mr. 
Artman  ne.xt  practiced  alone  for  one  year,  and 
then  united  with  John  L.  Lewis,  under  the 
firm  name  of  Artman  & Lewis,  who  now  oc- 
cupy the  finest  suit  of  offices  in  Lebanon  and 
enjoy  a lucrative  practice. 

As  intimated,  Mr.  Artman  is  in  politics  a 
republican,  and  is  one  of  the  most  active  and 
ardent  members  of  that  party  within  the 
boundaries  of  Boone  county^  and  has  sacri- 
ficed much  to  his  political  principles,  being 
the  only  member  of  his  family  who  is  con- 
vinced of  their  soundness  and  their  efficacy  for 
the  good  of  the  government.  He  has  indeed 
risked  his  filial  and  fraternal  ties  on  this 
account,  his  father  and  brothers  being  among 
the  stanchest  of  democrats.  Mr.  Artman  is 
now  chairman  of  the  Boone  county  republican 
central  committee,  as  stated  above;  he  had 
been  a member  of  the  Lebanon  school  board 


for  eighteen  months,  when  he  resigned  to  fill 
the  vacancy  occasioned  by  the  withdrawal  of 
Mr  Lockhart  as  city  attorney,  and  succeeded 
himself  in  this  office  by  election  in  December, 
1892,  and  re-election  in  the  spring  of  1894. 
Fraternally,  Mr.  Artman  is  a member  of  Boone 
lodge.  No.  9,  F.  & A.  M, , in  which  he  was 
worshipful  master  two  years,  and  is  also  a 
member  of  K.  of  P.  lodge,  No.  4.  The  mar- 
riage of  Mr.  Artman  was  solemnized  May  i, 

1889,  with  Miss  Addie  A.  Cobb,  who  was  born 
in  Boone  county^  Ind.,  May  31,  1868,  and  is  a 
daughter  of  Capt.  Thomas  A.  Cobb,  of  Marion 
township.  This  union  has  been  blessed  by 
the  birth  of  one  child — Thomas  B. — February, 

1890,  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Artman  are  members,  in 
good  standing,  of  the  Christian  church,  and 
their  position  in  society  is  a most  enviable  one. 


FORGE  W.  BAIRD,  one  of  the  prom- 
inent business  men  and  president  of 
the  First  National  bank  at  Lebanon, 
Ind.,  has  long  been  identified  with 
the  best  interests  of  Boone  county.  His  grand- 
father, Archibald  Baird,  was  a native  of  Buck- 
ingham county,  Va. , was  a farmer,  and  passed 
all  his  days  in  his  native  state.  Samuel  D. 
Baird,  his  son,  and  father  of  George  W. , was 
born  in  Buckingham  county,  Va.,  but  w'ent  to 
Kentucky  when  a young  man.  He  married 
Susan  Ratliff,  daughter  of  Zepaniah  Ratliff,  of 
Kentucky,  and  to  this  union  were  born  fifteen 
children,  twelve  of  whom  lived  to  grow  to 
maturity,  and  all  married,  except  one  son, 
Milton.  The  twelve  that  reached  maturity 
were  named:  Ratliff,  Angelina,  Mary,  Phila- 
delphia, Archibald,  Henry  J.,  Galeb,  Milton, 
Elizabeth,  Joseph,  George  W.,  and  Margaret. 
Mr.  Baird  lived  in  Bath  county,  Ky. , where  he 
passed  all  the  rest  of  his  days,  and  was  a sub- 
stantial citizen;  was  a wheelwright  and  farmer, 
owning  a large  farm,  and  was  a slave  owner. 


20(5 


BIOGRAPHICAL  HISTORY 


Politically,  he  was  an  old-time  whig,  and  in 
religion  a member  of  the  Presbyterian  church, 
while  his  wife  was  a life-long  member  of  the 
regular  Baptist  church.  Mr.  Baird  lived  to  be 
seventy  years  old  and  died  on  his  farm  in  1853. 
Mrs.  Baird  died  in  1^33.  She  was  a woman 
of  a noble  Christian  character  and  Mr.  Baird 
was  very  prominent  in  his  county. 

George  W.  Baird  was  born  on  his  father's 
farm  October  13,  1825,  received  a common 
school  education  and  was  reared  a farmer.  He 
married  in  Bath  county.  May  10,  1848,  Annie, 
daughter  of  Gen.  Samuel  and  Sallie  (Lane) 
Stone.  Gen.  Stone  was  a prominent  man, 
was  a large  land  owner  and  sheriff  of  his 
county  twice.  By  this  marriage  Mr.  Baird 
had  two  children,  both  dying  in  infancy.  In 
September,  1853,  became  to  Boone  county, 
Ind.,  and  settled  on  a farm  in  Washington 
township.  Mrs.  Baird  died  in  the  fall  of  1854 
and  he  moved  to  Lebanon  and  engaged  in  the 
grocery  buisness,  and  then  in  the  livery  busi- 
ness, and  then  was  in  the  grocery  and  general 
mercantile  business  many  years.  In  1874 
he  engaged  in  the  wholesale  boot  ami  shoe 
business,  and  in  1880,  while  engaged  in  the 
business  in  Lebanon,  was  elected  vice-president 
of  the  First  National  bank  of  Lebanon.  He 
was  one  of  the  original  incorporators  of  this 
bank  and  one  of  its  first  and  largest  stock- 
holders. This  bank  was  chartered  in  1872 
with  a capital  stock  of  $100,000  and  with 
John  C.  Daily  president  and  A.  O.  Miller 
cashier.  The  bank  did  a successful  business 
and  in  1892  a new  charter  was  granted  for 
twenty  years,  the  old  charter  having  e.xpired. 
The  capital  stock  is  now  $75,000;  George  W. 
Baird,  president,  Levi  Lane,  vice-president 
anti  Wesley  Lane,  cashier,  and  Mr.  J.  DeVal, 
assistant  cashier.  The  bank  is  doing  a large, 
safe  and  successful  business,  and  has  a high 
standing  among  the  financial  enteri)rises  of  the 
state.  Mr.  Baird,  in  politics,  was  first  an  old- 


line  whig  and  then  a democrat;  but  although 
frequently  solicited,  Mr.  Baird  has  never 
accepted  public  office.  He  is  a member  of  the 
Baptist  church,  holds  the  office  of  church 
trustee  and  has  been  a life-long  supporter  of 
this  denomination,  to  which  he  is  a liberal 
contributor  of  his  means.  He  assisted  to  build 
the  present  Baptist  church  edifice  and  also 
aided  all  the  other  churches.  He  was  one  of 
the  early  members  of  the  I.  O.  O.  F.  in 
Lebanon,  and  for  many  years  was  quite  active 
and  held  all  the  offices  in  the  lodge.  He  is 
now  non-affiliating  on  account  of  his  health. 
Mr.  Baird  married  March  2,  1856,  Sarah  A., 
daughter  of  Joseph  C.  and  Minerva  (Tomlins) 
Lane,  widow  of  Dr.  Boone  of  the  famous 
Daniel  Boone  stock.  To  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Baird  were  born  two  children,  Jessie  B.  and 
Nettie.  Beside  Mr.  Baird’s  banking  business, 
he  has  a large  farm  one  mile  from  Lebanon, 
which  he  himself  manages.  He  is  a public- 
spirited  man,  has  been  and  is  interested  in  all 
public  enterprises.  He  is  a man  of  quiet 
manners,  and  it  is  needless  to  say  that  his 
integrity  is  unimpeached. 


ISAAC  N.  BARKER,  well  known  as  a 
farmer  and  stock  breeder  in  Sugar 
Creek  township,  Boone  county,  Ind., 
is  a native  of  Wayne  county,  Ind., 
born  January  17,  1841,  and  a son  of  Jeremiah 
and  Jane  (Kerlin)  Barker.  Jeremiah  Barkerwas 
born  in  North  Carolina  April  1 , 1813,  and  was  a 
son  of  Isaac  and  Mary  (Co.x)  Barker,  who  were 
also  natives  of  North  Carolina,  of  English  de- 
scent. Isaac  was  a substantial  farmer  and  the 
father  of  fourteen  children,  having  been  twice 
married,  and  of  these  children,  nine  were  by 
our  subject’s  own  grandmother,  Mary  (Cox) 
Barker,  and  were  named  as  follows:  Enoch, 
Hannah,  Jeremiah,  Ruth,  Nicholas,  John, 
IHijah,  Catherine,  and  Margery.  Isaac  and 


I.  N.  BARKER. 


OF  BOONE  COUNTY. 


209 


Mary,  who  were  members  of  the  Friends’ 
church,  were  among  the  pioneers  of  Boone 
county,  fnd.,  having  come  here  in  1833,  when 
the  woods  w^ere  filled  with  Indians  and  wild 
animals,  and  here  they  entered  160  acres  in 
the  wilderness,  from  which  they  hewed  out  a 
comfortable  home,  on  which  they  resided  until 
their  respective  deaths,  his  occurring  in  1844, 
and  hers  in  i860.  Jeremiah  Barker,  father  of 
our  subject,  was  nineteen  years  of  age  when 
he  left  the  parental  roof,  married  Jane  Kerlin, 
and  came  to  Wayne  county,  Ind.,  where  he 
lived  until  1843;  then  he  moved  to  Boone 
county,  where  he  resided  until  1857,  when  he 
went  to  Howai'd  county  Iowa,  where  he  pur- 
chased land  on  which  he  lived  until  his  death, Jan- 
uary 5,  1858,  his  widow  surviving  until  July  4, 
1876.  They  were  the  parents  of  thirteen  chil- 
dren, born  in  the  following  order:  Martha,  de- 
ceased; Benjamin,  a fruit  grow'erof  California; 
Elijah,  of  Howard  county,  Iowa;  Sarah,  de- 
ceased; Isaac  N.,  the  subject  of  this  sketch; 
Mary,  deceased;  William,  of  Howard  county, 
Iowa;  Malinda,  deceased;  Catherine,  wife  of  Al- 
bert Haines, of  Day  county.  Dak.  ; Margery,  wife 
of  Dwight  Dow,  of  South  Dakota;  Jeremiah, 
deceased;  Amos,  of  Howard  county,  Iowa, 
and  John,  of  Portland  Oregon.  The  parents 
and  all  the  children  were  members  of  the 
Friends’  church — the  father  and  his  sons  all  re- 
publicans. 

Isaac  N.  Barker  was  married  September  7, 
1862,  in  Boone  county,  Ind.,  to  Jane  M.  Co.x, 
a native  of  Montgomery  county,  Ind.,  and 
daughter  of  Enoch  and  Rachel  Cox;  to  this 
marriage  were  born  two  children,  viz  ; Rachel, 
wife  of  John  Doan,  of  Sugar  Creek  township, 
Boone  county,  Ind.,  and  Charles  L.,  living 
with  his  father.  Mrs.  Jane  M.  Barker  died 
October  16,  1867,  and  Mr.  Barker  was  next 
married  December  2,  1868,  in  Boone  county, 
Ind.,  to  Cyrena  A.  Brown,  who  was  born  iu 
Sugar  Creek  April  4,  1842,  a daughter  of  Seth 


and  Alice  Brown,  and  to  this  union  have  been 
born  three  children,  viz:  Perry  M.,  Murray 
S.  and  Elbert  J.  The  family  are  all  members 
of  the  Friends’  church,  and  in  politics  the  male 
members  vote  the  republican  ticket.  Mr. 
Barker  owns  167  acres  of  fine  arable  land  in 
this  township,  but  gives  his  attention  chiefly 
to  the  raising  of  livestock,  making  specialties 
of  swine  and  poultry.  He  began  breeding 
Berkshire  swine  in  1 869,  and  from  that  time 
until  the  present  has  stood  at  the  head  of  the 
list  of  valuable  swine  owners. 

Mr.  Barker’s  herd  of  Berkshires  is  unex- 
celled in  the  state  of  Indiana,  if,  indeed,  any- 
where else,  and  at  the  World’s  fair  it  secured 
several  valuable  prizes;  his  poultry  also  stood 
well  at  the  front,  and  was  successful  in  carry- 
ing off  more  than  one  flrst-class  premium.  In 
fact,  Mr.  Barker  is  known  all  through  the  coun- 
try as  a. supreme  judge  of  poultry  and  swine, 
and  has  been  called  as  far  west  as  California, 
and  as  far  east  as  New  York,  to  act  as  judge  at 
exhibits  of  both  swine  and  poultry.  Mr. 
Barker  is  a gentleman  of  very  observing  habits, 
and  of  keen  and  discriminating  judgment  in  all 
that  pertains  to  his  particular  vocation;  he  is 
pleasant  to  deal  with  in  his  transactions,  and  is 
accorded  to  be  one  of  the  most  upright  and 
conscientious  dealers  in  the  country.  His 
standing  in  society  is  co-equal  with  that  in 
business  circles,  his  integrity  and  purity  of 
character  being  without  a blemish. 


OHN  E.  BEASLEY— One  of  the  most 
useful  and  beautiful  of  the  arts  preserv- 
ative is  that  of  the  taxidermist.  To 
the  naturalist,  the  skill  is  not  only  use- 
ful, but  of  the  highest  importance,  as  he  pre- 
serves, by  means  of  his  art,  in  the  most  natur- 
al manner,  all  forms  of  life  and  many  species 
and  varieties  of  life  that  must  soon  become 
extinct.  John  E.  Beasley,  our  subject,  is  not 


r.  1 0( ; 1<  A PI  1 1 c AL  III  STO  R Y 


rlio 


only  one  of  tlie  most  expert  taxidermists  in  the 
United  States,  hnt  is  a naturalist  of  experience, 
and  is  a correspondent  of  the  Smithsonian  In- 
stitution. His  father,  Thomas  Beasley,  was  a 
shoemaker  by  trade  and  a resident  of  the  city 
of  Leicester,  England.  He  married  Elizabeth 
limit,  and  to  them  were  born  eleven  children, 
now  all  deceased  except  onr  subject  and  one 
sister,  Anna  E.  I'erry,  an  artist  of  Indian- 
apolis. In  1852  Thomas  Beasley  settled  in 
Indianapolis,  where  he  resided  for  many  years. 
He  died  in  August,  1893,  aged  eighty-eight 
years,  a respected  citizen. 

John  E.  Beasley,  onr  subject,  was  born 
November  7,  1826,  in  Eeicester,  England;  he 
received  the  common  education  of  his  country 
and  learned  the  trade  of  shoemaker  and  the 
art  of  a taxidermist,  in  which  latter  he  soon 
became  very  useful.  In  1853  he  came  to 
America  and  settled  in  Philadelphia.  In  1854 
he  went  to  Indianapolis  and  resided  fourteen 
years  and  became  the  leading  taxidermist  of 
the  state.  He  was  also  foreman  of  the  boot 
and  shoe  manufactory  of  Adam  Knodle  & Son. 
In  1866  he  came  to  Eebanon  and  engaged  in 
the  manufacture  of  boots  and  shoes,  employ- 
ing from  live  to  seven  men  and  doing  an  ex- 
tensive business,  but  still  following  his  favorite 
pursuit  of  taxidermist.  In  1884  he  retired 
from  the  boot  and  shoe  business,  and  has  since 
devoted  his  entire  attention  to  the  more  con- 
genial pursuit  of  the  taxidermist.  Specimens 
of  his  art  may  be  found  in  many  of  the  best 
private  collections  of  the  United  States.  He 
is  also  correspondent,  and  re)iorts  matters  of 
scientific  interest  relating  to  our  native  birds 
and  animals  to  the  Smithsonian  Institute  at 
Washington,  and  also  to  the  Indiana  Academy 
of  Science  of  Brookvillc,  Ind.  Mr.  Beasley 
also  prepares  specimens  for  the  Indiana  State 
museum  and  the  most  fastidious  private  col- 
lectors throughout  the  country.  Some  years 
since  he  prepared  an  African  lioness  at  Leba- 


non, which  is  one  of  the  largest  animals  he  has 
prepared.  He  has  prepared  most  of  the 
American  wild  animals  and  birds,  and  many 
foreign  specimens.  His  work  has  the  most 
natural  appearance — some  of  his  specimens, 
especially  the  hald-headed  eagle,  are  very  fine 
— the  attitude  and  expression  being  very  life- 
like— its  grand  and  fierce  beauty  being  perfect- 
ly preserved.  Mr.  Beasley’s  many  years’  ex- 
perience, extending  over  nearly  half  a century, 
his  rare  genius  and  natural  love  of  his  profes- 
sion, have  enabled  him  to  develop  it  to  its 
fullest  capacity.  He  is  one  of  those  men  who 
study  with  keen  eye,  quick  ear  and  active 
mhid,  and  has  spent  much  time  in  the  woods 
and  fields  to  gain  a thorough  knowledge  of  the 
life,  action  and  habits  of  animals  and  birds  on 
their  native  heath.  Being  a lover  of  nature 
he  has  all  the  naturalist’s  patience  and  keen- 
ness of  observation. 

In  December,  1858,  Mr.  Beasley  married 
Cynthia  A.,  daughter  of  Harrison  Waugh  of 
Indianapolis,  and  to  them  were  born  three 
children:  George,  deceased  an  infant,  Edward, 
deceased  at  nineteen  years  of  age,  and  Carrie 
A.  In  political  opinions  Mr.  Beasley  is  inde- 
pendent. He  has  been  successful  in  his  en- 
terprise, and  owns  valuable  real  estate  in  Leb- 
anon, consisting  of  an  attractive  residence 
and  business  block.  He  stands  high  through- 
out the  state  of  Indiana  as  the  foremost  artist 
in  his  profession.  As  a citizen  he  has  the  re- 
spect of  the  people  of  Lebanon  as  an  honor- 
able and  upright  man. 


HLERIH)  1).  BhiCK,  a retired  farmer 
of  Lebanon,  Boone  county,  Ind.,  was 
born  in  Union  county,  Ind.,  October 
31,  1823,  a son  of  Abraham  and  Eliza 
(Winchester)  Beck,  the  former  of  German  de- 
scent and  a native  of  North  Carolina,  the  lat- 
ter of  English  descent  and  a native  of  Tennes- 


OF  BOONE  COUNTY. 


211 


see.  Abraham  Beck  j^rew  to  manhood  in 
North  Carolina,  having  the  advantage  of  the 
common  schools,  and  was  eaidy  taught  indus- 
try and  economy.  In  the  fall  of  1822  he  re- 
moved to  Union  county,  Ind.,  where  he  resided 
until  1838,  when  he  removed  to  Boone  county 
with  his  family  and  lived  the  remainder  of  his 
life.  He  was  the  father  of  ten  children,  four 
of  whom  are  now  living.  Mrs.  Eliza  Beck 
represented  one  of  the  pioneer  families  of  Ten- 
nessee, where  she  grew  to  womanhood  and 
married,  and  later  with  her  husband  became 
one  of  the  pioneer  families  of  Indiana.  She 
was  the  aunt  of  Gen.  Winchester  of  Tennessee 
of  the  war  of  1812.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Beck  ex- 
perienced all  the  hardships  of  pioneer  life  of 
southern  Indiana,  having  come  to  the  state 
with  limited  means,  where  they  were  called 
upon  to  forge  from  the  forest  a home,  in  which 
they  succeeded.  They  were  good  religious 
people,  reared  a large  family  as  faithful  workers 
in  the  church,  and  afforded  them  the  educa- 
tional advantages  of  that  day. 

Alfred  D.  Beck  was  reared  a farmer  and 
educated  in  the  common  schools  of  his  native 
county,  remaining  upon  the  home  farm  with 
his  parents  until  arriving  at  his  majority,  at 
which  time  he  began  life  upon  his  own  respon- 
sibility. He  engaged  in  farming  and  stock- 
raising,  and  continued  to  reside  in  Jefferson 
township,  Boone  county,  until  1887,  when  he 
removed  to  Lebanon,  since  which  time  he  has 
lived  a retired  life,  enjoying  the  fruits  of  his 
earlier  labors.  Mr.  Beck  was  married  April  6, 
1848,  to  Miss  Susan  E.  Sanders,  the  daughter 
of  John  and  Sadie  Sanders,  which  union  was 
blessed  by  the  birth  (if  two  children,  namely; 
James  H.,  deceased,  and  an  infant,  deceased. 
Mrs.  Beck,  the  mother  of  these  children,  died 
in  1851,  and  Mr.  Beck’s  second  marriage 
occurred  April  ii,  1854,  to  Margaret  J.  Alex- 
ander, the  daughter  of  John  Alexander,  and  to 
this  union  seven  children  have  been  born,  six 


of  whom  are  now  living,  namely:  Lelia,  wife 
of  Thomas  Goodwin;  Udorah,  wife  of  Isaac 
Hooten;  Susan,  wife  of  George  Taylor;  Alex- 
ander W. ; Estella,  wife  of  Charles  Witte;  and 
Grant,  of  Chicago.  The  one  deceased  was 
Lonzo.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Beck  are  members  of 
the  Christian  church,  and  socially  are  highly 
respected  wherever  known.  Politically  Mr. 
Beck  is  a republican.  The  Beck  family  has 
always  been  recognized  as  among  the  most 
respected  citizens  of  Boone  county,  and  Mr. 
Beck’s  past  industry  and  frugality  entitle  him 
to  the  enjoyment  of  his  retired  life.  Mr.  Beck 
owns  200  acres  of  finely  improved  land  in  Jef- 
ferson township. 


ISAAC  H.  BELLES,  a very  prominent 
farmer  of  Washington  township,  Boone 
county,  Ind  , is  a native  of  Ohio,  and 
was  born  in  Hamilton  county,  Febru- 
ary 22,  1816.  He  is  a son  of  William  and 
Mary  (Huff)  Belles,  natives  of  New  Jersey  and 
of  German,  Holland  and  P'rench  extraction. 
They  were  among  the  early  pioneers  of  Ohio, 
and  about  the  year  1837  moved  to  Boone 
county,  Ind.,  settling  in  Washington  townshij), 
where  they  resided  until  his  death.  She  died 
in  Iowa.  They  were  the  parents  of  ten  chil- 
dren, viz:  Ann,  Elisha,  Adam,  Catherine, 
Eliza,  Isaac  H.,  Leah,  William,  Jacob  and 
Peter. 

Isaac  H.  Belles  was  united  in  marriage  in 
Hamilton  county,  Ohio,  to  Abigail  M.,  daugh- 
ter of  Andrew  and  Catherine  May,  and  in  1855 
came  to  Boone  county,  Ind.,  and  settled  on 
the  same  farm  on  which  he  now  resides.  He 
now  owns  200  acres  of  fine  land,  of  which  165 
acres  are  under  cultivation.  He  lost  his  wife 
by  death,  September  17,  1869,  having  had 
born  to  him,  by  her,  twelve  children,  viz: 
David,  Emmeline,  Angeline,  deceased,  Sarah, 
deceased,  F" ranees  A.,  deceased,  Clark  W., 


'21'2 


BIOGRAPHICAL  HISTORY 


Alexander,  deceased,  Mary  M.,  Theodore, 
Elethia,  Alva  C.  and  Herschel,  deceased. 
Mr.  Belles  has  always  led  an  industrious  and 
upright  life  and  there  has  never  been  the 
slightest  stain  attached  to  his  name;  a friend 
to  religion  and  education,  he  has  always  con- 
tributed freely  of  his  means  to  the  aid  of 
churches  and  schools,  and  he  has  never  been 
behindhand  in  advancing  the  interests  of  his 
township  and  county.  His  name  is  respected 
wherever  it  is  known,  and  as  an  agriculturist 
there  are  few,  if  any,  that  equal  him  within 
the  limits  of  Washington  township.  He  is  a 
republican. 


OSEPH  BELT,  farmer  of  Perry  town- 
ship, Boone  county,  Ind.,  was  born  in 
Fleming  county,  Ky.,  March  i,  1823, 
and  is  the  son  of  Joseph  and  Jane 
(Jones)  Belt,  also  natives  of  Fleming  county, 
Ky.,  who  were  there  married  and  there  resid- 
ed until  1826,  when  they  came  to  Indiana  and 
bought  160  acres  of  land  in  Hendricks  county, 
on  which  they  lived  until  1834,  when  they  re- 
moved to  Marion  county  and  resided  about 
two  and  one-half  miles  from  Indianapolis  un- 
til their  respective  deaths  in  1853  and  i860. 
They  were  parents  of  eleven  children,  all  de- 
ceased excepting  Joseph,  who  was  ninth  in 
order  of  birth. 

Joseph  Belt  was  reared  chiefly  in  Marion 
county,  and  in  1846,  while  at  Chicago  with  a 
drove  of  horses,  heard  of  the  breaking  out  of 
the  Mexican  war,  and  walked  forty  to  forty- 
five  miles  a day  to  Indianapolis,  where,  with 
two  companions,  Madison  Russel  and  John 
LaCouter,  he  enlisted  in  company  P',  P'ifth 
regiment,  and  served  one  year  and  two  months, 
going  with  his  regiment  to  Vera  Cruz,  to  the 
city  of  Mexico,  to  Molina  del  Rey,  and  to  San 
Luis  de  Potosi,  and  was  finally  discharged  at 
Madison,  Ind.  He  then  returned  to  Marion 


county,  where  he  was  employed  six  years  in  a 
grist-mill;  then  went  to  Hamilton  county,  and 
for  three  years  was  engaged  in  driving  oxen 
and  handling  hogs,  after  which  he  drove  oxen 
in  Marion  county  three  years  longer;  he  then 
was  employed  three  years  in  a grist-mill  in 
Brownsburg,  Hendricks  county,  and  cultivated 
it  for  ten  years,  when  he  sold  and  bought  the 
eighty  acres  on  which  he  now  lives.  He  was 
first  married  in  Cottontown,  Marion  county, 
Ind.,  in  1848,  to  Elizabeth  Furgeson,  who  was 
born  in  Brockville,  Ind.,  August  28,  1824,  and 
became  the  mother  of  nine  children,  viz: 
Amanda  J.,  deceased;  Martha  E.,  wife  of  J. 
W.  Swigart;  Nelson  J.  ; George;  Samuel; 
Julius;  Thomas;  Mary,  and  Margaret,  de- 
ceased. The  mother  of  this  family  passed 
away  June  20,  1888,  and  her  remains  were 
interred  at  Mount  Tabor,  Boone  county. 


AMES  H.  BENEFIEL,  a progressive 
and  experienced  farmer  of  Jefferson 
township,  Boone  county,  Ind  , was 
born  here  November  29,  1829,  his 

parents  having  been  Samuel  M.  and  Nancy  M. 
(Taylor)  Benefiel,  who  were  respectively  of 
Scotch-Irish  and  German- English  descent. 
Both  parents,  however,  were  natives  of  Ken- 
tucky, and  were  married  in  that  state.  Mrs. 
Benefiel  died  in  1832,  and  Mr.  Benefiel  chose 
for  his  second  life  comjianion  Ivlizabeth  Cald- 
well. To  his  first  marriage  were  born  three 
children,  and  to  his  second  marriage  two  chil- 
dren were  born. 

jamcs  H.  Benefiel  was  educated  to  the  use- 
ful calling  of  farming  by  his  father,  to  whom 
he  rendered  good  and  faithful  service  in  return 
until  his  marriage,  December  29,  1853,  to 
Mary  E.  Sainjile,  daughter  of  James  and 
Isabelle  (Wiley)  Sample,  both  of  Scotch-Irish 
extraction,  but  of  American  birth,  the  father 
having  been  born  in  Ohio,  and  the  mother  in 


OF  BOONE  COUNTY. 


Kentucky.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Sample  were  the 
parents  of  twelve  children,  of  whom  seven  are 
still  living.  The  father  of  the  family  passed 
to  his  final  repose  in  1852,  his  widow  follow- 
ing in  1883.  To  the  marriage  of  James  H. 
Benefiel  and  Mary  E.  Sample  have  been  born 
six  children,  viz.:  Edna  J.,  wife  of  Leonard 
Peterson;  Samuel  E. ; x\manda  I.,  wife  of  Ma- 
rion Swail;  Henry  A.,  Robert  L. , and  James  M. 
The  first  business  venture  of  Mr.  Benefiel  was 
in  1873,  when  he  purchased  a farm  in  Jeffer- 
son township,  Boone  county,  Ind.,  the  farm 
being  then  of  moderate  dimensions,  but  now 
increased,  by  his  skill,  economy  and  industry, 
to  one  of  goodly  proportions,  on  which  he  and 
family  reside,  enjoying  the  respect  of  all  their 
neighbors.  They  are  faithful  members  of  the 
Presbyterian  church,  and  the  political  procliv- 
ities of  Mr.  Benefiel  are  republican. 


M.  BEST,  the  leading  and  most  pros- 
perous dry  goods  merchant  of  James- 
town, Boone  county,  Ind.,  as  well  as 
a veteran  of  the  late  Civil  war,  was 
born  February  9,  1843,  reared  in  the  city 
of  Zanesville,  Ohio,  in  which  state  his  grand- 
father, Valentine  Best,  a native  of  Ireland, 
was  the  first  of  the  family  to  settle.  Valen- 
tine Best,  son  of  the  one  above  named,  was 
but  one  year  of  age  when  his  father  died,  and 
he  was  consequently  reared  by  his  widowed 
mother.  He  married  Miranda  Fox,  whose 
father  was  a native  of  Virginia,  and  to  this 
marriage  were  born  the  following  children: 
’William  J.,  Sarah  A.  (who  died  at  the  age  of 
sixteen),  S.  M.,  George  B.,  Laura,  John  H., 
Mary  F. , Ida  and  Charles.  The  father  was  a 
prominent  merchant  of  Zanesville  for  many 
years,  was  a steward  and  class  leader,  also 
leader  of  the  choir,  in  the  Methodist  Episcopal 
church,  and  always  took  a deep  interest  in  the 
Sabbath  school,  of  which  he  was  superintend- 


2  IB 


ent  for  many  years.  Mrs.  Best  was  also  a de- 
vout member  of  this  church.  For  several 
years,  also,  Mr.  Best  was  president  of  the  Mus- 
kingum Valley  Fair  association.  He  was  a 
member  of  Amity  lodge,  F.  and  A.  M.,  and 
Woodland  lodge,  I.  O.  O.  F. , in  both  of 
which  he  reached  high  degrees.  In  politics  he 
was  a republican,  and  passed  away  in  March, 
1880. 

S.  M.  Best  graduated  with  honors  from  the 
high  school  of  Zanesville,  and  had  prepared 
himself  by  home  study  for  admission  to  the 
junior  class  of  the  Ohio  Wesley  college,  when 
the  Civil  war  broke  out.  He  immediately 
responded  to  the  call  for  volunteers  and 
enlisted  in  company  E,  Third  O.  V.  I.,  which 
was  at  once  sent  to  (West)  Virginia,  where,  at 
Gauley  Bridge,  with  eleven  companions,  he 
received  the  fire  of  the  first  rebel  gun  dis- 
charged in  the  state;  he  also  took  part  in  the 
battle  of  Rich  Mountain.  His  term  of  service 
having  expired,  Mr.  Best  enlisted  in  company 
C,  Seventy-sixth  O.  V.  I.,  of  which  Mr.  Best 
was  appointed  orderly  sergeant.  He  took  part 
in  the  battle  of  P'ort  Henry  and  next  at  Fort 
Donelson,  where,  the  captain  being  unable  for 
duty,  Mr.  Best  was  placed  in  command  of  the 
company;  at  the  siege  of  Corinth  he  still  acted 
as  captain.  After  the  capture  of  Corinth  the 
regiment  was  sent  to  Memphis,  Tenn.,  and 
thence  to  Helena,  Ark.,  where  it  encamped 
several  weeks;  thence  it  went  to  the  Yazoo 
river,  up  as  far  as  Haines’  Bluff,  where,  after 
a running  fight  of  three  days,  it  was  repulsed; 
at  Arkansas  Post  this  regiment  led  the  charge, 
and  here  Captain  Best  lost  fourteen  men  out 
of  sixty-eight  in  twenty  minutes,  but  his  com- 
pany was  the  first  to  mount  the  breastworks. 
After  the  capture  of  the  Post,  the  division 
encamped  a while  at  Helena,  and  was  then 
sent  to  raid  and  devastate  the  country,  in  order 
to  deprive  the  guerrillas  of  subsistence;  in  this 
raid,  4,000  contraband  negroes  were  taken  pos- 


P>l()(JHAPinCAL  HISTORY 


■2\4 


session  of.  Capt.  Best  also  fought  at  Grand 
Gulf,  I’ort  Gibson,  Raymond,  and  Champion 
Hills,  and  was  at  Jackson  when  Gen.  John- 
ston's train  pulled  out  in  full  view.  His  next 
engagement  was  at  Black  river,  where  took 
place  the  hardest  light  in  the  Yicksbnrg  siege; 
after  the  surrender  of  the  city,  Capt.  Best’s 
regiment  was  ordered  to  Jackson  and  Meridian 
to  destroy  shops  and  railroads,  etc. ; on  his 
return  to  \dcksburg  he  was  honorably  dis- 
charged, August  27,  1863,  with  the  rank  of 
captain.  Within  a week,  Capt.  Best  shipped 
on  board  the  United  States  steamer  Brilliant, 
and  was  appointed  paymaster's  clerk.  The 
vessel  soon  steamed  past  Fort  Henry,  and  took 
part  in  the  fight  at  Nashville,  after  which  the 
P>rilliant  was  transferred  from  the  Tennessee 
to  the  Cumberland  river,  where  Capt.  Best 
distinguished  himself  as  bearer  of  dispatches 
from  Commodore  Fitch  to  the  commander  of 
the  upper  Tennessee,  through  a country 
thronged  with  the  enemy.  He  was  later  sent 
down  the  river  to  intercept  [eff.  Davis,  and 
received  his  final  discharge  August  27,  1865. 

On  his  return  t(j  civil  life,  Ca])t.  Best  was 
married,  February  8,  1866,  to  Melissa  J.  Al- 
kire,  daughter  of  James  and  Sarah  (Cutches) 
Alkire — the  father  a farmer  of  large  means, 
then  residing  near  Columbus,  Ohio,  but  now 
in  New  Ross,  Inch  The  children  born  to  this 
happy  union  have  been  named,  in  order  of 
birth,  as  follows;  Ida  May,  Elnora,  James, 
Alice  and  hidgar.  In  1884  Capt.  Best  came 
to  Jamestown,  Boone  county,  where  he  has 
ever  since  been.  In  politics,  he  is  a stanch 
republican,  and  in  religion  he  and  wife  are  de- 
voted Methodists,  in  which  church  he  has  offi- 
ciated as  steward  and  trustee  several  years,  and 
has  long  been  snperint('ndent  of  the  Sabbath- 
school.  At  |)resent  he  is  president  of  the  Kp- 
woiih  league,  aiul  treasurer  of  the  school 
board.  He  is  past  chancellor  of  Venus  lodge. 
No.  43,  K.  of  P. , and  has  been  appointed  dele- 


gate to  the  grand  lodge;  he  is  likewise  a mem- 
ber of  Luther  lodge,  No.  227,  I.  O.  O.  F. , 
which  he  has  represented  in  the  grand  lodge; 
and  is  also  a member  of  the  Odd  Fellows’  en- 
campment; he  organized  the  Henry  Howard 
post,  G.  A.  R.,  New  Ross,  and  was  a charter 
member  thereof ; for  six  years  he  has  been  com- 
mander of  Antietam  post.  No.  162,  G.  A.  R , 
and  he  has  been  a leading  spirit  in  every  or- 
ganization with  which  he  has  ever  fraternized. 


OHN  S.  BLACK,  an  enterprising  and 
successful  farmer  of  Harrison  township, 
Boone  county,  Ind.,  came  of  English- 
Irish  stock,  and  was  born  in  Henry 
county,  Ky.,  March  11,  1831.  His  great-grand- 
father on  the  paternal  side  came  from  Ireland 
and  settled  in  Culpeper  county,  Va.  ,in  the  colon- 
ial days,  and  took  an  active  part  in  the  war  for 
the  release  of  the  colonies  from  the  tyranny 
of  British  rule,  and  the  establishment  of  the 
American  union  of  indepemlent  states.  James 
Black,  his  son,  was  born  in  Culpeper  county, 
\'a. , shortly  after  the  Revolutionary  war,  and 
and  was  reared  a farmer,  and  followed  this 
vocation  all  his  life.  He  was  married  in  Vir- 
ginia, but  at  an  early  day,  however,  contem- 
poraneously with  Daniel  Boone,  he  moved  to 
Bourbon  count\>  Ky.,  where  he  reared  a family 
and  passed  the  remainder  of  his  days,  dying  a 
devout  member  of  the  Christian  church.  Of 
his  six  children,  James,  the  father  of  jedm  S., 
our  subject,  was  born  in  Culpeper  county, \'a., 
in  1798,  and  moved  with  his  father  to  Ken- 
tucky, where  he  was  reared  on  the  home  farm 
and  educated  in  the  common  schools,  such  as 
they  were.  He  was  an  energetic  leader  in  the 
Christian  church,  and  was  an  associate  of  the 
renowned  Rt'v.  Campbell,  the  founder  of  the 
faith.  Mr,  )ames  Black  movi'd  from  Bourbon 
to  Henry  county  when  he  was  about  forty 
years  ol  age,  and  settled  on  1 40  acres  of 


OF  BOONE  COUNTY. 


215 


government  land,  to  which  he  afterward  added 
ninety  acres.  He  was  quite  intlnential  in 
both  Bourbon  and  Henry  counties,  and  died 
universally  respected. 

John  S.  Black,  the  gentleman  whose  name 
opens  this  sketch,  was  reared  a farmer  and  was 
educated  in  one  of  the  old-fashioned  log  school- 
houses  of  his  youthful  days.  He  resided  on 
the  home  farm  until  the  death  of  his  father, 
when  he  hired  out  for  a year  to  superintend 
the  farm  of  his  brother-in-law,  and  for  four 
years  following  was  engaged  in  merchandizing 
with  his  brother’s  widow  in  Trimble  county. 
In  i860  he  married  Sally,  daughter  of  William 
and  Cordelia  Foree.  The  Civil  war  now 
breaking  out,  he  joined  the  Confederate  army, 
and  fought  until  the  close  of  the  struggle.  He 
enlisted  at  Bedford,  Trimble  county,  Ky., 
September  ii,  1862,  in  company  G,  Ninth 
Kentucky  cavalry,  and  went  from  Lexington 
to  the  Cumberland  mountains,  to  intercept 
Gen.  Morgan,  of  the  Union  forces,  and  then 
fought  for  seven  days  and  nights  without  sleep- 
ing or  eating.  He  was  then  in  the  raid 
through  Tennessee  and  back  into  Kentucky, 
tearing  up  the  tracks  of  the  Louisville  and 
Nashville  railroad,  taking  10,000  prisoners  and 
reaching  within  ten  miles  of  the  city  of  Louis- 
ville; he  was  next  ordered  to  Murfreesboro; 
but  reached  that  point  too  late  for  the  fight; 
was  next  in  the  battle  at  Snow  Hill,  which  ex- 
tended in  a running  fight  to  Milton,  where 
within  forty  yards  of  the  breast  works  he  was 
shot  through  the  thigh  and  left  on  the  field, 
his  companions  running  out  of  ammunition 
He  was  made  prisoner  and  confined  four  weeks 
in  the  prison  hospital,  whence  he  was  removed 
to  Nashville,  thence  to  Louisville,  and  one 
week  later  to  Baltimore,  Md.,  where  he  was 
exchanged  the  following  week,  and  rejoined 
his  command  at  Ringgold,  Ga.  His  next 
fight  was  at  Missionary  Ridge,  where  the  first 
day  the  battle  lasted  from  early  morn  until 


four  o’clock  in  the  afternoon,  and  the  next 
day  four  hours.  At  Taylor’s  Ridge  the  strug- 
gle was  very  heavy;  Grant  charging  the  works 
four  times  without  success.  Mr.  Black  next 
saw  service  at  Atlanta,  where  he  was  a courier, 
an  office  incurring  great  risk  and  a very  great 
responsibility  as  bearer  of  dispatches.  Here 
he  succeeded  in  conveying  orders  to  burn  the 
Confederate  arsenal  and  two  long  trains  of 
railroad  cars,  to  prevent  them  from  falling 
into  the  hands  of  the  enemy.  After  the  fall  of 
Atlanta,  Mr.  Black  was  sent  with  a brigade  of 
cavalry  to  escort  Pres.  Davis  to  the  trans- 
Mississippi.  Gen.  Breckinridge,  in  command 
of  the  escort,  accompanied  Davis  from  North 
Carolina  to  Washington,  Ga.,  and  here  they 
parted. 

After  the  close  of  the  war  Mr.  Black  passed 
a year  in  Henry  county  on  a farm,  and  here 
his  wife  died,  leaving  two  children,  Sammy  G. 
and  Lizzie  H.  Mr.  Black  then  came  to  Boone 
county,  Ind.,  and  here  married,  December  2, 
1866,  Betta  Black,  widow  of  his  brother  Wil- 
liam, and  daughter  of  James  Henry  and  Nancy 
Pinnell.  Willie  J.  Black  was  a lieutenant  in 
the  Confederate  army,  was  a brave  officer  and 
beloved  by  his  men,  and  died  of  typhoid  pneu- 
monia, March  26,  1864,  at  Talledega,  Ala., 
where  he  was  buried  with  the  honors  of  war. 
To  this  union  have  been  born  four  children, 
viz.:  John  K. , a daughter;  Henry  Utz,  daugh- 
ter; Charles  and  Custis;  the  last  named  died 
at  the  age  of  two  years.  Mrs.  Nancy  Pinnell 
departed  this  life  when  her  daughter  (Mrs. 
Black)  was  quite  small,  and  the  following 
obituary  notice,  taken  from  the  Lebanon  Pio- 
neer of  April  21,  1892,  gives  a succinct  ac- 
count of  the  life  of  Mrs.  Black’s  father:  “James 
Henry  Pinnell  was  born  in  Virginia,  May  16, 
1816,  and  died  at  his  home  in  this  city  on 
Monday,  April  18,  1892.  From  Virginia  the 
deceased  moved  to  Henry  county  Ky. , here  he 
grew  to  manhood’s  estate,  and  married  a Miss 


210 


BTOGRAPIITCAL  IILSTORY 


Wilhite,  who  bore  him  five  children ; John  W. 
Pinnell,  of  Somerset,  Ky. ; K.  I.  and  James  E. 
Pinnell,  Mrs.  John  S.  Black  and  Katy,  the 
first  wife  of  onr  townsman,  Henry  C.  Ulin. 
His  first  wife  died  in  1885  and  Mr.  Pinnell 
came  to  this  county  the  following  year,  locat- 
ing in  Harrison  township.  kiere  he  married 
Mrs.  William  Higgins,  mother  of  Borton  S. 
and  Whlliam  Higgins,  and,  by  her  last  mar- 
riage, of  Julius  W.  Pinnell,  who  still  survives. 
When  Mr.  Pinnell  first  came  to  Boone  county, 
Harrison  township  was  almost  a wild  waste  of 
untillable  swamp  land.  With  that  indomita- 
ble energy  which  has  always  characterized  the 
man,  he  set  about  to  improve  it.  It  was  al- 
most a life  work,  but  he  accomplished  the 
task,  and  recently  turned  over  to  his  children 
about  800  acres  of  the  finest  farming  land  in 
Boone  county,  retaining  for  his  own  use  some 
200  acres. 

“ Mr.  Pinnell,  in  politics,  was  an  ardent  ad- 
vocate of  the  principles  of  democracy,  believ- 
ing that  those  principles  stood  for  the  greatest 
good  to  the  greatest  number  of  people.  He 
never  served  the  people  in  public  office  except 
as  trustee  of  Harrison  township.  Religiously 
he  was  a member  of  the  Christian  church  and 
supported  heartily  the  faith  of  that  denomina- 
tion. In  the  death  of  Mr.  Pinnell  the  com- 
munity loses  a good  man — a man  of  strong 
principles  and  noble  impulses — an  honest  and 
ujmight  citizen.  Mr.  Pinnell's  illness  dates 
back  to  last  Thursday,  when  he  caught  a se- 
vere cold  attending  the  funeral  of  his  little 
grandchild,  Ruth  Pinnell.  He  was  in  feeble 
condition  and  rapidly  grew  worse  until  the  end 
came,  Monday  forenoon,  at  10  o’clock.  The 
funeral  was  conducted  Wednesday  A.  M.,  at 
10  (/clock,  by  Elder  E.  L.  Eane,  after  which 
the  burial  took  place  at  Rodafer  cemetery 
[Eebanon].  On  Mr.  Pinnell’s  first  coming  to 
Boone  cemnty,  he  ])urchased  240  acres  of  wild 
land,  which  he  increased  by  his  own  efforts  to 


1,250  acres.  He  was  a most  successful  farmer, 
owing  to  his  profound  knowledge  of  practical 
agriculture,  gaining  the  respect  of  his  neigh- 
bors, not  only  for  this,  but  for  his  upright  con- 
duct in  all  his  business  transactions  and  his 
strictly  moral  walk  through  life.” 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Black  are  devoted  members 
of  the  Christian  church,  whose  interests  they 
have  always  sustained  by  every  means  in  their 
power,  financially  and  otherwise.  In  politics 
Mr.  Black  is  democratic;  he  has  filled  the  office 
of  township  trustee,  but  has  declined  to  as- 
sume the  duties  of  other  civil  offices,  having 
already  performed  his  duty  in  full  for  his  fel- 
low citizens  of  Boone  county.  His  first  pur- 
chase of  land  in  Boone  county  was  a tract  of 
120  acres,  but  now,  by  hard  work  and  the  ex- 
ercise of  the  sound  judgment  for  which  he  is 
noted,  he  owns  200  acres. 


ILEY  H.  BOHANNON,  a worthy 
resident  and  well  known  old  citizen 
of  Worth  township,  Boone  county, 
Ind.,  is  a native  of  Stokes  county, 
N.  C.,  where  his  birth  occurred  upon  the  thir- 
teith  day  of  September,  1814.  Hisfatherwas 
Elliott  Bohannon,  also  a native  of  North  Caro- 
lina, and  his  mother,  Sarah  Yates,  was  born 
in  the  same  state,  and  they  married  there  and 
reared  a family.  Subsecpiently  they  emigrated 
to  Indiana,  locating  in  the  county  of  Eranklin, 
where  they  jiassed  the  remainderof  their  days. 
The  following  are  the  names  of  their  seven 
children:  Erances,  Richard,  William,  Wiley 
IP,  Mary,  Elizabeth  and  Elliott  S. 

Wiley  H.  Bohannon  spent  the  first  seven- 
teen years  of  his  life  in  the  state  of  his  nativity 
and  about  1831  came  with  his  parents  to 
Eranklin  county,  Ind.  He  grew  to  manhood 
on  a farm,  attended,  at  intervals  during  his 
minority,  such  schools  as  the  country  afforded, 
and  has  always  devoted  his  energies  to  the 


OF  BOONE  COUNTY. 


217 


pursuit  of  agriculture.  Miss  Letty  Yates,  to 
whom  he  was  united  in  marriage  on  the  ninth 
day  of  July,  1837,  was  br.rn  January,  1815,  in 
North  Carolina,  the  daughter  of  William  and 
Martha  (Durham)  Yates,  who  came  from  the 
above  state  to  Indiana  as  early  as  the  year 
1831.  After  his  marriage,  Mr.  Bohannon 
settled  in  Franklin  county,  where  he  lived  un- 
til 1852,  in  the  spring  of  which  year  he 
changed  his  residence  to  the  county  of  Boone, 
purchasing  his  present  .farm  in  Worth  town- 
ship, where  he  has  since  made  his  home.  In 
his  chosen  calling,  Mr.  Bohannon  has  display- 
ed most  excellent  judgment,  and  he  believes 
that  agriculture  is  one  of  the  most  honorable 
as  well  as  most  satisfactory  occupations  in 
which  a man  can  engage.  His  farm  is  well 
improved,  containing  good  buildings,  and  a 
greater  part  of  his  106  acres  is  under  a success- 
ful state  of  cultivation.  Socially  he  commands 
the  esteem  of  his  fellow-citizens  or  Worth  and 
belongs  to  that  large  and  eminently  respectable 
class  of  people  whose  virtues  and  intelligence 
add  luster  to  a community.  By  his  first  mar- 
riage he  had  seven  children,  only  one  of  whom 
— James  G. — is  living  at  this  time.  Mrs.  Bo- 
hannon was  called  from  the  scenes  of  her 
earthly  trials  on  the  twenty-third  day  of  April, 
1873,  and  August  10  of  the  same  year  Mr.  Bo- 
hannon was  united  in  marriage  with  Mr§. 
Phebe  F.  Smail,  widow  of  Andrew  J.  Smail; 
to  this  marriage  were  born  five  children: 
Daniel  W.,  Thomas  W.,  Willis  H.,  Martha  J., 
and  Wilburn  R.  In  1891  Mr.  Bohannon’s 
home  was  again  visited  by  the  death  angel,  on 
November  4 of  which  year  his  wife  died. 


R.  MATTHEW  H.  BOUNELL,  the 
oldest  medical  practitioner  of  Boone 
county,  is  descended  paternally  from 
French  ancestry,  and  on  the  mother’s 
side  is  of  English  lineage.  His  grandfather 


Bounell  came  to  the  United  States  at  a period 
antedating  the  war  of  Independence,  in  which 
struggle  he  took  part,  and  settled  at  Elizabeth, 
N.  J.,  where  he  married  a Miss  Hughes,  and 
afterward  moved  to  Kentucky.  After  a resi- 
dence of  one  year  in  that  state  he  emigrated 
to  Ohio,  thence  returned  to  New  Jersey  for  the 
purpose  of  procuring  money,  and  while  on  his 
way  back  to  his  new  home  in  Ohio  was  mur- 
dered by  either  white  men  or  Indians. 

Matthew  Bounell,  father  of  the  doctor,  was 
born  in  New  Jersey,  but  went  to  Ohio  with  his 
father  when  a small  boy.  After  the  latter’s 
death  he  learned  the  blacksmith’s  trade,  which, 
however,  he  did  not  follow,  but  chose  ins+ead 
the  life  of  a farmer.  He  married  in  Butler 
county,  Ohio,  Ruth  Flover,  and  to  them  were 
born  nine  children — John,  Abigail,  Daniel, 
Amy,  Mary,  Sarah,  Matthew  H.,  Jesse  and 
Aaron.  In  October,  1828,  Matthew  Bounell 
moved  to  Clinton  county,  Ind.,  and  entered  a 
tract  of  wild  land  before  the  county  was  organ- 
ized. He  was  one  of  the  original  pioneers  of 
Clinton,  when  there  were  but  five  white  fami- 
lies in  the  county,  namely:  John  Douglass, 
William  Clark,  David  Kilgore,  David  Young 
and  a Mr.  Kirk.  The  country  at  that  time  was 
a primitive  wilderness,  Indians  were  numerous 
and  the  forests  abounded  in  wild  game.  The 
early  settlers  had  to  depend  largely  for  meat 
on  wild  turkey,  deer,  prairie  chickens  and  wild 
hogs,  while  the  nearest  market  was  Lafayette, 
twenty-five  miles  away.  Mr.  Bounell  entered 
nine  lots  of  eighty  acres  each,  and  became  a 
substantial  farmer,  with  his  residence  on 
“Twelve  Mile  Prairie.”  He  and  his  wife  were 
members  of  the  Methodist  church,  and  it  was 
at  his  house,  in  an  early  day,  services  and 
quarterly  meetings  were  held.  The  noted  Meth- 
odist itinerant  divines  often  preached  in  Mr. 
Bounell’s  residence. 

Mr.  Bounell  was  a soldier  in  the  war  of 
1812.  He  was  one  of  the  founders  and  organ- 


B I O G R A P ri I C A L I T r STO R Y 


L>IS 

izers  of  ('lint on  county,  and  at  his  house, 
which  was  of  hewed  lo"s  two  stories  hij^h,  the 
first  political  convention  was  held  to  nominate 
county  officers.  lie  was  a hard-working,  pru- 
dent, man,  universally  respected  for  his  integ- 
rity, and  died  in  1863',  aged  seventy-seven 
years.  His  wife  lived  to  he  eighty-three  years 
old,  and  like  her  husband  was  a true  type  of 
the  pioneer  of  sixty  years  ago. 

i)r.  Matthew  H.  Bounell  was  bom  on  a 
farm  in  Bntler  county,  Ohio,  November  12, 
1822,  and  was  but  six  years  of  age  when 
brought  by  his  parents  to  Indiana.  The  jour- 
ney to  the  new  home  in  the  wilds  of  Clinton 
county  was  made  with  a large  wagon  drawn  by 
four  yoke  of  oxen,  and  a small  two-horse  wagon 
and  it  is  a fact  worthy  of  note  that  but  two 
houses  were  passed  by  the  little  company  after 
leaving  Indianapolis  until  they  reached  the 
log  cabin  which  Mr.  Bounell  had  erected  the 
previous  siiring.  The  doctor  well  remembers 
the  early  pioneer  settlers  and  the-  times  in 
which  they  lived,  and  his  reminiscences  of  the 
pioneer  period  are  numerous  and  very  interest- 
ing. The  doctor’s  early  education  was  ac- 
cpiired  in  the  old-fashioned  log  school-house; 
later  he  attended  school  at  Frankfort  for  a 
limited  period  and  for  one  year  pursued  his 
studies  at  .\sbury  university,  Greencastle,  Ind. 
Having  decided  to  adopt  the  medical  profession 
for  his  life  work,  the  doctor,  after  some  pre- 
liminary study,  entered,  in  1846,  the  Rush 
Medical  college,  Chicago,  and  in  1847  em- 
barked upon  his  ])rofessional  career  at  Leba- 
non, Ind.,  where  in  due  season  he  built  uji  a 
large  practice,  which,  owing  to  the  poverty  of 
the  majority  of  the  jteoide,  was  not  very  re- 
numerative.  In  1851  he  located  at  Younts- 
\'ilk‘,  Montgomery  county,  where  he  practiced  1 
snccessfnlly  for  ten  years,  and  in  the  mean- 
time, 1836,  he  again  entered  Kush  Medical  | 
college,  from  which  he  was  graduated  the  fol-  | 
lowing  year.  In  1861  he  retui  iied  to  Lebanon  | 


and  resumed  the  practice,  and  was  thus  en- 
gaged until  1863,  at  which  time  he  raised 
company  G,  One-Hundred  and  Sixteenth  In- 
diana infantry,  being  elected  and  commission- 
ed captain  when  the  company  was  organized. 
Later  he  was  made  major-surgeon  of  the  regi- 
ment, and  for  some  time  acted  as  post-surgeon 
at  Tazewell,  Tenn.  ; and  was  also  for  a limited 
period  surgeon  of  the  brigade.  He  acted  as 
surgeon  at  the  battles  of  Blue  Springs  and 
Walker’s  Ford,  and  on  returnig  home  again 
resumed  the  practice  at  Lebanon,  whicli  was 
continued  then  very  successfully  until  1872, 
when  he  moved  to  his  present  farm  of  440 
acres,  not  far  from  the  county  seat.  Dr. 
Bounell  still  continues  in  active  practice,  and 
his  professional  services  are  in  great  demand 
throughout  Boone  and  counties  adjoining.  He 
has  been  an  enthusiastic  student  of  his  profes- 
sion, keeps  fully  abreast  of  the  times  and  is  a 
patron  and  deep  reader  of  the  leading  medical 
journals  of  the  day  of  both  Europe  and  the 
United  States,  possessing  a valuable  and  exten- 
sive library,  collected  with  great  care  during 
his  long  practice  of  forty-seven  years. 

Dr.  Bounell  married  in  September,  1844, 
Mary  Louisa  Kilgore,  daughter  of  David 
and  Elizabeth  (Clark)  Kilgore — the  father  of 
Mrs.  Bounell  being  one  of  the  early  pioneers 
of  Clinton  county,  Ind.  Mrs.  Bounell  died  in 
the  spring  of  1862,  leaving  two  children — 
Thomas  A.,  a practicing  physician  for  twenty- 
two  years  at  New  Brunswick,  Boone  county, 
and  India  J. , at  home.  In  i 863  the  doctor  was 
united  in  marriage  to  Elizabeth  Heath,  daugh- 
ter of  Joshua  Heath,  a jirominent  merchant  of 
Lafayette;  and  to  this  union  have  been  born 
two  children  Dr.  Harry  M , of  Jamestown, 

I and  Dr.  h'.  Guy,  at  this  time  a medical  stu- 
dent at  Indianapolis.  Joshua  Heath  was  a 
I very  prominent  man  of  Scotch  lineage,  and 
I was  a republican,  and  a class  leader  in  the 
I Methodist  church.  At  the  time  of  his  death 


library 

OF  THE 

UNIVERSITY  OF  IkWNOK 


BENJAMIN  BOOMER. 


OF  BOONE  COUNTY. 


221 


he  was  retired  from  active  labor,  his  life  hav- 
ing been  principally  engaged  in  mercantile  pur- 
suits. The  doctor  is  a republican  and  is,  with 
his  wife,  a member  of  the  M.  E.  church.  So- 
cially  the  doctor  and  his  family  are  great  fa- 
vorites in  the  social  circle  and  are  greatl}'  re- 
specfed  by  the  community  at  large. 


ENJAMIN  BOOHER,  one  of  the 
wealthiest  residents  of  Boone  county, 
and  one  of  the  most  energetic  and 
bnsiness-like  farmers  of  his  township, 
intelligent  and  self-made,  descends  from  good 
old  Pennsylvania- German  stock,  and  is  well 
worthy  of  a prominent  place  in  this  vol- 
ume of  biographical  records.  His  grandfather, 
John  Booher,  on  coming  from  Germany  to 
America,  first  located  in  the  Keystone  state, 
and  there  married  a native  of  Ciermany,  and 
to  this  union  were  born  the  following-named 
children:  Jacob,  Mar}',  William,  Benjamin, 
John,  Frederick,  Isaac,  Henry  and  Elizabeth 
All  of  them,  imbued  with  the  stamina  of  their 
origin,  grew  to  maturity,  emigrated  to  the 
farming  lands  of  Virginia  and  Tennessee,  and 
reared  families  to  add  to  the  wealth  of  the 
nation  through  their  incessant  toil.  John 
Booher,  the  grandfather,  finally  found  a home 
in  Sidlivan  county,  Tenn.,  in  the  early  settle- 
ment of  that  section,  but  still  retained  his  farm 
in  Washington  county,  Va.  He  was  a slave 
owner,  and  a well-to-do  planter  of  consider- 
able infiuence  in  both  states.  His  son,  Jacob, 
the  lather  of  Benjamin,  our  subject,  was  born 
in  Pennsylvania,  March  3,  1777,  and  when  a 
boy  of  twelve,  in  1789,  found  himself  a resi- 
dent of  Tennessee.  He  there  learned  the 
blacksmith’s  trade,  and  there  married  Cathe- 
rine Barnett,  a daughter  of  Nicholas  and 
Barbara  Barnett,  and  to  this,  his  first  mar- 
riage, were  born  five  children,  named  Wdlliam. 

Mary,  Elizabeth,  Gurdianas  and  John  M. 

10 


This  lady  was  called  away  in  due  course  of 
time,  and  Mr.  Booher  married  her  sister,  Eli- 
zabeth Barnett,  and  to  this  union  were  born 
seven  children,  viz:  Catherine,  Jonathan, 
Jacob,  Ambrose,  Lucinda,  Benjamin  and 
Leander.  December  8,  1834,  Jacob  Booher 
left  Tennessee  and  came  to  InEana  and  set- 
tled on  160  acres  of  entered  land  in  Mont- 
gomery county,  to  which  he  subsequently  add- 
ed by  purchase  240  acres,  Imt  not  immediately 
adjoining  his  entered  property.  He  became  a 
man  of  much  wealth  aud  infiuence  and  a repre- 
sentative citizen.  He  and  wife  were  faithful 
members  of  the  Lutheran  church,  and  in  poli- 
tics he  was  a Jacksonian  democrat.  He  lived 
to  be  si.xty-eight  years  of  age,  and  died  July 
29,  1845,  on  his  farm  in  Montgomery  county, 
Ind.,  mourned  by  all  who  knew  him. 

Benjamin  Booher,  of  Lebanon,  Ind. , wdth 
whom  this  particular  sketch  has  most  to  do, 
was  born  on  his  father's  farm  in  Sullivan 
county,  Tenn.,  September  5,  1821.  He  re- 
ceived the  education  usually  accorded  in  the 
common  schools  of  his  early  days,  but  was  an 
apt  scholar  and  quick  to  learn  through  self- 
application to  the  books  that  came  within  his 
command.  He  was  thirteen  years  of  age 
when  he  came  to  Indiana  with  his  parents, 
and  here  he  was  invigorated  both  in  body  and 
mind  through  the  severe  discipline  of  farm 
labor.  He  was  married  in  Boone  county  Oc- 
tober 20,  1842,  to  Margaret,  daughter  of  Wd- 
liam  and  Margaret  (Hughes)  Beeler,  and  of 
the  twelve  children  born  to  this  genial  union 
eleven  are  still  living,  one  son  having  died 
when  an  infant.  The  order  of  birth  is:  Mar- 
tha, Margaret  E. , William  J.,  Albert  L.,  Ben- 
jamin G.,  Sylvester  C.,  Vando  L. , Adelaide 
M.,  Mark  A.,  Emma  K.,  Daniel  B.  and  Min- 
nie I". 

Benjamin  Booher  had  been  but  three  years 
married  when  he  located  in  what  is  now 
Whitestown,  Boone  county,  where  he  bought 


mOGRAPIIICAL  HISTORY 


ninety  acres  in  dense  wilderness.  He  cleared 
it  of  its  heavy  timber,  and  by  hard  work  and 
thrift  increased  his  possessions  to  1,700  acres, 
alnujst  all  of  which  is  in  one  body,  and  all  of 
this  lai'f^e  property,  with  the  exception  of  320 
acres,  he  has  "iven  to  his  children,  donating 
to  each  of  the  eleven  a comfortable-sized 
farm.  After  the  death  of  his  first  wife,  Mr. 
Booher  married  Mrs.  Mary  Smith,  who  had 
borne  the  maiden  name  of  Ross.  He  then 
moved  to  Lebanon,  and  here  i)urchased  his 
substantial  and  elegant  brick  residence,  retir- 
ing from  the  more  active  duties  of  business, 
but  still  following  his  restless  activity  in  giving 
his  attention  to  the  details  of  some  of  the  more 
important  business  of  his  life. 

Mr.  Booher  is  a man  of  remarkable  physi- 
cal strength  as  well  as  intellectual  superiority 
and  force  of  character,  and  it  is  stated  that  at 
the  age  of  hfty-five  years  he  could  easily 
spring  over  the  back  of  a high  horse.  His 
stupendous  labor  in  the  field  and  untiring 
industry  have  given  full  evidence  of  his  physi- 
cal endurance.  He  is  entirely  self-made  as  to 
pecuniary  affairs,  but  his  position  as  an  intelli- 
gent citizen  of  high  standing  before  his  fellow- 
men  has  come  through  nature  alone.  He 
takes  but  little  interest  in  politics,  and  thinks 
for  himself  on  all  matters  pertaining  to  politi- 
cal economy  and  party  affairs,  but  yet,  on  one 
occasion,  withdrew  from  his  personal  business 
to  become  trustee  of  Worth  township,  as  a 
self-imposed  duty.  He  is  a thoroughly  self- 
made  man,  and  has  won  his  present  high  posi- 
tion l)efore  his  fellow-citizens  entirely  through 
his  personal  exertions. 

Mr.  Booher’s  mother,  Llizabcth  Barnett, 
was  born  h'ebruary  3,  1779,  a daughter  of 
Nicholas  and  Barbara  Barnett;  they 
were  natives  of  Penns}'l\'ania;  and  later 
they  moved  to  West  Virginia,  where  they 
remained  until  death.  They  were  farmers  and 
very  devoted  Christian  j)eoide.  and  were  the 


parents  of  the  following  named  children; 
George,  Gatherine,  John,  Adam,  Jacob,  Peter, 
Elizabeth,  Mary,  Margaret,  Sarah  and  Nicho- 
las. The  father  of  this  family  was  a man  of 
ordinary  means,  but  much  resj)ected. 


AMSON  S.  BOWEN,  one  of  the  oldest 
and  most  honoretl  pioneers  of  Boone 
county,  Iml.,  and  now  a resident  of 
Jefferson  township,  was  born  in 
Harrison  county,  Ky.,  August  19,  1818.  His 
parents  were  Francis  and  Sarah  G.  (Turley) 
Bowen,  who  died,  respectively,  August  20, 
1866,  and  July  19,  1874.  Sarah  G. 

Bowen  was  a daughter  of  William  Turley,  a 
native  of  Virginia.  She  bore  her  husband 
twelve  children,  all  of  whom  lived  to  manhood 
and  womanhood.  Francis  Bowen  was  of 
Welsh  extraction  and  by  trade  was  a tanner. 

Samson  Bowen,  when  he  became  old 
enough  for  manual  labor,  was  hired  out  to  a 
planter  until  he  reached  the  age  of  eighteen, 
when,  in  November,  1836,  he  came  to  Boone 
county,  Ind.,  worked  industriously,  and  in 
August,  1838,  purchased  a farm  of  forty  acres; 
in  I 840  he  bought  forty  acres  additional,  and 
eventually  increased  it  to  280  acres,  on  which 
he  has  his  present  home.  Aj)ril  11,  1844, 

Mr.  Bowen  was  joined  in  wetllock  with  Miss 
Mary  .V  Burke,  daughter  of  Samuel  and 
Elizabeth  (Basket)  Burke,  who  had  born  to 
them  a family  of  thirteen  children,  of  whom 
Dr.  George  L.  Burke  of  Jamestown  is  one. 
Samuel  Burke  died  September  24,  1839,  and 
Mrs.  Elizabetb  Burke  was  called  from  earth 
h'ebruary  27,  1865  the  remains  of  both 

being  interred  in  Erskine  cemetery,  Boone 
county.  Tbo  children  born  to  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Samson  Bowen  were  named  in  order  of  birth 
as  follows;  George  E.,  born  Marcb  7,  1846; 
Elbert  G.,  born  December  7,  1847;  Armilda 
M.,  born  July  2,  1849,  and  died  September 


OF  BOONE  COUNTY. 


22B 


15,  1858;  Emily  J.,  born  January  19,  1851  — 

(lied  September  21,  1853;  James  C.,  born 
May  (j,  1853 — died  September  27,  1853,  and 
Marietta,  born  July  25,  1858.  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Bowen  are  pious  members  of  the  Christian 
church,  and  stand  deservedly  hi<;h  in  the  esti- 
mation of  the  community  in  which  they  have 
for  so  many  years  resided  and  in  the  improve- 
ment of  which  they  have  been  no  small 
factors.  In  politics,  Mr.  Bowen  has  always 
been  a faithful  adherent  of  the  democratic 
party. 


aHAKLES  H.  BOYD,  a thrifty  and 
respected  farmer  of  Harrison  town- 
ship, Boone  county,  Ind.,  springs 
from  sturdy  Irish  stock.  His  great- 
grandfather, the  first  of  the  family  to  come  to 
America,  settled  in  Maryland;  his  grandfather 
settled  in  Franklin  county,  V'a.,  and  was  a 
patriot  of  the  Mexican  war;  William  Boyd, 
the  grandfather  of  Charles  H.  was  born  on  his 
father’s  farm  in  Mar_\  land,  married  in  Frank- 
lin county,  Va. , accumulated  a handsome  es- 
tate, and  died  a highly  respected  citizen. 
Henry  Boyd,  son  of  William,  and  the  father 
of  our  subject,  was  also  a native  of  Virginia, 
in  which  state  he  passed  his  entire  life. 

Charles  H.  Bo\  d was  born  in  Carroll 
county,  Va. , May  22,  1843,  grew  u])  a poor 
boy  and  secured  his  education  at  home.  He 
lived  on  his  birthplace  until  the  commence- 
ment of  the  Civil  war,  when  he  enlisted  in 
Floyd  county,  Va. , in  March,  1862,  in  com- 
pany B,  Fifty-fourth  regiment  of  Confederate 
volunteers,  Capt.  Dobbins,  Col.  Wade  and 
Gen.  Trigg  being  his  officers.  From  Floyd 
county  the  regiment  went  to  Montgomery 
county,  Va. , to  drill  for  active  service,  and  in 
Russell  county  was  further  prepared  for  war. 
His  first  experience  on  the  field  of  battle  was 
in  a skirmish  at  Princeton,  whence  his  regi- 


ment pursued  the  Federal  cavalry  to  Kentucky. 
The  next  engagement  was  at  Richmond,  Ky., 
wdiere  sixty  Federals  and  fifteen  Confederates 
were  killed — the  fight  lasting  about  three  hours 
and  the  Federals  being  driven  l)ack.  The 
regiment  then  went  to  Camp  Dick  Robinson 
and  joined  the  army  of  Braxton  Bragg,  the 
Confederate  commander-in-chief.  Here  it  was 
engaged  in  a twenty-four-hour  fight  with  Gen. 
Buell.  Although  the  Confederates  had  the 
better  of  this  batle,  they  were  the  next  day 
ordered  to  fall  back,  and  finally  w'ent  to  Black- 
water,  near  Suffolk,  Va. , and  there  had  an- 
other battle  in  which  the  F'ederals  were 
worsted.  The  next  engagement  was  at  Straw- 
beny  plains  and  lasted  seven  hours;  the  next 
was  at  Cumberland  Gap,  from  which  the  Con- 
federates withdrew  and  went  to  Knoxville, 
Tenn.,  and  then  to  Bridgeport;  they  next  took 
part  in  the  great  battle  of  Chickamauga,  which 
lasted  four  days.  Mr.  Boyd  was  in  the  thick- 
est of  the  battle  and  his  regiment  was  in  the 
last  skirmish,  in  which  it  captured  700  prison- 
ers. The  Confederates  also  captured  eighty 
pieces  of  ordnance,  many  hundred  small  arms 
and  many  prisoners  in  addition  to  those  men- 
tioned above.  The  regiment  was  next 
marched  to  Missionary  Ridge,  and  after  fight- 
ing a day  and  a half,  Mr.  Bo}'d  was  captured 
and  taken  to  Nashville,  where  he  was  plun- 
dered of  all  his  possessions  by  convict  soldiers. 
Here,  also,  a Confederate  killed  a convict  for 
robbing  him  of  his  clothing  and  blankets. 
From  Nashville  the  Confederate  j)risoners  of 
war  were  transferred  to  Rock  Island  and  were 
detained  for  over  fifteen  months,  suffering  se- 
verely from  cold  a portion  of  the  time,  and 
often,  too,  for  want  of  full  rations.  When 
exchanged,  Mr.  Boyd  went  to  his  home  in 
Virginia,  where  he  remained  until  1866,  when 
he  came  to  Boone  county,  Ind.,  engaged  in 
farming  on  rented  land,  and  has  been  a tenant 
of  the  same  family  for  over  twenty-five  years. 


BIOGRAPHICAL  HISTORY' 


2iH 


February  28,  1869,  he  married  Miss  Luviiiia 
(Boyd)  Boyd,  and  has  had  born  to  him  the 
following  children:  Tillman  A.,  Floyd  F'.,  and 
Emma  E.  Mrs.  Susanna  Dickerson,  grand- 
mother of  Mrs.  Boyd,  when  thirteen  years  of 
age,  had  the  honor  of  meeting  George  Wash- 
ington. She  was  born  and  reared  in  Tenn- 
essee, but  was  visiting  in  Virginia  when  this 
gratifying  event  took  place.  Mr.  Boyd  has  a 
vivid  recollection  of  the  famons  Humphrey  Mar- 
shall, under  whom  he  also  fought,  and  whom 
he  describes  as  having  been  a Kentucky  gentle- 
tnan  of  fine  apjiearance.  Mr.  Boyd  is  an  active 
supporter  of  public  education,  and  has  given 
his  children  every  opportunity  he  could  for  at- 
tending the  schools  of  his  district.  He  is  pub- 
lic spirited  and  has  won  the  esteem  of  his  fel- 
low citizens  and  is  recognized  as  a gentleman 
of  integrity  and  worth;  is  the  support  of  his 
aged  mother,  seventy-nine  years  old,  belongs 
to  the  Missionary  Baptist  church  and  believes 
in  experimental  religion. 


HOMASE.  BRADSHAW,  the  popular 
druggist  of  Thorntown,  Ind.,  was  born 
near  Saxapahaw,  N.  C.,  November  27, 
1851,  a son  of  Samuel  N.  and  Ruth 
E.  (Woody)  Itradshaw.  Samuel  N.  Bradshaw 
was  a native  of  Orange  county,  N.  C.,  born 
December  20,  1824,  a son  of  James  and  Eliza- 
beth (Allen)  Bradshaw,  also  natives  of  North 
Carolina,  but  of  English  parentage.  Thomas 
Bradshaw,  the  great-grandfather  of  Thomas  K. 
Bradshaw,  was  born  in  Ireland  in  1750,  as 
near  as  can  be  ascertained,  ami  died  in  North 
Carolina  in  1834,  at  the  advanced  age  ol  eighty- 
four  years.  He  was  married  to  Eutitia  Wil- 
liams, who  lived  to  reach  the  wonderful  age  of 
one  hundred  and  ten  years.  Thomas  and 
Eutitia  Biaulshaw  weic  the  parents  of  three 
sons — William,  Thomas  and  James.  Thomas, 
the  father  of  these  three  sons,  was  a soldier  in 


the  Revolutionary  war,  and  is  supposed  to 
have  fought  Cornwallis  under  Gen.  Greene. 
James  Bradshaw,  son  of  this  Revolutionary 
hero,  Thomas,  married  Elizabeth  Allen,  and  to 
this  union  were  born  live  children,  viz. : Thomas 
Histon,  William  Nelson,  James  Logan,  Samuel 
Newton  and  Theodore  Fletcher;  of  these,  Sam- 
uel Newton  Bradshaw  married  Ruth  E.  Woody 
in  February,  1851,  and  this  happy  marriage 
was  blessed  with  two  sons  and  four  daughters, 
as  follows;  Thomas  E.,  the  subject  proper  of 
this  sketch;  Mary  E.,  Sarah  J.,  William  J., 
Margaret  N.  and  Abigail  L.  The  grandfather 
of  our  subject,  James  Bradshaw,  was  accidently 
shot  while  scpiirrel  hunting,  it  was  supposed, 
as  his  dead  body  was  found  in  the  woods;  and 
Elizabeth  Bradshaw,  his  wife,  died  in  1869, 
Both  were  members  of  the  Methodist  Episco- 
pal church.  Samuel  N.  Bradshaw,  their  fourth 
son,  and  father  of  Thomas  E.,  was  in  his  early' 
days  a school  teacher.  Of  his  children,  Mary 
E.  is  the  wife  of  W.  J.  Riddle,  a farmer  of 
North  Carolina;  Sarah  J.  is  the  wife  of  James 
D.  W'illiams,  a farmer;  William  J.  is  superin- 
tendent of  coin  ict  labor  in  eastern  North  Car- 
olina; Margaret  N.  is  the  wife  of  P.  W.  Cates, 
a carpenter  of  the  same  state,  and  Abigail  E. 
is  now  Mrs.  Crawford.  April  i,  1861,  Mrs. 
Ruth  E.  Bradshaw  was  called  away  from  earth, 
and  Samuel  N.,  in  1862,  married  Nancy  A. 
Edwards,  who  has  borne  bim  six  children. 
Samuel  N.  Bradshaw  is  a democrat,  is  (juite 
prominent  in  local  })olitics,  and  has  served  for 
many  years  as  justice  of  the  peace;  in  1865  he 
was  elected  captain  of  the  home  guards. 

Thomas  Fk  Itradshaw  remained  on  the 
parental  farm  until  twenty  years  of  age,  when 
he  came  to  I'horntown,  Ind. , engaged  in  general 
laborer  farm  work  until  1876;  then,  as  clerk 
for  James  Hanna  inadrug  store  for  a year;  then 
for  another  year,  at  various  occupations;  then  as 
clerk  for  W.  C.  Burk  for  three  \ ears;  then,  in 
company  with  Mr.  Nathaniel  Krauss,  engaged 


» / 


LIBRARY 
Of  THE 

UNIVERSITY  OF  ILtTNOI^ 


OF  BOONE  COUNTY. 


227 


in  the  drug- business  from  i88i  to  1884,  when 
Mr.  Kranss  retired,  and  liis  son  William 
assumed  his  interest  until  1886,  when  Mr. 
lUadshaw  secured  active  control  of  the  estab- 
lishment, and  now  carries  a stock  of  fresh 
druf,^s  and  all  articles  pertaining  to  a Hrst-class 
drug  store,  valued  at  $4,000.  The  marriage 
of  Mr.  Bradshaw  was  solemnized  March  17, 
1880,  with  Elizabeth  A.  Lang.-ton,  and  this 
marriage  has  been  favored  with  seven  children, 
as  follows:  A.  W.,  deceased;  Jessie  May, 
deceased;  Edith  E,  Eeo  H.,;  Thomas  L, 
and  \\hlliam  E (deceased),  twins,  and  Ken- 
neth W.  Mr.  Bradshaw  is  a republican  in  his 
politics,  and  has  served  for  the  past  two  years 
as  president  of  the  school  board,  and  is  the 
present  incumbent  of  saidofhee;  he  is  a thirty- 
second  degree  Freemason,  a member  of  the 
Mystic  Shrine,  and  master  of  the  blue  lodge; 
also  past  grand  master  in  the  I.  O.  O.  F.  and 
member  of  the  grand  lodge;  is  past  chief 
patriarch  of  the  encampment,  and  a member 
of  of  the  grand  encampment;  also,  is  a Knight 
of  Pythias;  he  likewise  was  a charter  member 
of  the  Indiana  Pharmaceutical  association, 
organized  at  Indianapolis  May  9,  1882.  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  Bradshaw  are  members  of  the 
Methodist  Episcopal  church,  and  Mr,  Brad- 
shaw has  been  a trustee  in  the  church  for  a 
number  of  years.  The  family  stand  very  high 
in  the  esteem  of  their  neighbors,  and  Mr. 
Bradshaw  is  regarded  as  one  of  the  most  sub- 
stantial business  men  of  Thorntown. 


IRAM  AEEEN  BRADSHAW,  a 
prominent  citizen  of  Clinton  town- 
ship, Boone  county,  Ind.,  and  the 
present  efficient  post-master  of  Ivliza- 
ville,  is  a native  of  Indiana,  born  in  the  coun- 
ty of  Boone,  one  mile  north  of  Lebanon,  on 
the  26th  day  of  May,  1857.  His  father,  David 
Bradshaw,  was  born  Octolier  15,  1802,  in 


Kentucky,  and  died  in  the  state  of  Arkansas  on 
the  first  day  of  Jidy,  1876.  David  Bradshaw 
was  one  of  the  early  pioneers  of  Boone  coun- 
ty, moving  to  that  part  of  Indiana  from  Ohio, 
in  company  with  his  father,  when  the  country 
was  in  a wilderness  state,  and  afterward  pur- 
chased eighty  acres  of  government  land  near 
the  town  of  Lebanon,  which  he  subsequently 
sold  and  purchased  other  lands — first  a farm 
of  eighty  acres  on  Brown’s  Wonder,  and, 
later,  a fine  piece  of  160  acres  on  Eagle  Creek 
in  the  township  of  Marion.  He  was  married 
November  12,  1835,  to  Rebecca  Sims,  daugh- 
ter of  Stephen  and  Elizabeth  Sims,  and 
reared  a family  of  eleven  children,  whose 
names  and  dates  of  birth  are  as  follows:  Eliza- 
beth A.,  August  8,  1839;  Robert  A.,  August 
19;  1841;  Minerva  C.,  August  15,  1843; 

Stephen  S.,  January  3,  1845;  MaryE.,  July 
21,  1847;  Martha  L,  A.,  January,  1849;  John 
L. , June  17,  1851;  Charlotte  L. , December 

10,  i855;'Jan&es  N.,  November  27,  1855,  and 
Hiram  A.  and’ Horace  G.,  twins.  May  26, 
1857. 

Hiram  Allen  Bradshaw  was  reared  to  agri- 
cultural pursuits  and  spent  his  youth  and  early 
manhood  on  a farm  near  Elizaville,  to  which 
part  of  the  county  he  was  taken  when  nine 
years  of  age.  Later,  he  went  to  Arkansas,  in 
which  state  he  resided  until  1877,  in  the  spring 
of  which  year  he  returned  to  Indiana  and  ac- 
cepted a position  in  the  goods  business  with 
L,  P.  Hopkins  of  Ivlizaville,  in  whose  employ 
he  continued  until  1883,  at  which  time  he  be- 
came clerk  in  the  grocery  house  of  R.  M. 
Richey  & Co. , continuing  in  the  latter  capac- 
ity for  a period  of  about  six  and  a half  years. 
In  June,  1889,  he  effected  a co-partnership  in 
the  mercantile  business  at  Elizaville  with  F. 
T.  Carr,  with  whom  he  is  still  associated,  and 
the  firm  thus  constituted  does  a large  and 
prosperous  business,,  being  one  of  the  best- 
known  establishments  of  the  kind  in  the 


228 


BIOGRAPHICAL  HISTORY 


county.  Mr.  IP'adshaw  is  an  energetic  man 
and  progressive  in  all  the  term  implies.  As  a 
linancicr  he  has  disi)layed  ability  of  a high 
order,  and  his  judgment  on  matters  of  busi- 
ness policy  is  frequently  consulted  and  seldom 
found  to  be  in  error.  Like  man}’  of  the  suc- 
cessful self-made  men  of  the  time,  Mr.  Brad- 
shaw’s early  life  was  beset  with  numerous  diffi- 
culties, not  the  least  of  which  was  the  respon- 
sibility thrown  upon  him  while  a mere  youth, 
owing  to  a serious  accident  which  rendered  his 
father  a cripple.  His  life  has  been  one  of 
great  activity’,  and  in  many’  respects  he  has 
solved  the  j-iroblem  of  success  and  is  entitled 
to  mention  in  these  pages  as  one  of  B(Jone 
county’s  most  intelligent  and  enterprising  busi- 
ness men.  Politically’  he  wields  an  inliuence 
for  the  republican  party,  and  while  not  a par- 
tisan in  the  sense  of  seeking  official  prefer- 
ment, he  has  been  complimented  with  positions 
of  honor  and  trust  at  different  times  by  his 
fellow-citizens. 

On  the  second  day  of  \fay’,  1880,  at  Eliza- 
ville,  was  solemnized  the  marriage  of  Mr.  Brad- 
shaw and  Louisa  J.  Beard — the  latter  a native 
of  Boone  county’,  where  her  birth  occurred  on 
the  5th  day  of  May,  1855.  This  union  has 
been  blessed  by  the  birth  of  the  following 
children,  namely — Adrian  E.,  born  August  29, 
1881,  died  March  4,  1882;  Addison  S.,  born 
January  4,  1882;  Nora  A.,  born  Sej)tember 
28,  1883;  Grace  B.,born  January  28,  1886; 
Noble,  born  January  10,  1889;  Kalj)!!,  boru 
March  16,  1892,  and  Alfie,  born  April  6,  1894. 
William  A.  Beard,  father  of  Mrs.  Bradshaw, 
was  born  in  Boone  county’,  fnd.,  Eebruary  22, 
1830,  and  for  a number  of  years  was  engaged 
in  the  manufacture  and  sale  c)f  lumber.  He 
married  Margaret  Payton,  whose  birth  oc- 
curred November  16,  1841,  emigrated  to  Mis- 
souri prior  to  the  late  Civil  war,  in  which  strug- 
gle he  bore  a part  iu  defense  of  the  national 
Union,  and  sub.se(|u iiitly  returned  to  Indiana, 


where  the  remaining  years  of  his  life  were 
passed,  dying  at  Elizaville  in  1874. 


a APT.  JAMES  BRAGG.— The  Ameri- 
can citizen,  following  the  ordinary 
jmrsuits  of  daily  life,  is  occupied 
principally  with  his  own  affairs  and  is 
a quiet  and  peaceable  man,  with  no  thought 
of  military  glory,  and  possessing  no  intimation 
that  he  has  within  him  the  instincts  of  a sol- 
dier. Let  the  liberties  of  the  country  become 
endangered  and  this  every-day  business  man 
is  the  first  to  spring  to  arms,  and,  often  rising 
rapidly  from  the  ranks,  will  be  found  able  to 
fill  almost  any  office.  Capt.  James  Bragg,  the 
subject  of  this  sketch,  at  the  breaking  out  of 
the  Civil  war,  was  a prominent  business  man 
of  Lebanon,  engaged  in  contracting  and  build- 
ing. Being  naturally’  patriotic  and  believing 
that  the  country  demanded  the  services  of 
every  able-bodied  man  who  could  be  spared 
from  home,  to  defend  the  Union,  he  promptly' 
enlisted,  and  by  gallant  and  meritorious  service 
rose  from  the  ranks  to  be  a captain.  He  is  a 
descendant  of  an  old  colonial  Virginia  family  of 
English  stock,  his  great-grandfather  having 
been  a soldier  in  the  Revolutionary  war. 
Moore  Bragg,  the  grandfather  of  the  caj)tain, 
was  a Virginian  who  married  Mary  York,  the 
daughter  of  a Revolutionary  soldier,  so  that 
the  captain  descended  in  two  distinct  lines 
from  Revolutionary  ancestors.  Moore  Bragg 
and  wife  w'ere  the  parents  of  live  children — 
Wilson,  Nancy,  Henderson,  William  and 
Mary.  Mr.  Bragg  was  a farmer  and  a 
tv[ucal  American  pioneer.  His  wife  lived  to 
the  great  age  of  eighty-five  years.  Whlliam 
lhagg,  the  father  of  James,  was  born  near 
Richmond,  Ky. , became  a farmer,  and  when 
young  went  to  h'ayette  county,  Ind.,  where 
he  married  I'rances  ('ook,  daughter  of  a 
Scotchman  who  was  killed  iu  the  war  of  1812, 


OF  BOONE  COUNTY. 


229 


and  they  were  the  parents  of  tliree  children  — 
John  W.,  James  and  Henderson. 

About  1S39,  Mr.  Bragg,  the  father  of  the 
captain  moved  to  Boone  county,  where  he 
settled  on  Eagle  creek  and  there  passed  nearly 
the  remainder  of  his  life.  He  was  a substan- 
tial farmer  and  honorable  citizen.  In  political 
opini'^ns  he  was  an  old-line  whig  and  one  of 
the  original  republicans  of  Boone  county,  and 
a strong  Union  man  during  tb.e  war,  in  which 
he  had  two  sons — John  and  James.  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Bragg  were  ardent  supporters  of  the 
Methodist  church,  of  which  they  were  mem- 
bers, and  he  contributed  liberally  toward  build- 
ing the  first  frame  Methodist  church  in  Boone 
county,  which  was  on  his  farm  and  known  as 
Sugar  Grove  church,  and  in  which  he  held  the 
offices  of  class  leader  and  steward.  His  home 
was  the  home  of  the  itinerant  Methodist  preacher 
of  those  early  times. 

Capt.  Bragg  was  born  in  Fayette  county, 
Ind.,  February  10,  1830,  and  was  about  nine 
years  of  age  when  he  came  with  his  parents  to 
Boone  county,  Ind.,  in  1839.  He  can  well 
remember  the  scenes  attending  the  popular 
demonstrations  of  the  great  political  rally  of 
1840,  which  was  held  on  the  famous  battle 
field  of  Tippecanoe,  and  the  processions  pass- 
ing his  father’s  biOuse.  He  received  a limited 
pioneer  education  in  an  old  log  cabin  school- 
house  and  attended  the  Febanon  seminary  in 
1849.  He  learned  the  brick-maker’s  business 
and  became  a contractor.  The  marriage  of 
Capt.  Bragg  took  place  Ai)ril  24,  1851,  to 
Margaret  J.,  who  was  born  Ajiril  27,  1832,  and 
is  a daughter  of  Jacob  and  Sarah  (WittJ  Ker- 
nodle.  Jacob  Kernodle  was  a prominent  pio- 
neer of  Boone  county,  having  settled  in  Center 
township,  one  and  one-fourth  miles  east  of 
Febanon.  He  became  wealthy  and  owned  a 
large  tract  of  land  in  Boone  county.  He  built 
the  first  brick  house  in  the  county  for  his  resi- 
dence, which  is  still  standing.  He  was  a 


model  farmer  and  successful  in  his  undertak- 
ings. He  was  very  liberal  in  his  opinions,  and 
a Universalist  in  religion.  Politically  he  voted 
the  old  whig  ticket.  Mr.  Kernodle  reared  a 
family  of  ten  children — Elizabeth,  Annie, 
George,  John,  Harriet,  David,  Sarah,  Sophro- 
nia,  Jacob  and  Margaret  J. 

After  marriage,  Capt.  and  Mrs.  Bragg  lo- 
cated at  Noblesville,  Ind.,  and  then  returned 
to  Febanon.  Their  union  was  blessed  with 
one  son,  Joseph  G.,  November  ii,  1855 — now 
of  Petoskey,  Mich.,  where  he  located  in  1888, 
and  has  prospered  since.  Up  to  the  war,  Capt. 
Bragg  was  a contractor  and  builder  in  Leba- 
non and  the  surrounding  country,  and  erected 
many  of  the  older  buildings.  He  was  one  of 
the  contractors  who  built  the  present  court 
house  at  Lebanon,  in  1856-7.  He  also  built 
several  business  houses,  still  standing.  He 
was  prospering  in  business  when  the  Civil  war 
engaged  his  attention,  and  he  enlisted  at  Leb- 
anon, September  15,  1 861 , and  was  elected  and 
commissioned  second  lieutenant,  October  8, 
1861,  in  company  F,  P'ortieth  regiment,  Indi- 
ana volunteer  infantry.  He  was  commissioned 
first  lieutenant  April  i,  1862.  He  was  in  the 
battle  of  Shilob,  Tenn.,  April  6 and  7,  1862, 
siege  of  Corinth  April  and  May,  1862,  which 
occupied  nearly  two  months,  and  in  which  the 
I'ortieth  was  almost  continually  under  fire. 

He  was  in  Buell’s  campaign  against  Bragg, 
in  which  there  were  many  skirmishes  and  much 
hard  marching,  and, supplies  being  cut  off,  much 
suffering.  He  was  in  the  battle  of  Perryville, 
Ky.,  Octobers,  1862,  when  Capt.  Bragg’s  com- 
pany attacked  the  rebel  column,  leaving  their 
regiment  on  the  double-quick.  He  was  also 
in  skirmishes  at  Crab  Orchard,  Ky. , and  Sil- 
ver Springs  near  Nashville,  Tenn.,  and  took 
part  in  the  bloody  battle  of  Stone  River  and  a 
campaign  against  Tullahoma  and  Chattanooga. 
He  participated  in  the  battle  of  Mission  Ridge, 
was  in  Sherman’s  Atlanta  campaign,  and  was 


BIOGRAPHICAL  HISTORY 


2:10 


engaged  in  the  battles  of  Dalton,  New  Hope 
Church,  Rocky  Faced  Ridge,  Resaca,  Ring- 
gokl,  Dallas,  Pine  Mountain,  Calhoun,  Burnt 
Hickory,  Kenesavv  Mountain,  Peach  Tree 
Creek,  Jonesboro,  ami  was  present  at  the  sur- 
render of  Atlanta,  Ga.  After  the  Atlanta 
campaign  the  P'ortieth  returned  with  “Paji 
Thomas”  to  Chattanooga,  thence  to  Athens, 
Ala.,  and  Columhus,  Tenn.  They  fell  hack 
with  Thomas  to  SjM'ing  Hill,  where  a hard  bat- 
tle was  fought.  They  were  then  in  the  battle 
of  P'ranklin,  Tenm,  November  30,  i H64,  and 
the  battle  of  Nashville,  Tenm,  December  15- 
16,  1864.  They  then  crossed  the  Gulf  of 

Me.xico  in  July,  1865,  and  w'ere  mustered  out 
at  Texarkana,  Texas,  December  21,  1865,  and 
honorably  discharged  at  Indianapolis  Januaiy 
23,  1866. 

Capt.  Bragg  served  from  September  15, 
1861,  to  January  23,  1866,  nearly  four  and 
one-lialf  years.  Beside  the  above  battles 
he  was  in  many  skirmishes,  that  earlier  in  the 
war  would  be  called  battles  notably,  and  was 
severly  injured  at  the  battle  of  Resaca,  Ga., 
by  the  concussion  of  a shell  May  14,  1864. 
He  was  slightly  injured  in  his  right  arm,  the 
sash  supporting  his  overcoat  being  cut  in  two 
by  a bidlet  at  the  battle  of  Franklin.  C'ajit. 
Bragg  was  an  active,  gallant  and  efficient  offi- 
cer, and  was  always  promjtt,  fearless  and 
cheerful  in  the  discharge  of  his  duty.  He  has 
a hospital  record  of  but  thirteen  days,  which 
occurred  after  the  battle  of  Atlanta.  He  was 
never  a ])risoner  and  was  in  all  the  battles  of 
his  regiment.  When  he  was  first  lieutenant, 
he  was  frequently  in  command  of  his  comj)any 
in  the  absence  of  his  su])t'rior  officer.  The 
first  sword  carried  by  him  in  the  war  was 
presented  to  Ih'n  hy  his  brother-in-law,  judge 
Beach,  now  of  Providence,  R.  I.,  and  who 
married  Sarah.  Rernodle,  his  wife’s  sister.  His 
company  ju'esented  him  with  another  sword  at 
Nashville,  Tenm,  which  he  still  retains  as  a 


precious  relic  of  the  war.  When  the  captain 
enlisted  he  was  of  slender  build  and  he  has 
been  obliged  to  greatly  lengthen  his  sword 
belt  in  order  to  wear  it  at  the  reunions  of  his 
regiment,  and  other  military  occasions.  The 
captain  has  been  a powerful  man  throughout 
his  life,  possessing  an  iron  constitution  and 
being  fully  capable  of  enduring  the  hardships 
of  army  life.  After  the  war  he  returned  to 
Lebamm  and  attempted  to  engage  in  his  usual 
business,  but  his  constitution  had  been  greatly 
shattered  by  the  exposure  of  army  life,  his 
nerv'^us  system  being  severely  impaired  by  the 
effects  of  the  shell  concussion,  and  he  has, 
while  engaged  in  various  kinds  of  business, 
not  been  very  active  and  is  now  retired. 
Capt.  Bragg  is  in  prosperous  circumstances 
and  owns  valuable  real  estate  in  Lebanon,  on 
whose  streets  his  dignified  form  is  frequently 
seen.  Fraternally  he  was  one  of  the  original 
Odd  Fellows  of  Lebanon,  but  is  now  non- 
affiliating, also  a charter  member  of  the  Rich 
Mountain  post,  G.  A.  R.  He  was  a Douglas 
or  war  democrat,  and  has  never  deviated  from 
the  principles  promulgated  by  Andrew  Jack- 
son. 


HARLILS  A.  BRATTON  is  one  of 
the  Boone  county  veterans  of  the 
Civil  war  and  a respected  farmer  of 
Jefferson  township.  He  decends  from 
an  old  colonial  Virginia  family.  His  grand- 
father, Lewis  Bratton,  was  a soldier  in  the 
war  of  the  Revolution  and  died  in  Virginia. 
John  Bratton,  a son  of  Lewis  Bratton  and 
father  of  our  subject,  was  born  in  Bath  county, 
Virginia,  and  married  there  Polly  Berry,  and 
a large  family  of  eleven  children  resulted  from 
this  union,  all  of  whom  are  now  living  except 
two  The\' are  as  follows — James,  Becky  L., 
joint,  Mtirgarct,  Robert,  Nancy  J.,  Mary, 
y\d;dine,  William,  Charles  A.  and  Samuel,  all 


OF  BOONE  COUNTY. 


281 


born  in  \’irginia  except  Samuel,  who  was  born 
in  Indiana,  Montf^omery  county,  where  the 
family  moved  in  the  fall  of  ICS39,  when  our 
subject  was  but  an  infant  of  six  months. 
Here  Mr.  Bratton  cleared  up  a f^ood  farm  and 
passed  all  the  remainder  of  his  days,  reachinj^ 
the  age  of  seventy-two  years,  and  died  in 
February,  1866.  He  was  a member  of  the 
Presbyterian  church,  and  an  old-time  whig  in 
politics  until  the  formation  of  the  republican 
party,  after  which  he  was  an  adherent  to  that 
party.  He  was  a substantial  farmer,  respected 
by  all.  He  had  two  sons  in  the  Civil  war — 
Charles  and  Samuel — both  in  the  same  com- 
pany and  regiment.  Samuel  was  in  Missouri 
and  forced  to  join  the  Confederate  army,  but 
deserted  at  the  battle  of  Pea  Ridge  and  joined 
the  Union  troops,  serving  until  the  close  of 
the  war,  and  was  in  several  battles. 

Charles  A.  Bratton,  our  subject,  was  born 
in  Bath  county,  Virginia,  P'ebruary  4,  1839, 
and  was  brought  to  Indiana  when  six  months 
of  age.  He  received  a common  education  and 
was  reared  a farmer.  At  the  age  of  twenty- 
one  he  enlisted,  September  i,  1861,  at  Lafay- 
ette, Ind.,  in  company  B,  Tenth  regiment 
Indiana  volunteer  infantry,  for  three  years  or 
during  the  war,  and  was  honorably  discharged 
at  Evansville,  Ind.,  in  July,  1862.  He  was  in 
the  battle  of  Mill  Spring  and  was  struck  by  a 
spent  ball  but  not  injured.  He  was  on  several 
hard  marches  to  get  to  the  battle  of  Shiloh, 
his  company  and  regiment  marching  three  days 
and  nights  without  rest,  and  arrived  one-half 
day  too  late  for  the  battle.  Mr.  Bratton  suf- 
fered greatly  from  exposure  and  fatigue  and 
was  taken  sick  with  rheumatism  and  chronic 
diarrhcea  in  March,  1862.  He  was  taken  to  a 
hospital  at  Evansville,  but  was  found  to  be  in 
such  a bad  condition  that  he  was  immediately 
sent  home.  He  had  previously  been  sick  in 
camp  four  weeks.  He  did  not  recover  suffi- 
ciently to  work  for  two  years.  His  wife. 


Dorothy  A.,  to  whom  he  was  married  in  1864, 
is  the  daughter  of  Thomas  and  Ann  fHill) 
Burris.  Mr.  Burris  was  an  old  settler  and  pio- 
neer of  Boone  county.  He  made  a good  home 
and  reared  eight  children:  Albert,  Catherine, 
Mary,  Alice  and  Dorothy,  John,  Robert  and 
Wesley.  IMr.  Burris  lived  to  be  about  seven- 
ty-five years  of  age.  In  political  opinions  he 
was  a republican  and  had  three  sons  in  the 
Civil  war — John,  Robert  and  Wesley — all  in 
an  Indiana  regiment.  Robert  and  Wesley 
were  in  several  battles.  Mr.  Burris  was  a re- 
spected member  of  the  Presbyterian  church. 

After  marriage  Mr.  Bratton  and  wife  set- 
tled down  to  farm  life  in  Boone  county  and 
bought  his  present  farm  of  forty  acres  of  good 
land,  and  their  family  fireside  was  made  com- 
plete by  the  birth  of  six  children — Martin  S., 
Nora  M.,  Alonzo,  Cden,  Homer  and  Ella.  Mr. 
Bratton  is  as  steadfast  in  his  political  principles 
now,  as  when,  in  his  youth,  he  offered  himself 
to  his  country  in  her  time  of  need  and  cheer- 
fully and  bravely  faced  rebel  bullets,  and  un- 
complainingly endured  the  hardships  and  ex- 
posure of  army  life,  and  votes  the  straight  re- 
publican ticket.  Mr.  Bratton  receives  a pen- 
sion of  seventeen  dollars  per  month.  He  and 
wife  are  members  of  the  Presbyterian  church. 
Mr.  Bratton’s  constitution  was  badly  shat- 
tered by  exposure,  especiall}'  in  the  hard  march 
to  the  field  of  Shiloh,  and  since  the  war  has 
been  much  enfeebled.  He  stands  deservedly 
high  among  his  neighbors  and  friends  as  a good 
citizen  and  an  honest  man. 


OHN  M.  BREEDLOVE.— Among  the 
reptesentative  citizens  of  Eagle  town- 
ship who  have  successfully  overcome 
opposing  ciivumstances  and  acquired 
for  themselves  a financial  standing  in  the  com- 
munity, the  gentleman  whose  name  introduces 
this  biography  is  deserving  of  special  mention. 


1 U ( )G  R A PI  I IC  A L III  STO  R Y 


2:52 


John  M.  Ih'eedlove's  ancestors  came  originally 
from  Scotland,  and  his  jiarents,  David  and 
Maria  (McKin/ie)  Dreedlove,  natives  respect- 
ively of  \’irginia  and  Ohio,  were  married  in 
the  latter  state,  w'here  they  resided  for  a num- 
ber of  years,  Mrs.  Dreedhwe  dying  about  the 
year  1830.  Sul)se(]uently  David  Dreedlove 
married  Amanda  Strain,  by  whom  he  had  eight 
children,  and  by  his  first  wife  he  had  a family 
consisting  of  the  same  number — sixteen  in  all. 

John  M.  Dreedlove  was  born  in  Ross 
county,  Ohio,  January  20,  1820,  received  his 
educational  training  in  the  old  log  school- 
house,  in  wdiich  he  acquired  a fair  knowledge 
of  the  English  bra'  dies,  and  w'as  reared  to 
agricultural  pursuits  on  his  father's  farm.  He  j 
has  always  been  a farmer,  and  began  life  upon  I 
his  OW'D  rcsjionsibility  in  his  native  county  and 
state,  wdiere,  in  the  year  1848,  he  was  united 
in  marriage  to  Miss  Ruth  Anderson,  daughter  j 
of  Samuel  Anderson,  Es(].,  a union  w’hich  was 
terminated  by  the  death  of  Mrs.  Breedlove 
about  the  year  1865.  This  marriage  w'as  wdth- 
out  issue,  and  subsequently  Mr.  Breedlove 
married  his  present  wife,  Mar\'  Cox,  who  has 
borne  him  two  children-- David  C.  and  John 
C.  Mr.  Breedlove  remained  in  Ross  county, 
Ohio,  until  about  1868,  at  which  time,  for  the 
purpose  of  bettering  his  condition  financially, 
he  disposed  of  his  interests  there  and  emigrated 
to  Boone  county,  Ind.,  locating  in  Ivagle  towm- 
shi]),  w'here  he  purchased  real  estate,  upon 
which  he  has  since  resided.  In  the  accumula- 
tion of  lands  Mr.  Breedlove  has  been  espec- 
ially fortunate,  his  holdings  at  the  ju’esent 
time  representing  800  acres  in  Boone  county 
and  over  246  acres  in  Ross  county,  Ohio,  both 
of  wdnch  tracts  are  highly  improved  and  very 
valuable.  Mr.  Breedlove  is  a self-madc'  man, 
and  his  judgment  in  business  affairs,  particu- 
larly in  those  pertaining  to  real  estate,  is  fre- 
quently consulted  and  seldom  found  to  be  at 
fault.  1 le  has  met  w'itb  success  such  as  few 


agriculturists  attain,  and  no  one  in  the  com- 
munity where  he  resides  is  more  highly  honored 
by  the  general  public.  Although  having  passed 
the  allotted  three-score  and  ten  years,  he  still 
possesses  in  a marked  degree  his  faculties, 
both  physical  and  mental,  and  bids  fair  to 
live  many  years  longer  to  a serene  and  happy 
old  age.  In  matters  political  betakes  a lively 
interest,  and  for  a number  of  years  has  been 
a supporter  of  the  republican  party,  though 
never  a partisan  in  the  sense  of  seeking  official 
position. 


APT.  JOHN  AEEISON  BROWN,  one 
of  the  honored  citizens'  of  Boone 
county,  Ind.,  is  of  that  stanch  race  of 
men  called  Scotch  Presbyterian  Cove- 
nanters. Archibald  Brown,  the  grandfather 
of  our  subject,  was  born  in  county  Connaught, 
and  there  married  Jane  Earris,  and  directly 
after  marriage  they  came  to  America  with  his 
two  brothers.  Mr.  Brown  settled  in  York 
district,  S.  C.,  one  of  the  brothers  settling  in 
the  same  district,  and  the  other  in  Tennessee. 
A son  of  the  latter  was  a member  of  congress 
before  the  war.  Archibald  Brown  moved  to 
Bourbon  county,  Ry.,  in  1805,  and  took  up 
government  land,  ami  after  about  fifteen  years 
he  sold  out  and  moved  to  Nicholas  county, 
Ry.,  where  he  became  the  owner  of  a good 
farm  of  160  acres.  During  the  war  he  was 
loyal  to  the  government,  and  several  of  his 
grandsons  fought  for  the  Union.  He  and  wife 
w'crc  the  parents  of  the  following  children — 
William,  deceased,  agml  thirty;  Milton,  de- 
ceasc'd,  aged  cighty-two;  Danville,  deceased, 
aged  eighty-three;  John,  deceased,  aged  twenty- 
one;  Charles,  deceased,  aged  seventeen  years. 

Mr.  Brown  lived  to  be  ninety-six  years  of 
age  and  died  on  his  farm  about  the  close  of 
the  war.  Lanville  Ale.xander  Brown,  his  son 


OF  BOONE  COUNTY. 


and  father  of  our  subject,  was  born  in  York 
district,  South  Carolina,  Novetnber  2,  1800. 
He  was  reared  a farmer  and  received  the  com- 
mon education  of  bis  day.  He  was  taken  by 
his  parents  to  Kentucky  in  1806  and  to 
J^ourbon  county,  Ky. , when  about  twenty-two 
years  of  age.  He  had  previously  married  in 
Montgomery  county,  Ky.,  Margaret,  daughter 
of  John  and  Ruth  (Ralston)  Allison,  in  1822. 
John  Allison  was  a Virginian,  a soldier  in  the 
war  of  the  Revolution  and  in  the  battle  of 
King’s  Mountain.  He  was  of  English  descent 
and  was  a prominent  farmer  of  Montgomery 
county.  He  afterward  moved  to  Nicholas 
county,  Ky. , and  bought  a farm  on  which 
stood  a brick  house — one  of  the  first  in  that 
part  of  the  state — of  David  Caldwell,  a rela- 
tive of  the  venerable  pioneer — David  A. 
Caldwell  of  this  county.  Mr.  Allison  died 
aged  seventy-seven  years.  He  was  a devout 
Presbyterian,  a man  of  e.xcellent  character  and 
highly  respected.  He  had  but  one  wife,  who 
was  the  mother  of  James,  John,  Andrew, 
Anna,  Margaret,  Mariah,  Elizabeth,  Mary, 
Nancy  and  Eleanor.  After  marriage,  Mr. 
Brown  settled  in  Nicholas  county,  Ky.,  on 
land  and  became  a substantial  farmer.  In 
1846  he  moved  to  Bath  county,  where  he 
gained  wealth,  owning  about  400  acres  of 
land.  Like  his  father,  he  was  opposed  to 
slavery,  being  a “Henry  Clay  Emancipa- 
tionist.” In  his  later  life  he  placed  his  money 
at  interest,  having  loaned  $40,000  at  one  time. 
His  first  wife  died  in  Nicholas  county,  Ky. , 
about  1725.  She  was  the  mother  of  two 
children — John  A.  and  Nancy  J.  Mr.  Brown 
re-married  in  Nicholas  county,  Ky. , about 
June  15,  1830,  Elizabeth  Hudelson.  To  Mr. 
Brown  and  his  second  wife  were  born  nine 
children — Margaret,  Almira,  William,  Archi- 
bald, James,  Charles,  Mary,  Harriet  and 
Angy.  Mr.  Brown  lived  to  be  eighty-three 
years  of  age  and  died  in  Bath  county,  Ky. , 


288 


June  25,  1883,  at  Sharpsburg.  He  had 

accumulated,  by  his  own  efforts,  about  $90,000 
and  left  his  children  a handsome  estate  of 
about  $8,000  each.  He  was  uncompromising 
in  his  loyalty  to  the  Union  and  had  three  sons 
in  the  Civil  war — Capt.  John  A.,  our  subject, 
William  H.,  who  was  in  a Kentucky  infantry 
regiment,  James,  who  served  in  a Kentucky 
cavalry  regiment,  and  was  in  many  battles. 

John  Allison  Brown,  our  subject,  was  born 
January  15,  1823,  in  Nicholas  county,  Ky. , 
received  a common  English  education  and  was 
brought  up  a farmer.  He  married  in  Bath 
county,  Ky. , September  i,  1846,  Mary  Jane, 
daughter  of  James  and  Nancy  (Ratliff)  Moffett; 
the  latter  born  March  10,  1791,  died  February 
22,  1864.  James  Moffett  was  born  October  i, 
1787.  He  was  born  in  Kentucky,  to  which 
state  his  father  came  from  Virginia,  and  was 
here  known  as  a pioneer.  Mr.  Moffett  was  a 
substantial  farmer;  also  followed  school  teach- 
ing in  his  early  days.  He  accumulated  during 
his  life  a handsome  property,  but,  like  the 
Browns,  was  faithful  to  the  Union  cause.  He 
was  an  elder  in  the  Presbyterian  church  for 
fifty  years  and  was  noted  for  his  religious  char- 
acter. To  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Moffett  were  born 
the  following  children:  William,  Caroline, 
Henry,  Harriet,  Philadelphia,  James,  Coleman 
and  Thomas. 

John  A.  Brown,  our  subject,  settled  after 
marriage  in  Bath  county,  Ky.,  on  a farm  where 
he  remained  some  sixteen  years.  In  1861  Mr. 
Brown  was  sent  to  Frankfort  by  his  Union 
neighbors  for  troops  to  protect  them.  Acting 
Governor  Robinson  told  him  that  he  had  no 
soldiers,  but  that  if  he  would  raise  a company 
of  soldiers  he  would  furnish  one  hundred  mus- 
kets and  ammunition  and  they  could  protect 
themselves.  The  muskets  were  forwarded  and 
Capt.  Brown  and  others  raised  about  one  hun- 
dred men  in  his  county  for  home  guard  service, 
and  shouldered  his  musket  himself  in  his  com- 


2:54 


lUOGRAPIIICAL  HISTORY 


])aiiy,  which  kept  the  peace  for  a long  time  in 
this  vicinity.  In  the  sninmer  of  1862,  Capt. 
Hrown  raised  a comjiany  in  Hath  and  Morgan 
comities,  Ky.,  and  commanded  his  company 
from  May  to  Sejitember,  1862.  They  were  in 
battle  at  Cythiana,  Ky.,  in  Angnst,  1862, 
with  the  rebel  Gen.  John  Morgan,  and  the 
whole  command  was  captured  Morgan  put 
400  prisoners,  among  them  Capt.  Hrown,  in  a 
court  house  at  Cythiana,  and  they  were  so 
crowded  they  were  obliged  to  stand  all  night, 
and,  as  the  heat  was  very  intense,  great  suffer- 
ing was  endured.  In  the  morning  they  were 
marched  si.\  miles  into  the  country  and  com- 
niamled  to  disperse  to  their  homes.  Capt. 
Hrown,  from  this  exposure,  was  stricken  with 
pneumonia  and  lay  sick  at  an  hotel  at  Fal- 
mouth, Ky.,  two  weeks,  narrowly  escajiing 
death.  He  returned  home  and  has  never  seen 
a well  day  since.  He  never  received  a dollar 
for  his  services,  and  lost  two  good  horses  in 
this  campaign. 

Heing  disabled  from  acting  longer  as  a sol- 
dier, and  his  Union  sentiments  being  well 
known,  he  was  forced  to  leave  Kentucky,  and 
in  March,  1863,  he  went  to  Pntnam  county, 
Ind.,  where  he  settled  on  a farm  of  220  acres, 
aliout  twelve  miles  north  of  Grecncastle,  on 
the  New  Alliany  road,  where  Mr.  Hrown  has 
been  very  successful  in  his  farming  and  ac- 
cumulated a goodly  property.  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Hrown  are  the  parents  of  ten  children;  James 
C.  ; Lanville,  deceased,  aged  two  and  one-half 
years;  Henry;  Alice  C.  ; Cordelia  F.  ; Nancy 
M.  ; Lanville  A.  and  Elizabeth  (twins),  Eliza- 
beth died  young;  Mary  E.  and  Harriet  E. , all 
born  in  Hath  county,  Ky. , except  Harriet  L., 
who  was  born  in  Hutnam  comity,  fnd 

Mr.  Hrown  came  to  Hoone  comity,  Ind., 
Oct.  6,  1881,  and  settled  in  Lebanon,  and  is 
now  retired  from  active  life.  Hoth  he  and 
wife  are  devout  membc'rs  of  the  Hresbyteriau 
church,  in  which  he  has  been  a deacon  for 


many  years.  Mr.  Hrown  lived  in  the  days 
when  the  difference  between  a democrat  and  a 
republican  was  as  wide  as  the  poles,  and  he 
saw  enough  during  the  Civil  war  to  make  him 
a life-long  republican.  He  owned  a few  slaves 
in  Kentuck}’,  but  when  it  came  to  the  issue 
whether  he  should  give  up  his  slaves  or  his 
government,  he  promptly  decided  in  favor  of 
his  country.  Mr.  Hrown  is  a very  respected 
citizen  of  Lebanon  and  was  one  of  the  city 
councilmen.  Fraternally  he  is  a Mason,  a 
member  of  Hoone  lodge,  M.  G.,  of  Lebanon. 
Throughout  his  life  he  has  adhered  to  the 
princi])les  of  his  ancestors  and  is  noted  for  his 
integrity  of  character.  41  is  sons  are  among 
the  most  successful  business  men  of  Lebanon 
and  his  entire  family  above  reproach.  The 
family  is  noted  and  always  has  been  for  love  of 
temperance,  and  no  member  of  this  family 
was  ever  known  to  be  an  intemperate  man. 


LI  HKOWN,  M.  D.,  now  standing  at 
the  head  of  the  surgical  and  medical 
profession  in  Hoone  county,  Ind., 
with  his  residence  at  Thorntown,  was 
born  in  Sugar  Creek  townshiji,  in  the  same 
county,  April  9,  1846.  His  parents  were  Seth 
and  Alice  (Rich)  Hrown,  the  former  of  whom 
w’as  born  in  Guilford  county,  N.  C.,  March  28, 
1815,  and  was  a son  of  james  and  Mary  (Hud- 
dleston) Hrown,  who  were  also  natives  of 
North  Carolina  and  the  former  a planter. 
James  and  Mary  had  born  to  them  the  follow- 
ing children;  John,  Israel,  James  and  Mary, 
all  now  deceased,  and  Seth.  The  family  were 
all  members  of  the  h'riends’  chnrch.  James 
Ih'own  came  to  Indiana  in  1829  and  located  in 
Wayne  county,  resided  there  until  1840,  and 
then  came  to  Hoone  county,  and  bought  160 
acres  in  Sugar  Creek  township,  where  his 
death  occurred  in  1845,  his  wife  surviving  un- 
til 1851.  Seth  Hrown,  father  of  Eli,  our  sub- 


OF  l?OONE  COUNTY. 


285 


ject,  was  twenty-one  years  of  age  when  he 
came  to  Boone  county,  and  here  married  Alice 
Rich  and  had  born  to  him  the  following  named 
children:  Cyrena  A.,  wife  of  I.  N.  Barker; 
Sarah,  wife  of  W’illiam  J.  McBain;  Deborah, 
married  A.  A.  Macy;  Martha,  Asenath,  James 
F.,  and  Whlliam  A.  The  father  of  this  family 
died,  a member  of  the  Friends’  church,  De- 
cember 3,  1887. 

Eli  Brown  was  physically  strengthened  by 
work  on  the  home  farm  and  intellectually  by 
attendence  at  the  common  school  until  1867, 
when  he  became  a teacher  in  the  schools  of 
Tippecanoe  county  for  a year,  following  with 
tliree  years  in  McDonald  county,  111.,  and  then 
at  different  places  until  he  had  run  the  circle 
of  ten  years  as  teacher,  reading  medicine  dur- 
ing the  decade.  In  1877  he  attended  the 
medical  department  of  the  university  at  Ann 
Arbor,  Mich.,  and  this  was  followed  by  attend- 
ance at  the  Eclectic  school  of  medicine  at 
Cincinnati,  Ohio,  until  graduation  in  June, 
1879,  when  he  began  practice  in  Thorntown, 
where  his  skill  and  ability  were  at  once  recogniz- 
ed. May  I 5,  1478,  the  doctor  married,  at  Leba- 
non, Ind.,  Mary  C.  Burns,  who  was  born  in 
Boone  county  July  27,  1854,  a daughter  of 
David  M.  and  Eliza  (Clark)  Burns,  natives  of 
Kentucky.  While  this  lady  is  a Presbyterian 
in  her  religion,  Mr.  Brown  is  a Quaker  or 
Friend  in  his  mode  of  worship.  In  his  politics 
Mr.  Brown  is  republican,  and  in  1888  was 
elected  township  trustee  and  was  re-elected  in 
1890.  His  farm  of  100  acres  is  a model  of 
neatness,  and  his  residence  in  town  is  a delight 
to  the  eye. 


FORCE  B.  BROWN  is  one  of  the  en- 
terprising younger  business  men  of 
Lebanon  and  the  proprietor  of  the 
“Elite  Steam”  laundry.  He  is  a 
native  of  Boone  county  and  descends  from  an 


old  American  family.  Thomas  Brown,  the 
grandfather  of  our  subject,  was  one  of  the 
pioneers  of  Owen  county,  Ky.  He  died  in 
that  state,  a wealthy  farmer  and  slave  owner. 
George  W.  Brown,  the  father  of  onr  subject, 
was  born  in  Owen  county,  Ky. , April  5,  1820, 
received  the  usual  pioneer  education  and  mar- 
ried, in  Kentucky,  Martha  E.  Toon,  daughter 
of  Henry  and  Elizabeth  Toon. 

George  \V.  Brown  and  wife  had  born  to 
them  fourteen  children,  all  of  whom  lived  to 
be  grown  except  one  who  died  an  infant. 
Their  names  are:  Mary,  Charles,  Edward,  Al- 
bert, Lizzie,  Cassie,  James,  Cora,  Mattie, 
George  B.,  Lida,  Fannie  and  John.  Mr.  Brown 
came  to  Boone  county  in  1843  and  settled  on 
land  in  Center  townshij^  consisting  of  320 
acres  which  were  covered  with  very  heavy 
timber.  This  he  cleared  up  and  made  into  a 
fine  farm.  He  engaged  in  the  saw-mill  busi- 
ness, })rospered,  and  finally  owned  about  700 
acres,  of  land.  P'raterally  Mr.  Brown  was  a 
Mason,  member  of  Boone  lodge.  No.  9,  of 
Lebanon.  In  religion  he  was  a member  of 
the  Christian  church,  of  which  Mrs.  Brown  is 
a member.  He  lived  to  be  sixty-eight  years 
old  and  died  Nov.  13,  1888,  in  Lel)anon;  he 
was  a very  successful,  energetic  business  man, 
noted  for  his  honorable  character.  He  reared 
one  of  the  respected  families  of  Boone  county, 
to  whom  he  left  a handsome  property. 

George  B.  Brown,  son  of  above,  was  born 
on  his  father’s  farm  in  Center  township,  April 
18,  1865.  He  was  early  taught  to  work  on 
the  farm,  attended  the  public  school  and  ac- 
quired a practical  education.  He  became  a 
collector  for  the  Singer  Sewing  Machine  com- 
pany, and  continued  this  vocation  successfully 
during  the  years  1890-1-2.  In  1893  he  bought 
the  Lebanon  laundry  property,  greatly  improv- 
ing the  building  and  putting  in  six  complete 
steam  baths,  fitted  with  all  modern  conven- 
iences, dressing  rooms  and  parlors.  The 


lilOORAPIIICAL  HISTORY 


waters  of  these  baths  have  decided  mineral 
properties,  which  are  medicinally  beneficial 
and  have  a ^reat  tendency  to  relieve  rhemna- 
tism.  They  are  kept  in  a clean,  orderly  man- 
ner, and  the  attendance  is  ample.  They  are 
well  patronized  In’  the  best  people  in  Lebanon. 
The  “ IHite  Steam  Laundry"  is  well  equipped 
with  the  latest  machinery,  with  modern  appli- 
ances, and  turns  out  laundry  work  in  a highly 
satisfactory  manner,  doing  a large  and  pros- 
perous business.  Mr.  Brown  votes  with  that 
great  j)arty  founded  by  Jefferson  and  Jackson, 
and  is  a stanch  democrat.  Fraternally  he  is 
a K.  P.,  Lebanon  lodge,  No.  45.  \Miile 
young,  Mr.  Brown  is  an  excellent  business 
man,  fpiiet  and  pleasing  in  his  demeanor,  and 
is  very  popular.  He  owns  the  building  and 
lots  occupied  by  his  steam  laundry,  which  is 
valualde  property,  the  lots  hying  60x120  feet. 


aALEB  ().  BROWN,  a thriving  young 
farmer  aiul  stock  raiser  of  Jefferson 
township,  Boone  county,  Ind.,  was 
born  in  Montgomery  county,  Ind., 
May  28,  i860,  and  is  a son  of  John  S.  and 
Eliza  A.  (Osborn)  Brown,  also  natives  of  the 
Hoosier  state  and  of  English  descent.  They 
were  the  parents  of  four  children,  viz;  Sara 
].,  wife  of  W'illiam  B.  Denny;  Dicey  O.,  wife 
of  Parson  B.  Chambers;  Caleb  O.,  and  George 
E.,  the  latter  of  whom  died  in  January,  1886. 
The  mother  of  these  children  died  in  1886,  and 
the  father  in  June,  1890.  The  family  settled 
in  Boone  county  in  the  year  in  which  Caleb  O. 
was  born  (i860),  and  here  the  latter  was 
reared  on  his  father’s  farm,  receiving  a good 
education  in  the  schools  of  his  neighborhood. 
He  is  now  the  jiroprietor  of  a fine  farm,  and 
makes  a specialty  of  feeding  stock  for  market, 
and  in  this  industry  is  regarded  as  the  most 
enterprising  man  of  his  age  in  Boone  county. 
His  marriage  took  place  I'ebruary  5,  1885,  to 


Miss  Rebecca  Todd,  daughter  of  Joseph  and 
Ann  R.  (Pinkerton)  Todd,  natives  of  New  Jer- 
sey and  of  English  descent.  It  is  said  that 
“Death  loveth  a shining  mark,”  and  mythology 
informs  us  that  “whom  the  gods  love  die 
young.”  It  was  so  in  this  case.  After  giving 
her  young  husband  a pledge  of  her  blissful 
love — whom  they  named  Hazel — she  was 
stricken  by  the  “insatiate  archer”  April  20, 
1887 — her  mortal  remains  being  now  in  re- 
pose in  the  cemetery,  near  Dover,  a village  of 
Boone  county.  But  time  cures  all,  and  Mr. 
Brown  married  Miss  Clara  B.  Edwards  March 
13,  1889,  daughter  of  David  and  Elizabeth 
(Dice)  Edwards,  both  the  parents  being  of  En- 
glish descent  and  natives,  respectively,  of 
Ohio  and  \'irginia.  To  this  second  marriage 
of  Mr.  Brown  have  been  born  two  children, 
Helen  and  Ruby.  The  parents  are  both  mem- 
bers of  the  Presbyterian  church,  and  their 
standing  in  social  circles  is  as  desirable  as  it 
is  deserving.  In  politics  Mr.  Brown  is  a re- 
publican, and  in  his  fraternal  relations  is  a 
member  of  the  Masonic  lodge  at  Thorntown — 
its  charter  number  being  i 13. 


ENRY  C.  BRUSH  is  an  old  soldier, 
and  a substantial  farmer  and  honored 
citizen  of  Lebanon,  Boone  county, 
Ind.  He  springs  from  sterling  Scotch 
and  old  colonial  New  Jersey  stock.  John 
Brush,  the  great-grandfather  of  our  subject, 
was  a soldier  in  the  Revolution,  in  which  two 
of  his  brothers  were  also  soldiers,  and  were 
killed  at  the  battle  of  Cowpens.  They  all 
came  from  Sc,>tland.  John  Brush,  the  son  of 
the  above  and  grandfather  of  our  subject, 
settled  at  an  early  jieriod  in  Shelby  county, 
Ky.,  where  he  married  Miss  Elizabeth  Todd, 
and  to  them  were  born  seven  children,  viz.: 
(h'orge,  Blakely,  David,  James,  Jane,  Nancy 
and  Mary.  Mr.  Ifrush  moved  to  Indiana  and 


OF  ROONE  COUNTY. 


287 


settled  in  Montgomery  county,  near  Wave- 
land,  as  a pioneer',  and  here  passed  the  re- 
mainder of  his  days.  He  became  a prosperous 
farmer  and  gave  to  each  of  his  children  i6o 
acres  of  land.  He  was  a typical  old-time  pio- 
neer settler  and  a whig  in  politics.  James 
Brush,  the  father  of  onr  subject,  was  born  in 
Shelby  comity,  Ky. , on  a farm,  in  i8ii,  and 
came  with  his  parents,  when  bnt  nine  years  of 
age,  to  Indiana.  He  was  reared  a farmer  and 
married  Elizabeth  McCormick,  after  which 
they  settled  in  Montgomery  county,  Ind.,  near 
Ladoga,  and  remained  there  until  he  retired 
from  active  life,  at  which  time  he  located  in 
Jamestown.  James  Brush  and  his  wife  Eliza- 
beth were  the  parents  of  seven  children,  as  fol- 
lows: John  A.,  Ann,  Elizabeth,  Jennie,  Sallie, 
Eliza  and  Henry  Brush,  all  born  on  the 
farm  in  Montgomery  county,  Ind.  Both  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  Brush  were  members  of  the  Metho- 
dist church,  in  which  he  was  a class  leader  and 
steward.  He  was  a Henry  Clay  whig  in  poli- 
tics; afterw'ard  a republican  and  a strong  Union 
man.  During  the  war,  in  which  he  had  two 
sons — John  A.,  in  the  Eleventh  regiment,  In- 
diana volunteer  infantry,  under  Col.  Lew  Wal- 
lace; he  was  later  in  the  Second  Indiana  cav- 
alry, and  served  through  the  remainder  of  the 
war,  during  which  time  he  was  in  many  hard 
battles;  Henry  Brush’s  military  history  will  be 
given  below  in  this  sketch.  Mr.  Brush  died  at 
the  age  of  seventy  years,  an  honored  and  re- 
spected man. 

Henry  C.  Brush  was  born  January  15, 
1847.  He  received  a common  school  educa- 
tion, was  reared  a farmer’s  boy,  and  enlisted 
at  the  early  age  of  sixteen,  August  10,  1863, 
in  company  G,  One  Hundred  and  Sixteenth 
regiment,  Indiana  volunteer  infantry,  in  answer 
to  a call  for  six-month  men,  under  Capt.  Rob- 
ert W.  Harrison  and  Col.  William  C.  Rise. 
He  served  seven  months  and  was  honorably 
discharged  at  LaEayette,  Ind.,  March  i,  1864. 


His  service  was  in  eastern  Tennessee,  during 
which  time  he  ]:)articipated  in  the  battles  of 
Blue  Springs,  Greenville,  Knoxville,  Walker’s 
Ford  and  Tazewell.  He  saw  a great  deal  of 
hard  marching  and  was  in  several  hard  skir- 
mishes, doing  active  service  all  the  time  of  his 
enlistment  except  one  week,  when  he  was  in 
hospital  at  Knoxville.  He  was  in  all  the  bat- 
tles, marches  and  skirmishes  of  his  regiment, 
and  was  but  little  over  seventeen  years  of  age 
when  he  returned  home.  He  then  attended 
the  high  school  at  Ladoga,  Ind. , and  at 
Greencastle,  Ind.,  one  term.  Mr.  Brush  was 
married  June  24,  1869,  in  Hendricks  county, 
Ind.,  to  Fanny  A.,  daughter  of  Walter  and 
Mary  M.  (Spears)  Davis,  ^^"alter  Davis  was 
born  in  Montgomery  county,  Ky. , December 
12,  1823,  and  was  a pioneer  and  wealthy 

farmer  of  Hendricks  county,  Ind.  He  was 
of  Welsh  descent,  while  the  Spears  were  of 
Scotch  descent.  They  reared  the  following 
children — John  S.,  Quincy  A.,  Martha  E., 
Nancy  A.,  Robert  F.,  Fanny  A.  and  Charles 
E.  Airs.  Davis  having  died.  Mr.  Davis  mar- 
ried Alary  A.  Scott,  who  bore  him  five  chil- 
dren, viz;  Walter  S.,  Lorenzo  D.,  Thomas, 
Alyrtle  and  Edgar  L.  Air.  Davis  was  a repub- 
lican and  a member  of  the  AI.  E.  church,  in 
which  he  took  great  interest,  having  become 
a member  at  the  early  age  of  nineteen  years. 
In  1835  he  moved  with  his  father  to  Eel  River 
township,  Hendricks  county,  Ind.,  where  he 
lived  the  remainder  of  his  days,  and  died  Janu- 
ary I I,  1893.  Two  of  his  sons  are  graduates 
of  DePauw  university,  one  of  whoin,  Walter 
S.,  has  taken  a post-graduate  course  at  Cornell 
university  and  in  Germany,  and  has  lately  won 
high -honors  in  the  Chicago  university.  John 
S.  was  a soldier  in  the  Fifty-first  regiment 
Indiana  volunteer  infantry,  and  was  in  Gen. 
Straight’s  raid.  He  died  of  sickness  during 
his  service,  and  was  buried  in  the  National 
cemetery  at  Nashville,  Tenn.  He  was  but 


2«8 


inOGRAPIIICAL  IITSTORY 


twenty-one  years  of  age  and  was  a devout 
Cdiristian.  (jnincy  y\.  was  also  a soldier  in  an 
Indiana  regiment. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Rrnsh  soon  after  their  mar- 
riage located  on  a farm  near  Jamestown,  on 
which  they  resided  for  three  years,  and  then 
resided  in  Jamestown  for  eight  years.  In  1879 
they  removed  to  Lebanon,  Ind.,  where  they 
still  reside.  Mr.  Brush  engaged  in  the  livery 
business,  also  in  buying  and  shipping  horses, 
in  which  line  he  did  a large  business  for  several 
years.  Since  that  time  he  has  been  engaged 
in  stock  dealing'  and  farming.  He  is  a stanch 
repulican  in  politics,  a member  of  the  Masonic 
fraternity,  Boone  lodge.  No.  9,  is  also  a non- 
affiliating Odd  Fellow  and  a K.  of  P.  He  is, 
beside,  a member  of  the  G.  A.  R. , Rich  Moun- 
tain post.  Both  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Brush  are 
members  of  the  Methodist  church.  They  are 
the  parents  of  six  children,  three  now  living: 
Ada  M.,  Forest  G.  and  Eva  L;  those  de- 
ceased are  Laura,  aged  six  years,  Otto  T. 
aged  seven  years,  and  Jewel,  an  infant.  Mr. 
Brush  is  one  of  the  substantial  citizens  of  Leb- 
anon, where  he  owns  \-aluable  real  estate, 
beside  a good  farm  in  the  country.  He  is  well 
known  for  his  integrity  of  character  and  he  has 
one  of  the  most  pleasant  homes  in  Lebanon 
and  an  interesting  and  highly  respected  family, 
Mrs.  Brush  is  a lady  of  high  character,  of 
cultivated  and  cordial  manners,  and  a true 
helpmate  in  all  that  term  implies. 


AMES  H.  Bl'RNHAM  is  a juatical 
agriculturist  of  Sugar  Greek  township 
and  a well  known  citizen  of  Boone 
county.  He  descends  from  an  old 
colonial  Anu'rican  family  of  Irish  descent,  his 
grt.'at-grandfather  having  come  from  Ireland 
and  settling  in  \’irginia,  and  having  fought  as 
a soldier  in  our  war  of  indei)endence,  and 
finally  becoming  a farmer.  Joshua  Burnham, 


his  son  and  grandfather  of  our  subject,  was 
born  in  Virginia,  married  a Miss  Elliot  and 
settled  in  Sugar  Creek  townshij),  Boone  coun- 
ty, Ind.,  in  1828-29.  He  had  probably  first 
settled  at  an  earlier  period  on  the  Blue  river 
in  Indiana.  After  a short  residence  in  Sugar 
Creek  township,  he  moved  to  Washington 
township,  where  he  entered  a farm  now' known 
as  the  Close  farm  and  owned  by  Gabriel  Ginn. 
He  afterw  ard  moved  to  Michigan,  but  returned 
and  settled  in  Clinton  county,  where  he  died  aged 
seventy  years.  His  children  are — Ivy,  James, 
Abraham,  Myer,  Harvey,  Matthew,  William, 
Perry  C.,  Sarah,  Ira,  and  Orpha.  Mr.  Burn- 
ham was  a substantial  farmer  and  highly 
thought  of  by  the  old  settlers,  to  w'hom  he  was 
well  knowm.  Ivy  Burnham,  father  of  our  sub- 
ject, was  probably  born  on  the  Blue  river  in 
Indiana,  and  was  brought  up  among  the  In- 
diana pioneers,  while  the  Indians  were  still 
scattered  throughout  the  state.  He  had  the 
usual  limited  education  of  the  pioneer,  and 
married,  in  Washington  township,  this  county, 
Maria  L. , daughter  of  Benjamin  Sweeney. 
Benjamin  Sweeney  w'as  a soldier  in  the  war 
of  1812,  and  marrieil,  in  Rentucky,  a Miss 
Smith.  He  entered  his  land  in  Washington 
tow'iiship  in  1828,  lived  to  the  age  of  ninety 
years  and  died  in  Houston,  Texas.  After  mar- 
riage, Ivy  Burnham  settled  in  Michigan,  but 
afterward  moved  to  Clinton  county,  Ind  , 
where  he  died  in  1847.  He  was  the  father  of 
nine  children — Miles,  Mary  E.,  Abraham, 
Sarah,  Benjamin,  James  H.,  Matthew,  Martha 
and  Susan  Pb  He  was  an  old-time  w hig  poli- 
tically, and  two  of  his  sons  fought  as  soUliers 
in  (he  Cavil  war—  Benjamin  I',  in  company  G, 
'rwenty-sixth  regiment  Indiana  volunteer  in- 
fantry, served  four  years,  six  months,  and  w'as 
in  many  battles.  Matthew  was  in  comiiany 
K,  Fortieth  regiment  Indiana  volunteer  infan- 
try, and  died  tw’o  months  after  enlistment. 
Mr.  Buridiam  was  a man  of  integrity  of  char- 


OF  BOONE  COUNTY. 


acter,  a practical  fanner  and  a good  citizen. 
He  and  Ids  wife  were  members  of  the  Cliris- 
tian  church. 

James  H.  Burnham,  our  subject,  was  born 
in  Clinton  county,  Ind.,  October  2,  1842.  He 
gained  his  education  in  the  public  schools  and 
was  reared  a farmer.  He  was  united  in  mar- 
riage to  Amne  L.,  daughter  of  Robert  and 
Nancy  (Evans)  Hebb,  of  Taylor  county,  W. 
\’a.,  which  was  their  native  state  and  where 
they  married  and  began  domestic  life  on  a 
farm  in  the  county  of  Taylor.  They  there  re- 
mained until  their  deaths  in  the  years  1852 
and  1882  respectively.  They  were  for  many 
years  members  of  the  Methodist  church,  and 
were  much  respected  in  the  locality  in  which 
they  lived  for  their  many  excellent  traits  of 
character.  Their  family  were  as  follows: 
William,  Jehu,  Sarah,  Martha,  Anna  and  Vir- 
ginia, living;  Joseph,  John,  David  and  Josina 
deceased,  and  Sybrant.  William  Hebb,  one 
of  the  sons,  is  now  living  in  Albany,  Delaware 
county,  Ind.,  an  honored  citizen.  The  mar- 
riage of  Mr.  and  l\Irs.  James  H.  Burnham  has 
been  blessed  with  seven  children:  Myrtle  E., 
Minnie  O.,  Lillian  L. , Mary  E.,  Josina,  Rob- 
ert, and  Bennie  S.  (dead).  After  marriage 
Mr.  Burnham  settled  on  the  Ross  farm  in 
Washington  township,  which  he  afterward 
hought.  He  now  resides  in  Sugar  Creek 
township  on  a farm  of  ninety  acres,  which  is 
; one  of  the  best  farms  in  Boone  comity.  The 
children  are  all  w'ell  educated,  and  the  dangh- 
H ter,  Mary  E.,  graduated  at  the  Thorntown 
high  school.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  B>urnham  are  de- 
j vout  members  of  the  Christian  church,  all  the 
i family  being  members  of  the  same  church,  ex- 
cept two  of  the  younger  children.  Mr.  I3nrn- 
I ham  is  a church  trustee  and  politically  he  is  a 
^ “dyed-in-the-wool”  republican.  He  is  one  of 
'■  the  older  members  of  Thorntown  lodge.  No. 
j)  113,  A.  & E.  M.,  in  wdiich  he  has  filled  nearly 

),  all  the  offices  and  has  been  an  official  ten  years. 


Mr.  Ihirnham  stands  high  among  the  iieople 
of  Boone  county  as  a man  of  great  intelligence, 
integrity  and  good  judgment.  He  is  a practi- 
cal business  man,  capable  of  holding  any  office 
in  the  country. 


ILLL^M  C.  BURK,  the  old-estab- 
lished druggist  of  Thorntown,  Boone 
county,  Ind.,  w'as  here  born  Octo- 
ber 29,  1851,  a son  of  Samuel  M. 
and  Adeline  R.  (Landon)  Burk.  Samuel  M. 
Burk  was  a native  of  Calhoun  county,  Ky., 
and  W'as  reared  on  the  farm  until  sixteen  years 
of  age,  when  he  w'as  employed  as  a clerk  in  a 
dry-goods  store  in  Terre  Haute,  Ind.,  until 
1850,  when  he  came  to  Boone  county  and 
taught  school  for  eight  consecutive  3'ears  and 
then  engaged  in  the  practice  of  law',  which  he 
followed  until  his  death,  Eebruary  2,  1892. 
Eor  three  years  he  was  a valiant  soldier  in  the 
late  war  as  member  of  company  K,  Eprtieth 
Indiana  volunteer  infantry,  in  which  he  w-as 
assistant  cpiartermaster  until  the  close  of  hos- 
tilities, when  his  term  expired.  His  marriage 
took  place,  at  Terre  Haute,  in  1850,  to  Miss 
Landon,  a native  of  Connecticut,  and  to  the 
union  four  children  were  born,  viz:  William 
C.  ; Abbie,  wdfe  of  J.  R.  Rickoff,  coffee  and 
tea  merchant  of  Lima,  Ohio;  KateM.,  wife  of 
William  I'ncker,  merchiant  of  Boone  county, 
Ind.,  and  Alene,  w'ife  of  Samuel  Decker,  a 
farmer  of  Montgomery  county,  Ind.  Mrs. 
Adeline  R.  Burk  still  resides  in  Thorntown. 
The  deceased  Mr.  Burk  was  a member  of  the 
I.  O.  R.  M.,  was  a democrat,  and  for  tw'o 
years  served  as  post-master;  he  was  every 
where  regarded  as  an  n])right  and  w'orthy  gen- 
tleman. 

William  C.  Burk  was  reared  in  Thorntow'u, 
Ind  , and  attended  the  graded  schools  until 
sixteen  years  of  age;  he  was  then  employed  for 
tw’o  years  as  a clerk  in  a poultry  and  produce 


210 


BIOGRAPHICAL  HISTORY 


market,  and  tlien  for  two  years  served  as 
deputy  post-master  under  his  father,  and,  for 
the  followin'^  two  years,  under  Israel  Curry,  in 
the  same  jiositiou ; then  for  two  years,  under 
George  Coulsou;  for  the  next  three  years  he 
was  deputy  under  L.  M.  Cox;  he  was  then 
appointed  postal  clerk  on  the  Big  Four  and 
ran  between  Cincinnati  and  Chicago  for  a 
year,  resigned,  and  engaged  in  the  drug  busi- 
ness in  Thorntown  in  partnership  with  T.  C. 
Laughlin.  At  the  close  of  two  years,  Mr. 
Laughlin  withdrew  from  the  firm  and  Mr. 
Burk  has  since  conducted  the  business  on  his 
own  account  solely,  carrying  a stock  valued  at 
$4,500,  consisting  of  fancy  drugs  and  medi- 
cines and  all  such  goods  as  are  usually  dealt 
in  by  first-class  druggists.  William  C.  Burk 
was  most  happily  married  at  Frankfort,  Ind., 
January  12,  1876,  to  Orlena  M.  Green,  who 
was  born  at  Zionsville,  Boone  county,  Ind., 
February  14,  1858,  a daughter  of  John  I),  and 
Zerelda  (Gill)  Green,  natives  of  Kentucky. 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Burk  are  consistent  members  of 
the  Presbyterian  church,  in  which  Mr.  Burk  is 
trustee  and  treasurer.  Since  1891  he  has 
been  vice  president  of  the  Thorntown  bank 
and  is  also  a stockholder  in  the  Lebanon 
National  bank;  he  is  a thirty-second  degree 
Freemason,  Scottish  rite;  is  a Knight  of 
Pythias,  and  in  politics  is  a republican.  He 
is  attentive  to  his  business,  and  in  social 
circles  he  and  wife  occupy  an  enviable  po- 
sition. 


AVID  M.  BURNS.— There  is  no  pro- 
fession in  life  of  more  im|K)rtancc 
and  usefulness  than  that  of  surveyor 
and  civil  engineer.  Until  a country 
is  surveyed,  an<l  the  towns,  roads  and  ditches 
laid  out,  there  is  no  system  in  its  settlement, 
and  its  crooked  by-paths  and  by-roads  of  the 
early  settlers  marks  its  state  of  un-civilization. 


With  the  surveyor  comes  system  and  prosper- 
ity. Another  vocation  of  ecjual  importance 
and  civilization  is  that  of  the  school-teacher, 
and  it  is  safe  to  say  that  without  his  efforts, 
the  people  of  the  United  States  would  have 
lapsed  into  barbarism,  or  at  least  would  hav'e 
retrograded  from  the  condition  of  their  Piuro- 
pean  ancestors.  David  M.  Burns,  our  subject, 
has  honored  both  of  these  professions  and  his 
life  is  marked  by  his  efforts  as  a public  bene- 
factor. He  springs  from  sterling  Scotch  an- 
cestry. John  Burns,  the  grandfather  of  our 
subject,  was  a descendant  of  the  famous  Scotch 
Presbyterian  covenanters  who  tied  from  Scot- 
land to  Ireland  on  account  of  religious  perse- 
cution. The  founders  of  the  family  in  America 
were  three  brothers — John,  Andrew  and  one 
whose  name  is  not  remembered.  John  was 
the  original  pioneer,  coming  before  his  brothers 
and  settling  in  Pennsylvania  a short  time  be- 
fore the  Revolutionary  war.  He  served 
throughout  that  war,  nearly  eight  years,  and 
was  in  the  battles,  of  Trenton,  Camden  and 
many  others.  He  was  wounded  in  the  arm  at 
the  battle  of  Brandywine  and  was  one  of  those 
heroes  who  passed  through  the  terrible  winter 
with  Washington  at  \'alley  I'orge.  He  mar- 
ried Catherine  Gray  and  settled  in  Nicholas 
county,  Ky. , among  the  pioneers,  a short  time 
after  the  Revolutionary  war.  Here  he  cleared 
up  a farm  in  the  wilderness  and  his  home  was 
blessed  with  ten  children  William,  John, 
James,  David,  Andrew,  Jennie,  Polly,  Robert, 
Thomas  and  Josejdi.  He  became  an  exten- 
sive land  owner  and  gave  all  the  children  good 
farms.  IF'  lived  to  be  seventy-four  years  of 
age  and  both  he  and  wife  were  members  of  the 
Prcsbyteriairchurch.  In  political  ojihiions  he 
was  an  old-time  whig.  I F' was  a typical  Amer- 
ican pioneer  and  a man  of  high  character. 

Andrew  Burns,  father  of  our  subject,  was 
born  in  Nicholas  county,  Ky.,  August  29,  1795- 
He  had  more  than  an  ordinary  education  for 


OF  1500NE  COUNTY. 


241 


his  time  and  taught  school  in  Kentucky  for 
many  years,  and  also  taught  vocal  music.  He 
married  Nancy,  daughter  of  Archibald  and  Jane 
(Farris)  Brown.  (For  a sketch  of  Archibald 
Brown,  see  biography  of  Capt.  John  A.  Brown.) 
After  marriage  Mr.  Burns  settled  in  Nicholas 
county,  K}’.,  on  a farm  adjoining  his  father’s. 
In  1834  he  moved  to  Orange  county,  Ind., 
and  in  1836  he  came  to  Boone  county  and 
settled  on  a farm  now  owned  by  our  subject, 
two  miles  north  of  Lebanon.  He  died  two 
years  later,  on  his  forty-third  birthday.  He 
was  a hard-working  pioneer  citizen.  He  and 
wife  were  members  of  the  Presbyterian  church. 
Mr.  Burns  was  a man  of  stanch  virtues.  His 
children  are — John  B.,  .Archibald,  William  W. , 
David  M.  and  Elvira  F.,  all  born  in  Nicholas 
county,  Ky. 

David  M.  Burns,  our  subject,  was  born  in 
Nicholas  county,  Ky.,  on  his  father’s  farm, 
February  10,  1832,  and  was  but  two  and  one- 
half  years  of  age  when  his  father  settled  in 
Indiana.  After  the  death  of  his  father  his 
mother  returned  to  Kentucky,  and  afterward 
married  Jonathan  Parish,  and  one  son  was  born 
to  this  union — Jonathan  M.  Mrs.  Parish  was 
accidentally  killed  by  the  discharge  of  a gun. 
May  27,  1845. 

David  M.  Burns  received  a common  school 
education,  and  then  attended  a select  school 
in  Montgomery  county,  Ky.,  and  afterward  at 
Sharpsburg  academy,  his  cousin,  James  Harvey 
Burns,  being  his  teacher  at  both  institutions. 
The  professor  was  a graduate  of  Georgetown 
college  and  an  educator  of  wide  abilities  and 
experience.  David  M.  Burns  began  teaching 
at  Wren’s  school-house  in  the  select  school  of 
his  cousin,  as  an  assistant,  when  he  was  nine- 
teen years  of  age,  and  afterward  taught  in 
Nicholas  county  one  year.  On  July  i,  1852, 
he  married,  in  Nicholas  county,  Ky. , Elgiva 
J.,  daughter  of  Thomas  and  Jane  (Grimes) 
Clark.  Mr.  Clark  was  from  an  old  American 


family  of  German  stock,  was  an  old  settler  of 
Nicholas  county,  a prominent  farmer  and  just- 
ice of  the  peace,  and  a class  leader  in  the 
Methodist  church. 

To  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Burns  two  children  were 
born — Mollie  G.,  who  married  Dr.  Eli  L. 
Brown,  ofThorntown,  and  Nancy  E.,  who  mar- 
ried Thomas  W.  Huckstep,  a surveyor  and 
civil  engineer  of  Lebanon.  Both  the  daugh- 
ters were  born  in  Boone  county,  where  Mr. 
Burns  settled  in  October,  1852,  on  the  farm 
fir-st  occupied  by  his  father.  Mr.  Burnslivedon 
this  farm  until  1855,  then  resided  in  Lebanon 
until  1857,  and  then  lived  on  his  farm  until 
1886.  He  then  returned  to  Lebanon,  where 
he  now  resides.  He  taught  school  the  winter 
of  1853  in  Washington  township,  and  in  1855 
was  principal  of  a select  school  at  Lebanon. 
In  1856-7  he  was  principal  of  a department  of 
the  schools  at  Lebanon.  He  was  principal  of 
the  public  schools  at  Thorntown  in  the  years 
1858-59-60-61-62,  and  during  this  time  was 
appointed  deputy  county  surve3'or  of  Boone 
county,  in  1858,  and  was  elected  county  sur- 
ve^'or  in  i860,  and  held  this  important  office 
until  1876,  the  long  period  of  sixteen  years, 
a deputy  serving  under  him  while  he  was  in  the 
army.  Mr.  Burns  was  principal  of  the  High 
school  of  Lebanon  until  December  loih,  1863, 
on  which  date  he  enlisted  at  Lebanon  in  corn- 
pan}^  H,  One  Hundred  and  Twenty-sixth  regi- 
ment (Ivleventh  cavalry),  under  Capt.  Mason 
S.  Hamilton,  Col.  Rober  tStewart.  His  serv- 
ice was  princi]ially  in  Alabama,  where  he 
served  one  year,  when  he  was  taken  sick  from 
exposure,  and  was  in  hospital  at  Nashville, 
Jeffersonville,  Madison  and  Indianapolis,  and 
was  honorably  discharged  at  the  latter  place  on 
account  of  disability,  April  17th,  1865,  On 
returning  to  Lebanon  he  resumed  teaching, 
and  the  winter  of  1865-6  he  taught  at  Mechan- 
icsburg  and  the  next  winter  at  Thorntown. 
He  taught  the  high  grade  of  the  Lebanon  pub- 


242 


IMOGUAPHICAL  HISTORY 


lie  schools  in  1S70,  which  completed  his  career 
as  a teacher,  after  the  long  service  of  nearly 
twenty  j’ears.  He  was  county  snrve}’or  from 
i860  to  1876,  and  either  attended  to  his  duties 
personally  or  employed  a deputy.  As  sur- 
veyor of  Boone  county  for  this  long  period  he 
survej’ed  and  laid  out  many  important  ditches 
and  roads,  and  was  especially  active  in  his  work 
in  the  gravel  roads.  He  has  done  the  work  of 
civil  engineer  for  the  city  of  Lebanon  since  its 
organization,  except  u[)on  the  different  occa- 
sions w'hen,  for  a short  time,  this  office  was 
held  by  others,  but  in  each  case  the  work  soon 
devolved  upon  Mr.  Burns.  He  is  at  [nesent 
city  engineer,  and  is  assisted  by  his  son-in-law', 
Thomas  \\k  Huckstep,  wdro  has  been  con- 
nected w'ith  him  since  1875.  Mrs.  Burns  dietl 
November  12th,  1881,  and  Mr.  Burns  married 
Margaret  J.,  daughter  of  John  and  Sarah 
(Peck)  Richey.  Mr.  Richey  was  born  in  New' 
York,  reared  in  Pittsburg,  Pa.,  and  was  one  of 
the  early  pioneers  of  Boone  county,  coming 
from  Ohio  and  locating  in  Tippecanoe  county 
in  1828;  and  in  1835  he  came  to  Boone 
county,  w'here  he  entered  his  land  in  Washing- 
ton township.  He  became  an  honored  citizen, 
tow’nship  trustee  and  a substantial  farmer.  He 
had  one  son  in  the  Civil  w'ar — James.  Mr. 
Richey  lived  to  be  seventy-eight  years  old,  and 
died  August  12th,  1883,  on  his  farm. 

Mr.  Burns  is  one  of  the  most  prominent 
Masons  in  Boone  county.  He  is  a member  of 
Boone  lodge.  No.  9,  and  held  the  offices  of 
senior  deacon,  junior  warden,  and  master  at 
different  times  from  1 876  for  about  eight  years. 
He  is  als(j  a mcnd)er  of  the  chaj)ter--  a royal- 
arch  mason  and  is  high  j)riest,  an  office  which 
he  has  filled,  with  the  excejhion  of  one  year, 
since  1875.  He  is  also  a member  of  the  royal 
and  select  masters,  and  is  illustrious  master, 
having  held  this  office  since  1876.  He  is  also 
a Knight  Tiunplar,  I'daidcfort  commander}-. 
Mr.  Burns  is  also  a member  of  the  Scottish 


rite,  Indiana  consistory  of  Indianapolis,  which 
includes  the  thirty-second  degree.  Mr.  Burns 
is  grand  chaplain  of  the  grand  chapter  of  the 
state  of  Indiana,  and  has  held  this  office 
nearly  all  the  time  since  1887.  He  w’as  also 
chaplain  of  the  grand  council  of  royal  and 
select  masters  from  1888  to  1893.  He  is 
chaplain  of  the  order  of  high  })riests  of  the 
state  of  Indiana.  Both  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Burns 
are  members  of  the  Eastern  Star,  a Masonic 
body,  and  Mr.  Burns  worthy  patron  for  four 
years.  He  and  wife  are  members  of  the  Pres- 
byterian church,  in  which  he  has  been  elder 
for  the  long  period  of  twenty-seven  years. 
Mr.  Burns  is  a member  of  the  G.  A.  R.,  Rich 
Mountain  post.  No.  42,  Lebanon,  and  has 
been  post  commander.  By  perseverance  and 
good  management  Mr.  Burns  has  succeeded 
financially,  and  is  in  prosperous  circumstances, 
and  is  highly  respected  in  Boone  county  as  an 
honest  citizen.  His  best  roll  of  honor  are  the 
names  of  his  former  pupils,  many  of  whom  are 
now  prominent  citizens  and  whom  he  assisted 
to  become  more  efficient  men  and  women. 


AMES  E.  BURRIS.  Among  the  vet- 
eran soldiers  of  Center  township  is 
found  the  name  of  James  E.  Burris, 
who  served  his  country  faithfully  in  the 
Civil  war  and  is  now'  a substantial  farmer. 
Like  many  Americans  his  ancestors  inter- 
married with  different  nationalities,  but  w'e 
find  the  Irish  race  to  be  predominant.  His 
father,  Robert  Me.  Buiris,  w’as  born  in  I'lem- 
ing  count}',  Ky.  He  was'a  farmer  and  miller, 
and  married  Elizabeth  Moore,  who  was  born 
within  oiu' mile  ol  I'lemingsburg,  l\}-.  In  1854 
Mr.  Burris  moved  to  Boone  county,  Ind., 
and  setth'd  in  Jefferson  townshii).  He  akso 
livetl  for  some  time  in  Hamilton  and  Tipton 
counties,  Ind.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Burris  were  mem- 
bers of  the  Christian  church.  'I'licy  were  the 


OF  FOONE  COUNTY. 


248 


parents  of  nine  children,  who  livetl  (o  be  men 
and  women:  John  W.,  Thomas  F.,  James 
E.,  Heniy  O. , Mary  E.  Annie  A.,  Jacob  Ci., 
Robert  and  Catherine  C.  Mr.  Bnrris 

had  two  sons  in  the  Civil  war — James  E.  and 
Thomas  E.  -both  in  the  same  regiment  and 
compaii}’.  He  was  an  old-line  whig  in  politics 
and  lived  to  the  age  of  about  seventy-three 
years.  He  was  a man  of  good  character  and 
reared  a respected  family  of  children. 

James  E.  Burns  was  born  in  Fleming 
county,  Ky.,  June  12,  1844.  He  received  the 
limited  common  school  education  of  his  day 
and  was  ten  years  of  age  when  he  came  with 
his  parents  to  Boone  county,  Ind.  He  early 
began  to  work  on  the  farm,  and  at  the  age  of 
eighteen  years  he  enlisted  at  Tipton,  Tipton 
county,  Ind.,  July  28,  1862,  in  company  B, 
Seventy-fifth  regiment,  I.  V.  I. — Capt.  Isaac 
H.  Montgomery — for  three  years  or  during  the 
war,  and  served  until  honorably  discharged 
July  8,  1865,  at  Washington,  D.  C.  He  was 
in  the  battle  of  Heartsville,  and  all  the  battles 
from  Hoover’s  Gap  to  Chickamagua  and  from 
Missionary  Ridge  to  Atlanta,  Ga.  Here  he  was 
injured  by  a shell  concussion.  He  was  resting 
his  back  against  his  gnn  when  a jfiece  of  shell 
struck  it  and  he  received  a stunning  blow,  was 
knocked  senseless  and  was  sent  home  on  a 
twenty-five  day  furlough.  He  rejoined  his  regi- 
ment at  Chattanooga  and  was  in  the  battle  at 
Nashville,  and  afterward  on  railroad  duty,  and 
after  this  was  at  the  battle  of  Smithfield.  He 
was  in  the  grand  review  at  Washington  and 
returned  home.  In  1870  he  bought  his 
present  farm,  which  then  consisted  of  forty 
acres,  to  which  he  has  added,  by  good  man- 
agement, until  he  now  owns  about  160  acres 
of  fertile  land. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Burris  are  the  parents  of  two 
children,  Mary  M.  and  Ettie  M.  He  was  mar- 
ried November  19  1869,  to  Sarah  I.  Ware, 
nee  Sutton,  daughter  of  \Vi!liam  and  Mary 


(Shally)  Sutton.  Mr.  Sutton  was  a Kentuck- 
ian of  English  stock,  and  the  Shallys  were  of 
German  descent.  Mr.  Sutton  was  a farmer  of 
Fleming  county,  Ky.,  and  moved  to  Putnam 
county,  Ind.,  where  he  married  the  widow 
Roberts,  nee  Shally.  Mr.  Sutton  became  a 
substancial  farmer  and  moved  to  Parke  county, 
where  he  died  aged  fifty  years.  He  had  two 
wives;  the  first  was  a Miss  Mikels,  and  they 
were  the  parents  of  four  children — Margaret, 
Lydia,  Mary  A.,  Susan;  by  his  second  mar- 
riage there  were  five  children — Sarah  I.,  Mel- 
vina,  Levina  C.,  Nancy  C.  (deceased)  and 
Hannah  A.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Sutton  were  mem- 
bers of  the  Presbyterian  church.  Mrs.  Burris, 
the  wife  of  our  subject,  was  first  married  to 
Geo.  W.  \\’are — second  lieutenant  company 
H,  One- Hundred  and  Twenty-sixth  regiment. 
Eleventh  Indiana  volunteer  cavalry.  He 
was  in  many  battles,  and  at  the  battle  of 
Franklin  he  over-exerted  himself  and  died 
three  days  later.  He  left  one  child — Charles 
E.  Both  Mr.  Bnrris  and  wife  are  members  of 
the  Presbyterian  church.  Mr.  Bnrris  was  a 
faithful  soldier,  doing  his  duty  cheerfully  for 
three  years  during  the  great  Civil  war.  He  is 
now  a respected  citizen  and  an  industrious 
man,  and  having  invested  his  means  in  land  is 
now  in  prosperous  circumstances.  His  res- 
idence and  grounds  present  an  attractive  ap- 
pearance, which  indicate,  taste  and  refine- 
ment. 


EORGE  W.  BUSBY  is  a native  of 
Boone  county,  an  old  soldier,  and 
the  leading  contractor  of  Lebanon. 
He  is  a son  of  John  and  Rebecca 
(Campbell)  Busby.  John  Busby  was  born  in 
Kentucky,  and  married  there.  He  was  of 
Scotch-Irish  origin.  W'illiam  Campbell,  the 
maternal  grandfather  of  our  subject,  was  of 
the  same  nationality.  He  was  a soldier  of  the 


1>l\ 


BKXiRAPIIlCAL  HISTORY 


war  of  I S 1 3 and  was  killed  by  the  Indians. 
To  |ohn  llnsby  and  wife  were  born  six  chil- 
dren; Nancy  [.,  Francis  M.,  Ainexette,  George 
\\b,  Mary  E.,  and  one  who  died  in  infancy, 
all  born  in  Hourbon  county,  Ky.,  except  the 
tw(j  youngest,  wluj  were  born  in  Lebanon,  to 
which  place  Mr.  Busby  moved  in  1837,  and 
entered  eighty  acres  of  land  in  the  south  part 
of  the  corporation,  being  one  of  the  first  set- 
tlers of  the  town.  He  was  a carpenter  by 
trade,  also  a farmer.  He  was  a member  of 
the  Presbyterian  church  and  in  politics  an  old- 
line  whig,  afterward  a republican.  He  lived 
to  l)e  fifty-six  years  old  and  died  in  Lebanon 
in  August,  1864.  He  was  a strong  Union  man 
and  an  honest,  hard-working  citizen.  Mr. 
Busby  erected  many  of  the  early  buiUlings  in 
Lebanon,  among  them  the  old  brick  seminary 
and  a brick  house  for  Mr.  Zion.  The  glass 
for  both  these  buildings  was  hauled  through 
by  wagon  from  Madison,  Ind.  The  inside  of 
these  walls  was  laid  up  with  mnd;  the  founda- 
tion for  the  old  seminary  was  made  of  nigger 
heads  or  small  bowlders  picked  up  from  the 
fields. 

George  W.  Busby  was  born  in  Lebanon, 
May  14,  1842,  and  had  good  opportunities  for 
an  education.  He  attended  the  old  seminary 
until  sixteen  years  of  age,  next  attended  the 
Presbyterian  academy  until  ninetec]i  years  of 
age,  and  then  his  parents  sent  him  to  the 
country  to  keep  him  from  enlisting  in  the  war. 
He  worked  at  farm  work  for  one  season,  but 
was  determined  to  become  a soldier,  and  in 
|une,  1862,  enlisted  at  Lebanon,  for  ninety 
days,  in  company  G,  p'ifty-fifth  regiment  Indi- 
ana volunteer  infantry,  under  ('apt.  Henry 
Hamilton  and  Col.  Mahan  of  Terre  Haute-. 
He  was  in  the  battle;  of  Richme)nd,  ky  , and 
was  taken  i^risoner,  but  was  parole-d  alter  twee 
weeks,  anel  was  e)blige‘d  to  go  to  Ceelumbus, 
Ohio,  to  be  exchangeel.  He  serve-el  out  his 
time  as  an  active  soldier  and  eliel  gooel  service, 


and  was  in  several  skirmishes  with  John  Mor- 
gan. He  was  inustereel  out  anel  honorably 
dischargeel  at  Indianapolis  in  1862,  when  he 
returned  to  Lebanon.  Before  enlistment  he 
hael  partly  learned  the  carpenter’s  trade,  which 
work  he  resumed  and  soon  became  a fine  work- 
man. W’hen  at  school  he  had  a taste  for 
mathematics,  anel  this  science  became  very 
useful  to  him  in  business.  (3n  December  12, 
1865,  he  was  united  in  marriage  to  Mary, 
daughter  e)f  J.  C.  Daily.  After  her  death,  Mr. 
Busby  married  Cannie,  daughter  of  William 
and  Jane  (McIntosh)  Williams.  Mr.  Whlliams 
is  a reliable  farmer  of  Fleming  county,  Ky. 
He  is  a Union  man,  was  a soldier  in  a Ken- 
tucky regiment,  served  three  years,  and  was  in 
several  battles.  It  is  greatly  to  his  credit  that, 
surrounded  by  Confederates,  he  fought  for  the 
Union.  Mr.  Busby  has  erected  many  of  the 
most  important  buildings  in  Lebanon — the 
DuVal  block,  the  Neal  block.  Brown's  Grand 
opera  house,  the  fine  residences  of  Mr.  Cragun, 
Charles  C.  King 'and  Mr.  Becktell  and  many 
others,  besides  many  other  business  buildings. 
He  is  now  building  a new  brick  block  of  three 
stories  for  J.  C.  Brown.  Both  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Busby  are  members  of  the  Methodist  church. 
He  is  a member  of  Boone  lodge.  No.  9,  F.  & 
A.  M.,  also  a member  of  the  Red  Men  and 
Rich  Mountain  post,  G.  A.  R.  He  has  erected 
for  himself  and  wife  a very  tasteful  residence. 
He  has  a practical  knowledge  of  architecture 
and  excellent  taste  and  skill  in  this  line.  He 
is  noted  for  his  reliability  and  integrity  of 
character. 


A\dD  A.  C.ALDWELL.  This  aged 
gcnlleman  is,  with  the  exception  of 
I.evi  L.ine,  the  oldest  resident  of 
Boone  county,  Ind.,  and  the  oklcst 
man  in  Boone  county,  with  the  exception  of 
Nathan  Cory.  He  springs  from  the  old  colo- 


OF  BOOXF  COUNTY. 


245 


nial  American  stock.  His  paternal  grandfather 
was  Willkun  Caldwell,  and,  as  his  father  mar- 
ried a full  cousin,  his  grandfather  on  his  ma- 
ternal side  was  Ale.xander  Caldwell.  They 
were  both  of  Scotch-lrish  descent  and  both 
moved  to  Kentucky  in  1784  and  settled  at 
Mays\ille,  Mason  county,  at  the  mouth  of 
Limestone  creek,  on  the  Ohio  river.  William 
Caldwell  built  the  second  cabin  in  the  place. 
He  had  a family  in  Pennsylvania.  His  wife 
was  Mary  McClellan,  and  his  children  were: 
Robert,  William,  David,  Thomas,  Polly,  Sally, 
Mattie,  Susan,  iNfargaret,  and  Elizabeth . The 
wife  of  Alexander  Caldwell  was  Betsy  Ste- 
phenson, who  was  the  mother  of  Sarah,  Betsy, 
Martha,  Patsy,  Polly,  David,  Robert  and  Alex- 
ander All  of  them  were  born  in  Pennsylva- 
nia, and  most  of  them  were  married  and  had 
families  when  they  settled  in  Kentucky.  Rob- 
ert Caldwell,  son  of  William,  was  a soldier  in 
the  Revolution.  The  family  had  a great  deal 
of  trouble  in  the  early  day  in  Penn.sylvania, 
and  were  both  early  settlers  of  M'estmoreland 
county,  that  state,  and  both  were  contempo- 
raneous with  Daniel  Boone  in  Kentucky,  and 
fought  in  the  old  Indian  wars.  Thomas  Cald- 
well, father  of  our  subject,  was  born  in  West- 
moreland county.  Pa  , in  1778,  and  was  six 
years  of  age  when  brought  to  Kentucky  with 
his  father’s  family,  the  journey  being  made  by 
boat  down  the  Ohio  river.  He  grew  up  a 
farmer  anti  learned  to  read  and  write,  and  mar- 
ried his  cousin,  Sarah  Caldwell,  and  to  them 
were  born  eight  children,  who  lived  to  matu- 
rity— David,  Nathan,  W'illiam,  Alexander, 
Elizabeth,  Maiy,  Martha  and  Sarah.  Our  sub- 
ject alone  survives,  and  has  reached  a greater 
age  than  any  of  his  ancestors.  The  father  of 
Thomas  moved  to  Bourbon  county,  Ky. , about 
one  year  after  the  settlement  at  Maysville,  and 
shortly  after  settled  in  Nicholas  county,  Ky. , 
and  entered  land.  Here  Thomas  Caldwell 
settled  after  marriage,  and  in  1834  moved  to 


Montgomery  county,  Ind.,  all  of  his  family, 
except  David  A.,  coming  with  him.  David 
A. , being  married,  remained  in  Nicholas  county, 
Ky.,  nine  years.  Thomas  Caldwell  became 
a substantial  farmer  of  Montgomery  county, 
owning  200  acres  of  land  at  the  time  of  his 
death,  at  the  age  of  seventy-three  years.  He 
was  a deacon  in  the  Presbyterian  church,  of 
w'hich  his  wdfe  was  also  a member.  In  politics 
he  was  an  old-time  whig,  afterward  a repub- 
lican. He  was  an  industrious,  hard-working, 
honorable  pioneer  citizen. 

David  A.  Caldwell  was  born  in  1804, 
March  21st,  in  Nicholas  county,  Ky. , learned 
to  read,  write  a good  hand,  and  figure  well, 
and  by  reading  at  home  gained  a good  common 
education  Possessing  an  intelligent  mind,  he 
was  a good  mathematician,  and  wdien  a young 
man  of  twenty-t\,  o years,  made  a copy  of  the 
arithmetical  examples  that  he  studied  in 
Guthrie’s  arithmetic,  in  a neat  old-fashioned 
hand,  which  is  an  excellent  example  of  pen- 
manship. This  record,  presented  by  Mr.  Cald- 
well, begins  with  simple  fractions,  then  the 
rule  of  three  and  the  universal  rule  of  propor- 
tion and  many  examples  of  practice.  This 
record  would  do  credit  to  the  modern  school- 
teacher, and  the  editor  doubts  if  many  of  the 
school-teachers  of  Boone  county  could  make  a 
neater  record.  Mr.  Caldwell  was  brought  up  a 
pioneer  farmer  and  married  in  Nicholas  coun- 
ty, Ky. , at  the  age  of  twenty-five,  March  19, 
1829,  Martha,  daughter  of  Edward  and  Mary 
(Stephenson)  Cresswell,  and  they  were  the  par- 
ents of  four  children,  all  born  in  Kentucky,  as 
follows  ; Elmira  A.,  who  married  Samuel  Bee- 
man  and  bore  nine  children;  Edward  T. , mar- 
ried Elizabeth  Padget,  six  children;  Mary, 
married  William  Powell,  no  children;  Martha, 
married  William  Partner,  three  children. 
After  marriage,  Mr.  Caldwell  settled  on  a 
farm  in  Nicholas  county,  and  resided  there 
fourteen  years,  and  in  1843  moved  to  Indiana 


210 


MKXIKAPIIIC’AL  IIISTOK  V 


and  settled  in  lloone  county,  where  he  had 
entered  480  acres  of  land,  November  2,  1833, 
and  where  his  pjesent  farm  is  located,  and 
most  of  wliicli  is  now  occu])ied  by  his  descend- 
ants. Mr.  Caldwell  paid  $1.25  per  acre  for 
this  land,  and  about  fifteen  years  since  he  sold 
a black  walnut  tree  which  paid  for  forty  acres 
of  land.  At  one  time  he  owned  720  acres, 
and  after  dividinj^  about  500  acres  among  his 
grandchildren,  he  still  retains  100  acres  as  the 
home  farm.  Mr.  Caldwell  cleared  up  his 
farm  from  the  ’'eavy  timber  covering  it  by 
hard  work  and  great  industry,  making  a fine 
farm,  which  he  improved,  and  on  which  he 
built  a substantial,  commodious  residence  and 
other  farm  buildings,  and  prosperity  attended 
his  efforts.  In  political  opinions,  Mr.  Cald- 
well is  a republican,  and  in  religious  belief  a 
Presbyterian;  in  which  church  he  was  a deacon 
for  several  years.  Mrs.  Caldwell  was  als(3  a 
member  of  the  same  church.  Mr.*  Caldwell 
has  now  about  sixteen  grandchildren,  thirty 
great-grandchildren,  and  one  great-great- 
grand  child.  He  held  a family  reunion  at  his 
residence  on  Wednesday,  March  21,  1894, 

and  many  of  his  descendants  attended  on  this 
enjoyable  cjccasion. 

John  A.  Caldwell,  grandson  of  above,  is  a 
practical  and  j)rogressive  farmer  of  Center 
townshij),  and  son  of  Edward  T.  He  was 
born  June  18,  i860,  on  the  farm  adjoining  the 
corporation  of  Lebanon,  and  part  of  the  old 
homestead.  He  received  a common  school 
education  in  the  public  schools  of  Lebanon, 
and  married  Cornelia  Waugh,  Sejitember  19, 
1882,  daughter  of  Daniel  and  Jfmily  (Deasley) 
Waugh.  To  Mr.  Caldwell  and  wife  one  child, 
Clyde  i).,  was  born  August  4,  [886.  Mr.  C-ald- 
well  owns  98  55-100  acres  of  fertile  farming 
land  adjoining  Lebanon,  on  which  he  has  made' 
fine  improvements.  Doth  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Cald- 
W(.'ll  are  mcndx'is  of  the  Presbyterian  church. 
Politically  he  is  a rejiublican;  fraternally,  a K. 


of  P. , Lebanon  lodge.  No.  45,  and  has  filled 
the  chair  of  vice-chancellor.  He  is  also  a 
member  of  the  A.  O.  U.  W. , Lebanon  lodge. 
No.  III.  His  father,  Edward  T. , was  a sub- 
stantial farmer  and  member  of  the  Presbyterian 
church.  He  is  recently  deceased,  leaving  six 
children — John  A.,  Albert  M.,  Annie  M., 
Martha}.,  David  A. , Jr. , and  Eddie  M.  Samuel 
Waugh,  the  father  of  Mrs.  Caldwell,  is  a ma- 
chinist now  in  the  Brightwood  shops,  Ind.  He 
is  a man  of  excellent  character,  and  was  at 
one  time  justice  of  the  peace.  John  A.  Cald- 
well is  an  extensive  breeder  of  fine  Poland 
China  hogs,  and  is  widely  known  in  this  busi- 
ness in  Boone  county.  He  is  a practical  and 
straightforwartl  man. 


OHN  W.  CALDWELL,  a leading 
farmer,  and  also  an  old  soldier  of  Har- 
rison township,  Boone  county,  Ind.,  is 
of  Irish-Eiench  de.sccnt,  but  traces  his 
antecedents  in  America  anterior  to  the  Revo- 
lutionary war.  His  great-grandfather  on  the 
paternal  side  was  a settler  in  the  Old  Dominion 
long  prior  to  that  struggle,  and  his  maternal 
grandfather  (Samuel  Scott)  took  actual  part  in 
several  battles  during  the  heroic  and  sanguin- 
ary conflict.  His  paternal  grandfather,  John 
Caldwell,  was  born  in  \'irginia,  was  reared  to 
agriculture,  and  married  Miss  Clayboiirne,  and 
to  their  union  were  born  the  following  children: 
'riiomas,  Henry,  Seth,  John,  Sarah  E.  and 
Levicia.  The  first  named  of  these,  Thomas, 
the  father  of  the  subject  of  this  sketch,  was 
born  in  \'irginia  in  October,  1799,  and  came 
to  Indiana  in  1834,  settling  three  miles  north 
of  jamestown,  Jackson  township,  in  Boone 
county.  He  married  Rachel  Scott,  daughter 
of  Samuel  and  Alice  (Muncie)  Scott,  a bio- 
graghical  notice  of  whom  is  given  iii  the  sketch 
of  Ccorge  Mk  Scott,  to  lu'  found  on  another 
page,  to  which  the  attention  of  the  reader  is 


OF  HOONE  COUNTY. 


247 


W' 


respectfully  called.  The  children  born  to 
Thomas  and  Rachel  Caldwell  were  named 
Nancy,  Mary,  Nathaniel  S.,  Ruth,  John  , 
Reuben,  Jane,  Elizabeth  and  Alice.  Thomas 
Caldwell  owned  a well-improved  farm  of  i i i 
acres,  and  was  a solid  and  respected  citizen. 
He  and  wife  were  worthy  members  of  the 
Methodist  church,  in  which  he  was  for  many 
years  a class-leader,  and  they  died  in  1875  and 
1877,  respectively. 

John  W.  Caldwell  was  born  in  Boone 
county,  Ind.,  Maixh  23.  1835,  o”  the  home 
farm.  He  received  a very  good  common  En- 
gli^ih  education  and  learned  the  carpenter’s 
trade,  at  which  he  became  an  expert,  and  fol- 
lowed it  as  a vocation  for  four  years,  when  he 
married,  March  2,  1856,  Miss  Martha  J. 

Moore,  daughter  of  Robert  and  Margaret  (Jen- 
kins)  Moore.  Robert  Moore  was  a farmer  and 
: accumulated  a handsome  property;  in  politics 

I he  was  first  an  old-line  whig,  but  later  became 

' a republican.  Both  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Moore  were 

I devout  Presbyterians.  To  Mr.  and  Ivfrs. 

Caldwell  have  been  born  the  following  chil- 
i dren,  in  the  order  named:  Ira,  James,  Oliver, 
Charles,  Rachel,  Thomas  E.,  Mattie,  Eliza- 
beth and  Robert  L.  From  1862  to  1865  Mr. 
Caldwell  was  a member  of  the  Home  guard 
: and  was  twice  called  out — once  to  drive  out 

John  Morgan’s  raiders,  and  once  to  suppress  a 
i riot  in  Jackson  township,  in  which  six  men 
were  captured  and  taken  to  Indianapolis.  He 
f enlisted  in  defense  of  the  Union  at  Indiana- 

: polis,  March  i,  1865,  in  company  G,  Eleventh 

I Indiana  volunteer  infantry.  Two  months  were 

j passed  in  Fort  Marshall  in  drilling  and  doing 

Scamp  and  guard  duty,  and  the  next  four 
months  at  Fort  McHenry  in  similar  exercises 
ij  and  discipline.  At  the  latter  fort,  however,  he 

; was  confined  to  the  hospital  by  sickness  for  a 

j month,  having  first  had  a severe  sunstroke, 

! which  was  followed  by  an  attack  of  remittent 

, fever.  He  was  still  at  the  hospital,  suffering 


from  the  last-named  illness,  when,  peace  hav- 
ing been  declared  in  the  interval,  his  regiment 
returned  home  and  left  him  there  to  be  nursed 
back  to  health.  He  eventually  recovered  and 
was  sent  home;  he  was  allowed  a pension  of 
$4  per  month,  which  has  never  been  increased. 
In  1866,  Mr.  Caldwell  bought  eighty  acres  of 
his  present  farm,  and  by  judicious  management 
and  properly  applied  industry  soon  transformed 
the  wilderness  and  frog  pond  into  blooming 
and  fertile  fields  and  the  log  cabins  into  hand- 
some farm  buildings.  He  has  added  to  his 
original  tract  of  eighty  acres,  until  he  now 
owns  125  acres,  all  well  drained  and  tilled. 
Politically,  Mr.  Caldwell  is  a republican,  and 
fraternally  is  a member  of  Rich  Mountain  post. 
No.  42,  G.  A.  R.,  at  Lebanon,  Ind.  He  and 
wife  are  members  of  the  Methodist  church, 
which  they  support  liberally  by  their  influence 
and  generally  aid  with  their  means,  and  both 
stand  deservedly  high  with  their  neighbors  as 
descendants  of  old  American  families,  valuable 
citizens  and  Christian  people. 


S.  CALDWELL,  the  efficient  trust- 
ee of  Jackson  township,  is  a native 
of  Lee  county,  Va.,  where  his  birth 
occurred  on  the  third  day  of  April, 
1832.  His  grandfather,  William  Caldwell, 
also  a native  of  the  Old  Dominion,  emigrated 
to  Kentucky  a number  of  years  ago  and  died 
there  at  a ripe  old  age.  Thomas  Caldwell, 
father  of  N.  S.,  was  born  in  Giles  county,  Va., 
October  12,  1799,  emigrated  westward  in 

1834,  and  settled  in  Boone  county,  Ind.,  lo- 
cating in  Jackson  township,  where  he  pur- 
chased land  and  engaged  in  farming.  Later 
he  disposed  of  his  original  purchase  and  bought 
other  lands,  which  he  improved,  and  at  the 
time  of  his  death,  July  13,  1873,  was  the 
owner  of  i i i acres,  the  greater  part  under 


I^>  I ( )( J R A PI  1 1 C AL  III  STORY 


IMS 


cultivation.  Rachel  Scott,  wife  of  Thomas 
('aldvvell,  was  born  June  22,  1799,  in  Virginia, 
and  was  the  daughter  of  Samuel  and  Alice 
(Muncie)  Scott,  natives  of  the  same  state, 
where  the  ancestors  of  the  family  settled  at  a 
a period  antedating  the  war  of  Independence, 
in  which  struggle  Samuel  Scott  bore  a con- 
spicuous part.  To  Thomas  and  Rachel  Cald- 
well were  horn  the  following  children  in  the 
order  named:  Nancy,  Mary  A.,  Nathaidel  S., 
Ruth,  John  \\7,  Reuben,  Jane,  Elizabeth, 
and  Alice.  In  an  early  day  the  home  of 
Thomas  Caldwell  was  a favorite  stopjung 
place  for  all  itinerant  Methodist  preachers  of 
central  Indiana,  and  it  was  at  his  house  that 
some  of  the  first  religious  meetings  ever  held 
in  Jackson  township  were  conducted.  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  Caldwell  were  devoted  Christians, 
and  in  the  original  organization  of  the  old 
Ebenezer  M.  E.  church  their  names  appear  as 
charter  members.  They  were  both  very  j'op- 
ular  among  the  neighbors,  and  few  citizens  of 
Jackson  township  were  held  in  as  high  esteem 
by  the  general  public  as  they.  Mrs.  Caldwell 
was  called  from  the  scene  of  her  earthl}'  labors 
in  the  month  of  November,  1H75. 

Nathaniel  S.  Caldwell  was  brought  to 
Boone  county  when  quite  young.  His  early 
educational  advantages  were  such  as  the  in- 
different country  schools  at  that  time  affcualed, 
but  such  was  his  diligence  and  ap])lication 
that  within  a few  years  he  had  made  sufficient 
j)rogress  to  enable  him  to  teach,  which  calling 
he  followed  for  some  time  in  Jackson  town- 
ship, where  he  earned  the  reputation  of  a very 
careful  and  j)ainstaking  instructor.  Actuatc'd 
by  a laudable  desire'  to  increase  his  scholastic 
knowledge,  Mr.  Caldwell  snbseipu'iitly  |)ursued 
his  studies  for  a limited  period  i:i  Wabash  col- 
lege, Crawfordsville,  Ind.,  and  aftc-rward, 
about  the  year  1S59,  was  appointed  a member 
of  the  board  of  examiners,  whose  duty  it  was 
to  license  teachers  for  the  schools  of  Boone 


county,  the  duties  of  which  position  he  dis- 
charged very  satisfactorily  until  1861.  In 
matters  educational  Mr.  Caldwell  has  always 
manifested  great  interest,  and  to  him,  as  much 
as  to  any  other  man,  are  the  schools  of  Boone 
county  indebted  for  much  of  the  efficiency  for 
which  they  have  been  noted  in  past  years.  In 
addition  to  the  official  position  mentioned,  Mr. 
Caldwell  at  different  times  has  been  called  to 
fill  other  places  of  trust,  among  which  were 
those  of  justice  of  the  peace  ainl  trustee, 
being  the  present  incumbent  of  the  latter 
office.  As  a public  servant  he  has  alwav'S  been 
noted  for  fideilty,  and  against  his  official 
record  no  breath  of  suspicion  was  ever  knowm 
to  have  been  uttered.  Mr.  Caldwell  is  a self- 
made  man  in  all  the  term  implies,  and  the 
beautiful  farm  he  now  owns,  supplied  with  all 
modern  improvements  and  the  latest  agricul- 
tural appliances,  represents  the  fruits  of  his 
unaided  industry  and  well-directed  business 
thrift.  He  began  life  for  himself  with  little  or 
no  financial  assistance,  working  as  a common 
laborer  for  the  insignificant  sum  of  fifty  cents 
a day,  yet  from  this  scanty  remuneration  he 
laid  by  sufficient  to  enable  him  to  accpiire  a 
good  education,  beside  laying  the  corner- 
stone of  his  present  position  as  a leading 
farmer  and  successful  man  of  affairs.  His 
farm,  a model  in  many  respects,  consists  of 
1 20  acres  of  very  valuable  and  highly  im- 
proved land;  he  believes  in  maintaining  the 
dignity  of  his  calling,  and  it  is  with  pleasure 
that  his  name  is  presented  to  the  readers  of 
this  volume  as  one  of  the  representative  men 
(d  the  county  of  Boone.  He  is  a democrat  in 
polities,  and  as  such  wields  a I'otent  inihiencc 
tor  his  parlv,  for  the  success  of  which  he  has 
labon'd  earnestly  in  many  camiiaigns,  both 
local  and  national.  Mr.  Caldwell  wuis  mar- 
ried in  I'ebruary,  1857,  to  Miss  I'ranccs 
Canada,  daughter  of  David  and  Atartha 
(Ringj  Cana<la,  to  which  union  the  following 


OF  BOONE  COUNTY. 


249 


children  liave  been  born;  Thomas  J.,  David, 
killed  by  lightning  May  iC,  1871,  John  M. 
and  Charles  E.  Caldwell. 


a ALE  CANADA  is  one  of  the  leading 
fanners  of  Jackson  township,  Boone 
county,  Ind.,  and  is  of  English  de- 
scent. His  grandfather,  David  Can- 
ada, came  to  Indiana  from  North  Carolina 
when  a young  man,  and  in  1831  assisted  in  the 
organization  of  Boone  county,  where  he  had 
entered  160  acres  of  land.  He  had  served  in 
the  war  of  1812,  and  for  gallant  conduct  was 
brevetted  colonel.  He  first  married,  in  Boone 
county,  Martha  Rugg,  and  had  born  to  him  the 
following-named  children;  David,  Solomon, 
Caleb  and  William.  For  his  second  wife  he 
chose  Patsy  Dwiggins.  He  was  a trader  in 
horses,  and  made  several  trips  back  to  his 
native  state  in  the  interest  of  this  traffic.  He 
was  a Jeffersonian  democrat  in  his  politics. 
His  son  William,  the  father  of  Cale  Canada, 
was  born  in  Boone  county  and  was  a great 
hunter.  He  married  Nancy  Martin,  daughter 
of  John  Martin,  and  had  born  to  him  the  fol- 
lowing family;  Solomon,  Mary,  Cale,  Nancy, 
George,  Catharine,  David  and  Margaret  C. 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  W'illiam  Canada  were  charter 
members  of  the  first  Methodist  church  estab- 
lished in  Jackson  township,  of  which  Mr.  Can- 
ada was  a trustee,  and  he  also  hewed  every 
log  that  was  used  in  the  erection  of  the  first 
church  edifice  by  that  congregation.  He  died 
in  this  faith,  and  his  remains  were  laid  to  rest 
in  the  Mount  Zion  cemetery. 

Cale  Canada  was  born  April  12,  1844,  in 
Boone  county,  Ind.,  and  when  young  was  in- 
ured to  toil.  July  22,  1863,  he  eidisted  in 
company  G,  One  Hundred  and  Sixteenth  Indi- 
ana volunteer  infantry,  but  was  transferred 
from  Indiana  to  Michigan  for  three  weeks;  was 
then  sent  to  Dayton,  Ohio;  then  to  Cumber- 


land Gap;  was  in  the  battle  of  Tazewell,  Tenn., 
and  in  several  severe  skirmishes;  was  at  Green- 
ville, Tenn. ; at  Watkins’  Ford  the  battle  lasted 
a day  and  a half,  and  he  had  to  wade  the  river 
in  early  spring;  while  the  weather  was  yet  cold, 
but  the  enemy  was  compelled  to  retreat.  I'rom 
this  chilly  wading,  however,  a severe  cold  re- 
sulted, and  Mr.  Canada  was  confined  by  it  to 
the  hospital  for  two  weeks  and  was  unfitted  for 
further  duty  until  after  his  honorable  discharge, 
March  i,  1864,  by  Capt.  J.  R.  Ashmead,  of 
company  E,  Forty-second  Indiana  volunteer 
infantry.  July  21,  1865,  Mr.  Canada  became 
a recruit  of  the  Forty-second  regiment,  and 
was  transported  from  the  field,  via  the  ocean, 
to  Wilmington,  N.  C.,  where  the  detachment 
of  4,000  men  were  landed,  most  of  them  hav- 
ing suffered  from  sea-sickness.  Immediately 
they  had  a fight  south  of  Raleigh,  N.  C.  Here 
a shell  exploded  and  tore  off  a wheel  from  a 
wagon  under  which  Mr.  Canada  was  lying, 
blew  the  wagon  all  to  pieces,  but  did  not  injure 
him.  He  was  then  engaged  in  daily  skirmish- 
ing for  two  months  and  on  picket  duty  nearly 
every  night,  and  in  foraging  for  meat  at  inter- 
vals, and  in  the  performance  of  the  latter  duty 
met  with  many  humorous,  as  well  as  many 
dangerous,  adventures. 

Mr.  Canada  was  united  in  marriage  Novem- 
ber 22,  1866,  with  Miss  Maggie  C.,  daughter 
of  Benjamin  and  Hannah  Levvis — the  former 
a prosperous  farmer  of  Boone  county  and  the 
owner  of  a good  farm  of  1 26  acres.  The 
grandfather  of  Mrs.  Canada,  Charles  Lewis, 
entered  this  farm,  cleared  and  improved  it. 
He  was  a soldier  in  the  Revolutionary  war  and 
a prominent  citizen  of  Montgomery  county, 
Ind. ; he  married  Nancy  Adams,  who  bore  him 
the  following  children;  Washington,  Fielding, 
Benjamin,  John  W.,  Charles,  Preston,  Sarah 
and  Frankie.  He  came  from  North  Carolina 
to  Boone  county,  Ind.,  in  an  early  day;  here 
he  has  accumulated  200  acres  of  land  for  him- 


HKXJRAPIITCAL  HISTORY 


2h() 


self,  and  j;iven  to  all  his  children  ci^dity  acres 
apiece.  He  and  his  wife  died  in  the  MethcKl- 
ist  faith,  and  in  jiolitics  Mr.  Lewis  was  an  old- 
line  whig.  Henjaniin  Lewis,  son  cjf  Charles 
Lewis  and  father  of  Mrs.  Canada,  was  born  in 
North  Carolina  and  came  to  Indiana  when 
small.  lly  his  marriage  with  Hannah  Hudson 
he  became  the  father  of  the  following  children : 
Nancy,  who  died  at  the  age  of  ten  years;  Whl- 
liam;  Lucinda;  Maggie;  John  and  Melissa. 
Mr.  C'anada  bought  his  present  farm  of  fifty- 
si.x  acres  in  1883  and  made  all  the  improve- 
ments, including  a substantial  frame  house, 
barn,  fencing  and  ditching.  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
('anada  are  members  of  the  Methodist  church; 
both  have  taught  classes  in  the  Sunday  school 
and  both  take  an  active  interest  in  church  and 
Sunday  school  work.  In  jiolitics  Mr.  Canada  | 
is  an  ardent  republican.  He  is  a member  of 
the  Henry  Howard  post,  C.  A.  R.,  No.  449, 
and  also  a member  of  K.  of  P.  lodge.  No.  294, 
at  New  Ross.  Mrs.  Canada  is  a member  of 
the  Pythian  Sisters  Temple,  No.  74,  and  is  a 
trustee  of  the  same  order.  Both  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Canada  stand  deservedly  high  in  the  commu- 
nity in  which  they  have  so  long  resided  and 
their  amiable  children  — Mollie  K.  and  Belle 
Icmmert  -are  e(pially  well  thought  of  by  their 
neighbors.  Mollie  K.  has  been  a teacher  in 
the  Sabbath  school  for  some  time  past,  and  is 
the  present  secretary.  Belle  Emmert  was 
formerly  a teacher  and  is  the  e.x-secretary,  and 
both  are  highly  intelligent  and  accomplished 


ICHAIcL  MILES  CARRIC.EJL  of 
■ I ■ Ward,  Jackson  townshij),  Boone 
V £ ^ county,  Ind.,  is  a leading  citizen 
and  a native  of  the  township.  He 
was  born  b'ebruary  20,  1852,  and  his  proxi- 
mate genealogy  is  as  follows:  His  great- 

grandfather, John  Carriger,  canu'  from  Ci-r- 
many  and  settled  in  Pennsylvania  anterior  to 


the  Revolutionary  war.  John,  son  of  the 
above  and  grandfather  of  M.  M.  Cirriger, 
moved  from  Pennsylvania  to  Carter  county, 
Tenn.,  and  there  was  a successful  farmer. 
He  had  born  to  him  the  following-named 
children  : George  M.,  Godfrey,  Elliot,  Chris- 
topher, !\[ichael,  James,  David,  John  J.,  and 
Nancy  J.  The  eldest  of  this  family,  George 
M.,  was  the  father  of  the  subject  of  this  sketch. 
He  was  born  in  Tennessee  Eebruary  i i,  181  i, 
was  reared  a farmer,  but  later  became  a noted 
school-teacher  in  Sullivan  county,  Ind.  In 
that  comity  he  ivas  married,  August  15,  1838, 
to  Miss  Sarah  I).,  daughter  of  James  and 
Elizabeth  (Noton)  George.  It  was  in  that 
year,  1838,  that  George  M.  came  to  Indiana 
and  entered  160  acres  of  land  in  the  county 
named  above.  He  resided  there  until  he  came 
to  Boone  county,  where  he  had  bought  160 
acres  of  land  as  far  back  as  the  year  of  his 
marriage.  Later  on,  he  brought  his  family 
to  Boone,  and  increased  his  landed  estate  to 
470  acres — being  one  of  the  largest  land  own- 
ers of  Jackson  township.  In  1856  he  retired 
to  town,  and  at  his  death,  March  10,  1891, 
left  his  children  about  $1,800  each.  He  was 
very  liberal  iu  his  aid  to  the  Methodist  church, 
of  which  he  and  wife  were  members,  and  was 
untiring  in  his  efforts  to  promote  the  cause  of 
j education.  His  remains  were  interred  in  the 
Brockway  cemetery,  and  were  followed  to 
their  last  resting  place  by  a procession  of 
friends  and  neighbors  who  were  sincere  mour- 
ners of  his  loss. 

Michael  M.  Garriger  was  well  educated  iu 
] his  youth  at  the  graded  schools  of  Bainbridge 
and  Kokomo,  Ind.,  and  later  taught  school  iu 
Putnatn  county,  Ind.,  with  much  success,  and 
during  all  his  mature  lifetime  has  been  an  active 
worker  in  the  cause  of  education  for  the  poor, 
as  well  as  the  rich,  on  the  basis  of  making  the 
school-house  doors  open  to  all  alike,  free  of 
charge,  and  has  done  much  toward  the  im- 


OF  BOONE  COUNTY 


251 


provenient  of  the  already  excellent  school  sys- 
tem of  the  state. 

Mr.  Carriger  was  most  happily  married, 
I'ehruary  19,  1879,  to  Miss  Emma  Heath, 
daughter  of  James  and  Elizabeth  (Nealj  Heath, 
the  former  of  whom  was  a leading  farmer  of 
Center  township,  Boone  county,  but  is  now 
deceased.  To  the  union  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Car- 
riger  have  been  born  the  following-named  chil- 
dren: M.  Catherine,  Eouise,  Jane,  Parley, 
Samuel,  Anna,  Bookie  and  James  Morton. 
After  his  marriage  Mr.  Carriger  settled  on  a 
farm  of  iio  acres  in  Jackson  township,  and 
this  plot  of  land  he  has  converted  into  a ter- 
restrial Elysium.  He  is  thoroughly  skilled  in 
the  science  of  agriculture — and  it  may  w'ell  be 
called  a science — and  by  his  close  attention  to  his 
vocation  has  accumulated  so  fair  a proportion 
of  this  world’s  wealth  as  to  place  him  beyond 
the  cares  and  asperities  of  ordinary  human  ex- 
istence. Mr.  Carriger  is  highly  educated  and 
has  an  inborn  fondness  for  books.  He  is  well 
posted  in  modern  as  well  as  ancient  history, 
and  the  current  literature  of  the  better  class 
claims  much  of  his  attention. 


OHN  CARROLE,  a prominent  farmer 
and  influential  citizen  of  Marion 
township,  Boone  county,  Ind.,  is 
descended,  paternally,  from  sturdy 
Scotch-Irish  ancestors  and  traces  his  geneaol- 
ogy  back  to  his  grandfather,  William  Car- 
roll,  who  came  to  the  United  States  prior  to 
the  war  of  Independence,  in  which  struggle 
he  bore  an  active  and  prominent  part. 
William  Carroll  lived  to  an  advanced  age  and 
left  a family,  one  member  of  which--- James 
Carroll,  father  of  the  immediate  subject  of 
this  mention---was  born  March  19,  1789,  in 
Northumberland  county,  Pa.,  where  he  grew 


to  manhood  and  where,  on  the  fourth  day  of 
March,  1816,  he  was  united  in  marriage  to 
Miss  Lucy  Gregory.  Mrs.  Lucy  Carroll  was 
born  September  12,  1798,  in  Allegany  county, 
N.  Y. , the  daughter  of  William  and  Lucy 
Gregory,  and  bore  her  husband  the  following 
children:  Elizabeth,  born  October  24,  1816; 
William,  born  May  5,  1819;  Moses,  born  April 
20,  1821;  Jane,  born  July  28,  1823;  Phebe, 
born  January  30,  1826;  Ellis,  born  August  6, 
1828;  Ann,  born  June  10,  1831;  Malinda, 

born  October  30,  1833;  John,  born  April  8, 
1836;  Miranda,  born  April  24,  1839;  Alonzo, 
born  March  i,  1843;  all  but  two  of  whom, 
Malinda  and  Miranda,  grew  to  years  of 
maturity,  but  at  this  time  all  are  dead  except 
the  ^subject  of  this  sketch.  The  mother  of 
these  children,  a most  excellent  Christian 
lady,  departed  this  life  the  17th  of  November, 
in  the  year  1864;  and  the  father  was  called 
from  the  scenes  of  his  earthly  labors  at  a 
good  old  age.  May  28,  1873.  For  a number 
of  years  James  Carroll  was  an  active  and 
influential  member  of  the  Baptist  church,  the 
principles  of  which  he  exemplified  in  his 
daily  walk  and  conversation,  and  he  is  re- 
membered as  a man  of  the  utmost  probity  in 
the  community  where  he  resided.  Before 
going  to  New  York,  he  followed  agricultural 
pursuits,  and  in  the  latter  state  he  purchased 
a small  farm,  which  he  disposed  of  in  1838 
and  emigrated  to  Indiana,  locating  near  the 
town  of  Zionsville,  Boone  county.  Subse- 
quently he  became  the  possessor  of  a tract  of 
land  near  Elizaville,  purchasing  his  first  farm 
in  that  locality,  consisting  of  forty  acres,  for 
the  sum  of  three  hundred  dollars. 

John  Carroll,  whose  name  introduces  this 
mention,  was  born  in  the  year  1836,  in  Alle- 
gany county,  N.  Y.,  and  when  two  years  of 
age  was  brought  to  Indiana,  where  he  grew  to 
manhood  amid  the  stirring  scenes  of  pioneer 
times.  His  early  educational  training  was  re- 


BIOGRAPIITCAL  HISTORY 


ceived  in  the  pioneer  log  school-house,  a 
structure  familiar  in  those  days,  and  he  recalls 
with  pleasure  the  time  passed  within  the  walls 
of  the  rude  building,  the  furinture  of  which  con- 
sisted of  a few  split  pole  benches,  a rough 
hoard  fastened  to  the  wall  for  a desk,  and 
j)uncheon  floors,  the  whole  lighted  by  a win- 
dow made  by  removing  a log  from  the  wall,  in 
which  greased  paper  was  placed  in  lieu  of 
glass.  His  school  days  were  by  no  means 
many,  as  he  was  obliged  to  work  early  and 
late  in  the  field  and  clearing,  and,  while  still  a 
mere  boy,  his  share  of  the  work  in  bringing 
the  farm  under  cultivation  was  considerable. 
On  the  seventh  day  of  October,  1858,  Mr. 
Carroll  entered  into  the  marriage  relation  with 
Miss  Rebecca  Hnglish,  a descendant  of  an  old 
Scotch  fandly,  several  members  of  which  came 
to  the  United  States  in  an  early  day  and  set- 
tled in  Kentucky.  From  that  state  Mrs. 
Carroll's  grandjiarents,  Andrew  and  Martha 
(Porter)  English,  emigrated  to  South  Caro- 
lina; thence  in  an  early  day  came  to  Indiana, 
settling  in  the  county  of  Boone.  Mrs.  Car- 
roll's  parents,  James  H.  and  Jane  (Maze)  Eng- 
lish, reared  a family  consisting  of  the  following 
children — Isabell,  Elizabeth,  Rebecca,  Samuel 
B.,  Andrew  E. , and  Rachel  A.,  all  but  one  of 
whom  grew  to  maturity  and  became  heads  of 
families. 

After  their  marriage,  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Carroll 
inovetl  to  a piece  of  woodland  in  Boone  county, 
where,  by  industry  and  the  practice  of  most 
rigid  economy,  a farm  was  in  due  time  cleared, 
ui)on  which,  with  the  e.xception  of  about  one 
year,  their  lives  have  since  been  passed.  Mr. 
Carroll’s  original  ])urchase  consisted  of  eighty 
acres,  and  the  dwelling  in  which  he  began 
housekeeping  was  a log  cabin  of  the  most 
])rimitive  j)attern,  with  stick  chimney,  puncheon 
floor,  dirt  luuirth,  while  the  housi'hold  furni- 
ture and  utensils  wiu'e  of  the  rudest  kind, 
nearly  everything  then  in  use  being  of  home 


manufacture.  Mr.  Carroll’s  early  life  was  one 
of  toil,  and  privations  not  a few  beset  him  upon 
every  hand  for  several  years  after  beginning 
work  in  the  forest  home.  Within  a reason- 
able length  of  time,  he  was  able  to  increase  the 
area  of  his  landed  prcjperty,  and,  at  this  time, 
he  is  the  possessor  of  313  acres  of  valuable 
real  estate,  all  of  which  represent  the  fruits  of 
his  industry  and  well-directed  business  energy. 
His  home  farm  is  a model  in  many  respects, 
having  good  buildings,  fences,  etc.,  while  the 
fertility  has  been  greatly  enhanced  by  a suc- 
cessful system  of  tile  drainage,  consisting  of 
over  6,000  rods,  the  entire  place  bespeaking 
the  presence  of  a thrifty  farmer  and  intelli- 
gent man  of  affairs. 

In  addition  to  general  farming  Mr.  Carroll 
pays  considerable  attention  to  the  raising  of 
live  stock,  making  a specialty  of  fine  cattle  and 
hogs,  always  keeping  a number  of  superior 
breeds  on  his  place.  In  April,  1865,  Mr.  Car- 
roll  entered  the  service  of  his  country  as  a 
member  of  company  G,One  Hundred  and  Fifty- 
fourth  Indiana  infantry,  with  which  he  served 
until  discharged  at  the  close  of  the  war,  his 
regiment  seeing  its  only  service  in  the  Shenan- 
doah valley,  \"a. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Carroll  have  not  been  blessed 
with  any  children  of  their  own,  but  in  a true 
spirit  of  charity  have  at  different  times  afforded 
homes  for  children  of  relatives  and  others,  and 
those  thus  assisted  have  grown  up  to  call  their 
benefactors  blessed.  As  a citizen,  few  men  of 
Boone  county  stand  higher  in  the  estimation  of 
the  public  than  Mr.  Carroll,  and  he  is  noted  as 
being  an  active  iiromoter  of  all  movements 
having  for  their  object  the  moral  well-being  of 
the  community.  b'or  a numher  of  years  he 
has  been  actividy  identified  with  the  United 
Presbyterian  church,  and  theC.  A.  R.  finds  in 
him  one  of  its  most  enthusiastic  sujiport- 
ers;  his  membership  is  with  Kirklin  post. 
No.  48. 


OF  HOONE  COUNTY. 


ON.  ISAAC  N.  CASTER,  of  Jefferson 
township,  Boone  county,  Ind.,  was 
born  in  Montgomery  county,  Ind., 
July  2 1,  1843,  and  is  a son  of  John 
and  Elizabeth  (Robbins)  Caster,  the  former  of 
whom  was  born  in  Hardin  county,  Ky. , and 
was  a son  of  Isaac  Caster,  a native  of  New 
Jersey,  but  subsequently  a resident  of  Ken- 
tucky and  Indiana,  in  which  last  named  state 
he  died  March  12,  1874.  John  Caster  came 
from  Kentucky  with  his  parents  to  Indiana  and 
was  educated  in  the  pioneer  schools  of  Mont- 
gomery county,  and  here  married  Elizabeth 
Robbins,  a daughter  of  Jared  R.  and  Barbara 
(Carr)  Robbins  and  a native  of  Shelbyville, 
Ky.  John  Caster  was  here  engaged  in  farm- 
ing until  his  death.  May  9,  1863,  in  the  Baptist 
faith;  his  widow  survived  until  August  i 3,  1 868, 
when  she  expired  in  the  faith  of  the  Presbyte- 
rian church.  There  were  born  to  them  five 
children,  named  as  follows:  Abraham,  Isaac 
N.,  Jacob,  Charity  (wife  of  John  Trimble),  and 
Sarah  (wife  of  John  Finch),  all  of  Montgomery 
county,  Ind.  ^ 

Isaac  N.  Caster  was  reared  on  the  home 
farm  and  attended  the  old-fashioned  school- 
house  until  seventeen  years  of  age,  when,  July 
12,  1862,  he  enlisted  in  company  B,  Seventy- 
second  regimen-^,  Indiana  volunteer  infantry, 
under  Capt.  Carr,  and  was  assigned  to  the 
army  of  the  Cumberland.  He  participated  in 
the  battles  of  Stone  River  and  Hoover’s  Gap, 
and,  while  on  the  march  from  Murfreesboro  to 
Glasgow,  was  taken  ill  with  chronic  diarrhoea, 
and  was  confined  six  weeks  in  the  hospital  at 
Murfreesboro;  at  the  end  of  that  period  he  was 
honorably  discharged  from  the  service  on  ac- 
count of  disability,  in  September,  1863.  He 
rested  in  Montgomery  county,  Ind.,  until  June, 
1864,  when,  having  recuperated,  he  enlisted  in 
company  G,  One  Hundred  and  Thirty-fifth 
Indiana  volunteer  infantry,  for  one  hundred 
days,  at  the  end  of  which  time  he  was  again 


258 


honorably  discharged.  In  1868  he  entered 
Wabash  college  and  attended  two  terms.  With 
his  brothers  he  engaged  in  farming  on  the 
home  place  until  1877,  when  he  married,  Feb- 
ruary I,  Miss  Mary  Moore,  who  was  born  in 
Boone  county,  Ind.,  November  7,  1848,  a 
daughterof  William  and  Rebecca  (Ross)  Moore, 
natives  of  Virginia  and  Pennsylvania  respect- 
ivel}'.  On  marrying,  Mr.  Caster  resided  in 
Franklin  township  until  1879,  when  he  came 
to  Boone  county,  Ind. , and  located  on  his 
present  beautiful  farm  of  160  acres,  still  own- 
ing, however,  ninety  acres  in  Montgomery 
county. 

Mr.  Caster  has  for  many  years  been  an 
active  and  ardent  republican,  and  has  always 
been  a favorite  leader  of  his  party.  In  1888 
he  was  elected,  by  a majority  of  600  votes,  to 
the  state  senate  of  Indiana,  and  served  in  the 
sessions  of  1889  and  1891.  While  a member 
of  that  august  body  he  was  active  and  efficient, 
and  introduced  a number  of  important  bills, 
among  them  one  prohibiting  the  sale  of  to- 
bacco, cigarettes,  etc.,  to  boys  under  sixteen 
years  of  age,  and  also  a bill  to  limit  fares  on 
railroads,  etc.,  showing  that  he  had  at  heart 
the  welfare  of  the  entire  community.  In  reli- 
gious faith,  Mr.  Caster  is  a Presbyterian,  and 
fraternally  is  a member  of  the  K.  of  P.  lodge. 
No.  124,  of  Thorntown,  and  of  the  G.  A.  R. 
post.  No.  184,  of  the  same  place.  Asa  farmer 
he  is  the  peer  of  any  agriculturist  in  the  county 
of  Boone.  Socially,  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Caster  en- 
joy the  friendship  of  a wide  circle  of  acquaint- 
ances, and  no  family  in  the  community  is  more 
highly  esteemed. 


OHN  C.  CHAMBERS,  a native  of 
Preble  county,  Ohio,  born  May  28, 
1820,  is  the  son  of  William  and 
Barbara  (Deem)  Chambers,  of  Irish 
extraction.  The  grandfather  of  Mr.  Cham- 


P.IOGRAPIIICAL  HISTORY 


251 


hers  lived  to  the  extraordinary  age  of  one 
hnndred  and  seven  years,  and  logTievity  more 
than  ordinary  seems  to  be  a cdiaracteristic  of 
this  family.  W'illiam  Chambers  came  to 
Indiana  in  1H39  and  located  in  Decatur  county, 
where  he  followed  farming  until  his  death 
in  1H43,  his  wife  dying  the  same  year.  They 
were  the  parents  of  thirteen  children,  named 
as  follows:  Polly,  Darhara,  Catherine,  W'll- 
hehnina,  Jane,  Nancy,  Julia,  Margaret,  Will- 
iam, Joseph,  Alexander  and  Thomas,  all 
deceased,  and  John  C. 

|ohn  C.  Chambers  was  reared  to  manhood 
in  Decatur  county.  In  1848  he  benight  a 
small  farm  in  Tipton  comity,  on  which  he 
lived  a year,  moved  back  to  Decatur  county, 
and  remained  two  years,  and  then  came  to 
Doone  county,  bought  eighty  acres  in  Perry 
township,  and  lived  thereon  until  1882,  when 
he  sold  and  liought  the  forty  acre  tract,  in  the 
same  township,  on  which  he  now  lives  in  re- 
tirement. Mr.  Chambers  was  married  in 
Decatur  county  in  1841  to  Miss  Nancy  Holmes, 
w'ho  was  born  in  Decatur  county,  March  25, 
1825,  a daughter  of  John  C.  and  Rachel 
(Long)  Holmes,  natives,  respectively,  of  \’ir- 
ginia  and  Kentucky.  To  this  union  have  been 
born  eight  children,  viz;  \\’illiam;  Mary,  wife 
of  P.  Shirley;  Sarah,  deceased;  Matilda,  de- 
ceased; George;  Nancy,  deceased;  Maggie, 
deceased,  and  Ida,  wife  of  E.  D.  Worrell. 
Mr.  Chambers  and  his  w ife  are  members  of  the 
Daptist  chnrch,  and  in  ])olitics  he  is  a demo- 
crat. 'Phe  family  is  held  in  the  highest 
esteem  by  the  citizens  of  the  township. 


OSEPH  CLARK,  a prosperous  and  well- 
to-do  farmer  of  Washington  townshij), 
Poone  county,  Ind.,  when'  he  has  been 
most  favorably  known  lor  a number  of 
years,  is  a nati\-e  of  Ripley  county,  Ind.,  and 
dates  his  birth  from  September  16,  1821.  lie 


is  the  son  of  fames  and  Anna  (Hew'ey)  Clark, 
wdio  were  natives  of  Kentucky  and  North 
Carolina  respectively.  They  each  removed  to 
the  state  of  Indiana  while  it  w’as  yet  a territory, 
coming  with  their  people,  and  later  they  were 
married  in  Riple}'  county,  w'hei'e  they  resided 
for  a nnmber  of  years  and  subsequently  removed 
to  fennings  county;  thence  to  Marion  county, 
where  they  resided  until  death.  They  were 
the  parents  of  eight  children,  all  but  one  of 
whom  were  born  in  fennings  county,  and  their 
names  are  as  follows:  Henry,  Nancy  J., 

Janies,  Harriet,  Elizabeth,  Celia,  John,  and 
Joseph,  our  subject,  the  youngest  member  of 
the  family.  James  Clark  and  his  wife  Anna 
were  among  the  pioneers  of  Indiana  and  knew' 
well  the  hardships  and  privations  that  frontier 
life  entailed.  IMr.  Clark  was  also  one  of  the 
first  commissioned  officers  of  the  Indiana  terri- 
tory, being  w'ell  acquainted  with  its  first  gov- 
enor  as  well  as  the  first  governor  of  the  state 
of  Indiana.  He  was  one  of  the  leading  men 
of  the  day,  taking  an  active  part  in  everything 
that  would  lend  a helping  hand  tow'ard  the 
growth  and  development  of  his  adopted  state. 

Joseph  Clark  was  reared  upon  the  home 
farm  and  received  the  advantages  of  the  com- 
mon schools  of  that  day.  W’hen  about  seven- 
teen years  old  Joseph  began  as  an  apprentice 
at  the  tanner's  trade,  wliich  vocation  he  fol- 
lowed for  about  ten  years.  His  marriage  oc- 
curred December  2,  1840,  with  Miss  Eliza  E. 
Clark,  who  was  born  in  Muhlenberg  county, 
Ky. , September  15,  1826,  and  was  a daughter 
of  Archibald  G.  and  Susan  (Alexander)  Clark, 
who  were  also  nati\es  of  Kentucky  and  were 
among  the  very  best  families.  In  about  1848 
foseph  Clark  moved  to  Johnson  county,  Ind., 
wlu're  he  imrchased  land  and  engaged  in  till- 
ing the  soil,  which  vocation  he  has  since 
followed.  In  December,  1863,  he  answer- 
ed to  his  country's  call  by  enlisting  in 
company  H,  Ninth  Indiana  cavalry  of  the 


OF  15O0NE  COUNTY. 


255 


One-Hundred  and  Twenty-first  regiment,  and 
served  until  the  close  of  the  war.  Mr. 
Clark  saw  active  service  from  the  time  he 
entered  the  army  until  he  was  honorably  dis- 
charged, and  no  man  served  more  willingly 
and  honorably  in  behalf  of  the  Union.  He 
returned  to  his  home  in  Johnson  county, 
where  he  resided  until  1881,- at  which  time  he 
removed  to  Boone  county  and  purchased  his 
present  farm  in  Washington  township,  which 
consists  of  100  acres  of  fine  and  well  improved 
land,  on  which  he  has  resided  ever  since.  To 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Clark  have  been  born  ten  chil- 
dren as  follows;  Susan  A.,  James  G. , Delilah 
J.,  Sarah  A.,  William  H.,  Mary  J.,  Emily, 
Thomas  j.,  Ellsworth  and  Frank,  of  whom 
Susan  A.  is  deceased.  Mr.  Clark  is  a member 
of  the  Presbyterian  church  and  is  also  a mem- 
ber of  the  Masonic  order,  while  Mrs.  Clark  is  a 
member  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  church. 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Clark  are  highly  esteemed  citi- 
zens and  have  surrounded  themselves  with  a 
host  of  friends  since  locating  in  Boone  county. 


LOYD  CLEAVER  is  one  of  the  most 
enterprising  and  industrious  farmers 
of  Center  township,  Boone  county, 
Ind.  He  is  one  of  the  energetic  and 
hard-working,  self-made  men  who  are  a com- 
fort to  Boone  county.  Descending  from  an 
old  colonial  Maryland  family,  his  ancestors 
have  been  in  America  for  more  than  200  years. 
His  four  great-grandfathers  were  in  the  war 
of  the  Revolution — one  was  a Cleaver,  one  a 
Simmonds,  one  a Stamsbury  and  one  a Han- 
cock. John  Cleaver,  great  grandfather,  was  a 
physician  from  Maryland,  settled  in  Butler 
county,  Ohio,  near  Hamilton,  coming  from 
Maryland,  and  moved  to  I'ranklin  county,  Ind., 
settling  among  the  pioneers,  where  he  prac- 
ticed medicine  for  many  years  and  rode  as 

many  as  thirty  to  si.xty  miles  to  visit  patients, 
12 


and  was  known  far  and  wide.  He  married 
Miss  Rebecca  Taylor,  of  Baltimore.  John 
Cleaver,  son  of  the  John  mentioned  above,  was 
in  his  eighteenth  year  when  he  entered  the 
American  army,  and  was  about  to  depart  from 
Cincinnati  with  a number  of  other  youths  to 
join  Gen.  Jackson  at  New  Orleans,  when  the 
news  of  peace  arrived,  and  the  boys  returned 
home.  He  afterward  married  Mary,  daughter 
of  Robert  Simmonds,  who  also  came  from  Mary- 
land, where  he  had  a large  plantation.  He  mar- 
ried Sarah  George.  They  were  both  Quakers. 
Robert  Simmonds,  of  English  descent,  was  in 
the  American  navy  in  the  war  for  independence. 
To  John  and  Mary  (Simmonds)  Cleaver  were 
born  nine  children — George,  Samuel,  Henr}^ 
Jane,  Lucinda,  Laura,  Almira,  Helen  and 
Maria.  His  first  wife  died  and  he  married 
Mary  Sealy,  and  they  were  the  parents  of 
John,  Franklin  P. , Richard,  Lucy,  Rebecca, 
Percilla,  Clara  and  Cora.  Mr.  Cleaver  lived 
to  be  over  seventy  years  of  age.  In  political 
opinions  he  was  a Jacksonian  democrat,  and 
died  in  December,  1 874.  He  was  a member  of  the 
Methodist  church,  and  a respected  and  prom- 
inent man  of  Franklin  county,  which  he  rep- 
resented in  the  state  legislature.  George 
Cleaver,  his  son,  and  the  father  of  our  subject, 
was  born  in  Butler  county,  Ohio,  in  1822.  He 
received  a common  education  and  became  a 
farmer.  At  an  early  day  he  went  to  P'ranklin 
county,  Ind.,  with  his  parents,  and  married 
Julia  A.,  daughter  of  John  and  Deborah 
(Stamsbury)  Hancock.  Mr.  Cleaver  passed 
all  the  remainder  of  his  days  in  P'ranklin  coun- 
ty, Ind., where  he  became  a substantial  farmer, 
owning  a good  farm,  upon  which  his  widow 
is  still  residing.  He  and  wife  were  the 
parents  of  seven  children — John,  died  an  in- 
fant, George,  Emma,  Lloyd,  P'red,  Ella,  died 
an  infant,  and  Clement.  Mr.  Cleaver  was 
killed  by  the  falling  of  a tree  while  chopping 
in  the  woods.  He  was  a very  hard-working 


BIOGRAPHICAL  HISTORY 


25() 


pioneer — one  of  those  men  who  assisted  in 
snbduing  the  wilderness,  improving  the  coun- 
try and  making  possible  the  comfortable  homes 
of  to-day.  He  was  always  a democrat  and 
a man  of  character  and  integrity. 

Lloyd  Cleaver  was  born  in  Franklin  ccnmty, 
Ind.,  on  a farm,  July  20,  1854.  He  gained  a 
good  common  school  education,  and  being  an 
excellent  scholar,  he  could  have  received  a 
certificate  as  a teacher  if  he  had  wished,  but 
having  been  reared  to  the  pursuit  of  agricul- 
ture, he  became  a farmer  and  married,  February 
19,  1877,  Mary,  daughter  of  Joseph  and  Caroline 
(Carson)  Clarkson.  Mr.  Clarkson  was  a very 
early  settler  in  Franklin  county,  Ind.,  coming 
with  an  ox-team  and  huge  wagon  from  the  state 
of  Maine.  Mr.  Clarkson  became  a prominent 
and  well-to-do  farmer  and  died  about  twenty 
years  since.  I le  was  a typical  American  pioneer, 
much  respected  by  the  early  settlers  as  a man 
of  sterling  worth.  After  marriage,  Mr.  Cleaver 
remained  four  years  in  Franklin  county,  Ind., 
and  in  February,  1881,  he  came  to  Boone 
county,  and  settled  on  eighty  acres  of  land  on 
the  west  line  of  Center  township,  which  was 
then  covered  with  heavy  timber.  With  ener- 
getic and  hard  labor  he  cut  down  the  trees  of 
the  virgin  forest,  cleared  up  his  fields  and  made 
a good  farm,  and  by  thrift  and  good  manage- 
ment he  bought  more  land,  until  he  now  owns 
120  acres  and  has  as  fine  a farm,  in  as  good  a 
state  of  cultivation,  as  any  in  Boone  count}', 
having  put  in  over  1,700  rods  of  tile  ditching. 
In  1892  he  built  a substantial  and  fine  resi- 
dence. Mr.  Cleaver  is  a progressive  citizen, 
is  a believer  in  good  schools  and  is  educating 
his  children,  of  whom  he  and  wife  have  four 
now  living — Alfred  V.,  Nellie,  Lora  and  Edgar 
E.  Like  his  fathers  before  him,  our  subject 
believes  in  the  principles  of  Jackson  and  Jeffer- 
son .and  is  strongly  democratic.  He  comes 
from  sterling  Revolutionary  stock  on  both 
sides — than  which  there  is  no  better — and  his 


children  may  well  take  an  honest  pride  in  the 
sturdy  ancestry  from,  which  they  spring.  Mr. 
Cleaver  is  an  energetic,  practical,  level-headed 
man,  who,  in  coming  to  Boone  county,  has 
overcome  great  obstacles  to  secure  his  home 
and  become  a responsible  citizen. 


a APT.  THOMAS  A.  COBB. —There  is 
no  better  known  citizen  in  Boone 
county  than  Capt.  Cobb.  He  is  not 
only  a veteran  soldier  of  the  Civil 
war  but  is  one  of  the  early  educators  of  the 
county  and  one  of  the  largest  farmers.  He 
has  been  very  active  politically,  and  wields  no 
small  influence  in  the  populist  party,  of  which 
he  is  one  of  the  leading  spirits.  It  will  not  be 
amiss  to  give  a concise  account  of  the  geneal- 
ogy of  his  family  as  far  as  it  is  known. 
William  Cobb,  the  founder  of  the  family  in 
America,  came  from  London,  England,  about 
the  beginning  of  the  present  century,  as  a 
young,  single  man.  He  was  well  educated 
and  a ship  carpenter  by  trade.  He  settled  in 
Gettysburg,  Adams  county.  Pa.,  and  was  one 
of  the  early  educators  of  that  county.  He 
married  Catherine  Strausbaugh,  of  good 
Pennsylvania-Dutch  stock.  To  them  were 
born---John,  William,  Mary  A.,  Abraham  and 
one  who  died  young.  Abraham  was  a soldier 
in  an  Indiana  regiment  of  volunteer  infantry, 
and  served  one  year.  William  Cobb  moved 
as  a poineer  to  Harrison  county,  Ohio,  about 
181C,  where  he  continued  his  vocation  as  a 
school  teacher  and  resided  until  his  death, 
which  occurred  at  the  venerable  ago  of  eighty 
years.  He  was  a member  of  the  Methodist 
church  and  is  remembered  as  a man  of  just 
character  and  broad  mind.  W'illiam  Cobb, 
his  son  and  the  father  of  Thomas  A.,  was  born 
at  Gettysburg,  Pa.,  b'ebriiary  6th,  1809,  and 
went  with  his  father  to  1 larrison  county,  Ohio, 
when  about  seven  years  of  age,  received  a 


LIBRARY 
OF  m 
OWPOS1TY  (ff 


OF  THE 

UNIVERSITY  Qf  ikyWO!!* 


OF  BOONE  COUNTY. 


26] 


good  common  education,  learned  the  carpen- 
ter trade  and  became  a farmer.  He  married, 
in  Harrison  county,  Ohio,  when  about 
twenty-seven  years  of  age,  Mary,  daughter 
of  Thomas  and  Nancy  (Sheplar)  Cope- 
land, and  to  them  were  born  the  follow- 
ing children— Thomas  .\. , William  F. , Jacob 
S.,  Nancy,  James,  John,  Christina  C.,  Henry, 
Mary  L.  and  Dorothy,  all  born  in  Harri- 
son county,  Ohio,  except  the  last  two, 
who  were  born  in  this  county. 

Mr.  Cobb  bought  land  in  Harrison  county, 
and  resided  there  until  1854,  when  he  came  to 
Boone  county,  and  settled  in  Marion  township 
on  240  acres  of  land  in  section  20.  This  land 
was  covered  by  very  heavy  timber,  and  Mr. 
Cobb,  by  great  labor,  assisted  by  his  sons, 
cleared  up  his  land  and  became  a substantial 
farmer.  He  and  wife  were  members  of  the 
Methodist  church  and  he  filled  all  the  offices 
of  his  church,  in  which  he  was  a prominent 
man.  His  house  was  the  home  of  the  itiner- 
ent  Methodist  preachers  in  the  early  days. 
His  judgment  was  respected,  and  he  was  jus- 
tice of  the  peace  in  his  township  many  years, 
being  universally  known  as  Squire  Cobb.  He 
was  almost  a life-long  justice.  Mr.  Cobb  was 
one  of  the  typical  American  pioneers  of  ster- 
ling virtues.  Self  made  by  his  own  thrift,  he 
accumulated  his  property  and  was  held  in  high 
esteem  for  his  honorable  character.  He  died 
October  i,  1877,  aged  sixty-eight  years.  He 
was  one  of  the  early  friends  of  the  free  school 
in  his  township.  He  was  a promoter  of  tem- 
perance and  good  morals,  and  a liberal  support- 
er of  his  church,  and  assisted  to  build  the 
first  Methodist  church  in  Marion  township. 
Previous  to  this  the  meetings  were  held  at  his 
house,  which,  when  he  first  came  to  the  towm- 
ship,  was  a log  cabin.  One  of  his  sons, 
Henry,  resides  on  the  old  homestead,  and  oc- 
cupies the  residence,  which  was  the  second 
house  built  by  his  father.  Mr.  Cobb  was  a 


war  democrat  of  stanch  fidelity  to  the  Union 
cause,  for  which  three  of  his  sons  fought  as 
soldiers — Capt.  Thomas  A. ; William  F.  was 
in  company  A,  Tenth  regiment  Indiana  volun- 
teer infantry,  as  a filer,  and  was  in  many  bat- 
tles. Jacob  S.  was  in  same  company  as  a 
drummer.  They  were  transferred  to  the  regi- 
mental staff  as  chief  musicians. 

Capt.  Thomas  A.  Cobb  was  born  in  Harri- 
son county,  Ohio,  on  his  father's  farm,  January 
21,  1837,  received  a good  common  education 
in  Ohio  and  afterward  attended  the  Thorn- 
town  academy  and  Duff’s  Mercantile  college 
at  Pittsburg,  Pa.  He  was  seventeen  years  of 
age  when  he  came  to  Boone  county,  Ind., 
with  his  father,  and  greatly  assisted  him  to 
clear  up  his  farm  and  was  early  inured  to  hard 
work.  He  enlisted,  at  the  age  of  twenty- four 
years,  in  company  A,  Tenth  regiment,  Indiana 
volunteer,,  infantry,  at  Lebanon,  August  8, 
1861,  and  was  elected  first  lieutenant  of  his 
company,  and  commissioned  by  Gov.  Morton. 
He  served  three  years  and  one  month  and  was 
honorably  discharged  at  Indianapolis,  Ind., 
September  19,  1864.  The  battles  in  which  he 
fought  were  Mills  Spring,  Pittsburg  Landing, 
Corinth,  Chickamauga  (two  days).  Missionary 
Ridge,  Buzzard’s  Roost,  Resaca,  Kenesaw 
Mountain  and  in  front  of  Atlanta.  During  the 
battle  of  Stone  River,  his  regiment  was 
detached  from  the  Fourteenth  army  corps,  to 
attack  Morgan,  and  encountered  him  at  Rolling 
P'ork,  Ky.  Lieut.  Cobb  was  on  recruiting 
service  for  two  months  in  1862,  and  was  com- 
missioned captain  of  his  company.  After  the 
war  he  resumed  farming  and  married  Julia  A., 
daughter  of  Gotleib  and  Amelia  (Zumphe) 
Wilharm.  Mr.  Wilharm  came  from  Germany 
and  married  in  Hancock  county.  His  wife 
came  from  Germany  in  1835,  with  friends, 
leaving  her  parents  in  Germany.  Mr.  Wilharm 
came  to  Boone  county  in  1845  and  bought  a 
farm  in  Marion  township.  He  was  the  father 


262 


BIOGRAPHICAL  HISTORY 


of  two  children — Augustus  and  Julia  A.  Augus- 
tus was  in  the  Eighty-sixth  regiment,  Indiana 
volunteer  infantry,  and  was  in  the  battle  of 
Stone  River.  He  died  in  the  service.  Mr. 
Wilharm,  like  most  Germans,  was  a stanch 
republican.  He  lived  to  be  about  seventy- 
seven  years  of  ag^..  He  w’as  a good  citizen 
and  prosperous  farmer. 

Capt.  Cobb  has  an  enviable  record  as  a 
leading  educator  of  Boone  county.  He  began 
teaching  in  Marion  township  in  1857.  In  1859 
he  went  to  Missouri,  where  he  taught  school, 
and  returned  to  Marion  township,  and  contin- 
ued to  teach  until  his  enlistment.  After  the 
war,  he  taught  winters  for  six  years  in  his 
home  district.  In  the  spring  of  1865  he  settled 
on  his  present  farm,  which  then  consisted  of 
1 20  acres,  forty  acres  of  which  he  had  pre- 
viously bought  with  his  savings  as  a teacher, 
and  gradually  added  to  his  land  until  now  he 
owns  400  acres,  one  of  the  finest  farm  jmoper- 
ties  in  Boone  county.  Capt.  Cobb  has  made 
his  improvements  from  the  woods,  but  little 
being  cleared  on  the  farm  when  he  bought  it. 
He  set  out  the  orchards,  erected  the  buildings 
and  carefully  drained  the  land.  He  is  now  in 
very  prosperous  circumstances. 

Politically,  he  was  a war  or  Douglas  demo- 
crat, but  voted  for  Greeley  in  1872,  and  after- 
ward for  Peter  Cooper.  He  then  voted  tor 
Benjamin  Harrison  and  is  now  a populist.  He 
takes  an  active  interest  in  politics  and  has 
been  prominently  mentioned  for  state  senator 
and  other  important  offices.  He  is  a member 
of  the  G.  A.  K.,  Rich  Mountain  post,  Leb- 
anon. I'raternally  he  is  a K.  of  P. , Lebanon 
lodge.  The  union  of  Captain  and  Mrs.  Cobb 
has  been  blessed  with  six  children;  Addie  A. 
and  Eva  A.  (twins),  Emma  B.,  George  M., 
'I'homas  A.  and  Julia  E.,  all  living.  They  all 
received  good  educations.  Addie  A.  and  George 
attended  the  academy  at  Westfield,  Ind.  Addie 
married  Samuel  R.  Artman,  a leading  lawyer 


of  Lebanon;  Emma  B.  married  P'rank  Staton, 
a farmer  of  Marion  townshij);  George  M.,  in 
the  insurance  business  at  Muncie,  married 
Maggie  Sanders.  As  a soldier,  Capt.  Cobb 
did  his  duty  effectively  and  cheerfully  and  was 
in  all  the  battles  and  skirmishes  of  his  regi- 
ment, except  Perryville,  when  he  was  home 
on  recruiting  service.  His  name  is  a synonym 
of  integrity  wherever  he  is  known.  He  is  very 
pnblic-spirited,  and  has  always  been  in  favor  of 
good  schools,  and  roads,  and  all  public  im- 
provements. Mrs.  Cobb  died  August  24,  1893, 
of  typhoid  fever,  and  was  buried  in  Mount’s 
Run  church  cemetery,  and  was  followed  to  her 
last  resting  place  by  a large  concourse  of  sor- 
rowing friends.  Mr.  Cobb  was  one  of  the 
originators  of  the  present  agricultural  society 
and  assisted  in  its  organization,  and  has  been 
all  the  time  since  an  official  in  some  capacity, 
and  mostly  general  superintendent,  and  the 
organization  owes  much  of  its  present  prosper- 
ity to  his  careful  and  efficient  management. 


ARTIN  W.  COLE.— The  father  of 
the  subject  of  this  sketch  was 
Thomas  Cole,  who  was  born  in  the 
state  of  Pennsylvania  in  1806,  of 
German  parentage.  He  married  Delilah 
Brandenberg,  to  which  union  were  born  nine 
children,  namely — Madison,  Benjamin,  Martin, 
Thomas  J.,  Mary  A.,  luimieline,  Stephen, 
Sarah  B. , and  William  ].  Thomas  Cole 
served  in  the  Cavil  war  for  three  years  as  a 
lieutenant  of  a Missouri  regiment.  He  had 
previously  moved  to  that  state,  and  the  follow- 
ing incident  is  related  of  him:  During  the 
troublous  times  of  the  war  he  was  called  upon 
one  night  by  two  (Confederate  officers,  whose 
pur[)ose  it  was  to  effect  his  capture.  C)ne  of 
them  knocked  at  the  door  and  asked  for  a 
drink  of  water,  which  Mr.  Cole  at  once  pro- 
cured for  him,  and,  opening  the  door,  reached 


OF  BOONE  COUNTY. 


2G8 


forth  the  cup.  After  the  officer  had  drank  the 
contents  he  stated  that  more  water  was  desired 
by  his  comrade,  whereupon  Mr.  Cole  replen- 
ished the  cup  but  told  tne  man  to  remain  out- 
side and  he  should  have  the  water.  This  the 
Confederate  refused  to  do,  and  forcibly  pushing 
his  way  into  the  room,  was  met  by  Mr.  Cole, 
who  fired  a revolver,  killing  the  man  instantly. 
The  officer  fled,  and  although  fired  at  several 
times  succeeded  in  making  good  his  escape. 

Thomas  Cole  accumulated  quite  a hand- 
some property,  but  b ing  of  a generous  nature 
he  secured  a relative,  through  whose  failure  he 
lost  nearly  all  his  earthly  possessions.  He 
died  in  the  year  1866.  His  wife,  Mrs.  Delilah 
Cole,  was  born  in  1809.  She  was  a member 
of  the  United  Brethren  church,  a most  esti- 
mable lady  in  every  respect,  and  died  in  1877 
at  the  age  of  sixty-eight  years.  The  father  of 
Thomas  Cole  was  Benjamin  Cole,  of  whose 
family  history  but  little  is  now  known.  He 
served  in  the  war  of  1812,  entered  160  acres 
of  land  in  Switzerland  county,  Ind.,  and  died 
a number  of  years  ago  with  the  cholera.  His 
wife,  whose  maiden  name  was  Annie  Reese, 
was  the  mother  of  nine  children,  whose  names 
are  as  follows:  Thomas,  Martin,  James,  Perry, 
Mrs.  Mary  A.  Monroe,  Cynthia,  wife  of  Chris- 
topher Pealman;  Jane,  wife  of  Joseph  Marsh; 
Jackson,  and  Caroline,  wife  of  Charles  Molley. 

Martin  W.  Cole,  the  leading  facts  of  whose 
history  are  herewith  presented,  was  born 
January  25,  1836,  on  a farm  in  Clinton  county, 
Ohio.  He  was  brought  to  Switzerland  coun- 
ty, Ind.,  at  the  age  of  six  years,  was  reared  to 
agricultural  pursuits,  and  on  the  sixth  of  Sep- 
tember, 1855,  was  united  in  marriage  to  Lydia 
Jane  Farrow.  The  fruit  of  this  union  was 
nine  children,  the  following  being  their  names 
and  dates  of  birth  : Gazelle,  June  i i,  1856; 
Norval  A.,  November  27,  1857;  Fletcher, 

January  15,  i860;  Mary  B.,  December  28, 
1862;  Franklin  P.,  May  28,  1866;  EstellaM., 


January  6,  1869;  Augustus  L. , February  24, 
1871;  Carlendus  E.,  August  13,  1873;  Otter- 
bin,  January  31,  1875;  Laura,  January  20, 
1880;  and  Lulu,  December  20,  1881.  Mrs. 

Cole  was  born  September  7,  1838.  Her  par- 
ents were  Benjamin  and  Susan  Hunter  Ear- 
row,  the  father  originally  a ship  carpenter  by 
trade  and  later  a farmer.  He  was  an  English- 
man by  birth  and  died  May  30,  1892;  Mrs. 
Earrow  died  in  1862. 

Mr,  Cole  came  of  an  ancestry  of  soldiers. 
At  the  breaking  out  of  the  late  war  he  left 
home  and  family  to  do  battle  for  the  cause  of 
the  Union,  enlisting  September  20,  1862,  in  the 
Third  Indiana  cavalry.  He  was  in  the  cam- 
paign from  Knoxville  and  Chattanooga  to  At- 
lanta under  Gen.  Kilpatrick,  participated  in  a 
number  of  battles,  and  at  one  time  was  severe- 
ly injured  by  the  kick  of  a horse,  for  which  he 
is  now  receiving  a liberal  pension.  He  was 
one  of  a hundred  men  that  cut  the  railroad 
near  Jonesboro,  and  during  his  long  period  of 
service  spent  but  three  days  in  the  hospital. 
Erorn  Marietta  hospital  he  rejoined  his  com- 
mand at  Nashville,  and  after  participating  in  a 
bloody  battle  at  that  place  was  sent  to  Savan- 
nah via  New  York,  where  he  remained  with  the 
regiment  until  the  close  of  the  war.  Since 
the  war  Mr.  Cole  has  been  actively  engaged  in 
agricultural  pursuits  and  now  owns  a comfort- 
able little  home  in  Clinton  township.  He  is  a 
reputable  citizen,  votes  the  republican  ticket 
and  fraternally  belongs  to  Elizaville  post.  No. 
561,  G.  A.  R.,  in  which  he  has  served  two 
terms  as  commander. 


OHN  M.  CONYERS.— The  scenes  and 
incidents  of  a soldier’s  life  in  the  great 
rebellion  are  fast  fading  away  from  the 
memories  of  the  old  veterans,  with  the 
lapse  of  years,  and  some  of  them  can  hardly 
give  the  names  of  the  battles  in  which  they 


HTOGRAPHICAL  HISTORY 


2fH 


fought.  Not  so  witli  John  M.  Conyers,  the 
subject  of  this  sketch.  He  was  not  out  of  his 
teens  when  he  enlisted  and  the  events  of  his 
soldier  life  are  indelibly  imprinted  upon  his 
mind,  and  he  gives  names,  dates,  and  facts 
with  accuracy.  His  comrades  say;  “John 
Conyers  was  a good  soldier,”  and  it  is  proba- 
ble that  he  inherited  his  soldierly  qualities  from 
old  Samuel  Conyers,  his  grandfather,  who 
fought  for  American  independence  in  1776. 
John  R.  Conyers,  son  of  Samuel  and  the  father 
of  our  subject,  was  born  in  1814,  married,  in 
Ohio,  Mary  L. , daughter  of  Nicholas  Bennett, 
of  Warren  county,  Ohio.  Mr.  Conyers  was  a 
carriage  maker  by  trade  and  worked  in  War- 
ren and  Butler  counties,  Ohio,  in  his  younger 
days.  In  1 846  he  came  to  Indiana  and  settled 
in  Brookville,  Franklin  county,  and  afterward 
moved  to  Mount  Carmel.  In  i859he  came  to 
Boone  county  and  settled  near  Mechanicsburg, 
where  he  bought  land  and  thriftily  increased  it 
until  he  now  owns  a farm  of  167  acres.  To 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Conyers  were  born  seven  chil- 
dren, who  lived  to  grow  to  man  and  woman- 
hood— Catherine,  Emily  E.,  John  M.,  Will- 
iam H.,  Charles  E.,  Euella  B.  and  Ora  A. 
Mr.  Conyers  was  a strict  republican,  a patriot, 
and  intensely  loyal  to  the  Union,  and  three  of 
his  sons  served  as  soldiers  to  put  down  the  re- 
bellion— viz  ; John  M.  ; William  H.  was  a jud- 
vate  in  company  H,  Eleventh  regiment,  Indi- 
ana volunteer  cavalry  or  One  Hundred  and 
Twenty-si.xth  Indiana  volunteer  infantry,  as  it 
was  first  an  infantry  regiment  and  afterward 
mounted.  He  served  from  December,  1863, 
to  July  25th,  1865.  Among  his  battles  were 
Nashville  and  I'raid-;lin,  Tenn.  Charles  E. 
was  a private  in  company  E,  Eleventh  regi- 
ment Indiana  volunteer  infantry,  and  served 
from  b'ebruary  17th,  1865,  until  mustered  out 
July  26th,  1865.  Mr.  Conyers,  the  father  of 
these  soldiers,  is  a man  of  liberal  views  and  a 
Uuiversalist.  Fraternally  he  is  a Mason  and 


member  of  the  Magnolia  lodge  at  Eebanon. 
He  has  now  reached  the  veneral)le  age  of  eighty 
3'ears  and  is  well  preserved.  He  earned 
most  of  his  property  at  the  trade  of  carriage 
making,  in  which  he  was  a very  industrious  and 
successful  workman.  Some  of  the  carriages  and 
wagons,  made  by  him  at  an  early  day,  are  still 
in  use.  His  farm  is  located  in  Clinton  town- 
ship and  is  well  improved.  He  is  well  known 
for  his  probity  of  character. 

John  M.  Conyers  was  born  September  18, 
1842,  at  Rossville,  now  West  Hamilton,  But- 
ler county,  Ohio.  He  was  a small  boy  when 
his  parents  brought  him  to  Indiana,  and  he 
gained  a common-school  education.  At  the 
early  age  of  nineteen  years,  he  enlisted  at 
Thorntown,  Boone  county,  Ind.,  on  July  23, 
1861,  in  compan}"  G,  Eleventh  Indiana  volun- 
teer infantry,  a Zouave  regiment,  under  Col. 
Eew  Wallace,  Capt.  John  F.  Cavin.  Although 
he  enlisted  in  Boone  count\',  he  was  credited 
to  Montgomery  county,  Ind.  He  served  three 
years,  one  month,  and  re-enlisted  as  a veteran 
in  the  same  organization  at  Eebanon,  Ind.,  on 
March  i,  1863,  and  served  until  July  26,  1865, 
when  he  was  honorably  discharged  on  account 
of  the  closing  of  the  war,  at  Baltimore,  Md., 
having  served  throughout  the  war.  He  was 
in  the  battles  of  Fort  Heiman,  Tenn.,  Febru- 
ary 6,  1862;  Fort  Henry,  February  6,  1862; 
Fort  Donelson;  Shiloh,  April  6-7-1 862 ; siege 
of  Corinth,  Miss.,  Ajmil  30 -May  30,  1872; 
Port  Gibson,  Miss.,  May,  1863;  Champion 
Hills,  Miss,,  May  16,  1863:  siege  of  \hcks- 
burg.  May  21 -July  4,  1863;  Jackson,  Miss., 
July  10-17,  1863;  Eake  Tasse,  Ea.,  Novem- 
ber 20,  1863;  Halltown,  Va.,  August  22,1864. 
Mr.  Conyers  was  in  eleven  general  engage- 
ments and  many  skirmishes.  He  was  also 
in  many  hard  marches,  marching  with  his 
regiment  9,318  miles.  He  was  neither 
sick  in  hospital,  nor  a ])risoner,  and  was  not 
wounded  during  his  service.  He  was  always 


OF  BOONE  COUNTY. 


205 


at  the  place  of  duty  and  in  all  the  battles  re- 
corded, as  a faithful  soldier.  He  was  greatly 
injured  by  e.xposure,  the  hearing  of  his  right 
ear  being  totally  destroyed  by  an  insect  which 
entered  the  ear  and  pierced  the  drum.  He 
also  suffered  stricture  of  the  glottis  caused  by 
over-heat,  occasioned  by  a hard  march  on 
Winchester  pike  in  the  Shenandoah  valley, 
during  which  Mr.  Conyers  became  much  fa- 
tigued and  fell  to  the  rear.  During  the  night 
he  narrowly  escaped  capture  by  the  rebel  cav- 
alry, which  passed  him  twice  during  the  night. 

When  his  soldier  days  were  over,  Mr. 
Conyers  returned  to  Boone  count}^  and  was 
united  in  marriage  to  Mary  S.,  daughter  of 
James  and  Nancy  (Hedrick)  Frazier,  and  the 
household  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Conyers  was  glad- 
dened by  the  birth  of  four  children — Minnie  R., 
Lennie  L. , Bertha  H.,  and  Perry  M.  After 
marriage,  Mr.  Conyers  settled  on  his  father's 
farm  in  Clinton  township,  where  he  remained 
two  years,  meanwhile  learning  the  blacksmith’s 
trade  at  Thorntown  under  Robert  Coleman — 
a veteran  of  the  Me.xican  war,  and  first  lieu- 
tenant in  the  Civil  war.  Mr.  Conyers  worked 
at  his  trade  eight  years  in  Thorntown  and  one 
year  in  the  country.  He  injured  his  right  leg 
while  shoeing  a horse,  causing  its  amputation 
near  the  thigh.  He  afterward  lost  the  sight  of 
his  right  eye  by  an  accident,  a piece  of  red 
hot  steel  striking  him  in  that  organ.  He  has 
since  followed  various  kinds  of  business.  He 
was  post-master  at  Reese'’s  Mills,  Boone  coun- 
ty, one  year,  1873-4,  and  then  clerk  in  the 
“Grange”  store  at  Lebanon.  In  1885  he  be- 
came a pension  attorney  at  Lebanon,  and  has 
since  been  very  successful  in  securing  pen- 
sions. During  all  this  time  he  has  been  more 
or  less  engaged  in  the  gunsmith  business,  and 
now  carries  a line  of  guns  and  sporting  goods 
and  is  well  known  throughout  the  county  in 
this  line.  He  owns  a small  fruit  farm  of  six- 
teen acres  adjoining  the  corporation  of  Leb- 


anon, on  which  he  resides,  beside  which  he 
owns  valuable  real  estate  in  Lebanon.  Polit- 
ically he  votes  as  he  shot,  and  has  always 
been  a stanch  republican.  He  and  wife  are 
both  members  of  the  Christian  church.  Mr. 
Conyers  was  one  of  the  early  members  of  the 
G.  A.  R. , Rich  Mountain  post,  at  Lebanon. 
Fraternally  he  is  a member  of  the  I.  O.  R.  M., 
Winnebago  tribe,  Lebanon,  and  has  been 
chief  of  records  many  years  and  has  passed  all 
the  chairs.  He  is  a member  of  the  Knights  of 
Honor,  and  has  filled  all  the  offices.  Mr. 
Conyers  is  a valued  citizen  of  Lebanon,  his 
integrity  of  character  is  granted  by  all,  and  he 
was  treasurer  of  Lebanon  six  years-i  882-88. 


ILEY  COLGROVE,  deceased,  was 
one  of  the  esteemed  poineer  farmers 
of  Boone  county  and  sprang  from  an 
honored  old  English  ancestry,  the 
family  having  come  to  America  as  early  as 
1690.  A part  of  his  genealogical  record  is  lost, 
but  sufficient  is  known  to  trace  the  family 
back  to  his  grandfather,  William  Colgrove. 
P'rancis  Colgrove,  son  of  William  and  father 
of  Riley,  was  born  in  the  state  of  New  York, 
married  Elizabeth  Hager  February  14,  1811, 
and  became  the  father  of  nine  children,  namely; 
John,  Nancy,  Jane,  Permelia,  Francis,  Charles, 
Charity,  Riley  and  Melissa,  all  of  whom,  with 
the  exception  of  Charles,  who  died  when  twelve 
years  old,  lived  to  become  heads  of  families, 
but  all  are  now  dead  except  Charity.  Francis 
Colgrove  settled  in  Kentucky  in  his  early  mar- 
ried life  and  for  some  years  followed  farming. 
He  early  moved  to  southern  Indiana,  thence 
to  Clinton  county  in  1835,  where  he  died  April 
of  the  following  year.  Elizabeth  (Hager)  Col- 
grove was  descended  paternally  from  Dutch 
ancestors.  Her  grandfather  settled  at  Hagers- 
town, Md.,  in  a very  early  day,  and  there 
leased  a large  tract  of  land,  a part  of  which  is 


20G 


BIOGRAPIirCAL  HISTORY 


now  occupied  by  tlie  site  of  that  city.  This 
lease  was  for  a term  of  ninety-nine  years  and 
was  written  in  German,  but  the  record  disap- 
peared many  years  ago  and  was  never  re- 
covered. The  relatives  of  Elizabeth  Col- 
grove  settled  in  New  York  and  the  name  is 
still  to  be  met  with  in  various  parts  of  the 
state.  John  Colgrove,  eldest  brother  of  Riley, 
enlisted  at  Paducah,  Ky. , in  1835,  to  engage 
in  the  war  between  Texas  and  Mexico.  He 
took  part  in  the  bloody  battle  of  Alamo  and, 
with  the  rest  of  the  ill-fated  garrison,  fell  a 
victim  to  Mexican  hatred.  James  Colgrove 
was  born  in  1814  in  New  York,  moved  to  Indi- 
ana in  i860  and  was  elected  sheriff  of  Tippe- 
canoe county,  but  died  before  the  expiration  of 
his  second  term.  Francis  Colgrove  was  a carpen- 
ter and  farmer  and  died  in  Missouri,  January, 
1893.  Nancy  Colgrove  married  James  P. 
Wilson,  a farmer  and  carpenter  and  died  at 
La  Fayette,  Ind.,  leaving  two  children,  Jane 
and  Ann.  Charles  Warner,  president  of  the 
La  Fayette  Savings'  bank,  married  Jane  Wilson 
who,  though  blessed  with  property  and  posi- 
tion, is  totally  blind  and  lives  in  perpetual 
night.  Ann  Wilson  is  the  wife  of  Albert 
Campbell,  a prominent  hardware  dealer  of  the 
city  of  La  Fayette. 

Riley  Colgrove  was  born  Decendier  17, 
1826,  in  Kentucky.  He  emigrated  to  southern 
Indiana  about  1828,  and  there  remained  until 
the  fall  of  1835,  when  he  moved  to  Clinton 
county.  He  resided  in  the  county  of  Clinton 
until  1846,  in  June  of  which  year  he  enlisted 
for  the  Mexican  war.  There  being  no  company 
from  Clinton  county,  Mr.  Colgrove  went  from 
Carroll  county  in  comjiany  C,  First  regiment. 
Indiana  volunteers,  under  Capt.  Robert  H. 
Milroy  Mr.  Colgrove  was  mustered  out  of  the 
service  in  the  city  of  New  Orleans  June,  1847. 
He  joined  the  I.  O.  O.  F.  of  La  b'ayette,  Ind., 
about  1852,  and  filled  all  the  chairs  of  both 
the  subordinate  lodge  and  encampment.  Mr. 


Colgrove  began  business  as  a cooper,  which 
trade  he  followed  until  his  election  as  sheriff  of 
Boone  county  in  1758.  He  was  re-elected  to 
the  same  position  in  i 860,  and  after  filling  the 
office  with  honor  to  himself  and  satisfaction  to 
the  public,  he  retired  to  private  life  on  a farm 
in  Clinton  township.  Mr.  Colgrove  wasaman 
highly  respected  as  a citizen  and  was  pointed 
to  with  pride  by  his  neighbors  and  friends  as 
an  example  of  industry  and  integrity.  Lucinda 
Newport,  the  wife  of  Riley  Colgrove,  was  born 
in  Warren  county,  Ohio,  December  8,  1830, 
and  on  the  seventeenth  of  June,  1850,  was 
married  to  Riley  Colgrove  at  La  Fayette,  Ind. 
This  marriage  was  blessed  with  six  children, 
whose  names  and  dates  of  birth  are  as  follows; 
Asbury  W. , December  i,  1850;  Charles  B., 
June  26,  1852;  William  A.,  January  20,  1854; 
Albert  F.,  July  i,  1856;  Frank  N.,  May  15, 
1859;  Carrie,  May  2,  1864.  The  death  of 

Riley  Colgrove  took  place  August  19,  1894. 


HOMAS  J.  COOK,  a leading  farmer 
and  stock  dealer  of  Harrison  town- 
ship, Boone  county,  Ind.,  was  born 
in  Kentucky,  May  i i,  1843,  and  is  of 
German  descent,  his  great-grandfather  having 
come  from  the  country  indicated  and  having 
settled  in  Virginia  in  an  early  period  of  the 
history  of  that  state.  George  Cook,  grand- 
father of  Thomas  J.,  was  born  in  Virginia; 
when  quite  young  settled  in  Boyle  county,  Ky., 
and  there  married  Jemima  Wilhite,  the  father 
of  whom  was  born  in  1777,  and  the  mother 
April  25,  1779.  George  Cook  was  a pillar  of 
the  Baptist  church,  of  which  his  wife  was  also 
a devout  member,  and  in  that  faith  both  died 
— he,  January  31,  1865,  and  she  Nov'ember  13, 
1863-  the  parents  of  the  following-named 
children:  Meliva,  Julia,  Sallie,  Betsey,  Nancy, 
Strother,  Allen,  jefferson  and  Joseph.  Jeffer- 
son Cook,  son  of  George  and  father  of  Thomas 


OF  BOONE  COUNTY. 


267 


J.,  was  born  in  Boyle  county,  Ky.,  August  i, 
1812,  and  grew  to  manhood  on  his  father’s 
farm.  January  8,  1834,  he  married  Malinda 
Myres,  who  bore  children  in  the  following 
order:  David,  William,  George,  Maria,  Thomas 
J.,  Mary  and  Malinda. 

Thomas  J.  Cook,  until  seventeen  years  of 
age,  lived  with  his  uncles,  Strother  and  Allen, 
on  the  farm  in  Kentucky,  and  then  came  to 
Johnson  county,  Ind.,  and  here  enlisted  in  the 
UnionQarmy,  August  8,  1862.  He  was  first 
sent  to  Bowling  Green,  Ky. , where  he  was 
placed  on  guard  duty,  and  was  there  when 
Buell  and  Bragg  made  their  noted  race  for 
Louisville;  while  at  Bowling  Green,  500  men, 
Mr.  Cook  included,  were  detailed  under  Gen. 
Harrison  to  capture  a number  of  the  enemy  at 
a point  twenty-five  miles  away,  and  succeeded, 
by  a surprise  movement,  in  taking  the  most  of 
them,  together  with  a number  of  guns;  Mr. 
Cook  was  next  sent  to  Gallatin,  Tenn. , and  then 
to  Pilot  Knob  for  winter  quarters;  when  spring- 
opened  they  were  sent  to  Nashville,  where 
they  fell  in  with  Gen.  Sherman  and  with  his 
army  marched  south.  Gen.  Jo.  Hooker  was 
placed  in  command  of  the  corps  to  which  Mr. 
Cook  was  attached;  the  first  engagement  was 
at  Resaca,  where  they  were  called  into  line 
late  in  the  evening,  and  where,  after  some 
desperate  fighting,  they  were  badly  cut  up  by 
the  enemy;  they  then  fell  back  of  a hill  and 
lay  on  their  arms  all  night,  and  next  morning, 
being  relieved,  were  ordered  to  fall  back  a 
mile.  The  commanders  were  now  Hooker, 
commander-in-chief;  Ward,  division  com- 
mander, and  Ben.  Harrison,  brigadier.  Here 
Gen.  Harrison  addressed  the  men  to  the  effect 
that  there  were  strong  breastworks  and  heavy 
guns  in  front;  follow  the  guides;  and,  dis- 
mounting, Harrison  joined  the  men,  dashed 
from  the  cover  of  the  hill,  and,  getting  in  view 
of  the  enemy,  the  men  all  yelled,  made  a 
charge  and  had  almost  reached  the  works. 


when  the  liae  broke,  fell  back  in  disorder, 
and  lost  over  300  men  from  Mr.  Cook’s 
regiment.  Harrison  again  addressed  the  men, 
and  told  them  they  could  take  the  works  and 
must  do  so,  or  he  would  not  stay  with  them. 
The  next  charge  was  a success,  Mr.  Cook’s 
brigade  capturing  eight  big  guns  and  a few 
men;  but  in  this  battle  Mr.  Cook’s  company 
lost  thirty-five  men— or  more  than  it  lost  dur- 
ing the  remainder  of  the  war.  The  next  day 
they  buried  their  dead  and  cared  for  the 
wounded,  and  for  the  next  four  or  five  months 
were  in  daily  pursuit  of  the  rebel,  Johnston,  al- 
most every  hour  being  under  a heavy  can- 
nonade or  a galling  fire  of  musketry— at 
Hickory  Ridge  skirmish  and  Peach  Tree  Creek 
cannonade,  and  elsewhere.  At  Peach  Tree 
Creek,  Harrison  was  commander  of  the  divis- 
ion. He  crossed  the  creek,  with  his  skirmish 
line  out  a half  mile  ahead,  stacked  arms,  rest- 
ed a few  minutes,  and  commenced  to  make  a 
fire  for  coffee,  but  in  five  minutes  his  shirmish 
line  was  driven  back.  The  order  was  im- 
mediately given  to  fall  in,  and  all  obeyed  and 
were  ordered  forward;  Harrison’s  aim  was  to 
come  to  close  quarters,  but  the  rebels  com- 
menced firing  and  the  Union  men  were  quick 
to  respond,  and  in  the  charge  upon  the  breast- 
works Mr.  Cook’s  company  lost  but  two  men. 
In  the  campaign  to  Atlanta,  the  Federals  were 
under  fire  for  two  months,  nearing  the  city 
day  by  day,  and  finally  driving  out  the  Con- 
federates. The  division  was  also  at  the 
Chattahoochee  river,  where  for  a time  it  was 
held  in  reserve,  and  then  a division  made,  Mr. 
Cook’s  regiment  marching  direct  to  Savannah, 
Ga.,  which  city  it  reached  December  25,  1864. 
The  Federals  lived  off  the  country  through 
which  they  passed,  the  Kentucky  and  Tennes- 
see troops  doing  most  of  the  devastation. 
After  leaving  Savannah,  the  I'ederals  skirmish- 
ed northward  through  Georgia  and  North 
Carolina  until  Goldsboro  and  Raleigh  were 


BIOCJRAPIIICAL  HISTORY 


21)8 

reached  and  Johnston  finally  captured.  After- 
ward came  the  inarch  through  Richmond  to 
Washington,  Ben.  Harrison  being  with  the 
boys  all  the  time. 

d'he  marriage  of  Mr.  Cook  took  place 
August  23,  1866,  to  Miss  b'anny  Potinger,  who 
was  born  in  Montgomery  county,  Ind.,  Septem- 
ber 16,  I 848,  a daughter  of  Harvey  and  Sidney 
(Hand)  Potinger,  of  Johnson  county.  Mr. 
Cook  settled  in  Boone  county  in  October,  1866, 
on  a farm  of  ninety-four  acres  in  the  wilder- 
ness, but  this  he  has  transformed  into  a beau- 
tiful and  fertile  farm  of  200  acres,  and  it  is 
still  his  place  of  residence.  It  is  improved 
with  every  modern  convenience,  including  a 
model  dwelling  and  tasty  farm  buildings.  He 
is  one  of  the  most  progressive  and  scientific 
farmers  in  Boone  county.  Mrs.  Cook's  grand- 
father, Robert  Potinger,  was  of  German  descent 
but  was  early  a settler  of  Ohio,  where  he  mar- 
ried and  was  a useful  and  highly  respected 
citizen,  owning  a large  and  highly  improved 
farm.  He  was  a patriot  in  the  war  of  1812, 
and  he  and  wife  died  devout  members  of  the 
Christian  church.  Mr.  Cook  is  a republican, 
is  a member  of  the  Rich  Mountain  post,  G.  A. 
R.,  of  Lebanon;  his  wife  is  a member  of  the 
Christian  church,  which  they  both  liberally  aid 
with  their  means,  and  not  only  aid  this,  but 
all  other  truly  charitable  causes.  Three  chil- 
dren have  been  born  to  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Cook, 
viz:  Ora,  Gertrude  and  Natalie  G. 


QOSES  COPELAND.  In  England, 
the  proprietor  who  owns  the  soil 
considers  himself  an  aristocrat,  and 
the  people  universally  respect  his 
assnmjitions;  he  is  allowed  certain  hereditary 
privileges,  and  among  the  least  of  his  titles  is 
that  of  “Squire."  The  American  farmer  is 
nature’s  aristocrat;  not  that  he  has  inherited 
privileges,  but  because  he  and  his  ancestors 


cleared  up  the  virgin  American  forests  and 
possess  them  by  inalienable  rights,  and  as 
honest  tillers  of  the  soil.  Such  a man  is  Moses 
Copeland,  who  is  one  of  the  prominent  farmers 
of  Center  township,  Boone  county,  Ind.,  and 
the  father  of  a respected  family.  Samuel 
Copeland,  the  grandfather  of  our  subject,  was 
one  of  the  original  pioneers  of  Kentucky  con- 
temporaneous with  Daniel  Boone,  when  the 
state  was  overrun  with  Indians.  He  reared  a 
large  family  of  children,  as  follows:  William, 
Thomas,  James,  John,  Milton,  Sallie,  Wesley, 
Rachael  and  Polly.  Mr.  Copeland  was  a slave 
owner,  and,  for  his  day,  a wealthy  man.  He 
moved  to  Indiana  in  1811-12,  and  settled  in 
Shelby  township,  Jefferson  county,  near  Ca- 
naan. The  county  was  an  entire  wilderness, 
and  he  entered  a large  tract  of  land,  from 
which  he  gave  his  children  1,200  acres,  the 
six  sons  receiving  160  acres  each,  and  the  three 
daughters  eighty  acres  each,  reserving  160 
acres  as  a home  for  himself  in  his  old  age.  He 
brought  four  young  slaves  from  Kentucky  and 
set  them  free  when  they  were  twenty-one 
years-  old.  He  was  a typical  pioneer,  much 
respected  by  all  who  knew  him,  and  lived  to 
be  between  seventy  and  eighty  years  of  age. 
In  political  opinions  he  was  a republican,  and 
in  religious  convictions  he  was  a Methodist. 
His  son  Thomas  was  the  father  of  onr  subject, 
born  in  Kentucky  on  his  father’s  farm  in  1795, 
and  was  twenty-two  years  of  age  when  he 
came  to  Indiana,  after  his  father  had  been 
settletl  in  this  state  for  some  years.  He  was 
a blacksmith  by  trade,  and  had  worked  at  the 
tnouth  of  the  Elkhorn  river  in  Kentucky.  He 
married  in  |cfferson  county,  Ind.,  Sallie, 
daughter  of  Moses  and  Elizabeth  Hopper.  He 
worked  at  his  trade  in  )efferson  county  for 
fifteen  years,  when  his  health  failed  him  and  he 
lingered  eleven  years  with  the  consnnq^tion  and 
died  on  his  farm  in  Jefferson  county,  at  the 
age  of  fifty-two  years.  He  and  his  wife  were 


OF  BOONE  COUNTY. 


269 


members  of  the  “Indian  Kentucky”  Baptist 
church  of  Jefferson  county,  Ind.,  on  a creek 
bearing  that  name,  and  he  was  deacon  many 
years.  In  political  opinions  he  was  an  old- 
line  whig.  To  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Copeland  were 
born  four  children:  John,  Moses,  Smallwood 
and  Eliza.  Mr.  Copeland  was  a very  hard- 
working, industrious  man,  possessing  sterling 
traits  of  character,  one  of  which  was  truth, 
and  his  word  was  as  good  as  his  bond. 

Moses  Copeland,  son  of  above  and  subject 
of  this  sketch,  was  born  January  lo,  1822,  on 
his  father’s  farm  in  Jefferson  county,  Ind. 
He  received  the  common  education  of  the  old 
pioneer  log  school-house  and  taught  school 
two  terms.  He  became  a farmer  and  married 
at  the  age  of  twenty-one  years,  April  25,  1843, 
Mary  E.,  daughter  of  Jacob  and  Martha 
(Singer)  Kiser,  of  Ripley  county,  Ind.  Mr. 
Kiser  was  from  Kentucky  and  of  German  de- 
scent, Erederick  Kiser,  the  grandfather  of  Mrs 
Copeland,  having  come  from  Germany  and 
settled  in  Kentucky.  Jacob  Kiser  reared 
seven  children  : William,  Erederick,  Henry 
C.,  Elizabeth  A.,  John  W. , and  Mary  E,  He 
moved  to  Indiana  and  entered  land,  but  owing 
to  the  bad  roads,  settled  within  thirteen  miles 
of  the  Ohio  river,  in  Ripley  county,  Ind.,  in 
1823,  where  he  died  on  his  farm,  at  sixty 
years  of  age.  He  was  also  a blacksmith,  and 
a captain  in  the  old  state  militia.  He  voted 
the  old  line  whig  ticket,  and  was  a member  of 
the  Baptist  church,  to  which  faith  his  wife  and 
nearly  all  his  children  adhered. 

After  marriage,  Mr.  Copeland  settled  in 
Ripley  county,  Ind.,  in  1 843,  residing  eighteen 
years,  and  in  1861,  moved,  with  his  family, 
to  Boone  county,  Ind.,  and  settled  on  his  pres- 
ent farm,  then  consisting  of  eighty  acres  of 
land.  By  thrift  and  industry  he  has  added  to 
this  farm  until  he  now  owns  280  acres  of  fine 
land.  He  has  given  his  sons  eighty  acres 
each,  his  daughters  one  thousand  dollars  each. 


and  retains  a good  home  of  eighty  acres,  uj)on 
which  he  has  made  good  improvements. 
When  Mr.  Copeland  came  to  this  farm  is  was 
covered  with  heavy  timber,  and  it  was  by  hard 
and  continuous  labor  that  he  cleared  it,  im- 
proved it  with  ditches  and  made  it  the  fine 
and  fertile  farm  it  became.  To  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Copeland  were  born  the  following  children  : 
Sarah  M.,  who  died  a married  woman;  Eliza 
I.,  who  died  an  infant;  Taylor  S. ; Mary  J. 
and  Louis  W.  Mr.  Copeland  has  been  a dea- 
con in  the  Baptist  church  for  more  than  thirty 
years  and  his  wife  is  a member  of  the  same 
church.  In  political  opinions  he  is  a republi- 
can. He  has  given  all  his  children  good  edu- 
cations, two  of  whom  are  school-teachers. 
Fraternally  Mr.  Copeland  is  a member  of 
Boone  lodge.  No.  9,  F.  & A.  M.,  Lebanon, 
and  has  held  the  office  of  deacon.  Mr.  Cope- 
land is  one  of  the  self-made  men  of  Boone 
county,  having  accumulated  his  property  by 
his  own  industry  and  without  assistance.  He 
has  always  stood  high  for  his  integrity  of 
character.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Copeland  have 
brought  up  Maud  P. , the  daughter  of  their 
youngest  son,  and  are  giving  her  a good  edu- 
cation. Mr.  Copeland  and  wife  have  been 
married  fifty-one  years. 


HSA  COX,  who  was  born  in  Jefferson 
county,  Ind.,  January  12,  1824,  is  a 
son  of  Er.  and  Elizabeth  (Lame)  Cox, 
natives  of  New  Jersey  and  of  German 
descent.  The  family  came  to  Boone  county, 
Ind.,  in  1829,  about  thirteen  years  after  the 
state  was  admitted  to  the  Union,  and  when  the 
county  was  a wilderness.  Here  Mr.  Cox 
hewed  out  a farm  and  successfully  followed  his 
vocation  until  his  death  in  1855,  his  wife  hav- 
ing preceded  him  to  an  early  grave  some  years. 
They  were  the  parents  of  eleven  children,  and 
of  these  Asa  was  brought  up  to  the  useful  call- 


270 


BIOGRAPHICAL  HISTORY 


ing  which  had  been  followed  by  his  father,  and 
was  reared  under  his  careful  training.  Asa  has 
never  married.  His  farm  is  productive,  and 
Mr.  Cox  is  a model  citizen  as  well  as  a model 
farmer,  his  work  in  the  latter  capacity  being 
unexcelled  by  any  other  farmer  in  the  town- 
ship. In  politics  Mr.  Cox  is  a democrat. 


ILLIAM  G.  CORY,  an  intelligent 
and  highly  respected  farmer  of 
Jefferson  township,  Boone  county, 
Ind.,  was  born  in  Clarke  county, 
Ohio,  May  20,  1 832,  and  is  a son  of  Nathan  and 
Mary  (Smith)  Cory,  natives  of  Ohio  and  New 
Jersey  respectively,  and  of  English  descent. 
The  pedigree  extends  so  far  back  in  Albion’s  isle 
that,  in  order  to  give  the  reader  an  idea  of  its 
antiquity,  the  writer  must  resort  to  the  simple 
but  strong,  terse,  language  of  the  Scriptures; 
William  Cory  was  born  in  England  about  the 
year  1400;  William  begat  Thomas;  Thomas 
begat  Robert;  Robert  begat  John;  John  begat 
Thomas,  who  was  born  July  3,  1510;  Thomas 
begat  John,  who  came  from  England  to  Amer- 
ica in  1600;  John  begat  Elnathan;  Elnathan 
begat  Jeremiah,  who  was  born  in  New  Jersey; 
Jeremiah  begat  Noah;  Noah  begat  Nathan; 
Nathan  begat  William  G.,  the  gentleman 
whose  name  opens  this  sketch.  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Nathan  Gory  came  to  Boone  county,  Ind.,  in 
1851,  and  here  Mrs.  Cory  died  in  March,  1879; 
Mr.  Cory  still  survives  and  has  his  residence  at 
the  home  of  William  G.  Of  the  four  children 
born  to  Nathan  and  wife  two  only  are  living — 
Noah  and  William  G. 

William  G.  Cory  received  an  excellent 
training  as  a farmer  and  materially  assisted  on 
the  home  farm  until  his  marriage,  January  9, 
1855,  to  Miss  Margaret  E.  Stei)henson,  to 
which  happy  union  have  been  born  four  chil- 
dren, viz:  James  S.,  Mary  E. , wife  of  William 
A.  Peterson;  Iva  R.,  wife  of  Benjamin  F. 


Moore,  and  Walter  M.  Some  ten  years  after 
his  marriage  Mr.  Cory  responded  to  his 
country’s  call  and  enlisted,  in  March,  1865,  in 
company  B,  Capt.  Hebb,  One  Hundred  and 
Fifty-fourth  regiment,  Indiana  volunteer  in- 
fantry. He  served  faithfully  and  valiantly  in 
all  the  marches,  skirmishes  and  engagements 
in  which  his  company  participated,  until  his 
honorable  discharge,  August  8,  1865.  In  pol- 
itics he  is  a republican,  and  has  served  his 
fellow-citizens  as  assessor  of  his  township  for  a 
year,  deeming  it  to  be  a part  of  his  duty  as  a 
citizen  so  serve  in  public  office  when  called 
upon  to  do  so,  and  not  for  the  sake  of  the 
meager  compensation  the  office  affords.  He 
is  a member  of  the  G.  A.  R.,  his  post  number 
being  184  With  his  wife  he  is  a member  of 
the  Presbyterian  church,  and  as  a church 
member,  a citizen  and  kindly  neighbor,  has 
won  the  respect  of  all  who  knew  him. 


EBULON  GOX. — Among  the  exten- 
sive farmers  and  stock  raisers  of  Boone 
county  who  do  honor  to  the  noble 
calling  of  agriculture  is  the  gentleman 
whose  name  appears  at  the  head  of  this  notice. 
Zebulon  Gox  is  a native  Indianian,  born  in  the 
county  of  Bartholomew  on  the  eleventh  day  of 
July,  1825,  the  son  of  William  and  Elizabeth 
(Erganbright)  Gox,  natives  respectively  of 
Kentucky  and  Virginia.  William  Gox  was  left 
an  orphan  at  the  early  age  of  seven  years,  and 
until  his  eighteenth  year  made  his  home  with 
an  uncle,  Martin  McCray,  in  Ohio,  growing  to 
manhood  on  a farm  in  that  state.  His  mar- 
riage with  Eizabeth  Erganbright  was  solemn- 
ized in  the  year  1812,  and  shortly  thereafter  he 
came  to  Indiana,  locating  in  the  county  of  Bar- 
tholomew, where  he  i)urchased  a tract  of  gov- 
ernment land,  from  which  he  developed  a 
home;  hisdeath  snbscipiently  occurred  in  John- 
son county,  Ind.  By  his  first  wife,  who  died 


LIBRARY 
OF  THE 

UNIVERSITY  OF  ILMNOr 


OF  BOONE  COUNTY. 


273 


in  1832,  he  had  tea  children,  three  now  living, 
and  by  a second  marriage  he  also  had  the  same 
number  of  children,  his  family  having  been 
the  largest  in  the  community  where  he  resided. 
Zebulon  Cox  remained  with  his  parents  until 
attaining  his  majority,  received  a limited  edu- 
cation in  the  country  schools,  and  began  life 
for  himself  as  a farmer,  purchasing  his  first 
real  estate,  consisting  of  eighty  acres,  in  his 
native  county,  to  which  forty  acres  were  sub- 
sequently added.  He  continued  on  this  farm 
until  1855,  when  he  disposed  of  the  same  and 
became  a resident  of  Boone  county,  purchasing 
a tract  of  166  acres  of  unimproved  land,  to 
which  he  made  additions  at  intervals,  until  he 
eventually  became  one  of  the  largest  owners 
of  real  estate  in  the  county,  his  possessions  at 
one  time  aggregating  989  acres.  With  the  ex- 
ception of  160  acres,  reserved  for  a home  in  his 
declining  years,  Mr.  Cox  has  generously  divided 
his  large  estate  among  his  children,  and  he  is 
consoled  by  the  reflection  that  his  success  is 
due  to  his  own  efforts,  and  that  his  life  has 
been  void  of  offense  to  his  fellow-men.  In 
September,  1873,  Mr.  Cox  went  to  Missouri, 
where  he  followed  farming  and  stock  raising 
until  1877,  owning  in  that  state  a valuable 
farm  of  320  acres,  which  he  disposed  of  on  his 
return  to  Boone  county,  in  January  of  the 
latter  year.  Mr.  Cox  was  married  October  7, 
1851,  to  Nancy  Lang, daughter  of  William  and 
Polly  (Bass)  Lang,  natives  of  Kentucky  and 
North  Carolina  respectively,  and  early  pioneers 
of  Morgan  county,  Ind.  The  results  of  this 
union  are  the  following  children:  Mary  E. , 
Richard  M.,  William  W. , Margaret  E,  wife  of 
Mell  A.  Thompson;  Otis  B.,  Clement  L.,  de- 
ceased; and  Albert  L.  Mr.  Cox  is  an  intelli- 
gent farmer,  gives  wide  attention  to  the  proper 
rotation  of  crops,  and  belongs  to  that  well- 
informed  class  who  have  succeeded  in  elevat- 
ing agriculture  to  its  true  dignity  as  a science. 
He  is  a man  of  influence  in  the  community,  is 


highly  esteemed  in  his  own  and  neighboring 
townships,  and  occupies  a conspicuous  place 
among  the  successful  self-made  men  of  the 
county  of  Boone.  Politically  he  affiliates  with 
the  populist  party,  the  principles  of  which, 
when  practically  applied,  he  believes  to  be  for 
the  best  interest  of  the  country. 


TRANCE  N.  CRAGUN,  the  well 
known  and  efficient  editor  of  the  Leb- 
anon (Ind.)  Patriot,  springs  from 
sturdy  Scotch-Irish  ancestry,  his  great- 
grandfather having  come  from  the  north  of 
Ireland  in  an  early  day  and  having  settled  in 
Virginia.  His  son,  Elisha  Cragun,  grandfather 
of  Strange  N. , was  born  in  that  state,  but  was 
among  the  pioneers  of  the  southeast  part  of 
Rush  county,  Ind.,  whence,  in  1835,  he  came 
to  Boone  county  and  located  in  Eagle  town- 
ship, but  afterward  went  west  with  his  family 
and  died  at  Council  Bluffs,  Iowa.  The  fam- 
ily, however,  continued  their  journey  westward 
and  settled  in  Utah,  where  members  of  them 
still  live.  Hiram  Cragun,  son  of  Elisha  and 
fatherof  Strange  N.,  was  born  in  Rush  county, 
Ind.,  near  the  P'ranklin  county  line,  December 
8,  1816,  was  reared  a farmer,  and  was  nine- 
teen years  of  age  when  he  accompanied  his 
father  to  Boone  county.  The  farm  on  which 
they  here  settled  was  very  heavily  timbered, 
and  Hiram,  who  was  a very  industrious  and 
hard-working  man,  did  a vast  amount  of  work 
in  assisting  his  father  in  clearing  away  the  fine 
black  walnut  trees  and  in  burning  them  in  piles 
to  get  rid  of  them.  Hiram  was  married  in 
Boone  county  to  Reiter,  daughter  of  Robert 
Dooley,  and  to  this  union  were  born  nine  chil- 
dren, of  whom  seven  grew  to  maturity,  viz. : 
Josephine,  Neb,  Melvina,  George  C.,  Hiram, 
Strange  N.,  and  Lorenzo  D.  The  farm  owned 
by  Hiram  Cragun  comprised  245  acres,  and  on 
this  he  lived  until  1884,  when  he  died  at  the 


274 


nTOGRAPIIICAL  HISTORY 


a^c  of  sixty-eif^ht  years,  universally  respected. 
He  was  a democrat  in  politics  until  the  firing 
on  Fort  Sumter,  when  he  became  a strong  re- 
publican and  an  ardent  Union  man;  he  was 
also  a great  admirer  of  Abraham  Lincoln. 
With  his  wife  he  was  a member  of  the  Metho- 
dist F.piscoj)al  church,  and  for  man}'  years  was 
a class  leader  of  the  Pleasant  View  society, 
which  he  assisted  in  founding,  and  which  first 
met  in  the  “little  brick”  school-house;  he 
was  a man  of  high  character,  very  exact,  and 
held  hypocrisy  in  utter  abhorrence. 

Strange  N.  Cragun  was  born  July  24, 
1857,  on  his  father’s  farm  in  Eagle  township, 
Itoone  county,  Ind.  He  received  his  prepara- 
tory education  in  the  common  schools,  and 
this  was  supplemented  by  a course  of  three 
years  at  the  Zionsville  academy  and  one  term 
at  Purdue  university.  He  became  a teacher 
in  Boone  county  at  the  age  of  seventeen,  in 
1874,  and  taught  in  the  district  schools  of 
Worth  township,  and  in  the  graded  school  at 
Zionsville — four  years  in  all — and  then  had 
charge  of  the  graded  school  of  Keelsville,  Put- 
nam county,  Ind.,  for  one  year.  In  the  spring 
of  1879,  while  on  a visit  to  Purdue  university, 
Mr.  Cragun  went  before  the  board  of  ex- 
aminers of  candidates  for  admission  to  West 
Point  Military  academy,  and  from  the  thirty- 
one  applicants  from  the  ninth  congressional 
district  he  was  selected  for  the  important  and 
distinguished  appointment.  At  West  Point  he 
was  obliged  to  undergo  another  examination, 
and  of  the  160  applicants  he  was  one  of  the 
I 20  to  pass  the  severe  ordeal.  On  the  twentieth 
of  June  following  (1879),  he  reported  at  West 
Point  and  was  admitted  to  the  class  of 
1883,  but  two  years  later,  on  account  of  im- 
paired eyesight,  he  was  obliged  to  tender  his 
resignaticm.  In  the  spring  of  1881  he  return- 
ed to  Boom;  county  and  accepted  the  principal- 
shi])  of  the  Whitestown  graded  schools  for  one 
year,  when  lu;  was  called  to  Zionsville,  to 


form  a joint  principalship  with  W.  B.  Alford, 
which  lasted  one  year.  He  then  came  to 
Lebanon,  and  for  four  years  was  principal  of 
the  high  school.  In  1887  Mr.  Cragun  was 
elected  county  superintendent  of  schools,  a 
position  he  filled  four  years  and  three  months, 
serving  out  the  unexpired  term  of  Harvey  M. 
LaFollette.  During  his  administration,  he 
brought  the  schools  up  to  a high  standard  and 
introduced  new  courses  of  study,  securing  uni- 
formity in  the  grading  of  the  schools,  making 
the  township  institute  much  more  effective, 
and  achieving  the  reputation  of  being  an  ex- 
cellent disciplinarian  both  as  a teacher  and  a 
superintendent.  He  was  strict,  but  impartial, 
in  his  examination  of  teachers,  and  reduced 
the  number  of  licenses  nearly  one-half,  ex- 
tending the  policy  of  his  predecessor,  Mr. 
LaFollette. 

May  2,  1891,  Mr.  Cragun  bought  the 

Patriot,  the  oldest  newspaper  in  Boone  coun- 
ty, that  has  been  published  continuously, 
dating  its  birth  from  1857.  It  is  republican 
in  its  politics  and  is  independent  and  out- 
spoken in  the  advocacy  of  the  principles  of 
that  jiarty,  and  in  its  discussion  of  local  and 
county  questions  and  measures.  Mr.  Cragun 
has  greatly  increased  its  subscription  list  since 
he  assumed  the  editorial  chair,  this  increase 
arising  from  the  improvement  he  has  made  in  its 
leading  articles  and  the  higher  plane  on  which 
he  has  placed  the  literary  selections,  as  well 
as  the  conqileteness  to  which  he  has  brought 
his  news  columns.  As  its  name  indicates, 
the  journal  is  indeed  patriotic  in  all  things. 
On  june  17,  1883,  Mr.  Cragun  was  united  in 
matrimony  with  Miss  Addie  M.,  daughter  of 
Benjamin  and  Margaret  (Beeler)  Booher,  at 
Whitestown,  fnd.,  and  to  this  felicitous  union 
have  been  born  three  children  Ethel  and 
Opal,  twins,  and  Dwight,  the  last  named  born 
October  5,  1891.  This  happy  little  family, 
however,  was  rudely  broken  into  by  the  taking 


OF  BOONE  COUNTY. 


275 


away  of  Opal  at  the  age  of  six  and  a half 
years.  Mr.  Booher,  the  father  of  Mrs.  Cra- 
gun,  a prominent  and  wealthy  citizen,  is  now 
living  in  retirement  in  Lebanon,  and  further 
information  concerning  him  and  his  family  will 
be  found  on  another  page.  Mr.  Cragim  is  a 
member  of  Boone  lodge.  No.  9,  F.  & A.  M. ; 
Lebanon  chapter.  No.  39,  R.  A.  M.  ; also 
Lebanon  lodge.  No.  45,  K.  of  P.  ; also  with  his 
wife,  of  Lebanon  chapter.  No.  23,  O.  E.  S., 
while  Mrs.  Cragun  is  a member  of  the  Luther- 
an church  at  Whitestown.  Mr.  Cragun  has 
recently  erected  a very  fine  and  substantial 
residence,  which  is  much  admired  for  its  taste- 
fulness and  beauty  of  architecture.  The 
family  is  highly  respected  and  moves  in  the 
best  social  circles  of  the  county. 


EANDER  MEAD  CRIST,  an  emi- 
nent educator  and  temperance  reform- 
er of  Boone  county,  Ind.,  was  born 
at  Liberty,  Union  county,  Ind.,  Octo- 
ber 23,  1837,  and  is  a son  of  James  Weller  and 
Mary  (LaEuze)  Crist,  of  whom  the  former 
was  born  in  Hamilton  county,  Ohio,  July  4, 
1803,  and  died  at  Liberty,  Ind.,  September 
14,  1859.  The  latter,  a daughter  of  Samuel 
and  Eleanor  (Harper)  LaP'uze,  was  born  near 
Brownsville,  Pa.,  March  21,  1805,  and  died  at 
Thorntown,  Ind.,  November  6,  1890.  The 
grandfathers  of  Mrs.  Mary  (LaEuze)  Crist, 
Harper  and  LaEuze,  both  lost  their  lives  in  the 
Revolutionary  war  while  endeavoring  to  secure 
the  independence  of  the  American  nation. 
George  Weller  Crist,  paternal  grandfather  of 
Leander  Mead  Crist,  was  a native  of  New  York, 
of  German  descent;  born  September  20,  1770, 
and  in  1795  removed  to  Ohio,  whence,  in  1812, 
he  came  to  Indiana,  entered  land  and  settled 
where  Liberty  now  stands,  and  there  died 
March  16,  1844.  His  wife,  who  bore  the 
maiden  name  of  Sarah  Bell,  was  born  in  Ire- 


land in  1772,  and  in  her  eighth  year  came  with 
her  parents  to  America,  dying  at  Laurel,  Ind., 
in  1 864.  The  ancestors  of  Mr.  Crist  were 
Protestants  on  both  sides,  and  farmers  by  voca- 
tion, and  were  noted  for  their  industry,  energy 
and  sobriety.  The  parents  of  Mr.  Crist  were 
married  March  2,  1823,  immediately  settled  in 
the  forest  and  were  blessed  with  eleven  children, 
Leander  being  the  eighth  and  ten  living  to 
reach  their  majority.  The  parents  early  con- 
nected themselves  with  the  M.  E.  church  and 
their  home  was  a favorite  stopping  place  of 
the  pioneer  preachers  of  that  faith;  they  were 
also  charter  members  of  the  first  temperance 
society  in  Union  county,  and  banished  cards, 
tobacco  and  intoxicants  as  early  as  1833,  and 
gave  to  their  children  the  best  educational 
advantages  the  country  afforded.  Leander  M. 
Crist  assisted  his  father  on  the  home  farm  and 
in  the  mill  until  he  was  twenty-five  years  of 
age,  and  in  the  fall  of  1863  entered  DePauw 
(formerly  Asbury)  university,  where  he  remained 
four  years,  graduating  with  a class  of  twenty- 
four  in  1667.  He  then  went  to  Kentucky  and 
taught  a boy’s  academy  at  Lancaster  for  three 
years,  at  the  same  time  studying  law.  In 
1 870  he  returned  to  Liberty,  Ind.,  and  began 
practice.  His  marriage  took  place  at  Liberty, 
October  23,  1871,  to  Miss  Eunice  M.  Brown, 
a graduate  of  Oxford  college,  with  the  class  of 
1867,  and  a daughter  of  Walter  and  Keziah 
(La  Boyteau)  Brown.  December  2,  1872,  a 
son  was  born  to  their  union,  but  the  joy  and 
high  hopes  that  came  by  this  new  tie  of  love 
were  soon  shrouded  in  deepest  gloom  by  the 
death  of  the  young  mother  Eebruary  25,  1873, 
in  her  twenty-third  year.  In  1875,  Mr  Crist 
was  elected  county  superintendent  of  schools 
of  Union  county,  which  position  he  filled  in  a 
most  satisfactory  manner  for  six  years  June 
12,  1880,  Mr.  Crist  selected  for  a second  life 
companion  another  graduate  of  Oxford  college, 
a Miss  Orpha  A.  Gath,  who  graduated  with  the 


BIOGRAPHICAL  HISTORY 


276 


class  of  1 866.  This  lady  is  a daughter  of 
Samuel  and  Mary  Gath,  who  came  from  Hali- 
fax, Englaml,  to  this  country  in  1840.  She 
was  born  at  Oxford,  Ohio,  May  21,  1845. 

1881  they  moved  to  Thorntown,  Ind.,  and  for 
three  years  successfully  conducted  together  the 
public  schools.  July  23,  1884,  Mr.  Crist  took 
an  active  part  in  the  first  hotly  contested 
battle  at  Indianapolis  against  the  rum  power, 
and  his  espousal  of  the  prohibition  cause  neces- 
sitated the  resignation  of  himself  and  wife  from 
the  public  schools.  Since  that  time  they  have 
battled  side  by  side  for  moral  reform,  and  Mr. 
Crist  has  been  honored  by  his  party  as  candi- 
date for  the  following  positions:  Representa- 
tive for  Boone  county  in  1886,  delegate  to  the 
national  convention  at  Indianapolis  in  1888, 
state  superintendent  of  public  instruction  in 
1890,  delegate  to  the  national  convention  at 
Cincinnati  in  1892,  and  for  member  of  congress 
from  the  ninth  Indiana  district  in  1894. 
Although  Mr.  Crist  has  passed  his  fifty-, 
seventh  mile  post  he  is  still  hale  and  hearty, 
enjoying  life  in  his  suburban  home,  where  he 
rests  from  active  duties  and  watches  the  edu- 
cation of  his  son,  Mark,  at  Purdue  university 
(class  of  1896;,  wiio  is  preparing  to  take  up  his 
line  of  battle  for  the  good  cause. 


AVID  GROSE,  one  of  Boone  coun- 
ty's enterprising  and  highly  esteemed 
pioneers,  claims  Indiana  for  his  na- 
tive country  and  was  born  in  Tippe- 
canoe county  April  27,  1835.  His  jnirents 

were  Benjamin  and  Cynthia  (Martin)  Crose, 
who  were  natives  of  Kentucky.  The  father, 
Benjamin,  was  born  in  Bourbon  county,  Ky., 
January  22,  1813,  and  the  mother,  Jidy  16, 
1813.  Benjamin  was  a son  of  Jonathan  and 
Susan  (Uttcrback)  Crose,  who  were  natives  of 
Bourbon  county,  Ky.  Jonathan  (hose  was 
born  b'ebruary  2,  1791,  and  Susan  (Utter- 


back)  Crose  was  born  March  23,  1787.  They 
came  to  Indiana  and  located  in  Tippecanoe 
county  in  1830,  whence  they  removed  to 
Boone  county  in  1835.  They  had  a family  of 
nine  children,  viz  : Reuben,  born  January  3, 
1811  (deceased);  Benjamin;  Andrew  J.,  born 
March  26,  1815;  George  W. , born  February 
24,  1817;  Henry  H.,  born  January  30,  1819; 
Covington,  born  June  2,  1822;  William  F. , 
born  December  20,  1824;  Jonathan,  Jr.,  born 
December  29,  1827,  and  Michael.  These 

children  were  all  born  in  Bourbon  county,  Ky., 
with  the  exception  of  Michael,  who  was  born 
in  Tippecanoe  county,  Ind.  Benjamin  Crose, 
subject’s  father,  came  with  his  parents  to 
Tippecanoe  county,  Ind.,  where  he  was  joined 
in  wedlock  with  Miss  Martin,  by  whom  were 
born  to  him  three  children,  two  that  died  in 
infancy  and  David,  our  subject,  the  youngest. 
Mrs.  Crose  died  January  24,  1838,  and  Mr. 
Crose  died  in  Washington  township,  Boone 
county,  August  4,  1879. 

David  Crose,  our  subject,  came  with  his 
father  to  Boone  county  when  a small  boy  and 
has  resided  in  the  county  ever  since.  He  was 
married  September  10,  1857,  to  Martha  E. 
Bovee,  who  was  born  in  Clinton  county,  Ind., 
March  2,  1841,  and  is  a daughter  of  Erastus 
and  Elizabeth  ( Hill)  Bovee.  After  Mr.  Crose’s 
marriage  he  settled  on  the  same  farm  on  which 
he  now  lives,  which  farm  comjirises  160  acres 
of  fine  land,  under  a high  state  of  cultivation. 
Mr.  Crose  makes  a s{)ecialty  of  raising  and 
breeding  thoroughbred  Poland  China  hogs, 
also  other  good  stock.  He  has  done  much  to 
imi)rove  the  live  stock  of  Boone  county  and  is 
widely  known  throughout  the  county  as  an 
energetic  and  enterprising  man.  His  union  to 
Mi.ss  Bovee  has  been  blessed  with  ten  children, 
viz.;  Marion  1*'.,  born  August  26,  1858,  and 
died  November  11,  1858;  William  B.,  born 
b'ebruary  2,  i860;  Mary  E.,  born  October  24, 
1861,  and  died  December  12,  1887;  Clement 


UBRARY 
OF  THE 
UNIVERSITY  OF- 


OF  BOONE  COUNTY. 


279 


L.,  born  May  8,  1863,  and  died  October  4, 
1887;  Svnthia  E.,  born  October  ii,  1864; 
fames  \Y,  born  May  17.  1866;  Sarah  A., 
born  Jannary  15,  1871,  and  died  February  i, 
1871;  Pearly  A.,  born  October  2,  1872.  and 
died  Alienist  30,  1879;  Edgar  E.,  born  June 
II,  1877;  Walter  F.,  born  April  12,  1881. 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Grose  are  members  of  the  Chris- 
tian church.  Mr.  Crose  has  always  taken 
much  interest  in  the  progress  of  Boone  county, 
and  is  a patron  of  every  enterprise  that  prom- 
ises to  be  of  benefit  to  the  public  at  large, 
never  hesitating  to  put  his  hand  in  his  pocket 
when  the  public  weal  demands  his  aid.  His 
private  charities  he  keeps  to  himself,  but  his 
liberality  is  well  known,  notwithstanding.  Up 
right  in  all  his  transactions,  he  has  won  the 
respect  of  the  entire  community. 


HMEKICUS  C.  DAIEY,  a prominent 
business  man  of  Lebanon,  Boone 
county,  Ind.,  and  a well  known 
politician  whose  reputation  is  state 
wide,  is  the  descendant  of  an  old  and  well 
known  family  of  Luzerne  county.  Pa.,  and 
springs  from  the  sterling  Scotch-Irish  stock 
which  added  so  much  character  to  the  early 
history  of  the  Keystone  state.  His  great- 
grandfather, David  Daily,  a native  of  the 
north  of  Ireland,  came  to  America  in  com- 
pany with  two  brothers  in  the  times  of  the 
colonies.  He  was  a patriot  in  the  War  of 
Independence,  throughout  which  he  served 
with  distinction.  One  of  his  brothers  settled 
in  Virginnia,  the  other  in  Montreal,  Canada, 
and  both  became  widely  and  favorably  known 
in  their  respective  localities.  David  Daily, 
grandfather  of  Americus  C.,  was  for  some 
years  a farmer  of  Luzerne  county.  Pa. , in 
which  state  he  married  Elizabeth  Overfield,  a 
member  of  a distinguished  family,  and  reared 
ten  children.  He  was  a poineer  of  Ohio, 

13 


moving  to  Miami  county,  that  state,  as  early 
as  1816,  and  resided  there  until  1833,  at  which 
time  he  came  to  Boone  county,  Ind.,  locating 
near  Thorntown,  where  his  death  occurred  in 
i860,  at  the  ripe  old  age  of  eighty-two  years. 
Charles  Daily,  son  of  the  above  and  father  of 
Americus  C. , was  born  December  23,  1810, 
in  Luzerne  county.  Pa.,  and  by  occupation 
was  a harness  maker,  which  calling  he  follow- 
ed at  various  places  for  a period  of  twenty- 
five  3ears.  He  married  in  Clark  county, 
Ohio,  Mary’  Hay’,  daughter  of  Joseph  and 
Nancy  (Johnson)  Hay,  and  became  the  father 
of  six  children,  the  following  being  their 
names;  Benjamin  O.,  who  was  born  in  Craw- 
fordsville,  Ind.,  Americus  C.,  Henry  H., 
Samuel  R.,  Charles  O.,  and  David  H.,  who 
were  born  in  New  Carlisle,  Ohio.  It  is  a 
fact  worthy  of  note  that  no  death  occurred  in 
the  family  of  Mr.  Daily  or  in  any  of  the 
families  of  his  children  until  he  had  been  mar- 
rietl  over  sixty  years.  Charles  Daily  became 
a resident  of  Boone  county,  Ind.,  in  1880  and 
retired  from  active  life  about  the  same  year 
in  very  comfortable  circumstances.  Financial- 
ly he  met  with  most  encouraging  success,  was 
for  many  years  a class  leader  in  the  Methodist 
chui’ch,  and  died  ripe  in  y^ears  and  full  of 
honors  at  Lebanon,  November  2,  1893,  at  the 
advanced  age  of  eighty-three.  The  chief 
characteristics  of  this  most  excellent  man  was 
strict  integrity,  a high  sense  of  honor  and  a 
retiring  disposition,  and  he  is  remembered  as 
a great  lover  of  his  home  and  family'.  Mrs. 
Daily,  in  every  respect  a fit  companion  and 
helpmate  of  such  a husband,  is  still  lingering  on 
the  shores  of  time,  having  reached  the  good  old 
age  of  eighty-two  years. 

Americus  C.  Daily,  the  principal  facts  of 
whose  life  are  herewith  set  forth,  was  born 
March  10,  1835,  in  New  Carlisle,  Ohio,  in  the 
schools  of  which  place  he  received  his  element- 
ary education.  Later,  he  pursued  his  studies 


280 


BTOGRAPIIICAT>  HISTORY 


for  some  years  in  the  Linden  Hill  academy, 
where  he  obtained  a knowledge  of  the  higher 
branches  of  learning  untler  the  instruction  of 
Prof.  Thomas  Harrison,  A.  M.,  1)  I).,  a noted 
educator  of  Ohio,  formerly  assistant  editor  of 
the  W'estern  C'hristian  Advocate,  and  subse- 
quently president  of  Moore's  Hill  college.  The 
following  notice  of  Mr.  Daily,  given  without 
solicitation  by  Professor  Harrison,  is  indeed  a 
most  flattering  testimonial  to  the  young  man’s 
assiduity  and  worth  as  a student:  “Over 
thirty  years  ago,  while  I was  principal  of  Lin- 
den Hill  academy  in  Ohio,  Mr.  A.  C.  Daily 
was  a student  of  the  institution.  His  parents 
were  upright  and  industrious  citizens  and  he 
early  learned  from  them  the  importance  and 
advantage  of  a correct  life.  Too  much  cannot 
be  said  of  his  many  e.xcellent  qualities.  As  a 
student  he  had  a strong,  clear  and  vigorous 
intellect,  and  he  readily  grasped  the  various 
branches  of  knowledge  he  studied.  His  indus- 
try and  perseverance  were  unceasing.  His 
moral  character  was  without  a blemish.  He 
was  always  respectful  to  his  instructors  and 
obedient  to  the  regulations  of  the  institution. 
He  was  kind  and  obliging  to  his  fellow-stu- 
dents, and  among  them  was  a universal  favor- 
ite. His  parents  assisted  him  in  obtaining  an 
education  and  he  faithfully  co-operated  with 
them  in  the  great  work.” 

In  1855,  when  twenty  years  of  age,  Mr. 
Daily  came  to  Boone  county,  Ind.,  and  ac- 
cepted the  pcxsition  of  deputy  county  treasurer 
under  his  uncle,  John  C.  Daily,  in  which  ca- 
pacity he  continued  until  the  e.xpiration  of  the 
latter's  term  of  office,  when  he  became  clerk  | 
in  the  auditor's  office,  discharging  the  duties  j 
of  the  same  until  i860.  fu  that  year  he  was 
ajipointed  ch'rk  of  the  Boone  county  circuit 
court  to  fill  a vacancy  occasioned  by  the  death 
of  Henry  Shannon,  and  in  1861  was  elected 
trustee  of  ('enter  townshij).  In  1862  Mr. 
Daily  was  conqilimented  by  being  elected  to  j 


the  office  of  county  auditor,  the  duties  of  which 
position  he  dischargeil  in  a manner  highly 
creditable  to  himself  and  satisfactory  to  his 
[ constituency  for  one  term,  and  in  1867,  in 
partnership  with  Judge  L.  C.  Dougherty  and 
Maj.  Harvey  G.  Hazelrigg,  organized  the  Leb- 
anon Bank,  a private  institution,  which  from 
the  beginning  had  the  confidence  of  the  peo- 
ple and  proved  highly  successful.  In  1882  the 
bank  was  reorganized  as  the  Lebanon  National 
baid<,  with  A.  C.  Daily  as  president;  Levi 
Lane,  vice  president,  and  Samuel  S.  Daily 
cashier;  the  capital  stock  at  that  time  being 
$60,000.  This  bank  has  a large  line  of  de- 
posits, and  under  its  most  excellent  and  suc- 
cessful business  management  has  become  one 
of  the  best  known  and  popular  institutions  of 
the  kind  in  central  Indiana.  Mr.  Daily  is 
public  spirited  in  all  the  term  implies,  and  has 
been  untiring  in  his  efforts  toward  building’  up 
the  city  of  Lebanon  and  developing  the  re- 
sources of  Boone  county.  For  six  consecu- 
tive years  he  was  secretary  of  the  Boone 
County  Agricultural  society,  much  of  the  suc- 
cess of  which  is  due  to  his  executive  ability, 
and  he  has  always  been  liberal  with  his  means 
in  the  promotion  of  any  and  all  enterprises 
having  for  their  object  the  moral  and  material 
well-being  of  the  community.  For  some  years 
he  was  treasurer  of  the  Indiana  Trotting  and 
Pacing  Horse  Dealers’ association,  a state  or- 
ganization. 

P'raternally  Mr.  Daily  is  a Mason  of  the 
thirty-second  degree,  and  also  belongs  to  the 
1.  ().  ().  1'.,  both  subordinate  lodge  and  en- 
cauqiment,  in  the  former  of  which  he  has  held 
every  official  ])osition.  He  is  a member  of  the 
grand  lodge  of  the  state  and  was  honored  by 
being  chosen  to  re[)resenl  Indiana  in  the  Sov- 
ereign grand  lodge  at  Topeka,  Kans. , in  1890, 
and  in  St.  Louis  in  1891.  It  will  thus  be  seen 
that  Mr.  Daily’s  life  has  been  one  of  great  ac- 
tivity; his  official  and  business  career  is  without 


OF  BOONE  COUNTY. 


281 


the  taint  of  suspicion,  and  he  stands 

deservedly  high  among  the  people  of  Boone 
county,  who  have  long  since  learned  to  re- 
spect him  for  his  integrity  and  other  excellent 
traits  of  character.  Mr.  Daily  is  a republican 
in  politics,  and  as  such  has  been  untiring  in  his 
efforts  to  promote  the  interests  of  his  party  in 
Boone  county  and  throughout  the  state.  In 
April,  1894,  he  was  nominated  for  the  office 
of  auditor  of  the  state,  and  in  the  November 
following  was  triumphantly  elected  by  a state 
plurality  of  44,773,  his  majority  in  his  own 
county  of  Boone  being  158  ahead  of  his  ticket, 
showing  him  to  be  a prime  favorite.  For  this 
position  his  abilities  eminently  fit  him,  and  in 
this  connection  it  is  proper  to  quote  from  the 
note  of  Prof.  Harrison,  to  which  reference  was 
made  in  a preceding  paragraph,  relative  to  his 
ability  to  fill  positions  of  trust,  in  the  event  of 
his  election;  “That  he  has  succeeded  so  ad- 
mirably as  a noble  American  citizen  is  only 
what  may  be  expected.  To  whatever  position 
the  votes  of  the  people  may  elevate  him  he 
will  most  assuredly  fill  with  the  highest  credit.” 

Mr.  Daily  has  a beautiful  home  in  Lebanon 
and  an  interesting  family  consisting  of  a wife 
and  two  children.  He  married  Maggie  F.  Mc- 
Corkle,  daughter  of  Solomon  and  Ruth  Culver 
McCorkle,  of  Champaign  county,  Ohio,  and 
the  names  of  their  children  are  Charles  E.  and 
Blanche.  Mrs.  Dail,y  is  a member  of  the 
Methodist  church,  and  Mr.  Daily  holds  the  po- 
sition of  trustee  in  the  Lebanon  congregation. 


AMES  M.  DAVIS  is  a native  of  Boone 
county,  Ind.,  and  was  born  in  the 
village  of  Thorntown,  March  22,  1838. 
He  is  a son  of  Joseph  and  Hannah  B 
(Moore)  Davis,  natives  of  New  Jersey  and 
Ohio  respectively,  and  of  English  and  Irish  ex- 
traction. Joseph  Davis  was  a son  of  England, 
who  came  to  the  United  States  in  a very  early 


day,  settling  in  New  jersey.  Being  of  a 
speculative  turn  of  mind,  he  went  to  New 
Orleans,  La.,  with  a fiat-boat  of  flour  and 
pork,  and  while  there  was  taken  sick  and  died. 
His  widow  afterward  moved  to  Troy,  Ohio, 
and  later  to  Thorntown,  Ind.,  where  she  died 
at  the  home  of  one  of  her  sons.  They  were 
the  parents  of  eight  children,  viz  ; William, 
George,  Eliza,  John,  Ephraim,  James,  Joseph 
and  Charles.  Joseph,  the  father  of  our  sub- 
ject, the  next  to  the  youngest  member  of  the 
family,  was  born  at  Trenton,  N.  J.,  February 
26,  1796,  and  went  with  his  mother  to  Troy, 
Ohio,  when  a small  boy.  He  learned  the 
tailor’s  trade,  which  occupation  he  followed 
for  a number  of  years.  He  was  married  at 
Circleville,  Ohio,  March  2,  1820,  to  Hannah 
B.  Moore,  who  was  born  at  that  place  January 
14,  1802.  In  the  spring  of  1832  or  1833  he 
moved  to  Thorntown,  Ind.,  and  engaged  in 
tailoring  until  1853,  when  he  purchased  land 
in  Washington  township,  on  which  he  settled 
and  engaged  in  farming  until  his  death,  which 
occurred  February  23,  1877,  his  wife  having 

died  August  31,  1876.  They  were  the  parents 
of  twelve  children,  viz  ; Eliza,  Catherine, 
Amanda,  Melvina,  Elizabeth  A.,  Carolina, 
Henry  C.,  William  S.,  James  M.,  Edwin, 
Alethia  E.  and  Elizabeth  E. 

James  M.  Davis  was  married  in  Clinton 
county,  Ind.,  January  10,  1861,  to  Sarah  A., 
daughter  of  Dr.  Isaac  T.  and  Louisa  C. 
(Canby)  Wilds,  who  were  among  the  first 
settlers  of  Clinton  comity,  Ind.  Dr.  Wilds 
was  the  first  physician  to  locate  in  Clinton 
county,  and  his  oldest  son  was  the  first  male 
child  born  in  Frankfort.  They  were  the  par- 
ents of  nine  children,  viz:  George  M.,  Mary 
E.,  Sarah  A.,  William  W.,  Frances  C.,  James 
W.,  John  R.,  Edward  T.  and  Francis  S.  Mr. 
Davis  now  lives  on  the  old  home  farm  and 
owns  140  acres  of  fine  land  well  improved. 
Five  children  were  born  to  him,  viz  : Lillian 


BIOGRAPHICAL  HISTORY 


282 

L.,  born  October  5,  1861.  now  Mrs.  George 
\V.  Sims,  and  residing  in  Kansas;  George  M., 
born  April  13,  1863,  married  to  Ary  E.  Bren- 
ton,  and  residing  in  Kansas;  Minnie,  born  July 
19,  1866,  died  Jnly  20,  1866;  Frank  W.,  born 
September  15,  1 868,  married  to  Viola  B.  Lnse, 
and  living  in  Kansas;  and  Clint  B.,  born  March 
10,  1872,  at  home.  Mr.  Davis  is  a fine  man 
in  the  true  sense  of  the  word  and  he  and 
family  have  ever  enjoyed  the  full  esteem  of 
their  neighbors,  wherever  it  may  have  been 
their  lot  to  be  located.  In  Boone  county, 
especially,  are  the  residing  members  of  the 
family  held  in  the  highest  regard. 


OHX  C.  DA\TS. — The  great  rebellion 
left  its  scorching  name,  not  only  in  the 
shajie  of  a great  debt  to  Inirden  the 
American  people,  but  it  filled  the 
country  with  the  maimed,  sick  and  helpless, 
and  these  disabled  soldiers  made  the  noblest 
sacrifices  for  their  country,  as  throughout  these 
long  years  the  blighting  hand  of  war  has  been 
laid  heavily  upon  them,  and  there  is  no  soldier 
in  Boone  county,  who  is  more  entitled  to  the 
sympathies  and  respect  of  his  fellow-citizens, 
than  John  C.  Davis.  His  grandfather  was  a 
farmer  of  Ohio  in  the  Miami  valley.  His  son 
John  was  the  father  of  our  subject,  was  born 
in  Ohio,  and  reared  near  Cincinnati.  He  re- 
ceived a good  English  education,  and  came  to 
Indiana  when  a young  man,  settling  in  Frank- 
lin county,  where  he  married  Elizalteth  A , 
daughter  of  Andy  Caldwell,  and  they  were  the 
parents  of  eight  children —John  C.,  Nancy  J., 
Andrew  J.,  Sarah,  Mary  A.,  Samuel,  Nelson 
and  h'ranklin.  In  the  fall  of  1832,  Mr.  Davis 
came  to  Boone  county  and  settU'd  in  the 
woods  on  Eagle  creek,  one-half  mile  east  of 
Ralston,  where  he  entered  eighty  acres  of 
land,  cleared  u])  a farm  and  made  a good  home. 
H(?  at  one  time  taught  school  in  LInion  town- 


ship. Mr.  and  Mrs.  Davis  were  both  devout 
members  of  the  Methodist  church.  In  politi- 
cal opinions  he  was  first  an  old-time  whig  and 
afterward  an  original  republican  and  a stanch 
adherent  to  the  Union  cause,  having  three 
sons  in  the  Civil  war:  John  C. ; Andrew  J., 
in  company  E.,  Fortieth  regiment,  Indiana 
volunteer  infantry,  who  was  in  several  battles, 
in  one  of  which  he  was  wounded;  and  Samuel 
S.,  who  was  in  an  Indiana  infantry  regiment, 
ioo-da}’'s  service,  and  was  in  battle.  John 
Davis,  father  of  these  soldier  sons,  was  a 
man  of  high  character,  honored  and  respected 
by  all  who  knew  him.  He  brought  up  an  ex- 
cellent family  of  children,  all  of  whom  are  of 
temperate  and  moral  character.  He  lived  to 
be  seventy-two  years  of  age. 

John  C.  Davis  was  born  in  I'ranklin  county, 
Ind.,  September  28,  1832,  was  two  years  old 
when  brought  to  Boone  county,  and  early 
learned  to  work  at  clearing  land.  His  educa- 
tion consisted  of  what  he  could  learn  in  our  pio- 
neer schools.  He  enlisted  April  23,  1861. 

This  was  the  first  call  made  by  Father  Abra- 
ham for  three-months’  men,  which  roused  the 
patriotism  of  the  Hoosier  boys  to  the  fullest 
extent,  and  he  enlisted  at  Lebanon,  company 
I,  Tenth  regiment,  Indiana  volunteer  infantiy, 
under  Capt.  Kise.  This  was  the  first  company 
that  enlisted  at  Lebanon  to  go  to  the  front. 
He  served  out  this  enlistment  and  was  honora- 
bly discharged  at  Indinapolis,  Ind.,  August  6, 
1861;  re-eidisted  in  company  I',  I'ortieth  reg- 
iment, Indiana  volunteer  infantry,  for  three 
years  or  during  the  war,  servetl  until  the  close, 
and  was  honorably  dischargetl  at  Indinapolis, 
August  28,  1865.  His  battles  were  at  Rich 
Mountain,  Shiloh,  Kenesaw  Mountain,  and 
Beach  d'ree  creek.  He  was  under  the  artillery 
fire  in  a skirmish  in  front  of  .\tlanta  and  was 
stunned  by  a shell.  He  fell  senseless  on  the 
fu'ld  and  was  carried  to  the  rear  for  dead.  His 
mind  was  affected  by  the  concussion,  and  he 


OF  BOONE  COUNTY. 


28B 


was  taken  to  the  held  liosjiital.  Imagining 
them  to  be  rebels,  he  escaped  from  his  guards 
and  ran  directly  into  the  rebel  lines,  thinking 
he  was  rejoining  his  regiment.  He  was  cap- 
tured by  them  and  taken  to  Andersonville  a 
prisoner,  and  was  conhned  in  this  celebrated 
stockade  until  the  close  of  the  war.  Being  in 
this  demented  condition,  he  suffered  terribly 
from  thirst,  starvation  and  e.xposure,  and  when 
released  was  a mere  skeleton  and  could  hardly 
walk.  Being  still  shattered  in  mind,  he  in 
some  manner,  while  being  conveyed  home, 
left  the  train  and  found  himself  in  Ken- 
tucky among  strangers.  He  recovered  his 
mind  sufficiently  to  write  home  to  his  brother, 
Samuel,  who  was  a farmer  in  Boone  county, 
who  immediately  went  to  Kentucky,  and 
brought  him  home.  With  careful  nursing,  he 
partially  improved,  but  still  remains  in  a de- 
bilitated condition,  and  to  this  da}^  can  remem- 
ber but  little  of  his  terrible  e.xperience  in 
Andersonville.  On  December  19,  1867,  he  mar- 
ried Angelina  A.,  daughter  of  Washington  and 
Dorcas  J.  (Russell)  Phillips. 

Mr.  Phillips  was  an  old  pioneer  in  Boone 
county,  living  many  years  in  Washington 
township,  where  he  entered  his  land  and 
cleared  up  his  farm  of  160  acres  from  the 
woods.  To  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Phillips  were  born 
seven  children — Oscar;  Fraid<lin,  a soldier  in 
the  Civil  war  two  years  and  wounded  in  battle 
— Minerva,  Angelina,  Thomas  B. — a soldier  in 
the  war  three  years  and  in  several  battles — 
Rosswell  R. — a soldier  in  the  1 00-day  service. 
Mrs.  Phillips  was  a member  of  the  Methodist 
church.  She  died,  and  Mr.  Phillips  married 
Susan  Wallace,  and  they  had  six  children — 
Mary,  John,  Alice,  Jennie,  Asbery  and  Lew. 
Mr.  Phillips  was  born  in  Ohio  in  1806,  and 
died  in  Boone  county  in  1890,  aged  eighty- 
four  years.  He  was  a sturdy  Boone  county 
pioneer,  upright  in  his  dealings,  and  set  a good 
example  to  his  children.  After  marriage,  Mr, 


Davis  settled  on  his  present  farm  of  eighty 
acres,  right  in  the  woods.  Being  in  a disabled 
condition,  he  could  do  but  little  work  and  was 
obliged  to  hire  most  of  the  clearning  done,  but 
he  still  was  industrious  and  frugal,  and  assisted 
by  his  faithful  and  energetic  wife,  who  is  an 
excellent  manager,  he  has  converted  his  land 
into  a fertile  farm,  and  erected  substantial 
buildings.  The  home  of  this  old  soldier  has 
been  brightened  by  the  birth  of  one  daughter 
— May  V.  They  are  all  members  of  the  Metho- 
dist church,  of  which  Mr.  Davis  has  been  class- 
leader.  In  politics  he  is  a republican  and 
votes  against  the  men  who  caused  his  affliction. 
In  his  old  age  Mr.  Davis  is  out  of  debt  and 
enjoys  the  solid  comforts  of  a good  home. 
His  course  has  always  been  marked  for  moral- 
ity and  temperance. 


ISAAC  J.  DAVIS  is  a member  of  the  fa- 
mous firm  of  Davis  Bros.,  the  propri- 
etors of  the  largest  livery,  feed  and  sale 
stables  in  Boone  county,  Ind.,  with 
headquarters  at  Lebanon.  Their  father,  Jo- 
siah  Davis,  the  son  of  a Kentucky  family  of 
English  descent,  is  a citizen  of  Ladoga,  Mont- 
gomery county,  Ind,  where  he  was  formerly  a 
substantial  farmer,  but  is  now  leading  a retired 
life.  He  married  Miss  M.  J.  Carson,  and 
there  were  born  to  them  the  following  named 
children:  James  C.,  John,  Isaac  T.,  Mary  J., 
Lucy  and  Effie.  Mr.  Davis  is  a respected 
member  of  the  Baptist  church,  and  a citizen 
highly  honored  for  his  integrity  of  character  by 
the  inhabitants  of  Eadoga  and  Montgomery 
county. 

Isaac  T.  Davis  was  born  in  Montgomery 
county,  Ind.,  March  5,  1849,  and  was  reared 
on  his  father’s  farm,  receiving  as  good  an  edu- 
cation as  the  schools  of  his  district  could  possi- 
bly afford.  He  began  his  business  life  as  a 
buyer  and  shipper  of  horses,  and  that  he  made 


2S4 


BIOGRAPHICAL  HISTORY 


a success  of  tliis  traffic  is  proven  by  his  present 
j)rosperons  and  extensive  trade.  He  started  in 
tlie  livery  business  at  Ladoga  about  the  year 
1870,  and  for  three  years  carried  on  a thriving 
trade,  and  then  moved  to  Jamestown,  Boone 
county,  Ind.,  where  for  another  ])eriod  of  three 
years  he  was  e(]ua!ly  successful  in  the  same 
line.  About  1 876  he  came  to  Lebanon,  where 
he  and  his  brother,  James  C.,  have  established 
their  present  immense  sale  and  livery  stable. 
Their  purchases  and  shipments  of  horses  have 
been  enormous,  and  last  season  the  sum  paid 
out  for  animals  in  this  vicinity  alone  exceeded 
$60,000,  and  their  shijuiients  extended  east  as 
far  as  Newark,  N.  J.,  and  throughout  the  inter- 
mediate country  the  firm  are  known  as  respon- 
sible and  reliable  business  men  of  undoubted 
integrity.  Personally,  Isaac  T.  Davis  is  a very 
popular  citizen.  In  politics  a democrat,  he 
filled  the  important  office  of  sheriff  of  Boone 
county  from  1882  to  1884,  to  the  entire  satis- 
faction of  the  public;  he  is  a member  of  Leb- 
anon lodge.  No.  45,  Knights  of  Pythias,  and 
has  filled  all  the  offices  within  the  lodge;  he  is 
also  a member  of  the  Baptist  church  and  lives 
in  accordance  with  its  teachings.  His  mar- 
riage took  place  at  Lebanon,  IMay  2,  1876,  to 
Miss  Maggie  Andrews,  and  he  has  had  born  to 
him  four  children,  wdio  are  named  Lyle,  Carl 
A.,  W'illiam  and  Beulah.  These  brothers, 
Isaac  T.  and  James  C.  Davis,  as  will  be  well 
understood  from  the  foregoing,  constitute  the 
firm  of  Davis  Bros.,  proprietors  of  one  of  the 
best  equipped  livery  stables  in  Indiana,  to  say 
nothing  (jf  their  large  buying  operations.  The 
sjracious  barns  are  always  neat  and  clean,  and 
their  teams  on  hire  include  every  variety  of 
rig,  from  the  saddle  horse  to  the  farm-horse 
team  when  demanded,  and  their  high  style  of 
turnouts  has  never  been  known  to  fail  to  give 
satisfaction,  while  their  moderate  charges  have 
invariably  met  the  approbation  of  all  their  ])a- 
trons. 


a ALVIN  DICKERSON,  of  Perry 
township,  Boone  county,  Ind.,  is  a 
native  of  Hendricks  county,  this 
state,  and  was  born  July  21,  1839. 
His  jjarents,  Andrew  and  Mahalia  (Dodd) 
Dickerson,  were  born  and  were  married  in 
Floyd  county,  Va.,  and  there  the  father  fol- 
lowed farming,  school-teaching  and  carpenter- 
ing until  1830,  when  he  brought  his  family  to 
Indiana  and  entered  land  in  Hendricks  county, 
where  his  death  occurred  in  1847,  that  of 
his  wife  in  1 890,  both  being  members  of  the 
Society  of  Friends.  Their  ten  children  were 
named  Lucinda,  Jackson,  Fnnis,  Julia  Ann, 
Floyd,  Cabin,  Darius,  Mary  E.,  Ellen,  and 
Sarah. 

Calvin  Dickerson  abided  with  his  mother 
until  his  enlistment,  September  7,  1861,  in 
company  C,  Fifty-first  Indiana  volunteer  in- 
fantry, in  which  he  served  three  years  and  five 
months,  returning  home  March  8,  1865.  All 
this  time  he  was  on  acti\'e  duty,  except  when 
he  was  a prisoner  for  fifteen  days,  having  been 
captured  by  Gen.  Forrest  at  Rome,  Ga.,  while 
on  a raid,  and  during  a short  period  of  confine- 
ment in  hosjtital,  having  been  shot  through 
both  legs  at  the  siege  of  Nashville.  After  his 
return  he  resumed  farming,  and  two  or  three 
years  later  bought  a farm  of  forty  acres  in  the 
woods,  on  which  he  lived  ten  years,  then  came 
to  Perry  township,  Boone  county,  bought 
another  farm  of  forty  acres,  now  increased  to 
180  acres,  and  this  has  since  been  his  home. 
August  10,  1865,  he  married  Harriet  Holley, 
who  was  born  in  Hendricks  county,  Ind., 
September  21,  1844,  a daughter  of  John  and 
Frances  Holley,  natives  of  Kentucky.  To 
this  union  of  Calvin  and  Harriet  were  born 
five  children,  viz:  Charles  M.,  Capitolia,  Fran- 
ces, John  A.  and  Asa.  'Fhc  mother  of  these 
died  August  17,  1876,  and  in  1877  Mr.  Dick- 
erson married  Margaret  Acton,  a native  of 
Ri[)ley  county,  Ind.,  horn  June  12,  1851,  and 


OF  BOONE  COUNTY. 


285 


(laughter  of  James  H.  and  Serepta  (Prater) 
Acton,  natives  of  Kentucky.  This  seoond 
union  has  been  blessed  with  one  child — Earl 
O.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Dickerson  are  members  of 
the  Baptist  church,  and  in  politics  he  is  a 
democrat.  His  pension  for  his  war  services  is 
$i6per  month. 


ILIJAM  J.  DeVOL.— This  young 
man  is  one  of  the  prominent  busi- 
ness men  of  Lebanon,  and  assist- 
ant cashier  of  the  P'irst  National 
bank.  His  great  grandfather,  Arpha.xed  DeVol, 
was  a farmer  of  Ohio,  and  the  father  of 
Ezekiel,  Hiram,  W.  J.,  Thomas,  Clark, 
Mervin,  Benjamin  F.  and  Stephen,  eight  sons. 
Arphaxed  DeVol  married  Polly  Dye,  and  they 
were  residents  of  Morgan  county,  Ohio,  and 
pioneers,  and  Mr.  DeVol  was  a large  farmer. 
He  lived  to  be  an  aged  man.  Ezekiel  DeVol, 
grandfather  of  William  J.-,  our  subject,  was 
born  in  Morgan  county,  Ohio.  He  became  a 
farmer  and  lived  all  his  life  on  the  old  DeVol 
homestead  on  Meigs  creek,  Morgan  county, 
Ohio.  He  married  Nancy  Emits,  daughter  of 
Samuel  Eouts,  and  to  them  were  born  seven 
children:  Lorinda,  William  J.,  Clark, 

Lemon,  Charles  F.,  Barbara  and  I'remont. 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  DeVol  were  members  of  the 
Methodist  church,  and  he  was  class  leader. 
He  was  a substantial  farmer  and  a man  of 
high  character,  beloved  by  all  and  noted  for 
his  honorable  character.  He  died,  on  his 
farm,  at  the  age  of  sixty-three.  Mr.  W.  J. 
DeVol,  father  of  William  J.,  was  born  in 
Morgan  county,  Ohio,  September  i8,  1833. 

He  received  a good  common  school  education, 
and  was  married  at  the  age  of  twenty-three 
years,  in  Morgan  county,  October  29,  1856, 
to  Frances  E.,  daughter  of  Samuel  and 
Elizabeth  (Green)  Adams.  Samuel  Adams 
was  born  in  Brooke  county,  Va.,  of  an 


American  family  of  English  stock.  He  mar- 
ried in  that  county,  moved  to  Ohio,  and  set- 
tled in  Morgan  county,  among  the  pioneers, 
where  he  cleared  up  a farm  and  passed  all  his 
life.  He  was  a member  of  the  Christian 
church,  and  a disciple  of  the  famous  Alex- 
ander Campbell.  He  organized  the  first 
Christian  church  in  Morgan  county,  on  Meigs 
creek,  and  was  elder  many  years.  This  church 
is  still  in  existence.  Mr.  Adams  served  many 
years  as  a local  preacher — indeed,  until  he  was 
too  old  to  preach.  He  was  greatly  respected 
by  the  people.  He  had  an  intelligent  mind, 
was  a wide  reader  and  in  later  life  was  an  un- 
tiring student  of  the  Holy  Bible.  He  was  first 
married  to  Eliza  Irwin,  and  to  them  were  born 
four  children:  Sarah,  David,  William  and 
Nancy.  Mrs.  Adams  died  in  Virginia  and 
Mr.  Adams  next  married  Elizabeth  Green. 
By  the  second  marriage  there  were  seven 
children:  Mary,  John,  Samuel,  Elizabeth, 

Frances  E.,  Alvira  and  Rose.  Mr.  Adams 
lived  to  be  seventy-nine  years  of  age.  In 
politics  he  was  a republican,  and  once  served 
as  a member  of  the  Ohio  state  legislature. 
W'illiam  J.  DeVol  and  wife  settled  on  Meigs 
creek,  Morgan  county,  Ohio,  where  he  en- 
gaged in  the  mercantile  business.  He  re- 
mained there  sometime  and  enlisted,  in  Octo- 
ber, 1861,  at  McConnellsville,  Ohio,  in  com- 
})any  C,  One  Hundred  and  Twenty-second 
regiment,  O.  V.  I.,  for  three  years,  as  a pri- 
vate, but  was  promoted  to  corporal.  He  had 
served  thirteen  months  when  he  was  dis- 
abled by  exposure  on  a severe  march  and 
was  honorably  discharged  in  November, 
1862.  He  was  in  the  battle  at  Winchester 
and  in  many  severe  skirmishes.  After  this 
service  for  his  country  he. returned  home  and 
entered  the  mercantile  business,  and  continued 
until  October  10,  1867.  He  then  engaged  in 
farming  in  Center  township,  Boone  county, 
Ind.,  and  died  two  years  later,  in  1869,  Sep- 


280 


H I ( )( ; R API  lie  AL  III  STORY 


teinber  12,  aged  thirty-six  years,  frcjm  the 
effects  of  army  exposure.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  DeVol 
were  strict  memhers  of  the  Christian  church. 
Mr.  DeVol  was  a ineinl)er  of  the  I.  O.  O. 
F.,  and  in  his  jiolitics  was  a sound  re- 
publican. He  had  a kind  heart,  an 
honest  character,  and  was  loved  by  all.  To 
Mr,  and  Mrs.  UeVol  were  born  live  children: 
Rebecca  A.,  Rose  A.,  Nancy,  William  J., 
and  Charlie.  Mrs.  DeVol  now  resides  in 
Lebanon. 

Judge  Ak  J.  DeVol,  the  grand-uncle  of  our 
subject,  was  born  in  Ohio,  December  28,  1814, 
went  to  Missouri,  settling  in  Crawford  county, 
where  he  married  Rebecca  Thompson,  but  they 
were  the  parents  of  no  children.  He  became 
a large  farmer  and  was  elected  county  judge. 
About  1865  he  came  to  Lebanon  and  bought 
land.  He  also  inherited  880  acres  of  land  from 
his  brother,  Clark  DeVol,  who  came  to  Doone 
county  at  an  early  day,  was  a bachelor  and 
well  known  as  an  honest  and  worthy  man. 
judge  DeVol  became  wealthy  and  was  the 
first  president  of  the  First  National  bank  of 
Lebanon.  He  died  at  seventy-one  years  of 
age  in  1886,  a member  of  the  Missionary  Bap- 
tist church;  in  politics  was  a democrat. 

\\'.  J.  DeVol  was  born  in  Morgan  county, 
Ohio,  August  3,  1867,  and  was  but  two  months 
old  when  brought  to  Boone  comity,  Ind.  He 
received  the  education  of  the  public  schools  of 
Boone  county  and  Lebanon,  and  began  busi- 
ness life  as  a clerk  at  the  age  of  twenty-two 
years  in  the  First  National  bank  in  Lebanon. 
September  30,  1893,  he  was  elected  assistant 
cashier,  an  office  which  he  still  fills  with  credit 
to  himself  and  satisfaction  to  the  bank.  He  is 
a member  of  the  Christian  church,  liaxiiig 
joined  at  thirteen  years  of  age,  and  has  always 
taken  an  active  interest  in  religious  matters  and 
the  study  of  the  Bible;  he  was  made  deacon  in 
his  church  at  the  age  of  twenty-three  years, 
and  he  is  also  teacher  of  the  Sunday  school.  He 


is  likewise  a member  of  Lebanon  lodge.  No. 
45,  K.  of  P.  Mr.  DeVol  is  a young  man  of 
excellent  character  and  of  high  purposes  in 
life.  As  a bank  cashier  he  is  pleasant  and 
affable,  and  his  rare  judgment  with  regard  to 
men  with  whom  he  deals  allows  him  to  be 
accommodating  to  an  unusual  extent. 


OHN  THOMAS  DINSMORE,  a sturdy 
and  prosperous  farmer  of  HaiTison 
township,  Boone  county,  Ind.,  is  of 
Irish  extraction,  but  is  a native  In- 
diana, having  been  born  in  Decatur  county, 
this  state,  August  4,  1829.  His  great-grand- 
father, James  Dinsmore,  a weaver  by  trade, 
was  the  first  of  the  family  to  come  from  Ire- 
land to  America,  and  here  located  in  Mary- 
land, where  he  learned  tanning,  and  then 
moved  to  Virginia. 

Thomas  Dinsmore,  son  of  James  and 
grandfather  of  John  T. , was  a patriot  in  the 
American  army  in  1812,  and  in  \’irginia  was 
married  to  Martha  Oglesby,  and  then  moved  to 
Tennessee,  and  later  to  Kentucky,  aiul  still 
later  to  Decatur  county,  Ind.,  then  to  Bar- 
tholomew county,  and  finally  to  Boone  county, 
where,  in  1839,  he  bought  eight}'  acres  of 
land,  on  which  his  grandson.  Pleasant  J. 
Dinsmore,  now  resides.  In  that  early  day  this 
tract  of  land  was  a wilderness  infested  with 
])acks  of  wolves,  but  at  the  same  time  a com- 
pensation was  afforded  by  the  i)resence  of  droves 
of  deer  that  furnished  meat  for  many  a good 
dinner.  (Irandfather  'rhomas  Dinsmore  was 
a highly  respected  citizen  and  cpiitc  i)rominent 
in  the  early  days  of  Boone  county.  He  was  a 
member  of  the  United  Brethren  church,  and  a 
b'reemason,  and  held  rank  \\ith  the  best  in 
the  social  circles  of  his  township  and  county. 
He  had  born  to  him  the  following  children,  all 
of  whom  he  reared  to  lives  of  usefulness  and 


OF  BOONE  COUNTY. 


287 


to  be  valuable  members  of  society  ; \\'illiam, 
Rebecca,  Jacob  and  James  (twins),  Editha, 
John,  Jackson,  Easter,  Martha  and  Peter 
Oglesby.  Jacob,  here  mentioned,  became  the 
father  of  fohn  Thomas,  the  subject  of  this 
sketch.  He  was  born  in  Montgomery  count}’, 
Ky.,  July  26,  1805,  and  married  Elizabeth 
Fear,  who  was  born  March  27,  1810,  and  bore 
her  husband  the  following  children  : John 
Thomas,  Sarah  A.,  Martha  J.,  Eliza  A.,  Will- 
iam P".,  Pleasant  J.,  P'rancis  M.,  Mary  E., 
Elizada  and  Elmaza  (twins)  and  Simon  P.,  of 
three  of  whom  separate  sketches  will  be  found 
in  adjacent  pages.  Jacob  Dinsmore  settled  in 
Harrison  township,  Boone  county,  Ind.,  in 
1841,  in  the  month  of  February,  entering 
eighty  acres  of  land  in  the  wilderness,  on 
which  his  son,  William  F. , is  now  living,  and 
which  he  afterward  increased  to  200  acres. 

In  politics  Jacob  Dinsmore  was  first  an  old- 
line  whig,  later  became  a democrat,  and 
finally  joined  the  republican  party  during  the 
war  for  the  perservation  of  the  Union.  He 
was  a liberal  supporter  of  schools  and  churches, 
was  a member  of  the  regular  Baptist  church, 
and  assisted  in  the  erection  of  the  Antioch 
church  edifice  in  Harrison  township,  of  wdnch 
congregation  Mrs.  Dinsmore  was  also  a mem- 
ber. Mr.  Dinsmore  lived  to  reach  a ripe  old 
age,  and  his  death  was  occasioned  by  an  acci- 
dent. On  a sleety  and  icy  day  he  fell  and 
dislocated  a hip  joint,  but  was  unable  to  en- 
dure the  pain  of  replacement,  and  fifteen  days 
later,  March  15,  rSpi,  passed  away  at  the 
age  of  eighty-six  years,  mourned  by  a large 
circle  of  sympathizing  friends.  His  amiable 
and  beloved  wife  was  called  from  earth  July 
20,  1864,  at  the  age  of  fifty-four  years,  hon- 
ored by  all  who  knew  her.  John  Thomas 
Dinsmore  came  to  Boone  county  with  his 
father  in  1841.  Pie  was  reared  on  the  home 
farm  and  early  was  taught  lessons  of  industry 
and  thrift. 


LEASANT  J.  DINSMORE,  a highly 
respected  farmer  of  Harrison  town- 
ship, Boone  county,  Ind.,  was  born 
in  Hendricks  county,  Ind.,  June  2, 
1840,  and  was  reared  on  his  father’s  farm. 
His  grandfather,  Thomas  Dinsmore,  was  a na- 
tive of  Virginia,  but  early  settled  in  Kentucky, 
where  he  took  an  active  part  in  the  war  of 
1812.  Subsequently  he  came  to  Indiana  and 
settled  on  the  farm  in  Boone  county  now  oc- 
cupied by  the  subject  of  this  sketch.  Thomas 
married  Martha  Oglesby,  who  became  the 
mother  of  the  following  children:  Rebecca, 
Jacob  and  james  (twins),  Jackson,  Editha, 
Esther,  John,  Patsey  and  Peter.  Jacob  Dins- 
more, son  of  Thomas  and  Martha,  was  born 
in  Kentucky,  married  Elizabeth  Fear,  daugh- 
ter of  John  and  Sallie  (Graham)  Fear,  and  in 
1841  came  to  Indiana  and  settled  in  Boone 
county.  To  this  worthy  couple  were  born  the 
following  family:  John!'.,  Sallie  Ann,  Martha 
Jane,  Eliza  Ann,  William  F.,  Pleasant  J., 
Francis  M. , Elma  A.  and  Elzada  (twins),  Ellen 
and  Simon  P. 

Pleasant  J.  Dinsmore  was  inured  in  his 
youth  to  the  hardships  of  farm  life,  but  at  the 
same  time  acquired  that  knowledge  of  agricul- 
ture so  essential  in  building  np  his  fortune  as 
a farmer  in  later  years,  and  in  implanting  in 
his  system  those  germs  of  substantial  health 
that  constitute  a far  greater  blessing  to  man 
than  the  mere  possession  of  land  or  money, 
but,  at  the  same  time,  are  the  chief  means  by 
which  man,  with  the  aid  of  an  ordinary  intelli- 
gence, is  able  to  accumulate  w’ealth  and  to  es- 
tablish for  himself  a good  name  and  a position 
of  respectability  wdth  his  neighbors,  which  Mr. 
Dinsmore  has  happily  done.  August  31,  1866, 
he  married  Sarah  Ann  Chitwood,  daughter  of 
Noah  and  Rebecca  (Richardson)  Chitwood, 
and  at  once  settled  on  a farm  of  forty  acres, 
to  which,  by  his  skill  and  industry,  he  has  since 
added  until  he  has  now  a model  farm  of  lOO 


1’.  I OG 11  API  1 1 CAL  III  STORY 


acres,  wi‘ll  imi)r()ve(l  in  all  resjiects  and  in  a 
hif^h  state  of  cnltivaticm,  snch  as  no  one  bnt  a 
wH'll  trained  af^ricnltnrist,  like  Mr.  Dinsinore, 
conld  place  it  under.  The  moral  training  of 
Mr.  Dinsinore  has  been  ecjnal  to  his  physical 
training,  and  for  3’ears  he  has  been  a consist- 
ent and  honored  member  of  the  Christian 
church,  of  which  he  is  a deacon,  and  to  which 
he  is  a liberal  contributor  from  his  purse  as 
well  as  his  moral  influence  and  personal  labor. 

In  politics  Mr.  Dinsinore  is  an  adherent  of 
the  republican  party,  which  he  believes  to  be 
the  party  of  purity  and  truth,  and  the  devel- 
opment of  the  principles  of  which  he  believes 
to  be  the  best  for  the  government  of  his  native 
land,  for  whose  defense  he  gallantly  served 
during  the  war  for  its  disruption  and  destruc- 
tion. At  the  early  stage  of  hostilities  designed 
by  traitors  to  produce  this  dire  result,  he  en- 
listed, December  17,  1861,  at  Lebanon,  Ind., 
in  company  F,  Fortieth  Indiana  volunteer  in- 
fantry, and  had  his  first  e.xjierience  in  the  awful 
events  of  war  in  Kentucky,  whence  he  marched 
to  Nashville,  Tenn.,  wdiere  he  was  seized  with 
an  illness  that  confiiu'd  him  to  the  military 
hospital  for  two  weeks.  On  recuperating,  he 
rejoined  his  regiment  on  the  sanguinary  field 
of  renowned  Corinth,  Miss.,  whence  his  com- 
mand was  sent  in  pursuit  of  the  rebel  general, 
Draxton  Dragg,  wdio  had  made  quite  a repu- 
tation in  Mexico,  w'ith  his  “little  more  grape,’’ 
in  his  capacity  as  captain  under  Zach.  Taylor, 
while  assisting  to  add  to  the  expanse  of  the 
territory  of  that  glorious  rejiublic  which  he 
was  now  seeking  to  annihilate.  This  pursuit 
of  the  rebel  general  brought  Mr.  Dinsinore 
to  I.onisville,  Ky.,  after  a long  and  weari- 
some march,  and  another  march  of  many  hours 
took  him  to  Stone  river,  where  occurred  a very 
severe  battle  that  lasted  two  days.  On  the 
first  day  of  this  baptism  of  blood  and  fire 
the  Union  forces  were  forced  from  the  field, 
but  on  the  second  day  Mr.  Dinsinore  assisted 


in  achieving  a most  glorious  victory.  Mur- 
freesboro next  held  the  regiment  in  camp  a few 
days,  and  then  a fatiguing  march  took  it  to 
the  memorable  battle  of  Chattanooga,  where, 
after  the  capture  of  the  city,  Mr.  Dinsmore 
was  placed  on  guard  duty.  Here,  surrounded 
by  rebels,  he  was  engaged  in  numerous  skir- 
mishes and  the  defense  of  the  city  against  a 
superior  force  until  relief  came  to  hand. 
Lookout  Mountain  and  Missionary  Ridge  w'ere 
the  next  severe  engagements  in  which  Mr. 
Dinsmore  particijiated,  and  nobly  he  bore  his 
part  through  these  historic  conflicts.  The  cam- 
paign through  Georgia  next  tested  the  en- 
durance and  courage  of  Mr.  Dinsmore.  At- 
lanta w'as  eventually  captured  by  Gen.  Wil- 
liam Tecumseh  Sherman,  September  2,  1864, 
and  the  torch  applied  to  the  city.  Thence  Mr. 
Dinsmore  was  sent  to  the  bloody  field  of  Frank- 
lin, Tenn.,  in  which  he  bore  a brave  and  noble 
part,  November  30,  1864,  and  was  thence  sent 
to  Nashville,  where  he  received  an  honorable 
discharge,  and  for  his  valiant  military  service 
is  now  receiving  a pension  of  $10  per  month 
from  the  government.  Further  reference  to 
the  family  of  Mr.  Dinsmore  will  be  found  in 
the  sketches  of  his  brothers,  John  T.  and  Wil- 
liam F. , to  be  found  in  close  proximity  to  this 
notice. 


ILLIAM  F.  DINSMORE,  born  Feb- 
ruary 20,  1838,  in  Hendricks  county. 
Inch,  was  bnt  two  years  of  age 
when  brought  to  Roone  county  by 
his  father,  who  settled  the  farm  on  which 
William  b'.  now  lives,  and  of  whom  further 
details  of  the  family  history  will  be  found  in 
the  biograjihics  of  his  brothers,  John  T.  and 
I’h'asant  J.,  on  adjacent  pages.  William  b. 
was  reared  to  the  hard  work,  as  well  as  to  the 
enjoyments  and  independence,  of  farm  life  in 
Harrison  township,  of  which  he  is  one  of  the 


OF  ROONE  COUNTY. 


289 


most  respected  citizens.  He  received  a very 
fair  common  school  education,  and  availed 
himself  to  the  utmost  of  its  advantages,  becom- 
ing a licensed  minister  of  the  Baptist  church, 
as  well  as  serving  fifteen  years  as  moderator — 
his  church  work,  indeed,  e.xtending  through  a 
period  of  thirty-eight  years.  He  stands  high 
as  an  example  of  the  Christian  gentleman,  and 
his  ministerial  labors  have  met  with  the 
decided  approbation  of  his  hearers  in  the  num- 
erous churches  in  which  he  has  preached.  In 
politics  he  is  an  ardent  republican,  and  he  is 
an  equally  ardent  patriot,  having  enlisted  at 
Lebanon,  Ind.,  in  August,  1862,  in  the  war  for 
the  preservation  of  the  Union.  He  was  first 
sent  with  his  regiment  to  Cincinnati,  Ohio; 
thence  to  Louisville,  Ky. , where  he  was 
assigned  to  the  pursuit  of  the  rebel  Bragg, 
through  Kentucky;  in  the  fight  at  Murfreesboro, 
Tenn.,  in  December,  1862,  he  was  severely 
wounded  in  his  left  leg  and  sent  to  the  hospital. 
His  wound  was  so  serious  as  to  disable  him  for 
further  active  service,  and  after  being  out 
about  seventeen  months,  he  was  returned  to 
his  home.  From  this  injury  he  has  never 
recovered  and  it  has  been  a source  of  pain  and 
annoyance  ever  since.  He  has  received  some 
recompense,  however,  from  a grateful  country, 
having  been  granted  a pension,  at  first,  of  $4 
per  month;  then  of  $6,  then  of  $12,  then  of 
$16,  then  of  $17,  and  for  the  past  two  years 
has  been  receiving  $24. 

Mr.  Dinsmore  is  the  owner  of  a highly 
improved  and  well  ditched  farm  of  160  acres 
in  Harrison  township,  Boone  county,  all  of 
which,  excepting  nine  acres,  is  the  result  of 
his  own  intelligent  labor  and  well-directed 
efforts,  he  being  universally  recognized  as  a 
model  agriculturist.  He  is  a warm  advocate 
of  good  schools  and  contributes  liberally  from 
his  means  to  both  school  and  church,  and  is 
every  ready  to  perform  any  and  every  duty  per- 
taining to  the  good  citizen.  He  married  Rachel 


P.,  daughter  of  Jonas  and  Elizabeth  Charity 
Holmes,  and  this  union  has  been  blessed  by 
the  birth  of  the  following-named  children: 
Jacob  H.,  Elizabeth  Charity,  Sarah  Erances 
(deceased),  John  William,  Mary  Etta,  Eliza 
A.,  Clarinda  J.,  Clara  Ellen,  Dora,  Francis 
Marion,  Della  A.,  Senia,  Arta,  and  one 
deceased.  Oka.  Mr.  Dinsmore  is  a kind  and 
indulgent  husband  and  father,  greatly  beloved 
by  his  family  and  respected  by  his  neighbors, 
and  is  one  of  the  substantial  and  useful  citizens 
of  Boone  county. 


ENRY  T.  DODSON,  who  was  one  of 
the  largest  stock  buyers  and  farmers 
of  Boone  county,  Ind.,  was  born  in 
Wayne  county,  Ky. , August  2,  1825. 
His  grandfather,  George  Dodson,  was  a Bap- 
tist preacher  and  w'as  born  in  Virginia,  in 
which  state  he  married  Lottie  Lockhart, 
moved  to  Wayne  county,  Ky.,  preached  there 
many  years,  and  in  1827  brought  his  wife  and 
other  members  of  his  family  to  Boone  county, 
Ind.,  being  a pioneer  of  Eagle  Creek  township. 
It  is  thought  that  he  organized  the  first  con- 
gregation of  the  regular  Baptist  denomination 
in  the  eastern  part  of  Boone  county,  and 
preached  in  Eage  Creek  township  until  super- 
annuated, dying  at  the  age  of  seventy-five 
years.  His  only  co-laborer  in  the  vineyard  of 
the  Lord  in  those  early  days  was  a preacher 
named  Benjamin  Harris,  who  entered  the  field 
a very  short  time  after  Mr.  Dodson’s  coming. 
Rev.  George  Dodson  and  wife  were  the  par- 
ents of  eleven  children,  of  whom  seven  came 
to  Indiana  and  were  named  Elizabeth,  Nancy, 
Minna,  Polly,  Robert,  Thomas  and  Ruel;  the 
names  of  those  remaining  in  Kentucky  have 
passed  from  memory. 

Thomas  Dodson,  son  of  Rev.  George  Dod- 
son, was  born  in  Ahrginia  and  married  in 
Wayne  county,  Ky. , to  Polly,  daughter  of 


200 


BIOGRAPPIICAL  HISTORY 


Matthew  Morrow,  and  their  offs])rin»-  were 
seven  in  nnniber,  named  Georf^m,  Henry  T., 
Jamc'S,  Jesse,  John,  Thomas  and  h'annie.  In 
11X27,  Thomas  and  Ids  wife  and  two  children 
came  also  to  Hoone  county  and  were  pioneers 
of  Eaf,de  ('reek,  settling  twelve  miles  south- 
east of  what  is  now  Lebanon,  where  there  was 
then  no  clearing  nor  any  town.  He  followed 
a track  through  the  woods,  as  there  of  course 
were  no  roads,  took  up  a comfortable  home, 
and  was  the  owner  of  between  200  and  300 
acres,  which  he  divided  among  his  children 
before  he  died,  at  the  advanced  age  of  ninety- 
tw'o  years.  He  and  wife  were  members  of  the 
Baptist  church,  and  in  politics  he  was  an  old- 
line  whig.  He  was  venerated  as  an  old  settler 
and  highly  esteemed  as  a man  of  solid  worth. 

Henry  T.  Dodson  was  about  eighteen 
months  old  when  brought  by  his  parents  to 
Indiana.  His  brother  George  was  about  four 
years  old,  and  the  two  children  and  their  mother 
came  through  tlie  woods  on  horse-back,  while 
the  father  trudged  through  cm  foot,  which  was 
frequently  the  custom  of  the  pioneers  in  those 
remote  days.  Henr}'  T.  received  his  educa- 
tion in  the  primitir  e log  school-house  erected 
in  his  neighborhood,  and  was  reared  to  the 
hard  work  of  clearing  and  cultivating  the 
home  farm.  Getober  18,  1847,  he  married 
Susannah  Bishop,  who  was  born  in  Washing- 
tomcounty,  Va.,  October  23,  1827,  a daughter 
of  ^^’ilIiam  and  Susannah  (Hntton)  Bishop. 
Mr.  Bishop  was  also  a native  of  \’irginia, 
was  a soldier  in  tln'  war  of  1812,  came  to 
Boone  county,  Ind.,in  1835,  and  settled  on 
Lagle  crec'k,  wdth  his  wdfe  and  six  (diildren 
Jane,  hbiward,  h'annie,  hdi/abeth,  Susannah 
and  Elias.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Bishoj)  w'cre  mem- 
bers of  the  Nb'thodist  elinrch  and  in  j-iolitics 
he  was  a democrat.  He  was  a well-to-do 
farmer,  was  a man  of  industry  and  high 
charactc'r,  and  died  at  the  age  of  seventy-two 
years,  much  respected  by  all  wdio  knew  him. 


To  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Henry  T.  Dodson  have  been 
born  three  children,  who  grew  to  maturity, 
and  were  named  Thomas  \V. , Sarah  E.,  and 
Eliza  A.,  all  of  whom  have  been  educated  in 
the  best  manner  afforded  by  the  schools  of  the 
district.  After  his  marriage  Mr.  Dodson  con- 
tinued to  reside  on  the  old  homestead  at 
Eagle  creek  until  1874,  adding  to  his  agri- 
cultural pursuits  the  trading  in  stock,  and  was 
in  this  particular  business  longer  than  any 
other  man  in  Boone  comity.  In  the  last  year 
named  he  settled  on  his  magnificent  stock 
farm  of  202  acres,  one  mile  from  Lebanon, 
which  was  fully  equipped  with  every  con- 
venience for  the  carrying  on  of  both  farming 
and  stock  growing  and  improved  with  a most 
desirable  dwelling.  He  was  in  all  likelihood 
the  most  extensive  stock  buyer  in  Boone 
county,  and  his  name  was  known,  near  and 
far,  as  a dealer  of  the  most  scrupulous  in- 
tegrity. Mr.  and  Mrs.  Dodson  are  respected 
members  of  the  Methodist  church  and  are 
quite  liberal  in  their  tlonations  to  all  chari- 
table and  meritorious  objects.  In  politics  he  is 
a stanch  democrat,  but  has  never  been  an 
office  seeker,  preferring  that  others  should  ]ier- 
form  public  functions  while  he  himself  should 
devote  his  time  to  the  vocations  in  which  he 
had  been  so  successful  through  life  and  in 
which  he  won  so  enviable  a reputation  with 
his  friends  and  neighbors  of  Boone  county. 
He  retired  from  active  business  in  1890. 


AMES  h'.  DOW'NIXG  is  one  of  the  old 
and  substantial  farmers  of  Clinton  town- 
ship, Boone  county,  Ind.  His  father 
was  james  Downing,  born  in  1784,  in 
Donegal  county,  Ireland.  He  was  reared  a 
Catholic,  and  owned  a cojiy  of  the  “Douay” 
Bible,  published  by  authority  of  the  pope, 
from  the  “Douay”  university,  bears  date  of  No- 
vember 8,  1609,  and  is  in  good  preservation, 


OF  BOONE  COUNTY. 


291 


and  liighly  i)rized  by  tlie  family.  He  crossed 
the  ocean  in  1819,  landing  in  New  York.  He 
was  educated  to  the  business  of  a gardener, 
and  was  a fine  botanist  as  well.  He  married 
at  Providence,  K.  I.,  Avis  Giddings,  who  was 
born  in  1795  near  Devires,  England,  and  her 
religious  teachings  were  those  of  a Presbyte- 
rian. She  emigrated  about  two  3'ears  later 
than  her  husband,  landing  at  Providence,  R.  I. 
They  settled  in  Queens  county.  Long  Island, 
at  “Hell  Gate,”  where  he  followed  his  garden- 
ing business,  as  well  as  fruit  growing.  Their 
children  were  all  born  in  the  state  of  New 
York,  and  were  named  as  follows:  John  G., 
who  served  in  the  Civil  war;  Edward,  who 
died  at  the  close  of  the  war;  James  P'. , Eliza- 
beth J.,  and  Mary  M.  Except  Edward,  all 
are  living  and  married.  Mr.  Downing  deter- 
mined to  try  the  west,  so  he  started  Novem- 
ber. 1833,  with  his  family,  having  one  horse 
and  an  ox  team,  and  was  eleven  months  on 
the  way,  landing  here  October  ii,  1834.  He 
entered  120  aci'es  of  land  in  what  is  now  Clin- 
ton township  and  accumulated  eighty  acres 
more.  The  Indians  had  just  left  for  their  reser- 
vation, and  Mr.  Downing  and  James  tore 
down  some  of  their  huts  that  stood  on  the 
banks  of  Terrapin  creek.  There  was  just  one 
house  between  that  stream  and  Brown’s  Won- 
der. He  was  politically'  a democrat.  His 
death  occurred  in  February,  1868,  aged  eighty- 
three;  that  of  his  wife  in  1879,  aged  the  same 
as  her  husband.  Both  were  buried  in  the  Me- 
chanicsburg  cemetery,  Boone  county,  Ind. 

James  F.  Downing  was  born  January  17, 
1827,  on  Long  Island,  eight  miles  from  the 
city  of  New  York.  He  was  taught  to  work 
almost  from  the  first,  and  as  his  father  was  a 
gardener,  James  made  three  trips  a week  with 
produce  for  the  markets  of  New  York  city,  six- 
teen miles  constituting  a round  trip.  After 
moving  to  this  county  with  his  parents,  he 
picked  and  burned  bush,  and  assisted  in  clear- 


ing what  was  then  a wilderness.  When  the 
weather  was  inclement  he  attended  the  sub- 
scription school,  which  was  held  in  the  log 
school-house.  When  he  was  of  age  he  still 
lived  with  his  parents,  caring  for  them,  as  the 
other  children  left  home  to  do  for  themselves; 
he  sacrificed  his  feelings  and  prospects  to  do 
his  duty  to  his  parents.  When  James  F.  was 
forty-one  years  of  age  he  married,  April  28, 
1868,  Mary  A.  Witham  of  Warren  county, 
Ohio,  who  was  forty  years  old.  This  mar- 
riage has  been  blessed  with  two  children  : 
Lillie  M.,  born  May  9,  1870;  Sylvester  W. , 
born  September  10,1871.  He  was  a member 
of  Terrapin  grange.  No.  424.  and  he  is  also  a 
stanch  republican.  He  owns  200  acres  of 
land,  seventy-five  being  in  timber,  but  the 
rest  is  under  a good  state  of  cultivation.  He 
has  a fine  residence,  which  cost  over  $2,000;  a 
good  barn,  and  all  the  buildings  that  denote  a 
prosperous  farmer.  Years  ago  he  drew  wheat 
by  wagon  to  La  P'ayette,  some  thirty-seven 
miles  distant,  and  now  he  has  a good  gravel 
road  and  several  good  markets  not  far  distant. 
His  health  is  not  good,  for  in  his  strong  man- 
hood he  was  a great  worker,  and  helped  to 
clear  100  acres  of  heavy'  timber. 

The  early  life  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Downing 
was  spent  in  the  log  cabin,  with  puncheon 
floor,  clapboard  roof,  and  clay  chimney.  The 
family  have  a hammer  that  shows  the  many 
hard  hits  that  it  gave,  as  well  as  a workbasket 
that  was  brought  with  the  family  from  New 
York  state.  Mrs.  Downing  has  her  grand- 
father’s wedding  stockings,  made  of  silk, 
figured,  and  worn  with  knee  breeches.  Also 
his  father’s  cane  of  bamboo,  that  is  very  old. 
All  these  relics  are  highly  prized  and  well 
cared  for.  Mary  A.  Witham  was  born  Decem- 
ber 28,  1827,  in  Warren  county,  Ohio,  on  a 
farm.  She  is  a believer  in  the  Universalist 
doctrine.  She  is  a good  and  faithful  helpmate 
and  has  done  a inother’s  duty.  Her  mother’s 


202 


BIOGRAPHICAL  HISTORY 


name  was  Meicy  Heaton,  born  in  1803,  died 
in  1879.  Her  father  was  born  in  1801  in 
Warren  count)’,  Ohio,  married  in  1823,  died 
1864,  and  their  cliildren  were  Sarah;  William 
H.,  who  died  Aiif^ust,  1893;  Marv  A.,  Rebec- 
ca, Robert  M.,  Sylvester,  killed  in  the  late 
war;  Ennis,  Martha  E.,  who  died  at  twelve 
years  of  age,  and  Elavins  J.,  in  the  Civil  war. 
Her  parents  are  buried  in  Mason  cemetery, 
Warren  county,  Ohio.  Robert  Witham,  her 
grandfather,  was  born  in  Connecticut,  was  a 
farmer,  and  lived  to  be  eighty-si.\  years  old; 
married  Sarah  W'oodruff,  who  was  born  in 
Pennsylvania,  was  about  thirty  when  she  mar- 
ried, and  died  aged  seventy-seven.  In  War- 
ren county  her  parents  owned  330  acres  of 
land.  In  his  early  manhood  he  took  a kettle, 
built  a fire  in  a stump,  cooked  his  own  meals, 
and  cleared  his  land.  He  was  a great  hunter 
and  delighted  to  tell  his  children  his  hunting 
stories.  Their  children  were  William,  Han- 
nah R.,  Mary,  Betsey,  Rachael,  died  early; 
James,  Samuel;  six  lived  to  be  married.  On 
the  maternal  side  the  grandparents  were 
Daniel  Heaton,  his  wife  being  Annie  Young, 
who  was  born  in  New  Jersey,  and  lived  to  be 
seventy-seven.  This  union  was  blessed  with 
Rebecca,  Rachael,  Abigail,  Mercy,  William. 
She,  being  widowed,  married  Erederick  Briney, 
and  had  three  children,  Daniel,  Mary,  and 
I'rederick.  She  has.  the  old  note  and  hymn 
book  with  the  “ buckwheat  system,  ” which  is 
considered  much  of  an  heir-loom. 


AVID  D.  DOYAL,  a leading  citixen, 
official  and  farmer  of  Perry  tovvnshiig 
Boone  county,  Ind.,  is  a native  of 
the  township  named  and  was  born 
August  4,  1845,  a son  of  John  N.  and  Matilda 
f Howard)  Doyal,  both  natives  of  Eewiscounty, 
Ky.  John  N.  was  born  in  1801  and  was  a son 
of  John  and  Christeiia  ( Davis)  Doyal;  Matilda 


was  born  February  27,  1807,  and  their  marriage 
took  place  May  27,  1830.  Their  parents  came 
from  Rentucky  to  Perry  township  in  1840,  and 
John  entered  160  acres  in  what  was  then  a 
wilderness  but  from  which  he  redeemed  an  ex- 
cellent farm.  He  was  a prominent  man  so- 
cially, and  in  politics  a democrat;  he  served  as 
township  trustee  two  years,  was  justice  of  the 
peace  eighteen  years,  and  assessor  two  years; 
he  was  industrious  and  thrifty,  and  added  to 
his  land  until  he  owned  360  acres.  He  and 
wife  were  devoted  members  of  the  Christian 
church,  in  which  faith  he  died  January  6,  1886, 
and  was  followed  by  his  wife  June  16,  1886. 
Their  five  children  were  named  as  follows: 
Amanda,  widow  of  A.  Frazee,  of  Perry  town- 
ship; Samuel  H.,  county  judge  of  P'rankfort, 
Clinton  county,  Ind.;  John  E. , died  in  the 
Seventh  Indiana  volunteers,  at  the  battle  of 
the  Wilderness;  David  D.,  whose  name  opens 
this  sketch,  and  Emily  C.,  deceased. 

David  D.  Doyal  was  reared  on  the  farm 
on  which  he  was  born  and  on  which  he  still 
resides,  and  received  a very  good  common- 
school  education.  At  the  age  of  twenty-one 
years  he  began  business  on  his  own  account, 
but  remained  with  his  father  until  the  latter’s 
death.  In  1880  he  married,  in  Boone  county. 
Miss  Maggie  Raider,  who  was  born  in  Cincin- 
nati, Ohio,  in  1854,  a daughter  of  George  and 
Margaret  Raider,  the  former  of  whom  was 
killed  by  accident  when  Maggie  was  but  two 
years  of  age.  To  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Doyal  have 
been  born  five  children,  named  as  follows; 
George,  Everett,  Euella,  John  \V,  and  Sarah. 
Mrs.  Doyal  is  a consistent  member  of  the 
Methodist  Episcojoal  church,  and  in  ])olitics 
Mr.  Doyal  is  a democrat,  and  under  the  aus- 
pices of  that  party  was  electetl  township  trust- 
ee in  Aiiril,  1888,  and  so  satisfactorily  did  he 
perform  the  functions  of  the  office,  that  he  has 
been  re-elected  each  term  since,  and  has  ]irob- 
ably  done  more  good  work  lor  the  township 


D.  D.  DOYAL, 


* 


OF  BOONE  COUNTY 


205 


than  any  one  who  had  preceded  him  in  the  office. 
July  17,  1884,  wliile  Mr.  Doyal  was  riding  on 
a reaper,  his  liorses  ran  away  and  he  had  a leg 
broken  and  was  otherwise  seriously  injured; 
\\hat  he  has,  however,  is  the  result  of  his  own 
hard  labor,  and  he  now  owns  a highly  improved 
farm  of  233  acres,  unsurpassed  by  any  other 
in  the  township  in  skillful  management.  Mr. 
Doyal,  fraternally,  is  a Freemason,  being  a 
member  of  the  blue  lodge  and  of  the  chapter; 
he  is  also  a member  of  the  Improved  Order  of 
Red  Men,  and  was  formerly  member  of  a lodge 
of  the  I.  O.  O.  F.,  which  is  now  defunct.  So- 
cially, he  and  his  estimable  lady  maintain  a 
high  position  in  Perry  and  the  surrounding 
townships. 


ILLIAM  G.  DOYLE,  one  of  the 
well-to-do  and  enterprising  farmers 
of  Harrison  township,  Boone  county, 
Ind.,  was  born  in  Pittsburg,  Pa., 
December  25,  1842,.  and  springs  fiom  sterling 
Scotch-Irish  stock.  His  father,  Henry  Doyle, 
was  also  a native  of  Pennsylvania,  but  removed 
to  Ohio  when  a young  married  man,  and  thence 
to  Indiana,  where  he  first  located  in  Bartholo- 
mew county,  but  later  settled  in  Johnson  county, 
where  he  died  at  a good  old  age,  having  lost 
his  wife, ' Mary  (Green)  Doyle,  many  years 
previously.  They  were  the  parents  of  seven 
children,  who  were  born  in  the  following  order: 
Adam,  Sarah,  William  G.,  Samuel  S.,  Mary, 
Henry  and  Thomas  I.  Of  this  family  William 
G.  Doyle  came  to  Bartholomew  county  with 
his  parents  and  early  hired  to  William  Ely, 
with  whom  he  worked  until  the  Civil  war 
broke  out,  when  he  was  among  the  first  to 
enlist,  in  Johnson  county,  in  response  to  his 
country’s  call  for  volunteers,  the  date  of  his 
enlistment  being  August  12,  1861,  in  company 
C,  Twenty-seventy  Indiana  infantry.  He  was 
first  sent  to  Camp  Morton,  at  Indianapolis, 


and  was  thence  dispatched  to  Washington,  1). 
C.,  but  between  Lyons  and  Massillon,  Ohio, 
the  train  ran  over  a cow,  and  was  thrown  down 
a steep  embankment,  one  car  of  horses  and 
four  cars  of  men  going  down  and  four  men 
being  killed  outright  and  many  wounded.  This 
was  his  first  experience  of  the  dangers  pertain- 
ing to  war.  After  drilling  a month  in  the 
national  capital,  his  regiment  was  marched  to 
Ball’s  Bluff,  but  did  not  reach  the  ground  in 
time  to  take  part  in  the  fight  on  that  field. 
Hence  they  went  to  Harper’s  Ferry  and  then 
to  Winchester,  where  Jackson  was  defeated  by 
Shields.  At  Dog  Town  Mr.  Doyle  rendered 
valiant  and  effective  service  for  the  Thirteenth 
Indiana,  which  was  surrounded,  and  but  for  this 
aid  would  have  been  captured.  At  Shenan- 
doah valley  the  gallant  Twenty-seventh,  on  a 
retreat,  was  ordered  back  to  rescue  a wagon 
train,  which  it  succeeded  in  doing,  but  lost 
everything  else.  They  then  crossed  the 
Potomac  river  into  Maryland,  and  in  this  passage 
Mr.  Doyle  received  a fiesb  wound  in  the  leg, 
which,  though  painful,  did  not  necessitate  his 
going  to  the  hospital;  at  the  battle  of  Slaughter 
Mountain,  August  9, 1 862,  in  a three  hours’  strug- 
gle several  men  in  Mr.  Doyle’s  company  were 
wounded;  soon  after  this,  Mr.  Doyle  barely 
escaped  death  in  blowing  up  a Federal  provis- 
ion train,  to  prevent  its  falling  into  the  hands 
of  the  enemy;  they  next  reached  Bull  Run 
about  sundown  on  the  day  of  the  first  battle, 
and  had  a half  hour’s  fight.  September  14, 
1862,  they  were  at  South  Mountain  just  in 
time  to  see  the  end  of  the  battle;  on  the  17th 
reached  Antietam,  where  the  line  of  battle  was 
seven  miles  long,  and  here  Mr.  Doyle  was  shot 
through  the  right  wrist  and  sent  to  the  hospital, 
but  refused  to  have  his  hand  amputated,  and 
the  surgeon  refused  tcj  bind  u])  the  wound;  Mr. 
Doyle  was  then  transferred  to  Washington 
and  thence  to  David’s  Island,  N.  Y, , where, 
after  a confinement  in  hospital  eight  months, 


BTOGRAPIITCAL  HISTORY 


20(*) 


he  was  disrliar^ed  for  incapacity  to  perform 
further  duty,  and  on  the  day  he  started  for 
home  was  seized  with  small-pox,  hut  did  not 
know  what  ailed  him  till  he  reached  his  desti- 
nation. From  this  disorder  he  lost  his  left 
eye,  and  his  right  was  greatly  weakened.  For 
his  gallant  services,  Mr.  Doyle  is  now  receiving 
a pension  of  $24  jier  month. 

Mr.  Doyle  is  married  to  Susannah  Ifozell, 
daughter  of  George  and  Elizabeth  (McKibben) 
Ifozell.  Mr.  Bozell  was  one  of  the  wealthiest 
farmers  of  Bartholomew  county,  Ind.,  his 
farm  comprising  600  acres  He  and  his  wife 
were  members  of  the  Missionary  Baptist 
church,  which  they  aided  by  all  means  in  their 
power.  Robert  McKibben,  the  grandfather 
of  Mrs.  Doyle,  was  a patriot  in  the  war  of 
t8i2,  and  both  branches  of  the  family  were 
greatly  respected  in  their  communities.  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  Doyle  came  to  reside  in  Boone 
county,  Ind.,  in  1<S88,  and  bought  their 
present  farm  of  120  acres,  which  has  been 
placed  under  a high  state  of  cultivation  and 
otherwise  greatly  improved.  Mrs.  Doyle  is 
a member  of  the  Baptist  church,  and  has 
borne  her  husband  the  following  children; 
.Mollie,  Cora,  George  B.,  Harvey  F.,  William 
G.,  Albert  H.,  and  Elizabeth — all  living.  Mr. 
Doyle  is  an  honored  member  of  the  G.  A.  R., 
and  stands  deservedly  high  as  a citizen,  farmer 
and  soldier. 


HN’DREW  DUNNINGTON,  M.  I).,  of 
Thorntown,  Boone  county,  Ind.,  is  a 
native  of  Putnam  county,  in  the  same 
state,  and  was  born  November  19, 
iS;;9.  His  parents  were  William  and  Mary 
iDouglass)  Dumdngton,  the  former  of  whom 
was  born  in  that  part  of  Virginia  now  known 
as  West  Virginia,  in  [une,  1806,  and  was  a 
son  of  Reuben  Dunnington,  a native  of  the 
same  county  and  state,  and  a farmer  and 


stockman  of  considerable  note.  Reuben  Dun- 
nington was  the  father  of  seven  children,  who 
are  all  now  deceased.  They  were  born  in  the 
following  order,  and  were  named  John,  Reuben, 
William,  Joshua,  Palatiah,  Henley  and  Eottie. 
The  family  were  of  Scotch  Presbyterian  stock 
and  possessed  all  the  virtues  of  that  sturdy 
race,  which  necessarily  gave  them  the  position 
in  society  which  the  exercise  of  those  virtues 
always  brings.  William  Dunnington,  one  of 
the  children  born  to  Reuben  and  enumerated 
among  the  family  of  seven  mentioned  above, 
was  reared  in  Knoxville,  Tenn.,  to  which  place 
his  parents  had  removed  in  1818,  and  there 
was  taught  tanning.  About  1832  he  came  to 
Union  county,  Ind.,  where,  for  a few  years, 
he  followed  his  trade,  and  then  moved  to  Put- 
nam county,  where  he  lived  until  1856,  when 
he  moved  to  Morgaii  county,  where  he  was 
engaged  in  another  branch  of  business  until 
1865,  when  he  removed  to  the  neighborhood  of 
Stilesville,  Hendricks  county,  where  he  died 
in  Eebruary,  1870.  The  marriage  of  William 
Dunnington  to  Mary  Douglass  occurred  in  Put- 
nam count\-,  Inch,  in  1834.  She  was  a native 
of  Kentucky,  and  daughter  of  Hugh  Douglass. 
The  children  born  to  Mhlliarn  and  Mary  num- 
bered eight,  and  were  named  John  W.,  An- 
drew, Hugh,  Emeline,  W.  W.,  Iv.  M.,  Eliza 
and  Reuben  C.  The  mother  of  this  family 
was  called  away  in  A])ril,  1845. 

Andrew  Dunnington  was  reared  in  Putnam 
and  Morgan  counties.  Inch,  and  after  receiv- 
ing his  pre[)aratory  education  in  the  Green- 
castlc'  school,  and  the  I'riends'  academy  at 
Mooresville,  Morgan  count}-,  attended  Asbury 
university,  now  Depauw  university,  and  next 
studied  medicine  under  Dr.  Green,  of  Stiles- 
ville, Monroe  county,  Ind.,  for  three  years; 
he  then  attended  the  university  at  Ann 
Arbor,  Mich.,  from  which  he  graduated  in 
the  spring  of  1866.  His  first  eighteen  months’ 
practice  was  with  his  former  iM-ece])tor,  Dr. 


OF  ROONE  COUNTY. 


297 


(ireen,  at  Stilesville,  and  then,  for  the  period 
of  fifteen  years  he  conducted  a most  success- 
ful practice  at  Cloverdale,  Putnam,  count3c 
In  1882  he  located  in  Thorntown,  Ind., 
where  he  practiced  until  the  spring  of  1891, 
and  then  for  a \’ear  had  charge  of  the 
Keeley  institute  at  Plainfield;  thence  he  went 
to  I'rankfort,  Ind  , where  he  remained  until 
the  spring  of  1894,  when  he  made  a final  settle- 
ment in  Thorntown.  On  the  twenty-third  day 
of  May,  1872,  the  doctor  married,  at  Danville, 
Ind.,  Maiy  Helen  Cash,  who  was  born  in  that 
city  January  8,  1846,  a daughter  of  Coleman 
and  James  (Chambers)  Cash,  and  by  this 
union  became  the  father  of  two  children, 
viz:  Gertrude  Lucille  and  Guy  W.  The 
doctor  and  his  wife  are  consistent  members 
of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  church  and  in 
politics  he  is  a republican;  he  is  also  a mem- 
ber of  the  I.  O.  O.  F.  and  of  the  Masonic 
fraternity.  He  has  been  most  successful  in 
his  general  practice  as  physician,  but  is 
chiefly  renowned  as  a specialist  in  catarrhal 
and  throat  troubles,  in  the  treatment  of 
which  he  has  no  superior  in  the  county  of 
Roone. 


.\TRICK  HENRY  DUTCH,  prosecut- 
ing attorne}'  of  Lebanon,  Boone  county, 
Ind.,  and  one  of  the  leading  lawj^ers 
of  the  county,  descends  from  a very 
old  ante-Revolutionary  family  of  Salem,  Mass. 
Capt.  Ezra  J.,  subject’s  father,  was  born  in 
Salem,  was  a captain  of  a merchantman  dur- 
ing the  war  of  1812,  and  was  taken  prisoner 
on  the  high  seas,  and  he  and  his  vessel  taken 
to  the  Bermudas.  John  Dutch,  brother  of 
Ezra  J.,  subject’s  father,  was  the  owner  of 
this  vessel.  Both  of  these  gentlemen  later 
entered  the  American  marine  service  and 
served  until  the  close  of  the  war  of  1812.  John 
was  shot  in  the  forehead,  but  lived  to  be  an 

14 


old  man,  and  died  wealthy  at  Virginia,  Cass 
county.  111.  He  was  never  paid  for  his  cap- 
tured vessel  until  the  administration  of  Jackson 
held  power.  On  the  maternal  side,  among 
the  ancestors  of  our  subject.  Col.  Jones  served 
in  the  army  throughout  the  war  of  the  Revo- 
lution. Ezra  J.  Dutch  led  a sea-faring  life  for 
twent^’-four  years,  and  accumulated  a fortune, 
being  a ship  owner.  He  married  on  Long 
Island,  N.  Y. , Matilda  Thorington,  and  had 
born  to  him  a family  of  eleven  children,  includ- 
ing Patrick  Henry.  For  some  time  after  his 
marriage  he  resided  in  Philadelphia  and  in 
Burlington,  N.  J.,  and  in  1833  went  to  Cin- 
cinnati, and  then  to  Cape  Girardeau,  IMo.,  and 
engaged  in  the  preparation  of  dried  beef  for 
the  South  American  trade,  in  company  with 
Richard  Spates,  doing  a profitable  business 
until  1836,  when  he  moved  to  Cass  county, 
111.,  where  he  bought  a large  tract  of  land  and 
engaged  in  farming,  being  a pioneer  of  the 
county,  with  his  nearest  neighbor  three  and  a 
half  miles  distant.  In  politics  he  was  first  a 
federalist,  and  then  an  old-time  whig,  and  un- 
der President  Taylor  was  appointed  postmaster 
of  Beardstown,  111.,  but  died  in  1849  the 
age  of  sixty-three  years,  without  entering  upon 
the  office.  He  had  been  offered  a colonelcy  in 
the  Mexican  war,  in  the  regiment  in  which 
Gen.  Hardin  was  colonel,  and  in  which  the 
latter  was  killed,  but  declined  acceptance. 
Capt.  Dutch  and  wife  were  devout  members 
of  the  Presbyterian  church,  and  in  this  denom- 
ination the  captain  was  a ruling  elder  for  many 
years.  He  early  became  a Freemason,  was  a 
man  of  good  education,  and  was  master  of 
several  languages,  including  Spanish;  he  was 
most  highly  respected,  and  was  one  of  Cass 
county’s  most  influential  citizens  and  an  im- 
portant factor  in  its  growth  and  the  promo- 
tion of  its  general  prosperity. 

Patrick  H.  Dutch,  son  of  the  above  and 
the  subject  proper  ('^  this  sketch,  was  born 


21)8 


B I ( )G  R A PI  1 1 C A L 1 1 1 SIX  ) R V 


in  Cass  county,  111.,  on  his  father’s  farm, 
Auf^'ust  14,  I <837.  He  received  his  prelimi- 
nary education  in  the  common  schools  of 
his  district,  and  tinished  it  at  the  high 
school  of  Beardstown;  this  literary  course  was 
supplemented  by  attendance  at  Asbury  (now 
DePauw)  university,  at  Greencastle,  Ind., 
where  he  studied  law  and  theology.  He 
taught  school  for  some  time  in  Warren  county, 
Ind.,  with  much  success,  and  in  1857  was  re- 
ceived on  trial  in  the  Northwest  Indiana  con- 
ference as  a Methodist  preacher;  for  four  years 
he  traveled  in  this  capacity  through  the 
counties  of  Tippecanoe,  Benton,  Montgomery, 
Porter  and  Brown,  and  during  this  interval,  on 
April  6th,  1858,  he  married  Mary  A.  Stoddard, 
daughter  of  Daniel  and  Mary  A.  (Sparks) 
Stoddard — the  former  a wealthy  farmer  of 
Montgomery  county,  Ind.,  but  a native  of 
New  York  state.  To  this  felicitous  union 
have  been  born  twelve  children,  viz:  Daniel, 
(died  i860);  Patrick  H.,  Jr.,  who  died  in  1881; 
Frank  S.,  Caroline,  Matilda  M.,  WintonA., 
James  S.,  Lewis,  Nellie,  John  J.,  Chester  A. 
and  Edwin  J.  In  the  fall  of  i860  Mr.  Dutch 
settled  in  Thorntown,  Boone  county,  Ind.,  as 
a Methodist  parson  and  soon  reached  a promi- 
nent position.  In  1866  he  was  admitted  to 
the  bar,  and  at  once  began  the  practice  of  his 
profession,  in  which  he  achieved  an  enviable 
reputation  and  was  favored  with  a lucrative 
patronage  until  December  6,  1893,  when  he 

removed  to  Lebanon  and  assumed  the  duties 
of  prosecuting  attorney,  to  which  office  he  had 
been  elected  the  previous  November.  He  has 
been  connected  with  many  famous  cases  in 
Boone  county  and  elsewhere,  through  which 
he  has  reached  his  present  distinguished  posi- 
tion. Mr.  Dutch  has  taken  an  active  interest 
in  the  public  schools  of  Boone  county,  and  for 
years  has  been  connected  with  the  old  'riiorn- 
town  academy,  as  well  as  for  three  years  a 
member  of  the  school  board.  In  politics  he  is 


a rejuiblican,  and  is  always  active  in  advanc- 
ing the  interests  of  his  liarty,  whose  principles 
he  thinks  to  be  best  adapted  to  promote  the 
welfare  of  the  countr}^  and  he  is  ever  ready, 
by  all  means  in  his  power,  to  advance  its  suc- 
cess at  the  polls.  He  was  a member  of  the  re- 
publican township  committee  during  the  Blaine 
campaign,  and  no  man  did  more  arduous  work 
than  he  in  local  endeavors  to  attain  a sup- 
remacy for  the  republicans  during  that  cam- 
paign, disastrous  as  was  the  result  to  the  general 
ticket.  Mr.  Dutch  is  an  able  orator  and  a 
finished  lawyer,  and  few  men  in  the  state, 
with  his  practice,  can  get  as  close  to  a jury,  or 
reach  its  heart  as  well  as  its  understanding,  as 
he.  Mrs.  Dutch,  like  her  husband,  is  a 
zealous  member  of  the  Methodist  church,  and 
the  family  sustain  the  closest  relations  with 
the  members  of  the  best  society  of  Boone 
county. 


ELAND  M.  EATON,  a representative 
farmer  and  popular  citizen  of  Clinton 
township,  Boone  county,  Ind.,  was 
born  February  17,  1833.  His  father 
was  William  Eaton,  who  was  born  in  1803  in 
Kentucky,  and  who  married  Sarah  Fipps, 
who  was  born  in  1805  in  Virgiina,  but  who 
moved  to  Kentucky.  They  were  blessed  with 
twelve  children — James  A.,  William,  Thomas, 
Leland  M.,  Charles,  Wesley,  Henry,  Robert, 
Sarah,  Elizabeth,  Lydia  and  Harriet,  several  of 
whom  are  now  living  and  married.  He  was  a 
man  who  educated  himself  by  hard  knocks, 
and,  being  full  of  energy,  secured  a cart  and 
o.\-team,  and  landed  where  the  city  of  Indian- 
apolis now  stands.  After  working  for  a time 
on  adjacent  farms  he  eidered  eighty  acres  ten 
miles  north  and  east  of  Indianapolis,  where  he 
raised  his  large  family.  He  was  a rei)ublican, 
but  had  been  an  old-line  whig.  He  and  wife 
were  members  of  the  Baptist  church,  in  which 


OF  BOONE  COUNTY. 


209 


he  served  for  many  years  as  deacon.  They 
were  very  industrious  and  highly  respected  citi- 
zens. The  wife  had  her  hands  tied  witli 
many  cares,  such  as  carding,  spinning  and 
weaving,  making  the  clothing  for  the  entire 
family.  He  died  at  the  age  of  seventy-three 
years. 

Leland  M.  Eaton  was  married  to  Rnan 
Eaton  in  Hendricks  county;  she  was  born  in 
1840,  September  4.  This  union  was  blessed 
with  the  following  children ; William, 
Mahala  E.,  Eva,  Flora,  Lillie,  Dora,  Lola, 
Resa,  Tyre  and  May.  Mrs.  Ruan  Eaton  was 
a very  domestic  lady,  an  ardent  Baptist,  and 
died  July  10,  1869.  Mr.  Eaton  was  ne.xt  mar- 
ried to  Mrs.  Lovina  (Caldwellj  Voorhis,  March 
22,  1893.  She  was  born  February  15,  1845, 
and  received  the  common  school  education  of 
those  days,  in  Hendricks  county.  She  was 
married  to  Smith  Voorhis  July  14,  1870,  by 
whom  there  were  two  children  born,  Marion 
R.  and  Flora  M.  Her  ancestors  were  as  fol- 
lows : The  grandmother  on  the  mother’s  side 
was  Rebecca  Abrams,  who  lived  to  a ripe  old 
age.  Her  grandfather  was  James  Caldwell, 
whose  wife  was  Catherine.  He  died  at  eighty- 
three,  she  at  hfty-five  years.  Richard  Green 
Caldwell,  her  father,  was  born  in  1819,  mar- 
ried, in  1844,  to  Editha  Abrams,  settled  in  the 
northeast  corner  of  Hendricks  county,  on 
eigthy  acres,  and  here  they  have  reared  their 
family,  whose  names  and  dates  of  birth  fol- 
low ; Lovina,  February  15,  i 845  ; James  W. , 
December  14,  1846;  Rebecca,  September  23. 
1848;  William  H.,  June  30,  1850;  Margaret, 

March  9,  1852;  Oliver,  March  14,  1854;  Maiy 
J.,  January  7,  1857;  Thomas  A.,  February 

19,  1859;  Sarah  L. , February  23,  1861; 

Richard  G.,  January  26,  1863.  Mrs.  Editha 
Caldwell  died  at  the  early  age  of  thirty- nine 
years.  Mr.  L.  M.  Eaton  began  his  married  life 
as  a renter  on  a farm,  which  for  six  years  he 
continued.  He  then  purchased  twenty-five 


acres,  which  he  sold,  moving  to  Boone  county, 
Clinton  township,  where  he  secured  eighty  acres 
of  his  present  farm.  He  has  been  prominent- 
ly connected  with  the  tile  industry,  having 
erected  and  operated  two  factories.  He  con- 
ducts a general  farming  business  and  makes  it 
pay.  He  has  good  comfortable  buildings, 
and  a garden  spot  of  a farm.  He  is  an  earnest 
republican,  a member  of  the  Elizaville  Horse 
Thief  Detective  association,  as  well  as  being 
a non-affiliating  member  of  the  I.  O.  O.  F. 


ETER  ELLIOTT,  one  of  the  most 
respected  farmers  and  stock-raisers  of 
Sugar  Creek  township,  Boone  county, 
Ind.,  is  a native  of  Randolph  county, 
N.  C.  His  birth  took  place  January  31,  1826. 
His  parents  were  Nathan  and  Sarah  (Rich) 
Elliott.  Nathan  Elliott  was  also  born  in  Ran- 
dolph county,  N.  C.,  the  date  of  his  birth 
being  October  22,  1802.  The  parents  of 

Nathan  were  Obediah  and  Sarah  (Chamness) 
Elliott,  also  natives  of  the  Old  North  state. 
Obediah  was  a wagon-maker,  and  a good  one. 
He  came  to  Indiana  in  1834  and  settled  in 
Sugar  Creek  township,  Boone  county,  and  fol- 
lowed his  trade  until  his  death  in  1837,  h'S 
wife,  Sarah,  following  in  1839,  and  both  being 
laid  to  their  final  rest  in  Sugar  Plain  cemetery. 
Their  eight  children  were  named  Lydia,  Han- 
nah, Obediah,  Ephraim,  Sarah,  Nathan,  Eliz- 
abeth and  Abigail,  all  of  whom  have  passed  to 
a land  where  there  is  no  toil,  all  dying  in  a 
faith  founded  on  a sound  philosophy — not 
superstition — and  usually  called  that  of  the 
Society  of  Friends.  Nathan  Elliott,  one  of 
the  above  enumerated  children  of  Obediah  and 
father  of  Peter  Elliott,  the  subject  proper  of 
this  biographical  record,  was  a farmer  by  occu- 
pation until  the  age  of  twenty-two,  his  work 
being  confined  to  the  home  farm.  He  then 
embarked  in  business  for  himself,  and  added 


15IOGRAPIIICAL  HISTORY 


jlOO 


to  his  knowledge  of  agriculture  that  of  milling 
and  carpentry.  Nathan  Elliott  was  also  a 
ministt;!'  and  traveled  e.xtensively  in  that  capa- 
city in  the  states  and  Canada.  In  1825  he 
married  Sarah  Rich,  and  to  this  union  were 
born  five  children,  named  as  follows:  Peter, 
whose  name  opens  this  notice;  Malinda,  wife 
of  E.  S.  Woody,  of  Iowa;  George,  Bettie  and 
Annis,  all  three  deceased.  Mrs.  Sarah  (Rich) 
Elliott  died  in  1834,  and  January  8,  1835, 
Nathan  Elliott  married  Catharine  Woody,  a 
native  of  Alamance  county,  N.  C.,  horn  De- 
cember 8,  1806,  the  daughter  of  Samuel  and 
Eleanor  (Hadley)  Woody.  Eater,  in  the  year 
1835,  Nathan  Elliott  and  his  family  came  to 
Sugar  Creek  township,  Boone  county,  Ind., 
and  bought  the  farm  of  160  acres,  where  his 
son,  Peter,  now  resides,  and  near  where  he 
died  in  1876,  his  remains  being  interred  in 
Sugar  Plain  cemetery. 

Peter  Elliott  was  reared  to  practical  farm- 
ing on  the  home  farm,  in  the  meanwhile  at- 
tending the  public  schools,  and  for  two  terms 
at  the  high  school  at  Bloomingdale,  Parke 
county;  he  then  taught  school  ten  terms,  aver- 
aging four  months  to  the  term.  At  the  age  of 
twenty-eight  years.  May  15,  1854,  he  married, 
in  Hendricks  county,  Ind.,  Abigail  Kersey, 
who  was  born  in  North  Carolina,  September 
14,  1829,  the  daughter  of  James  and  Elizabeth 
(Hodson)  Kersey,  the  former  of  whom  was  a 
physician  and  farmer.  P'our  children  resulted 
from  this  union  and  were  named  James,  de- 
ceased; Sarah,  married  to  J.  Stevvart,  Mont- 
gomery county,  Ind.;  Marietta,  deceased;  and 
an  infant  that  died  unnamed.  The  mother  of 
these  children  was  called  away  May  28,  1863, 
and  the  next  marriage  of  Mr.  IHliott  took 
place  Se])tember  16,  1868,  to  Eliza  Brown,  a 
native  of  Montgomery  county,  Ind.,  born  I'eb- 
ruary  7,  1832.  'I  bis  lady  is  the  daughter  of 
Elijah  and  Nanc)'  (Brown)  ('ox,  and  has  borne 
her  husband  three  children,  viz.:  George, 


Mark  and  Enos.  The  family  are'  all  members 
of  the  Society  of  Eriends,  and  lead  the  lives 
inculcated  through  the  teachings  of  that  soci- 
ety. A handsome  and  well  improved  farm  of 
ninety  acres  is  sufficient  for  their  support,  and 
Mr.  Edliott's  skill  as  a stock  grower  adds  ma- 
teriall}’  to  his  income.  In  politics  he  is  a re- 
publican, and  for  ten  years  was  an  overseer  in 
the  religious  order  to  which  he  belongs. 

RADEORI)  EPPERSON.  — Am^ng 
the  older  and  respected  citizens  of 
Boone  county,  Mr.  Ej^person  ranks 
among  the  first.  He  comes  from  old 
colonial  American  stock  of  English  descent. 
His  grandfather,  John  Epperson,  was  born  in 
Virginia  and  was  a pioneer  in  Kentucky  con- 
temporaneous with  Daniel  Boone.  He  mar- 
ried and  made  his  residence  in  Shelhy  county, 
Ky.,  and  of  the  fruit  of  this  union  Daniel, 
John,  Erancis  and  Elizabeth  are  remembered. 
Mr.  Epperson  died  in  Kentucky  an  aged  man. 
He  was  a farmer,  member  of  the  Baptist 
church,  and  an  industrious,  hard-working, 
pioneer  citizen,  much  respected  by  the  old 
settlers.  P'rancis  Ivpi)erson,  the  father  of  our 
subject,  was  born  in  Shelby  county,  Ky.,  and 
reared  among  the  pioneers.  He  married,  in 
that  county,  Tabitha,  daughter  of  Reuben  and 
Elizabeth  (Roberts)  Redding.  To  Mr.  ami 
Mrs.  Ep])erson  were  born  eight  children — 
William,  Nancy,  Daniel,  W’illis,  Bradford, 
Elizabeth,  Polly  and  Juriah.  In  1826  Mr. 
Ei)person  moved  to  Putnam  county,  Ind., 
settling  in  the  woods,  where  he  built  a log 
cabin,  and  cleared  up  a good  farm.  He  then 
sold  out  and  bought  a farm  south  of  Eadoga, 
in  Putnam  county,  where  he  died  at  the  age 
seventy-four  years.  He  was  an  able  and  indus- 
trious farmer,  held  the  respect  of  the  people 
and  reared  a good  family  ot  children.  In 
political  o])inions  Mr.  hfppeVson  was  a Jack- 


OF  BOONE  COUNTY. 


801 


sonian  democrat,  and  he  and  wife  were  con- 
sistent and  devout  members  of  the  Kegular 
Baptist  church. 

Bradford  Epperson,  son  of  above  and  the 
subject  of  this  sketch,  was  born  in  Shelby 
county,  Ky. , on  his  father’s  farm,  October  21, 
1819,  and  was  but  seven  years  of  age  when  he 
came  with  his  parents  to  Putnam  county,  Ind. 
He  attended  the  pioneer  subscription  school  of 
his  day,  held  in  an  old  log  cabin  with  split 
logs  for  seats,  and  here  he  learned  to  read  and 
write,  and  enough  arithmetic  for  the  practi- 
purposes  of  a pioneer.  He  followed  the  busi- 
ness of  saw  and  grist  milling  when  young.  In 
1844,  January  19,  our  subject  married  in 
Iroquois  county.  Ills.,  Satilla,  daughter  of  Dr. 
Eli  and  Delilah  (Adams)  Budd.  Dr.  Budd 
was  from  an  old  American  family,  and  prac- 
ticed medicine  many  years  in  Parke  county, 
Ind.,  but  moved  to  Iroquois  county.  Ills. — 
near  Springfield — where  he  died.  He  was  an 
honorable  citizen  and  an  able  physician.  He 
and  wife  were  the  parents  of  the  following 
children:  Marcus,  Eli  S.,  Elliot,  David, 

Satilla,  Perrilla  and  Merrillo.  After  marriage 
Mr.  Epperson  lived  one  year  in  Illinois  and 
then  returned,  with  his  wifi-,  to  Putnam  county, 
Ind.,  remaining  a- short  time,  and  then  went 
to  Hendricks  county,  and  engaged  in  the  mill- 
ing business  with  his  father,  in  which  they  con- 
tinued eight  years,  doing  a good  business  in 
all  kinds  of  mill  work.  Our  subject  then 
settled  in  Boone  county,  about  1854,  upon 
106  acres  in  Center  township.  In  1868  he 
came  to  his  present  farm,  which  is  pleasantly 
situated  two  miles  from  Lebanon,  is  well 
improved  with  substantial  buildings — and  here 
Mr.  Epperson  has  elected  to  spend  the  remain- 
der of  his  days  in  the  well  earned  peace  of  an 
honorable,  industrious  and  self-respecting  life. 
He  has  always  been  well  known  as  a moral, 
temperate  and  hard-working  man.  He  is  in 
favor  of  good  schools  and  has  given  all  his 


children  the  advantages  of  a good  education. 
These  are  William,  Charles,  Josephine,  Nancy, 
Tabitha  and  Perrilla,  who  are  all  well  settled 
in  Boone  county,  except  Delilah,  who  resides 
in  Kansas.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Epperson  are  both 
members  of  the  Christian  church  and  he  is  a 
democrat  politically.  He  is  a member  of  the 
Masonic  fraternity — Boone  lodge.  No.  9, 
Lebanon.  Mr.  Epperson  has  reared  one  of 
the  most  respected  families  in  Boone  county. 
The  sons  are  law-abiding  citizens  and  valued 
members  of  the  community. 


HOMAS  B.  EVANS,  of  Center  town- 
ship, Boone  county,  Ind.,  is  one  of 
the  most  practical,  progressive  and 
successful  farmers  of  this  township. 
He  is  of  Welsh-Irish  stock  and  is  of  the  third 
generation  in  America.  His  grandfather,  Da- 
vid Evans,  on  coming  from  ^^"ales,  settled  on 
land  in  Pennsylvania,  in  1784,  and  was  mar- 
ried to  Susannah  Sayers,  in  1790,  at  the 
bride’s  home  in  New  Jersey,  after  which  they 
lived  in  Washington  county.  Pa.,  where  he 
followed  farming,  and,  being  fond  of  hunting, 
was  considered  a good  marksman.  Later,  in 
the  year  1805,  they  emigrated  to  Pickaway 
county,  Ohio,  \, here  he  died  in  1827,  the 
father  of  seven  sons,  named  Lemuel,  John, 
David,  Evan,  Jonathan,  Aaron,  and  Samuel. 
With  her  family,  Mrs.  Evans  moved  from 
Ohio  to  Henry  county,  Ind.,  in  1836,  and  died 
in  the  fall  of  the  same  year.  David  Evans, 
the  father  of  this  family,  served  his  adopted 
country  in  the  war  of  1812,  and  his  flint-lock 
musket  is  still  held  in  the  possession  of  his  de- 
scendants as  a cherished  relic  of  their  ances- 
tor’s patriotism.  David  Evans  lived  to  be 
cpiite  an  aged  man  and  died  in  Pickaway  county, 
Ohio.  Evan  Evans,  son  of  David,  and  father 
of  Thomas  B.  Evans,  the  subject  of  our  sketch, 
was  born  on  his  father’s  farm  in  Pickaway 


802 


BIOGRAPHICAL  HISTORY 


county,  Ohio,  August  12,  iSoi,  received  as 
good  ail  education  as  the  cominon-schools  of 
Ids  day  afforded,  and  married,  in  Ohio,  Jane 
Bell,  who  bore  four  children  that  lived  to  ma- 
turity and  were  named,  in  order  of  birth,  Jona- 
than, Evan  A.,  Margaret  J.  and  Thomas  B. 
After  his  marriage,  Evan  Evans  passed  ten 
years  in  the  state  of  Pennsylvania,  and  then, 
in  1834  or  1835,  came  to  Indiana,  and  entered 
760  acres  in  Boone  county,  on  ]iart  of  which 
his  son,  Thomas  B.,  now  resides.  This  land 
was  heavily  timbered,  but  by  diligence  and 
hard  work  Mr.  Evans  succeeded  in  clear- 
ing up  one  of  the  best  farms  in  Center 
township.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Evans  were  pious 
members  of  the  Baptist  church,  in  which  he 
was  a deacon  for  many  years,  and  in  politics 
he  was  a democrat.  He  was  a most  success- 
ful farmer,  was  an  honorable  gentleman,  and 
died  in  1S88,  at  the  advanced  age  of  eighty- 
seven  years. 

Thomas  B.  Evans,  the  subject  proper  of  this 
biographical  notice,  was  born,  in  1841,  on  the 
farm  he  now  owns  and  occupies  in  Center  town- 
ship, Boone  county.  He  received  the  ordinary 
schooling  usually  accorded  to  farm  lads,  the 
chief  attention  of  his  younger  days  being  de- 
voted to  agriculture  and  the  care  of  the  home 
farm,  thus  becoming  an  e.xpert  and  scientific 
farmer.  At  the  age  of  twenty-four,  August  1 i, 
1864,  he  married  Nancy  J.,  daughter  of  M'ill- 
iam  and  Mary  (Copeland)  Cobb,  and  to  this 
harmonious  union  have  lieen  born  four  chil- 
dren, in  the  following  order:  Florence  |., 
Melya,  Sylvia  L.  and  Eenora  I).  As  was  his 
father,  Mr.  Evans  is  a stanch  democrat,  but 
is  such  from  principle,  and  not  for  emolument 
or  official  position.  Mrs.  Evans  is  an  active 
and  devoted  member  of  the  Christian  church, 
and  her  daily  walk  through  life  shows  the  sin- 
cerity of  her  faith  in  the  doctrines  and  the 
teachings  of  that  religious  denomination.  Mr. 
Evans  is  a believer  in  agricultural  progression. 


and  his  farm  of  320  acres  is  in  all  probability 
the  best  improved  and  most  highly  cultivated 
of  any  in  Center  township,  if  not  in  Boone 
county.  He  works  it  scientifically,  brings  to 
bear  in  its  cultivation  the  lessons  learned  from 
his  long  experience  and  close  observation,  and 
every  year  enhances  its  value,  instead  of  al- 
lowing it  to  depreciate.  It  is  underdrained, 
probably,  by  more  rods  of  tiling  than  any  other 
farm  of  its  size  in  the  county,  and  its  outward 
conveniences  and  adornments  are  unequaled, 
his  farm  buildings  being  especially  attractive, 
convenient  and  substantial.  His  dwelling  is  an 
ornamental  and  pleasant  place  of  residence,  and 
all  things  show  the  controlling  power  of  a 
master  hand  and  an  experience  supplemented 
with  good  taste  and  a wise  lookout  toward  the 
ulterior  end  to  be  attained  —profit.  Mr.  Evans 
is  a thoroughly  honorable  man,  and  is  imbued 
with  all  those  gracious  qualities  of  benevolent 
tendencies  which  make  his  fellow-citizens 
happy  and  himself  respected. 


OBERT  J.  EERGUSON,  a very 
prominent  farmer  of  Sugar  Creek 
township,  Boone  county,  Iiuh,  is 
“native  here,  and  to  the  manor 
born,”  his  birth  having  taken  place  October/, 
1850.  His  parents  were  David  and  Abigail 
(Ea  Eollette)  Eerguson,  of  whom  the  former 
was  born  near  Liberty,  Union  county,  Ind. , 
March  2,  1814,  and  the  latter  in  Harrison 
county,  Ry.,  November  25,  1813,  their  mar- 
riage taking  place  in  Putnam  county,  Ind., 
July  5,  1838.  They  were  members  of  the 

regular  Ihqitist  church,  and  were  highly 
esteemed  by  the  members  of  that  religious  or- 
ganization, and  respected  by  all  who  knew 
them.  Their  parents  first  removed  to  Jeffer- 
son township,  Boone  county,  Ind.,  in  the  fall 
of  1838,  and  then  settled  in  Sugar  Creek 
township,  same  county,  in  1857,  and  bought  a 


OF  BOONE  COUNTY. 


farm  of  120  acres,  to  which  they  added  until 
they  owned  320  acres,  and  on  this  farm,  the 
j)resent  home  of  Robert  J.  Ferguson,  the 
father  died  October  18,  1876,  and  the  mother 
April  14,  1888.  They  were  the  parents  of 
three  children,  viz:  Mary  J.,  Eliza  A.  and 
Robert  J.  Ferguson.  David  Ferguson  was  a 
successful  man  through  life,  and  his  estate,  at 
death,  was  valued  at  $25,000.  He  never  had 
a law  suit,  being  honest  to  the  core  and  treat- 
ing all  business  relations  with  promptness  and 
liberality.  In  politics  he  was  a democrat. 

Robert  J Ferguson,  beside  becoming  a 
practical  farmer,  was  well  educated  at  the  dis- 
trict school.  He  remained  with  his  parents 
until  their  death,  and  he  and  his  sisters  are  still 
on  the  old  homestead,  which  now  comprises 
380  acres,  nearly  all  in  one  body.  Mr.  Fer- 
guson makes  a specialty  of  thoroughbred 
horses,  derived  from  the  “Smuggler”  and 
“Wilkes”  stock  and  other  distinguished 
families.  In  politics  Mr.  Ferguson  is  a dem- 
ocrat, and  in  religion  he  and  his  sisters  are 
faithful  believers  in  the  Baptist  doctrine,  and 
are  all  highly  respected  by  their  neighbors  and 
acquaintances. 


OHN  C FERREE.— As  the  name  indi- 
cates, the  gentleman  whose  name  intro- 
duces this  biography  is  of  French  de- 
scent. His  great-grandfather  came  from 
the  old  country  in  an  early  day  and  settled  in 
one  of  the  Atlantic  states,  where  William  Fer- 
ree,  the  grandfather,  for  many  years  a resident 
of  North  Carolina,  was  born.  After  her  hus- 
band’s death  the  wife  of  William  Ferree  came 
to  Indiana,  where  she  made  her  home  with 
her  son  John;  at  the  time  of  moving  to  this 
state  she  owned  a number  of  slaves,  whom,  on 
account  of  her  religious  convictions,  being  a 
member  of  the  Society  of  Friends,  she  gener- 
o uly  liberated  John  Ferree,  father  of  John 


808 


C.,was  a native  of  North  Carolina,  born  in 
the  year  1795,  and  married  in  his  native  state 
Priscilla  Ward.  In  1821  he  emigrated  to  Ran- 
dolph county,  Ind.,  later  moved  to  the  county 
of  Morgan,  where  he  entered  government  land 
and  purchased  other  real  estate.  He  disposed 
of  his  interests  in  Morgan  county  in  1858  and 
emigrated  to  Iowa,  where  he  purchased  a farm 
upon  which  his  death  subsequently  occurred; 
the  following  are  the  names  of  his  children; 
William,  Daniel  and  Ebaline,  all  three  of  whom 
died  while  young;  Henderson,  Sallie,  Priscilla, 
Susan,  Ann,  Jemima,  Hannah,  John  C.  and 
Daniel  1).  surviving  until  maturity.  Both  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  Ferree  were  birthright  members  of 
the  Society  of  Friends,  and  noted  for  their 
strict  adherence  to  the  pure,  simple,  teachings 
of  that  faith. 

John  C.  Ferree  was  born  in  Morgan  county, 
Ind.,  February  13,  1839,  was  reared  a farmer, 
and  accompanied  his  parents  to  Iowa  in  the 
year  above  mentioned.  He  was  united  in 
marriage  July  2,  1861,  to  Martha  Ross,  daugh- 
ter of  Joseph  and  Susan  (Green)  Ross,  and  has 
one  child,  a son,  Otis  O.  Ferree.  In  Septem- 
ber, 1864,  Mr.  Ferree  entered  rhe  army,  enlist- 
ing in  company  1),  Twenty-ninth  Indiana  in- 
fantry, and  shortly  after  entering  the  service 
was  assigned  to  post  duty  at  Chattanooga, 
Tenn.  During  the  winter  of  1864  he  con- 
tracted a severe  cold,  which  settled  on  his 
lungs  and  caused  him  much  suffering,  and  he 
has  never  entirely  recovered  from  this  sickness. 
He  suffered  partial  deafness  for  a period  of 
over  six  months,  and  his  sense  of  hearing,  still 
defective,  causes  him  no  little  annoyance  at 
intervals.  During  his  period  of  service  he 
participated  in  several  campaigns  in  Alabama 
and  other  southern  states,  and  some  time  pre- 
vious to  the  termination  of  his  period  of  enlist- 
ment was  detailed  as  clerk,  which  position  he 
filled  very  creditably  until  the  close  of  the  war. 
The  place  was  one  of  great  responsibility,  but 


804 


BIOGRAPHICAL  HISTORY 


he  discharf^ed  its  every  duty  in  such  a manner 
as  to  elicit  the  warmest  praises  from  his  supe- 
rior officer.  Wliile  thus  employed  he  wrote  a 
history  of  his  regiment,  a copy  of  which  was 
sent  to  the  war  department  and  deposited  in 
the  archives  at  Washington  city.  Mr.  Ferree 
was  honorably  discharged  from  the  service 
June  25,  18O5,  since  which  time  he  is  the  re- 
cipient of  a very  liberal  pension  from  the  gov- 
ernment. Before  entering  the  army  ISIr.  Fer- 
ree was  a skillful  mechanic  and  he  resumed  his 
trade,  that  of  carriage-making,  at  the  close  of 
the  war,  and  continued  the  same  for  a period 
of  fifteen  years.  Subsequently  he  engaged  in 
the  mercantile  trade  at  Center  Valley  and  did 
a very  flourishing  business  for  three  years,  at 
the  end  of  which  time  he  disposed  of  his  stock 
and  jHirchased  a small  farm  in  Jacksoii  town- 
ship, where  he  resided  until  1890,  when  he 
located  in  Jamestown,  where  he  owns  a good 
home  and  is  supplied  with  every  comfort.  Mr. 
I'erree  has  retired  from  the  active  duties  of 
life,  but  still  looks  after  the  management  of  his 
farm.  He  is  an  intelligent,  enterprising  citizen, 
a close  observer  of  the  events  of  the  day,  and 
enjoys  the  esteem  and  confidence  of  his  neigh- 
l)ors  and  friends. 


EUBFN  H.  FLINN. --Boone  county, 
Ind.,  is  the  favorite  home  of  many 
veterans  of  the  Civil  war,  and  among 
them  is  Reuben  H.  Flinn,  our  sub- 
ject, a soldier  who  deserves  more  than  a jrass- 
ing  space  in  our  record.  His  grandfather, 
William  I'linn,  was  one  of  the  pioneers  of  Ken- 
tucky. He  descended  from  an  old  colonial  Amer- 
can  family  of  Irish  ancesti'y.  He  becamea  sub- 
stantial farnuT  and  was  the  father  of  thrt;e 
children  who  arc  rememhered-  —Valentine,  John 
and  William.  IF'  lived  to  be  more  than  eighty 
year's  of  age.  Valentine  b'linn,  father  of  our 
subject,  was  a farmer  of  Nicholas  couidy, 


Ky.,  and  married  there  Susannah  Sacre.  To 
them  were  born  ten  childr'en  in  the  following 
or'der:  John  R. , AlFed,  Williani  W.,  Marion 
F.,  Geor'ge  W.,  Reuben  H.,  Johanna  C.,  Mary 
J.,  Rowena  E.  and  Thomas  1).  About  1833,' 
Mr.  b'linn  nroved  to  Indiana  and  located  in 
Clinton  county,  where  he  remained  four  years 
and  therr  went  back  to  Kerrtucky,  and  in  1853 
r'eturned  to  Clinton  county,  and  came  to  Boone 
county  in  1855,  and  here  passed  the  remain- 
der of  his  days.  Both  he  and  wife  were  mem- 
bers of  the  Missionary  Baptist  church.  He 
voted  with  the  democrats  until  1856,  when  he 
becanre  one  of  the  original  republicans.  Mr. 
Flinn  was  a typical  American  pioneer  and 
straightforward  in  his  manner  of  dealing.  He 
was  loyal  to  the  Union  and  had  four  sons  in 
the  Civil  war — Alfred,  in  the  One  Hundred  and 
Forty-eighth  regiment,  Indiana  volunteer  in- 
fantry; William  W. , in  company  D,  One  Hun- 
dred and  Fifty-third  regiment,  Indiana  volun- 
teer infantry;  George  M'.,  company  D,  Seven- 
ty-second regiment,  Indiana  volunteer  infantry, 
belonging  to  Mhlder’s  brigade;  and  Reuben  H. 

Reuben  H.  Flinn  was  born  August  13, 

1 840,  in  Franklin  count34  Ky.  He  received  the 
pioneer  education  of  his  day,  and  was  thirteen 
3’ears  of  age  when  he  came  with  his  father  to 
Indiana.  He  followed  the  pursuit  of  agricul- 
ture. At  the  breaking  out  of  the  war,  filled 
with  patriotism  to  serve  his  country,  he  enlist- 
ed on  May  8,  1861,  in  Washington  township, 
Boone  county,  Ind.,  in  company  H,  Fifteenth 
regiment  Indiana  volunteer  infantry,  and 
served  three  years.  He  veteranized  in  Jan- 
uai'N’,  1864,  and  was  transferred  to  company' 
C,  Seventeenth  regiment,  Indiana  volunteer 
infantry,  and  served  until  the  close  of  the  war. 
He  was  mustered  out  at  Macon,  Ga.,  and  was 
honorably  discharged,  having  served  his  country 
as  a soldier  four  years  and  three  months.  1 le  was 
in  the  battles  of  Stone  River,  Missionary  Ridge 
and  many  skirmishes.  In  the  Seventeenth 


OF  BOONE  COUNTY. 


805 


regiment  he  was  mounted,  and  in  the  famous 
^^hlson  raid.  He  was  in  a severe  skirmish  at 
Ebinceger  Church,  Ala.,  at  Selma,  and  a 
skirmish  before  Macon.  Mr.  Flinn  was  never 
wounded  nor  sick  enough  to  be  in  hospital, 
and  was  never  a prisoner.  He  took  part  in 
all  the  battles  and  skirmishes  of  his  regiment, 
and  was  always  ready  for  active  duty.  At 
Missionary  Ridge  a shell  passed  directly  back 
of  his  head,  so  close  that  the  rush  of  air 
knocked  him  down,  and  at  Stone  River  he 
had  a narrow  escape  from  death.  After  the 
war  he  lived  in  Carroll  county,  Ind.,  on  a farm 
for  about  eighteen  months,  and  in  1 867  he  re- 
turned to  Boone  county.  He  married,  Jan- 
uary 17,  Missouri  G.,  daughter  of  William  L. 
and  Eliza  (Mitchell)  Martin.  William  L. 
Martin  was  a mechanic,  born  in  Maryland, 
moved  to  Cincinnati,  and  came  to  Indiana  and 
settled  in  Scott  county,  as  a pioneer,  in  1838. 
To  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Martin  were,  born  nine  chil- 
dren ; Mary  F. , James  E.,  William  H., 
Missouri  G.,  Adelia  O.,  Arthur  E. , Elvira  U., 
Granville  E.  and  John  F.  Mr.  Martin  de- 
scended from  an  old  colonial  American  family 
of  English  stock.  His  son,  James  E.,  was  a 
soldier  in  the  Civil  war,  company  G,  Eleventh 
regiment,  Indiana  volunteer  infantry.  He 
was  promoted  to  sergeant  and  assigned  to  the 
Forty-sixth  regiment,  Arkansas  cavalry.  He 
afterward  became  a physician.  He  was  an 
honorable  citizen  and  a member  of  the  Method- 
ist church.  After  marriage  Mr.  Flinn  settled 
at  Thorntown,  engaged  in  farming,  and  in 
1885  bought  his  present  property,  consisting 
of  forty-six  acres  of  land  in  Center  township, 
and  with  his  pension  of  fourteen  dollars  per 
month  is  in  comfortable  circumstances.  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  Flinn  have  three  children  now  living  : 
Charles  O.,  C.  A.  and  Roy  E.  Both  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Flinn  are  members  of  the  Christian 
church,  of  which  he  is  secretary  and  trustee. 
In  political  opinions  he  is  a stanch  republican. 


Mr.  Flinn  has  a clean  record  as  a soldier  and 
did  not  shrink  from  his  duty.  He  faced  death 
for  his  country  at  Stone  River  and  Missionary 
Ridge,  and  his  name,  honored  as  a soldier, 
will  be  handed  down  to  his  sons  and  descend- 
ants as  long  as  the  old  flag  for  which  he  fought 
waves  in  the  breeze. 


ILLIAM  P.  FEATHER,  a sub- 
stantial farmer  of  Advance,  Jack- 
son  township,  Boone  county,  Ind. , 
was  born  in  Putnam  county,  Ind., 
August  22,  1835.  His  great-grandfather  and 
wife  came  from  Germany  and  settled  in  Bed- 
ford county,  Va. , where  their  son  Philip, 
grandfathei'  of  William  P. , was  born,  and 
where  he  married  Mary  Dilly,  who  bore  fifteen 
children.  One  of  these  fifteen,  Adam  Feather, 
the  father  of  our  subject,  was  born  in  Bed- 
ford county,  Va.,  January  9,  1803,  and  when 
twenty-five  years  of  age  came  to  Indiana  and 
located  in  Bainbridge,  Putnam  county.  He 
was  a blacksmith  and  married  Tillie  Graves, 
daughter  of  Peter  and  Jane  Graves,  pioneers 
of  that  county.  The  children  born  to  this 
union  were  William  P. , Henry,  Eliza,  Jane, 
Nannie,  Ellen  and  Julia.  Mr.  Feather  was  a 
most  excellent  mechanic  and  always  had  all 
the  business  he  could  attend  to.  He  lived  to  be 
eighty-two  years  of  age,  but  lost  his  wife  in 
1854 — he  passing  his  latter  years  with  his  son, 
William  P.  His  wife’s  father  was  a soldier  in 
the  war  of  1812. 

William  P.  Feather  was  married  in  Put- 
nam county,  March  6,  1859,  to  Sarah, 

daughter  of  Joseph  P.  and  Julia  A.  (Shell) 
Boyd.  Grandfather  Boyd  came  from  Ken- 
tucky and  was  a pioneer  of  Fayette  county, 
Ind.,  where  he  died,  an  elder  and  pillar  of  the 
Presbyterian  church;  Grandmother  Boyd  mar- 
ried William  Hillis,  of  Putnam  county,  and 
she  was  mother  of  the  following  children: 


DIOGRAPIIICAL  HISTORY 


Joseph  P.  and  Elizabeth  (twins),  Nancy,  Irvin, 
Harvey  and  i\dly  Ann.  Joseph  P.  Boyd  was 
born  in  P'ayette  county,  Ind.,  January  19, 
1H09,  was  reared  a farmer,  and  after  moving 
to  Putnam  county  married  Julia  A.  Shell, 
daughter  of  Louis  and  Nancy  (Solace)  Shell. 
Louis  Shell  was  a veteran  of  the  war  of  1812, 
and  was  a pioneer  of  Putnam  county,  and 
there  were  but  few  houses  between  his  farm  and 
Greencastle.  He  was  a strict  Presbyterian, 
was  an  elder,  and  a Sabbath-school  superin- 
tendent for  over  fifty  years,  and  was  greatly 
respected,  not  only  in  the  church  but  through- 
out the  township.  Joseph  P.  Boyd  was  a 
prosperous  farmer  and  a devout  Presbyterian, 
of  which  faith  his  wife  was  a strong  adherent. 
In  politics  he  was  first  a democrat,  but  later  a 
republican.  His  death  took  place  in  February, 
1875,  his  widow  surviving  until  November  9, 
1884.  She  was  ninety-six  years  old,  never 
wore  glasses  in  her  life,  and  cut  two  teeth 
when  she  was  eighty.  The  only  doctor  she 
ever  had  was  at  her  death  bed. 

After  his  marriage,  Mr.  Feather  lived  on 
his  farm  in  Putnam  county  five  years,  and  in 
1864  came  to  Boone  county  and  settled  on 
his  present  farm  of  eighty  acres,  then  a com- 
plete wilderness,  without  a vestige  of  improve- 
ment, excepting  a log  cabin.  But  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  P'eather  both  went  hard  to  work  and 
converted  this  wilderness  into  one  of  the  most 
fertile  and  best  improved  farms  in  Jackson 
township.  The  children  born  tcj  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
I'eather  were  named  as  follows:  Fmma  H., 
l)orn  June  25,  i860;  Julia  M.,  July  22,  1862; 
Dora,  October  27,  1864;  Charles  R. , August 
2,  1867;  Ella  b'.,  january  6,  1870  and  died 
March  17,  [891.  (She  graduated  from  the 

New  Ross  academy  in  1888,  and  had  been 
granted  a license  to  teach,  but  at  that  moment 
all  the  positions  had  been  filled;  she  taught, 
however,  two  terms  of  summer  school  at 
Advance,  Ind.  She  married  William  White- 


cotton  June  15,  1890,  and  had  one  child, 

Jennie,  deceased.)  Nina  M.  P'eather,  the 
next  child  in  the  family,  was  born  January  9, 
1872,  and  Lulu,  the  youngest,  June  14,  1876. 
William  P.  Feather  has  had  his  war  experience, 
but  has  never  had  full  recompense  for  his 
services.  October  3,  1861,  he  enlisted  for 
three  years,  at  Camp  Vigo,  in  company  B, 
Forty-third  I.  V.  I.,  and  was  doing  camp  duty 
at  Terre  Haute,  in  active  preparation  for  the 
field,  when  he  was  permanently  injured  in  the 
line  of  duty,  and  constantly  suffers  from  his 
wound.  He  was  discharged  October  27, 
1861,  as  being  utterly  unfit  for  further  military 
duty,  but,  on  account  of  his  name  having  been 
omitted  from  the  adjutant-general’s  roll, 
through  mistake  of  some  careless  officer,  he 
has  never  been  able  to  secure  a pension. 
Mrs.  P'eather  is  a consistent  member  of  the 
Methodist  church,  and  with  her  husband  stands 
deservedly  liigLin  the  esteem  of  the  residents 
of  Jackson  township. 


OHN  W.  FORBES,  a leading  citizen 
of  Jackson  township,  Boone  county, 
Ind.,  was  born  in  Rockbridge  county, 
\’a.,  June  27,  1844.  His  grandfather, 
William  P'orbes,  was  born  in  the  same  county, 
was  of  Plnglish  descent,  was  a patriot  of  the 
Revolutionary  war,  and  died  in  his  native 
county  at  the  age  of  seventy-five.  His  wife 
bore  the  maiden  name  of  Sarah  Campbell,  and 
became  the  mother  of  the  following  children: 
William  .\.,  George,  Samuel,  Bartlett  (who 
was  a soldier  in  the  war  with  Mexico  and 
fought  at  Buena  Vista  and  Cerro  Gordo),  and 
Jasper.  William  A.  P'orbes,  father  of  John 
W.,  was  born  in  Virginia  June  27,  1822.  Pie 
was  a wheel-wright  l)y  trade  when  young,  but 
was  ordained  a minister  in  the  U.  B.  church, 
was  a leader  in  the  Kansas-Missonri  conference, 
and  is  still  engaged  in  the  gooil  work.  He 


OF  BOONE  COUNTY. 


807 


married  Elizabeth  Sphor,  daughter  Jacob 
and  Barbara  Sphor,  and  to  this  marriage  were 
born  John  \V.,  Sam,  Joseph  and  Mary. 

John  W.  Forbes  was  reared  a fanner  and 
at  the  proper  age  married  Jennie  Cart}', 
daughter  of  John  P.  and  Jennie  (Saliers) 
Carty,  and  this  union  has  been  blessed  by  the 
birth  ofAcenaV.,  Mary  E.,  Dora  B.  and 
Charles  M. , all  still  living.  The  father  of  Mrs. 
Forbes  was  a prominent  farmer  of  Knox  county, 
Ky. , owning  500  acres.  He  was  an  ardent 
Union  man  and  fed  the  I'ederal  soldiers  when 
occasion  offered,  and  for  this  the  rebels  retali- 
ated by  devastating  his  farm  and  stealing  every 
thing  they  could  carry  off.  He  had  a son  and 
a son-in-law  in  the  Union  army  and  lost  his 
fortune  through  his  sympathy  with  the  Union 
cause.  He  died  in  Boone  county,  Ind.,  at  the 
age  of  seventy,  and  his  wife  died  in  Parke 
county,  Ind.,  at  the  same  age.  John  W. 
Forbes  enlisted  at  the  age  of  eighteen,  in  Feb- 
anon,  in  company  F,  F'ifty-fourth  Indiana 
volunteer  infantry,  and  was  sent  directly  to 
Vicksburg,  was  placed  in  Gen.  Sherman’s  com- 
mand, and  was  in  the  famous  fight  of  seven 
days  and  nights  in  the  open  fields — sometimes 
having  something  to  eat  and  sometimes  noth- 
ing— and  under  constant  fire.  One  hundred 
and  fifty  men,  on  one  occasion,  were  killed  in 
one  hour  and  a half.  Mr.  Forbes  was  struck 
by  a ball  just  under  the  ear,  but  the  wound 
was  slight,  and  he  had  two  bullet  holes  in  his 
coat  and  one  through  his  cartridge-box,  and 
had  several  other  narrow  escapes.  His  next 
experience  was  at  Arkansas  Post.  The  second 
enlistment  of  Mr.  Forbes  was  October  20, 
1863,  in  company  D,  Sixty-eighth  Indiana  vol- 
unteer infantry,  when  he  was  sent  to  Chatta- 
nooga, Tenn.  Next  he  was  under  Gen.  Thomas 
at  Nashville,  where  the  buttons  were  shot  off 
his  coat  sleeve.  He  was  at  Franklin,  Tenn.; 
at  Decatur,  Ala.;  at  Bridgeport;  at  Jackson, 
Miss.;  at  Port  Gibson,  Miss.,  and  at  Port 


Hudson,  Fa.  On  returning  from  the  war, 
Mr.  Forbes  resided  on  his  farher’s  farm  in 
Boone  county,  Ind.,  for  a short  time,  and 
then  passed  five  years  in  Missouri  and  Kansas, 
as  his  health,  which  had  been  impaired  by  his 
severe  war  experience,  would  not  permit  of  his 
stay  at  that  time  in  this  climate.  On  his  final 
return  home  he  purchased  his  present  farm  of 
thirty-five  and  a half  acres,  which  is  improved 
with  substantial  buildings  and  is  well  fenced 
and  ditched,  and  here  he  has  since  resided, 
honored  by  all  who  know  him.  He  and  wife 
are  consistent  members  of  the  United  Brethern 
church,  and  in  politics  he  is  a devoted  repub- 
lican. Mr.  Forbes  is  also  a member  of  Advance 
lodge.  No.  524,  G.  A.  R.,  and  has  filled  the 
office  of  sergeant-quartermaster.  Mr.  Forbes 
has  recovered  from  the  government  back  pay  to 
the  amount  of  $800,  and  has  been  allowed  a 
pension — first  of  $4  per  month,  but  since 
increased  to  $8 — for  his  faithful  and  gallant 
service. 


OSEPH  FRASER,  of  Lebanon,  Ind., 
is  one  of  the  leading  photographers  of 
Boone  county  and  springs  from  Scotch- 
Irish  ancestry.  His  father,  William 
Fraser,  was  a blacksmith  and  resided  many 
years  in  Pittsburg,  Pa.  He  married  Ellen 
Travers  and  lived  to  be  sixty-five  years  of  age. 
He  went  to  Canada  in  1859  and  resided  there 
the  latter  part  of  his  life.  He  was  an  industri- 
ous and  honorable  man.  Joseph  Fraser  was 
born  in  Pittsburg,  Pa.,  October  7,  1858.  His 
parents  took  him  to  Canada  when  he  was 
about  one  year  old,  and  he  was  there  reared  on 
a farm  in  Bruce  county  and  received  a good 
common  school  education.  He  learned  the 
blacksmith’s  trade,  at  which  he  worked  ten 
years,  three  and  a half  of  which  were  passed 
in  the  United  States.  tie  was  married  at 
I Fayette,  Boone  county,  Ind.,  in  February, 


lUOGRAPIIlCAL  HISTORY 


;50S 


iS8<S,  to  Narcissa  Stoker,  and  to  them  have 
been  born  three  children,  now  living:  Hazel 
E.,  Madgie  F.  and  Maggie  E.  Mr.  Fraser 
came  to  Lebanon  in  the  spring  of  1888  and 
engaged  in  the  blacksmith’s  business.  In 
1891  he  bought  out  the  photograph  gallery  of 
Jas.  A.  Schroy,  having  learned  the  business  in 
Canada  with  his  brother,  F.  J.  Fraser,  and 
was  first  in  business  with  him  for  about  one 
year.  He  was  a very  skillful  photographer. 
Mr.  Fraser  attends  to  all  branches  of  a photo- 
grapher’s business  at  very  reasonable  prices 
and  is  successful  in  his  profession.  Fraternally 
he  is  a K.  of  P. , of  Lebanon  lodge.  No.  45. 
Politically  he  is  a republican.  Mr.  Fraser  is 
an  honorable  citizen  and  respected  man  and 
owns  his  residence,  two  lots  and  gallery- — the 
latter  being  well  fitted  with  hne  instruments. 


HMANDA  M.  P'RAZEE,  of  Perry  town- 
ship, Boone  county,  Iiuk,  was  born 
in  Lewis  county,  Ky.,  November  14, 
1834,  a daughter  of  John  N.  and  Ma- 
tilda (Howard)  Doyal,  and  a sister  of  Mr.  1).  1). 
Doyal,  of  whom  full  mention  is  made  on  an 
adjacent  page.  Mrs.  Frazee  was  but  six  year.s 
of  age  when  her  parents  came  from  Kentucky 
and  settled  in  Boone  county,  Ind.,  and  here 
she  was  reared  and  educated.  July  i,  1852, 
she  was  married,  in  Perry  townshiji,  to  Aaron 
b'razee,  who  was  born  March  2,  1830,  in  Rush 
count}’,  Ind.,  a son  of  Moses  and  Rebecca 
(Rigdon)  Frazee,  natives  of  Ohio.  In  1848, 
Aaron  I'razee  came  to  Itoone  county  and 
bought  a farm  of  forty  acres,  but  just  across 
the  hne  in  Hendricks  county,  later  added  to 
its  dimensions,  and  resided  on  it  one  year,  and 
then  moved  to  the  village  ol  New  Brunswick, 
Boone  county,  where  he  engaged  in  general 
merchandising  until  i8bi,  when  he  enlisted  in 
company  A,  Eighty-sixth  Indiana  volunteer  in- 
fantry, and  was  commissioned  captain  of  the 


compapy.  He  served  gallantly  with  his  com- 
mand until  1863,  in  all  its  engagements  and 
inarches,  when  ill  health  compelled  him  to  re- 
sign and  return  to  his  home.  He  then  re- 
moved to  Indianapolis,  where  he  carried  on  a 
successful  grocery  trade  until  his  death,  which 
occurred  January  16,  1869,  his  remains  being 
interred  in  the  Howard  cemetery,  Perry  town- 
ship, Boone  county.  He  was  a member  of  the 
Methodist  Episcopal  church.  Mrs.  Frazee  is  a 
devoted  Baptist.  He  was  a republican  in  poli- 
tice,  was  a I'reemason,  was  a successful  busi- 
ness man,  and  was  universally  respected  for 
his  integrity  and  unblemished  character.  He 
had  born  to  him  five  children,  who  were  named 
as  follows;  Dora,  deceased;  Emma,  wife  of 
A.  J.  Smith,  a clothier  at  Lebanon;  John  M., 
J.  E.  and  Charles  G.  After  the  death  of  her 
husband,  Mrs.  Frazee,  with  her  three  younger 
children,  retired  to  the  home  farm  of  eighty 
acres  she  had  inherited  from  her  father,  and 
here  she  still  resides,  honored  by  the  citizens 
of  Perry  township  for  her  sterling  worth  and 
Christian  piety. 


a AE  G.\ULT,  editor  and  projirietor  of 
the  Zionsville  Times,  was  born  in 
Coshocton  county,  Ohio,  June  23, 
1856,  son  of  Daniel  and  Nancy 
(Crouch)  Gault,  natives  of  Ohio,  and  of  Eng- 
lish and  Scotch  lineage  resjiectively.  Daniel 
and  Nancy  Gault  were  married  in  their  native 
state,  tluuice  emigrated,  1858,  to  Macon  coun- 
ty, Ilk,  where  they  resided  until  1888,  at 
which  time  they  removed  to  their  present  place 
of  residence  in  southeastern  Kansas. 

Cal  Gault  is  the  sixth'  of  a family  of  seven 
children  born  to  the  above  jiarents.  His  early 
education  was  accpiired  in  the  common  schools; 
later  he  pursued  his  studies  at  the  high  school 
of  Macon,  Ilk,  in  which  town  he  began  learn- 
ing the  printer’s  trade  when  only  thirteen  years 


OF  BOONE  COUNTY. 


m.) 


of  age.  Me  soon  acquired  jn'oficiency  as  a 
printer,  to  which  calling  he  has  devoted  his 
life,  and,  since  1875,  has  been  identified  with 
journalism  on  his  own  responsibility.  In  that 
year  he  purchased  the  Boswell  Leader,  which 
he  conducted  for  two  years  at  Boswell  and 
then  removed  the  office  to  Colfax,  where  for 
some  time  the  paper  was  regularly  issued  under 
the  name  of  the  Colfax  Chronicle.  Mr.  Gault 
next  established  the  Thorntown  Saturday 
Leader,  which  he  conducted  until  1879,  at 
which  time  he  became  proprietor  of  the  Zions- 
ville  Times,  his  present  paper.  The  Times 
has  a good  circulation  and  flattering  advertis- 
ing patronage,  and  the  character  of  its  me- 
chanical and  literary  make-up  shows  its  editor 
to  be  thoroughly  acquainted  with  every  detail 
of  the  printer’s  profession.  Mr.  Gault  is  the 
possessor  of  valuable  property  near  Zionsville 
and  he  has  been  an  important  factor  in  pro- 
moting the  interests  of  the  town.  He  was 
married  April  20,  1876,  to  Miss  Laura  M., 
daughter  of  Dr.  L.  C.  and  Sinai  C.  Buckles,  a 
union  blessed  with  the  birth  of  three  children  : 
Roy  C.,  Lewis  D.  and  Frank  E.  Gault. 


ILLIAM  A.  GILLASPIE  is  one  of 
the  leading  citizens  and  farmers  of 
south  Harrison  township,  Boone 
county,  Ind.,andisof  sterling  Irish 
descent,  his  great-grandfather  and  grandfather 
having  come  from  the  Emerald  Isle  at  a very 
early  day  and  having  settled  in  old  Virginia. 
Francis  C.,  the  father,  was  born  in  Virginia, 
but  when  a small  boy  was  taken  to  Kentucky 
(March  22,  1818),  where  he  grew  to  manhood, 
became  a wealthy  farmer,  and  married  Sarah 
A.  Shrout,  daughter  of  Abram  and  Sarah 
Shrout,  the  former  of  whom  was  also  a farmer 
in  good  circumstances,  and  both  parents  mem- 
bers of  the  Christian  church.  In  1850,  Frances 
C.  Gillaspie  came  to  Boone  county,  Ind.,  and 


bought  ninety  acres  of  land  near  Jamestown, 
in  Jackson  township,  and  this  tract,  by  good 
management,  he  soon  augmented  to  400  acres, 
being  a most  excellent  farmer  as  well  as  finan- 
cier. There  were  born  to  these  thriving  pa- 
rents the  following  children;  Mary  A.,  William 
A.,  Sarah  E. , John  W.,  George  A.  and  Fanny 
(twins),  Simon  A.,  James  W.,  Nettie  F.,  and 
Jesse  O.,  all  of  whom  received  a good  educa- 
tion. Mr.  Gillaspie  was  an  ardent  friend  of 
public  instruction  and  was  much  honored  by 
his  fellow-citizens.  He  was  first  a democrat 
in  politics,  but  later  became  a greenbacker,  and 
at  all  times  held  the  confidence  of  his  neigh- 
bors, whom  he  served  three  terms  as  township 
trustee  and  also  one  term  as  county  commis- 
sioner; he  also  aided  in  the  construction  of  the 
county  court-house.  He  was  a trustee  in  the 
Christian  church  and  a member  of  the  build- 
ing committee,  and  in  every  way  was  promi- 
nent and  active  in  advancing  its  interest.  He 
died  at  a good  old  age,  sincerely  mourned 
by  his  widow,  who  now  lives  in  Lebanon,  and 
by  his  children  and  a host  of  admiring  friends. 

William  A.  Gillaspie  was  born  in  Bath 
county,  Ky.,  August  13,  1846,  on  his  father’s 
farm,  and  in  1850  was  brought  through  to  Boone 
county,  Ind.,  in  a large  wagon,  traveling,  of 
course,  overland.  Here  he  grew  up  on  the 
home  farm  and  received  a veiy  good  common- 
school  education.  He  married  Georgia  Young, 
daughter  of  Fletcher  and  Elizabeth  (Jones) 
Young.  The  great-grandfather  of  Miss  Young 
was  also  a native  Ireland  and  an  early  settler 
in  America,  and  her  grandfather  a well-to-do 
farmer  of  Bath  county,  Ky.  Fletcher  Young 
came  from  Kentucky  to  Montgomery  county, 
Ind.,  while  he  was  still  a young  man,  but  after- 
ward moved  to  Boone  county  and  here  bought 
a farm  of  forty  acres,  which  he  has  doubled  in 
size  by  his  own  industry,  and  now  owns  a fine 
farm  of  eighty  acres.  He  is  a democrat,  and 
formerly  took  much  interest  in  politics,  having 


BIOGRAPHICAL  HISTORY 


:II0 


served  as  trustee  of  Harrison  township  and  as 
assessor,  d'o  Mr.  and  Mrs.  W.  A.  Gillaspie 
has  been  born  one  child,  Claude,  who  has  at- 
tended Danville  Normal  collej^e  two  terms,  and 
is  now  a well-to-do-farmer  of  his  native  town- 
ship. Mr.  and  Mrs.  Gillaspie  are  devoted 
members  of  the  Christian  church,  which  they 
aid  liberally  with  their  means,  and  in  which 
Mr.  Gillaspie  is  a deacon.  In  politics  he  is  a 
democrat.  He  is  the  owner  of  a farm  of 
eighty-three  acres  of  well-improved  land  in 
Harrison  township,  which  through  skill  and 
hard  work  he  has  developed  from  an  original 
tract  of  forty  acres.  His  farm  is  well  ditched 
and  fenced  and  improved  with  a comfortable 
and  tasty  dwelling.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Gillaspie 
stand  very  high  in  the  esteem  of  their  neigh- 
bors as  Christians,  and  Mr.  Gillaspie  is  re- 
garded as  one  of  the  reliable  and  most  thrifty 
farmers  of  the  township. 


OHN  ].  GOLDSBERRY,  one  of  our 
most  prominent  pioneers  and  respect- 
ed citizens,  of  Washington  township, 
Boone  county,  Ind.,  comes  paternally 
from  sturdy  German  ancestry  and  an  old 
colonial  Virginia  family.  Thomas  Goldsberry, 
grandfather  of  our  subject,  was  born  in  Virginia, 
was  a soldier  in  the  Revolutionary  war,  and 
married  Elizabeth,  daughter  of  Peter  Putnam, 
a relative  of  the  famous  Israel  Putnam  of 
Revolutionary  fame.  This  family  were  of  old 
English  Puritan  stock,  and  among  the  very 
earliest  settlers  of  Massachusetts  and  Connecti- 
cut. General  Rufus  Putnam,  brother  of 
Israel,  was  the  founder  of  Marietta,  Ohio — the 
hist  town  settled  in  that  state.  The  grand- 
father of  our  subject,  Thomas  Goldsberry,  and 
wife  were  the  parents  of  the  following  children : 
jacob,  Thomas,  Susan,  John,  Mary,  Matilda, 
Peter,  Abraham,  Isaac  and  Eliza,  all  born  in 


Virginia  or  Ohio.  Thomas  Goldsberry  moved 
at  a very  early  day,  probably  after  the  Revolu- 
tionary war,  to  Harper’s  Eerry,  Va. , and  set- 
tled on  Hogg  Point,  where  he  made  a farm. 
His  brother  owned  and  kept  the  ferry  at  that 
time  and  was  killed  by  lightning.  Mr.  Golds- 
berry was  also  a pioneer  in  Ross  county,  Ohio, 
in  the  earliest  days  of  its  settlement,  and  here 
had  a good  farm  and  also  kept  a tavern  at 
Chillicothe,  where  the  old  pioneers  stopped  on 
their  way  to  the  new  settlements  of  Ohio.  Here 
the  celebrated  Indian  chief — Willee  Way— was 
killed  by  a man  named  Wolf,  in  revenge  for  the 
murder  of  his  brother,  who  was  killed  by  the 
Indians  in  Kentucky.  Mr.  Goldsberry  built  a 
grist-mill  about  two  miles  from  old  Chillicothe, 
on  the  north  fork  of  Paint  creek.  This  was 
one  of  the  first  mills  in  that  part  of  Ohio.  Mr. 
Goldsberry  later  sold  the  mill  and  bought  400 
acres  of  land,  which  he  farmed  awhile,  and 
then,  in  1831,  emigrated  to  Imliana,  settling 
in  Boone  county,  on  Sugar  or  Brush  creek, 
two  and  one-half  miles  northeast  of  Thorn- 
town.  He  entered  and  partially  cleared  160 
acres  of  land,  upon  which  he  built  a log  cabin. 
About  I 840  he  sold  this  farm  and  lived  with  his 
son  near  La  Fayette,  where  he  died,  in  the  fall 
of  1840,  of  erysipelas,  having  reached  nearly 
eighty  years  of  age.  Mr.  Goldsberry  was  an 
honest  hard-working  pioneer,  who  was  noted 
for  his  generous  hospitality.  The  latch-string 
of  this  old-fashioned  pioneer’s  home  always 
hung  out.  All  of  his  children  married  and 
reared  families.  His  son  Peter  represented 
Tippecanoe  county  in  the  Indiana  state  legisla- 
ture in  1852.  Prior  to  this,  in  1840,  the  family 
went  to  Chillicothe,  Mo.,  but  in  a short  time 
they  returned  to  Indiana  and  settled  in  Boone 
and  Ti))pecanoe  counties,  Ind.  The  aged 
widow  of  'riiomas  Goltlsbcrry  died  in  Tippe- 
canoe county,  at  which  time  she  had  living 
ten  children,  fifty-three  grandchildren,  and 
five  great-grand  children.  The  fifth  genera- 


OF  BOONE  COUNTY. 


311 


tion  from  Thomas  Goldsberry  and  wife  are 
now  being  reared  in  Indiana. 

Thomas  Goldsberry,  son  of  above  and  father 
of  our  subject,  was  born  at  Harper’s  Ferry  in 
1800.  He  was  reared  a farmer,  and  married 
in  Ross  county,  Ohio,  Elizabeth  Landsaw,  of 
that  county,  and  to  them  were  born  eight  chil- 
dren, two  of  whom  died  in  infancy.  The  re- 
maining si.x  were  William,  John,  Mary,  Sarah, 
Jacob,  Susan.  The  first  three  were  born  in 
Ohio  and  the  last  three  in  Indiana.  Mr.  Golds- 
berry, in  1831,  moved  to  Tippecanoe  county, 
Ind.,  where  Sarah  was  born,  and  in  the  fall  of 
that  year  he  moved  to  Boone  county,  and 
entered  i 1 8 acres  of  land  in  Sugar  Creek  and 
Washington  townships.  He  cleared  this  and 
erected  a hewed  log  house,  where  he  died  August 
4,  i860,  at  sixty  years  of  age.  He  was  a great 
hunter  and,  as  deer  and  wild  turkey  were  plenti- 
ful, he  abundantly  supplied  his  table.  He  was  a 
shoemaker  by  trade,  made  a good  living  and 
was  a substantial  citizen.  He  was  a democrat, 
and  he  and  his  wife  were  members  of  the 
Methodist  church,  in  which  he  was  a class- 
leader  and  steward,  and  he  was  always  a liberal 
supporter  of  his  church.  The  itinerant  Metho- 
dist preacher  of  those  days  made  his  home  at 
his  house.  He  was  held  in  kindly  esteem  by 
all  who  knew  him,  and  reared  a good  family. 

John  J.  Goldsberry  was  born  in  Ross  county, 
Ohio,  on  his  father’s  farm,  February  5,  1827, 
and  was  about  four  years  of  age  when  brought  to 
Tippecanoe  county,  Ind. — Grandfather  Golds- 
berry with  a large  ox  wagon  drawn  by  two  yoke 
of  oxen,  and  his  father  with  an  ordinary  wagon 
drawn  by  two  horses.  The  men  and  larger 
boys  walked,  and  the  women  and  small  chil- 
dren rode  when  tired.  They  camped  at  night 
by  the  roadside,  built  a brush  fire  and  made 
coffee,  and  had  a simple  meal,  sometimes  gar- 
nished with  game — gray  squirrel  being  plenti- 
ful. They  slept  in  blankets  around  the  camp- 
fires Indian  fashion,  and  in  the  wagons,  and 


without  accident  this  hardy  pioneer  family 
made  their  way  over  the  rude  roads,  fording 
the  streams.  It  was  early  fall  and  the  forests 
supplied  plenty  of  mast,  which,  with  the  wild 
pea  vine,  provided  plenty  of  food  for  the  stock. 
John  J.  Goldsberry  learned  to  spell  by  attend- 
ing the  spelling  schools,  where  the  young  pio- 
neers strove  to  spell  one  another  down,  and 
where  he  became  an  expert  and  mastered  every 
word  in  the  spelling  book,  often  being  at  the 
head  of  his  class.  He  learned  but  little  arith- 
methic,  and  not  that  little  until  he  was  twenty- 
two  years  of  age,  when  he  studied  five  days, 
and  mastered  enough  to  attend  properly  to  all 
matters  of  business  in  his  line.  His  school- 
teacher was  Joseph  A.  Caldwell,  an  uncle  from 
Virginia,  a man  of  good  education.  He  was  at 
one  time  commissioner  of  Boone  county,  and 
justice  of  the  peace.  He  was  the  only  man  in 
his  part  of  Boone  county  who  took  a news- 
paper in  1833,  and  these  newspapers,  greased, 
served  as  windows  in  many  a log  cabin  of  the 
pioneer.  The  young  men  came  to  school 
dressed  in  buckskins,  and  on  Christmas  day 
demanded  that  Mr.  Caldwell  treat  them  to 
whisky,  and,  to  force  him  to  do  so,  locked 
him  out  of  the  school  house.  As  it  was  a sub- 
scription school  and  owned  by  Mr.  Caldwell, 
he  promptly  sent  a young  man  for  an  ax,  and 
with  the  sturdy  strokes  of  a backwoodsman 
soon  cut  the  door  into  kindling  wood.  Many 
of  the  young  men  were  full  grown,  but  he 
ordered  them  to  their  seats,  and  he  had  no  fur- 
ther trouble  with  them.  His  newspaper  was  the 
old  “New  York  Weekly  Herald,”  and  was  the 
wonder  of  the  neighborhood.  The  pioneers 
would  gather  at  his  home  and  have  him  read  to 
them  by  the  light  of  a hickory  bark  torch. 

At  the  age  of  fourteen  years  Mr.  Golds- 
berry began  to  work  out  for  twelve  and  one- 
half  cents  per  day,  and  when  able  to  do  a 
man’s  work  he  received  $6  per  month.  At 
the  age  of  twenty,  his  father  remarrying,  he 


812 


BIOGRAPHICAL  HISTORY 


left  home  and  learned  the  carpenter’s  trade,  re- 
ceiving $15  ]ier  month  and  board,  which  were 
good  wages  for  an  apjn'entice.  At  the  age  of 
twenty-one  he  began  to  work  for  himself  at  his 
trade,  when  twenty-two  years  old  he  began 
contracting  and  laid  up  money,  and  in  1858 
bought  forty  acres  of  land  in  Washington 
township,  Boone  county,  ten  acres  .of  which 
were  in  cultivation,  for  $750.  October  15, 
1859,  at  the  age  of  thirty-two,  he  married,  in 
Boone  county,  Josina  Hebb,  of  Grafton,  Va., 
and  to  them  were  born  four  children  : Joseph 
L.,  Clement  L.,  Josina  and  Belle — the  three 
last  named  all  deceased.  This  wife  died 
seven  years  after  marriage,  March  ii,  1866, 
and  Mr.  Goldsberry  married,  in  Fayette  coun- 
ty, Ohio,  his  present  wife,  Hannah  Maria, 
daughter  of  Amos  and  Ann  (Lease)  Golds- 
berry, of  the  same  original  stock,  but  distant- 
ly related,  the  grandfathers  of  Amos  and  our 
subject  being  third  cousins.  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Goldsberry  have  three  children  living  ; Anna 
B.,  Alma  May,  and  Amos  A.,  all  born  on  the 
farm  in  Washington  township,  Boone  county. 
Mr.  Goldsberry  added  gradually  to  his  farm 
until  he  now  owns  218  acres  of  fine  lantl,  200 
acres  being  in  cultivation,  without  any  lien  on 
it  whatever.  It  is  improved  with  a substantial 
residence  and  farm  buildings,  and  more  tile 
than  any  farm  of  its  size  in  his  townshi]-).  In 
religious  opinions,  Mr.  Goldsberry  is  very 
liberal,  believing  in  every  man’s  worshiping 
God  according  to  the  dictates  of  his  own  con- 
science. In  political  opinions  he  w'as  a dem- 
ocrat, but  is  now  independent.  He  has  al- 
ways been  a friend  of  learning  and  has  given 
all  his  children  good  educations.  He  has  held 
the  office  of  school-director  for  many  years, 
and  built  the  first  brick  school-house  in  Wash- 
ington township. 

Mr.  Goldsberry  is  a Mason,  a member  of 
Thorntown  lodge.  No.  114;  is  also  a member 
of  the  I'arnier’s  Alliance,  of  which  he  was  an 


elector  for  three  years.  He  was  also  one  of 
the  original  grangers  of  Boone  county. 
Originally  he  was  a stanch  democrat  and  be- 
lieved in  pure  democracy  as  taught  on  the 
principles  established  by  Thomas  Jefferson. 
In  these  later  and  more  degenerate  days, 
“Uncle  John”  is  very  liberal  in  his  political 
views.  In  1894  he  was  foreman  of  the  Boone 
comity  grand-jury,  which  did  effective  w'ork. 
Mr.  Goldsberry  is  a man  of  patient  industry. 
Throughout  his  long  life  of  sixty-seven  years 
he  has  been  afflicted  with  a wdiite  sw’elling, 
from  which  he  has  suffered  great  pain,  and 
wdiich  has  caused  lameness,  but  his  grit  and 
stamina  have  enabled  him  to  w'ork  on  his  farm, 
and  he  has  probably  done  as  much  work  as 
any  other  man  in  Boone  count}'.  He  stands 
very  high  as  an  honored  citizen,  and  is  a man 
of  great  intelligence,  and  a versatile  conver- 
sationalist. He  has  been  a wide  reader,  and 
his  active  mind  is  well  stored  with  solid  in- 
formation. He  relates  in  a very  interesting 
way  many  anecdotes  of  pionter  life.  He  is 
very  active  in  politics  and  attended  all  the 
early  conventions.  He  was  a subscriber  for 
the  first  newspaper  published  in  Boone  county, 
“The  Pioneer.”  “Uncle  John”  says  that 
the  first  church  building  in  his  towmship  was  a 
Union  meeting  house,  and  his  mother  wove 
cloth  and  sold  it  to  pay  for  the  sash  for  the 
windows.  Wffi  might  fill  this  large  volume 
with  “ Uncle  John’s”  reminiscences,  but  w'ant 
of  space  forbids. 


IrORGF  GOOD,  of  Marion  township, 
Boone  county,  Ind.,  was  born  in 
Golumbia  county.  Pa.,  December  1 9, 
1830,  the  son  of  Jacob  aiul  Mary  H. 
(Helfrich)  Good,  natives  of  Pennsylvania  and 
of  German  descent.  Jacob  Good  came  to 
Indiana  in  1837  and  settled  on  a small  tract  of 
land  in  Hamilton  county,  where  he  passed  the 


OF  1500NE  COUNTY. 


313 


remainder  of  his  days,  dying  in  1H73.  His 
first  wife  died  in  about  1839.  the  mother  of 
tliirteen  chihlren,  of  whom  five  are  still  living, 
viz:  Michael,  George,  Peter,  Mary,  and  William. 
Those  deceased  are  John,  Jacob,  Catherine, 
Sarah,  Lydia,  Elizabeth  and  two  that  died  in 
infancy.  Of  the  second  wife  and  her  family  no 
record  has  been  furnished  the  publisher. 

George  Good  was  reared  on  his  father’s 
farm,  but  at  the  age  of  seventeen  was  appren- 
ticed to  a shoemaker,  and  served  four  years, 
and  this  trade  he  has  diligently  followed  most 
of  the  time  since,  excepting  when  his  public 
duties  have  claimed  his  attention.  He  is  a 
democrat  in  his  politics,  and  has  been  very 
popular  with  his  party,  who  have  honored  him 
with  several  positions  of  trust.  For  six  years 
he  has  been  a notary  public,  for  eight  years  a 
justice  of  the  peace,  and  in  1890  was  elected 
trustee  of  Marion  township,  and  has  always 
merited  the  confidence  reposed  in  him.  He 
has  been  three  times  married,  his  first  union 
having  been  consummated  in  February,  1854, 
with  Arminda  Redman,  the  daughter  of  Hiram 
and  Sarah  Redman;  to  this  union  were  born 
four  children,  viz:  Mary  H.,  wife  of  Isaac 
Wallace;  Sarah  E.,  married  to  Vincent  Buzan, 
and  Calvin  and  William,  both  deceased.  Mrs. 
Good  w’as  taken  away  in  Ajnil,  1865,  and  the 
second  marriage  of  Mr.  Good  was  in  1866  to 
Lizzie  Illyes,  daughter  of  Philip  and  Mary  Illyes, 
who  bore  him  two  children — Samuel  A.,  and 
Albert  E. — and  died  in  1879.  July  21,  1887, 
Mr.  Good  married  his  present  wife,  who  bore 
the  maiden  name  of  Alice  Wynekoop — daugh- 
ter of  William  Wynekoop,  and  this  marriage 
has  been  blessed  by  the  Inrth  of  two  children — 
George  G.  and  Eunice  M.  Mr.  Good  is 
a consistent  member  of  the  Christian  church, 
and  fraternally  is  a member  of  F'idelity  lodge. 
No.  309,  F.  and  A.  M.  His  social  standing  is 
most  excellent,  and  his  integrity  is  beyond 
reproach  or  impeachment. 

15 


ATHANIEL  GRAYBILL,  one  of  the 
leading  farmers  and  stock-raisers  of 
Jackson  township,  Boone  county, 
Ind.,  was  born  in  Ohio,  May  30, 
1835.  His  grandfather,  Daniel  Graybill, 
came  from  Germany  prior  to  the  Revolution- 
ary war  and  settled  in  Virginia,  where  he  be- 
came extensively  engaged  in  agriculture  and 
prominent  as  a citizen.  His  son,  also  named 
Daniel,  was  born  in  Virginia,  November  13, 
1810,  and  there  married  Miss  Elizabeth 
I'rankenbarger,  who  was  born  December  2, 
18!  I,  and  was  a daughter  of  Jacob  and 
Elizabeth  Frankingbarger.  Some  years  after 
marrying,  Daniel  and  wife  moved  to  Ohio, 
where  they  lived  five  years,  and  then  came 
to  Montgomery  county,  Ind.,  and  bought 
eighty  acres  of  land  in  the  wilderness,  but 
by  thrift  and  industry  added  to  this  farm 
until  it  comprised  330  acres,  which  Daniel 
brought  to  a high  state  of  cultivation.  He 
was  a progressive  farmer  and  owned  a saw- 
mill, a grist-mill  and  a threshing  machine, 
and  was  the  first  man  in  his  county  to  run 
a separator.  He  was  also  an  excellent  me- 
chanic, and  there  were  few  inplements  on  his 
farm  that  needed  outside  assistance  for  re- 
pair. He  was  an  honored  citizen  of  his  town- 
ship, and  passed  away  February  13,  1890, 
having  lost  his  wife  February  6,  1873. 

Nathaniel  Graybill  after  coming  to  Indiana, 
necessarily  assisted  his  father  in  cleaning  up 
the  w'ild  farm  land.  At  this  he  labored  until 
eighteen  years  of  age  before  he  was  given  an 
opportunity  to  attend  the  proverbial  log  school- 
house,  w’here  he  laid  the  foundation  on  which 
he  afterwards  built  up  a solid  structure  of 
practical  knowledge.  When  he  had  attained 
the  proper  age,  he  married  Miss  Harriet, 
daughter  of  Lazarus  Tilley,  a farmer.  Mrs. 
Graybill,  who  was  a devout  Methodist,  died 
within  a few  years  after  her  marriage,  leaving 
one  child,  Mary  I'lorence,  also  deceased.  P'or 


BIOGRAPHICAL  HISTORY 


IH4 


his  second  spouse  Mr.  Gravbill  selected  Miss 
Nancy  J.,  dauj^hter  of  Daniel  H.  and  Lucinda 
(Service)  Cox,  of  Montj.,n)mery  county.  Mr. 
Graybill  was  thirty-f<nir  years  (jf  af;e  when  he 
came  to  Boone  county,  and  in  the  same  year, 
1869,  bouj^ht  eiji^hty  acres  of  his  present  farm, 
which  was  then  without  improvements,  with 
the  exception  of  a log  cabin;  this  farm  now 
comprises  1 24  acres  and  is  one  of  the  handsomest 
and  best  improved  farms  in  the  county,  is  well 
fenced,  thoroughly  drained,  and  contains  some 
of  the  most  substantial  as  well  as  ornamental 
buildings,  including  residence  and  barns,  to  be 
found  in  Jackson  township.  Beside  raising 
all  the  crops  common  to  this  climate,  Mr. 
Graybill  devotes  his  attention  largely  to  stock 
breeding,  and  is  the  owner  of  a fine  stud.  In 
March,  1893,  he  l)ought  from  Sam  Davis  the 
famous  stallion,  Patrol,  which  now  stands  the 
season  at  Ward,  at  one  of  Mr.  Graybill’s  barns. 

Patrol  is  a dark  brown  16  hands  and  one 
inch  high,  and  weighs  about  1,200  pounds. 
He  was  foaled  in  the  fall  of  1888,  bred  by 
Harry  Gilman,  Versailes,  Ky.  Sired  by  Shaw- 
mut,  964.  IRecord  2:26.)  First  dam,  Hat- 
tie \\’.  by  Henry  Hall;  2nd  dam,  a fast  I'oad 
mare.  Shawmnt,  964,  is  son  of  Cowing's 
Henry  Clay,  2:29;  sire  of  Green  Mountain 
Maid,  dam  of  Elaine,  2:20;  Dame  Trot,  2:22; 
Mansfield,  2:26;  Stom,  2 :26| ; Antonio,  2:28J; 
and  three  more.  Also  dam  of  the  great  Elec- 
tioneer, sire  of  Sunol,  2:io.\;  Palo  Alto,  2:12] 
Manzaneta,  2 : 1 6;  and  seventy-six  others.  Dam 
Heroine,  sister  cf  Volunteer,  sire  St.  Julien, 
2;ii;'j;  (.doster,  217,  and  many  others;  and 
Sentinel,  sire  of  VonArnina,  2:19.1,  and  eight 
more.  Also  the  dams  of  Consul,  2:22.1;  l-hiar- 
termaster,  2:23;  Eelah  11.,  2:24.1,  and  others 
by  Hambletonian,  10.  Dam,  Eady  Patriot  by 
'i’oung  Patriot.  Patrol  is  perfcctlv  broken  to 
harness  and  it  is  an  easy  effort  for  him  to  show 
a 2:40  gait.  Both  in  breeding  and  individual 
conformation  he  is  the  kind  to  stand  the  severe 


strain  of  stud  or  track.  Hissire  comes  of  one 
of  California’s  aristocratic  families  of  horses, 
that  are  trotters,  get  trotters,  and  ‘d)reed  on" 
in  the  line  of  the  200  mark.  His  long  neck, 
soundness  and  intelligence  should  make  him  a 
sire  of  fashionable  roadsters. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Graybill  are  members  of  the 
Baptist  church,  of  which  church  Mr.  Graybill 
is  a moderator.  In  politics  he  is  a democrat, 
but  is  no  office  seeker.  He  is  a member  of  the 
Horse  Thief  Detective  Association,  and  he  and 
family  rank  socially  among  the  foremost  resi- 
dents of  Jackson  township. 


QAJ.  benjamin  M.  GREGORY.— 

Conspicuous  among  the  early  pio- 
neers and  representative  men  of 
Boone  county,  Ind.,  is  Major  Ben- 
jamin M.  Gregory,  who  was  born  November 
23,  1829,  in  Allegany  county,  N.  Y.  His 

parents,  Peter  and  Phebe  (Carroll)  Gregory, 
were  early  pioneers  of  Boone  county,  settling 
in  Eagle  township  as  long  ago  as  the  year 
1832,  and  remaining  where  they  originally 
located  until  their  respective  deaths.  Peter  and 
Phebe  Gregory  had  a family  of  nine  children, 
whose  names  are  as  follows:  James  C.,  Mary 
A.,  Eorena  S.,  Benjamin  M.,  Jane,  Lewis  W., 
John  P. , Emily  and  Martha. 

Benjamin  M.  Gregory  was  but  three  years 
old  when  brought  by  his  parents  to  Boone 
county  and  has  now  been  a resident  of  the 
same  for  a period  of  over  sixty-two  years,  dur- 
ing which  time  he  has  di'votetl  the  best  ener- 
gies of  his  life  to  its  develojunent  and  pros- 
perity. Like  the  majority  of  boys  reared  on 
the  fartn,  his  youthful  years  were  unmarked 
bv  any  event  of  much  moment  and  he  followed 
the  peaceful  ])ursuit  of  agriculture  until  after 
attaining  his  majority.  In  1854  he  entered 
the  mercantile  business,  purchasing  a general 
stock  at  h'agle  village,  and  after  a short  time 


OF  ]?OONE  COUNTY. 


815 


moved  tlie  same  to  Zionsville,  where  he 
carried  on  a very  successful  trade  until  the 
hreakiuj.^  out  of  the  great  rebellion.  Imbued 
with  the  true  spirit  of  patriotism  Mr.  Gregory, 
in  i8Ci,  disposed  of  his  mercantile  interests 
and  went  southward  to  do  battle  for  his  coun- 
try’s dag,  enlisting,  August  22  of  that  year,  in 
the  Tenth  Indiana  infantry,  coinpaity  F,  of 
which  he  was  commissioned  captain.  In  this 
capacity  he  served  with  distinction  until  April, 
1862,  at  which  time  he  was  commissioned 
major  of  the  regiment  by  reason  of  gallantry 
displayed  at  Mill  Springs,  Ky. , where  he  cap- 
tured a rebel  banner.  In  the  following  August, 
on  account  of  sickness,  Mr.  Gregory  was  com- 
pelled to  resign  his  commission  and  leave  the 
service,  after  which  he  returned  to  his  home 
in  Boone  county,  but  did  not  long  remain  in- 
active, for  the  next  year  he  organized  a regi- 
ment known  as  the  One  Hundred  and  Second 
Indiana  volunteers  for  home  service.  When 
the  state  was  threatened  by  the  Morgan  raid, 
this  regiment  was  the  first  to  report  for  serv- 
ice at  Indianapolis,  and  Major  Gregory  took 
part  in  the  pursuit  of  the  rebel  commander 
until  the  latter  was  driven  beyond  the  con- 
fines of  the  state.  In  the  meantime  he  was 
commissioned  colonel  of  the  One  Hundred  and 
Second  regiment,  which  position  he  held  until 
his  resignation  in  1 864.  In  August  of  the 
same  year  he  again  entered  the  service  in  com- 
pany F,  One  Hundred  and  Thirty-fifth  In- 
diana volunteer  infantry,  and  upon  the  organ- 
ization of  the  regiment  was  again  commission- 
ed major,  in  which  capacity  he  continued  to 
serve  with  credit  to  himself  and  satisfaction  to 
his  superior  officers  until  honorably  discharged 
in  the  fall  of  1864.  On  severing  his  connec- 
tion with  the  army  Mr.  Gregory  returned  to 
Boone  county  and  engaged  in  the  hardware 
trade  at  Zionsville,  opening  the  first  store  of 
the  kind  in  the  place  and  operating  the  same 
very  successfully  until  1891.  In  1890  he  went 


to  Mexico,  where  for  some  time  he  was  en- 
gaged in  gold-mining,  making  two  trips  to  that 
far-off  country.  At  the  present  time,  although 
not  actively  engaged  in  business,  he  is  promi- 
nently identified  with  a large  hardware  firm, 
which  he  originally  founded  and  which, 
through  his  successful  management,  has  be- 
come one  of  the  leading  establishments  of  the 
kind  in  Boone  county.  He  owns  the  old 
homestead  where  the  family  originally  settled, 
beside  real  estate  in  the  city,  and  financially  is 
considered  one  of  the  substantial  men  of  Zions- 
ville. Fraternally  he  belongs  to  the  Masonic 
order,  with  which  he  has  been  identified  since 
1852,  and  is  also  a member  of  the  G.  A.  R. 
post  of  Zionsville,  in  the  organization  of  which 
he  was  an  important  factor.  Mr.  Gregory  was 
first  married,  October  3,  1852,  to  Nancy  A. 
Larimore,  who  was  born  in  Eagle  village, 
Boone  county,  Ind.,  a daughter  of  Daniel  and 
Mary  Larimore.  and  by  which  marriage  there 
w’ere  born  five  sons:  Frank  M.,  Albert,  Ben- 
jamin E.,  Charles,  and  William  R.  deceased. 
After  the  death  of  his  first  wufe,  Mr.  Gregory 
and  Miss  Myra  A.,  daughter  of  James  Hurst, 
were  united  in  marriage  on  the  seventh  day  of 
October,  1880,  and  their  union  has  been 
blessed  with  the  birth  of  one  child  ; Clifford 
Gregory. 


EORGE  W.  GROVES,  a substantial 
fanner  of  Jackson  township,  Boone 
county,  Ind.,  was  born  in  Scott 
county,  Va.,  April  28,  1859,  and  is 
remotely  of  German  descent.  His  grand- 
father, Jacob  Groves,  was  also  a native  of 
the  Old  Dominion,  having  been  born  in  Shen- 
andoah county.  He  was  considered  to  be  cjuite 
a learned  man  for  his  day  and  w'as  a very  suc- 
cessful minister  in  the  Baptist  church.  In  pol- 
itics he  was  a Jacksonian  dcTiiocrat.  John 
Groves,  son  of  Jacob  and  father  of  George  W., 


BIOGRAPHICAL  HISTORY 


inn 


was  born  in  Scott  county,  Va.,  May  7,  1833, 
was  reared  a farmer,  and  farmin"  was  always 
Ids  occupation.  He  also  was  a facksoidan 
democrat  and  served  in  the  Confederate  army  | 
during  the  late  war.  He  had  married  Sarah  [ 
h'leenor,  widow  of  Mike  Andes,  and  daughter 
of  Abraham  and  Mary  (Minnick)  Fleenor,  and  j 
to  this  union  were  horn  the  following  children;  j 
Jacob,  Snsan,  George  W.,  Abraham,  John  and 
Martin.  The  father  of  this  family  died  Sep- 
tember 12,  1867.  One  child,  Mike  I).,  was 
the  resnlt  of  the  first  marriage,  and  the  widow 
Groves  now  makes  her  home  with  her  son 
George  W. 

George  W.  Groves  received  a fair  educa- 
tion and  was  reared  on  the  home  farm — farm- 
ing being  still  his  vocation.  He  married 
January  3,  1886,  Malinda  J.  Myers,  daughter 
of  Henry  and  Elizabeth  (Isley)  Myers.  Henry 
Myers  having  died  October  15,  1889,  his  widow 
married  Milton  Young,  with  whom  she  is  now 
living  hapjdly.  To  the  marriage  of  George 

and  Malinda  Groves  have  been  horn  two 
children — Denver  A.  deceased,  and  Harvey 
C.,  the  idol  of  his  parents.  George  W.  (Sroves 
came  to  Boone  county  from  Virginia  before  he 
had  reached  his  majority,  and  engaged  in  farm 
labor — working  for  one  employer  six  consecu- 
tive years,  but  he  was  industrious  and  econom- 
ical, and  is  now  the  owner  of  a modern  and 
well-improved  farm  of  i i 5 acres,  with  a fine 
residence  and  a substantial  barn.  In  his  politics 
he  affiliates  with  the  populists,  and  has  been 
honored  by  that  party  with  the  nomination  as 
its  candidate  for  justice  of  the  jreace  for  his 
townshij).  Both  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Groves  are 
meml)ers  of  the  New  Light  church,  and  frater- 
nally Mr.  Groves  is  a member  of  Hazelrigg 
lodge.  No.  200,  F.  and  A.  M.,  at  Jamestown, 
d'he  residents  of  jackson  township  hold  Mr. 
and  Mr.  Groves  in  the  highest  esteem,  and 
look  upon  Mr.  Groves  as  one  of  the  most  pro- 
gressive farmers  of  his  age  in  this  vicinity. 


ENJAMIN  M.  GUMEKY,  one  of  the 
self-made  men  of  Marion  township, 

Boone  county,  Ind.,  was  horn  Janu- 
ary 28,  1850,  in  Clay  county,  Ind.  His 
father,  Benjamin  Gumery,  a carpenter  and 
farmer,  was  horn  in  the  year  1825  in  the  county 
of  Clay,  where  he  married  Amanda  Cromwell, 
daughter  of  Oliver  Cromwell,  the  latter  a de- 
scendant of  Oliver  Cromwell,  England’s  great 
protector.  After  Benjamin  Gumery’s  death, 
which  occurred  at  the  town  of  Lockport,  Ind., 
in  the  year  1852,  Mrs.  Gumery  married  Jacob 
Parr,  by  whom  she  had  the  following  children: 

I Jane,  Josephine,  Jacob,  Sarah,  Cordelia,  Etta, 
Nelson,  Ida  M.,  and  Margaret. 

Benjamin  M.  Ciumery  attended  the  com- 
mon schools,  in  which  he  acquired  a fair  Eng- 
lish education,  but  was  early  obliged  to  con- 
tribute his  full  share  toward  the  support  of  the 
family.  He  began  life  upon  his  own  responsi- 
bility by  working  by  the  day,  and  afterward 
farmed,  and,  being  economical,  sticceeded  in  a 
few  years  in  saving  sufficient  means  to  enable 
him  to  purchase  real  estate  of  his  own.  His 
first  purchase  consisted  of  eighty  acres,  valued 
at  $2,000,  of  which  sum  he  was  able  to  pay 
hut  $500  cash,  going  in  debt  for  the  balance. 

It  is  sufficient  to  say  that  this  indebtedness 
was  in  due  time  entirely  canceled,  and  he  is 
now  the  fortunate  possessor  of  a valuable  farm, 
w'ell  drained  and  supj)hed  with  comfortable  and 
substantial  buildings,  and  everything  upon  the 
premises  denotes  the  presence  of  a wide-awake, 
energetic  man,  who  thoroughly  uuderstands  his  j 

business  and  believes  in  the  true  dignity  of  the  | 

agricnlturist's  vocation.  Politically,  Mr.  Gum-  | 

ery  is  a democrat  of  the  orthodox  stamp,  but  j 

has  never  been  an  asi)irant  for  the  honors  of 
office.  He  is  a stockholder  in  the  Waugh 
Natural  Gas  company,  and  in  all  matters  [ler- 
taining  to  the  bimelit  of  the  public  he  is  pro-  1 

gressive  and  imterprising.  His  wife,  to  whom  j 

he  was  married  September  13,  1 87  i , was  Ifu-  | 


OF  BOONE  COUNTY 


817 


pheinia  A.  Clark,  who  was  born  in  Marion 
townslii]),  Boone  county,  August  13,  1852. 

Her  father,  Henry  Clark,  a soldier  of  the  Mex- 
ican war  and  a veteran  of  the  late  rebellion, 
was  a native  of  Ohio,  and  died  December  6, 
1862,  while  in  the  service  of  his  country.  Mrs. 
Ginnery’s  mother,  whose  maiden  name  was 
Sarah  Jane  Clifton,  was  born  in  Butler  county, 
Ohio,  and  departed  this  life  December  31, 
1890.  The  names  of  the  children  of  Henry 
and  Sarah  Jane  Clark  are  as  follows:  Mary 
E.,  Elizabeth,  Euphemia  A.,  Rachael,  J., 
Martha  E , and  William  T. , all  living,  with  the 
exception  of  the  last  named,  who  died  when  one 
year  old.  To  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Gumery  has  been 
born  one  child,  Charles  E.,  whose  birth  occur- 
red on  the  twenty-fourth  of  Eebruary,  1883. 


QILTON  HADLEY,  a well-known 
farmer  and  dairyman  of  Sugar 
Creek  township,  Boone  county,  Ind. , 
was  born  near  Danville,  Ind.,  March 
14,  1839,  a son  of  Zeno  and  Rebecca  (Stanley) 
Hadley,  who  were  both  born  in  North  Carolina 
in  1809  and  181  i respectively,  but  came  to 
Indiana  in  an  early  day  and  were  married,  in 
1833,  in  Hendricks  county.  They  located  on 
a farm  near  Danville,  where  they  lived  until 
death  called  Rebecca  Hadley  away  in  August, 
1851,  and  Zeno  Hadley  in  February,  1881. 
They  were  the  parents  of  eight  children,  viz: 
Matilda;  Ann,  deceased;  Milton,  whose  name 
heads  this  sketch;  Jane,  wife  of  E.  Doan,  of 
Plainfield;  Mary,  deceased;  Joshua,  of  Hen- 
dricks county;  Phebe,  deceased;  and  an  infant, 
deceased.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Hadley  were  mem- 
bers of  Friends’  church  and  in  politics  he  was 
a republican.  He  was  a well-educated  man, 
having  attended  a boarding  school  in  North 
Carolina;  was  a fine  penman  with  a goosequill; 
was  very  firm  in  his  purposes.  He  was  quite 
successful  financially,  ami  was  interested  in 


the  bank  at  Danville,  of  which  he  was  for  some 
time  an  officer,  and  at  his  death  owned  337 
acres  of  land  in  Hendricks  county. 

Milton  Hadley  was  reared  on  the  home 
farm  until  twenty-one  years  of  age,  having 
been  educated  in  the  meantime  in  the  home 
schools  and  three  years  at  Bloomingdale,  La- 
Fayette  and  Moorsville;  in  1859  he  engaged  in 
teaching,  and  in  all  taught  five  terms,  after 
which  he  turned  his  attention  to  farming.  In 
October,  1865,  he  married,  in  Sugar  Creek 
township,  Boone  county,  Misa  Sarah  J.  Moffitt, 
who  was  here  born  in  November,  1832,  a 
daughter  of  Jeremiah  and  Cynthia  Ann  (Cook) 
Moffitt,  whose  biography  will  be  found  at  the 
close  of  this  sketch,  under  the  head  of  Cyn- 
thia Ann  Woody.  This  happy  union  has  been 
blessed  with  four  children,  viz:  Elma  R.,  for- 
merly a teacher  in  the  graded  schools  of  Kan- 
sas, now  wife  of  O.  E.  Dixon;  Olive  C.  sales- 
lady, during  the  World’s  Fair,  at  the  Old 
Convent  building,  after  having  acted  as  an  as- 
sistant of  James  Riley  in  arranging  the  Indiana 
Agricultural  exhibit  at  that  great  exposition; 
at  the  close  of  the  fair  she  went  to  New  York 
and  elsewhere  with  the  Old  Convent  building 
exhibit;  M.  Bertha  is  the  third  child  in  this 
family,  and  is  a graduate  of  Earlham  college, 
and  the  fourth,  J.  Marcus,  is  attending  Earl- 
ham college. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Hadley  are  members  of  the 
Friends’  church,  and  politically  he  is  a republi- 
can. Mr.  Hadley  has  a dairy  of  thirty-seven 
cows,  most  of  which  are  Jerseys,  and  graded; 
he  ships  his  product  to  an  Indianapolis  ice  cream 
house,  and  considers  the  Jersey  cows,  also,  the 
best  for  butter,  and  his  product  of  this  article 
is  an  evidence  that  his  conclusions  are  correctly 
drawn  and  that  he  is  a good  judge  of  cattle. 
Mr.  Hadley  considers  the  silo  to  be  a great 
success,  and  was  the  first  person  to  build  one 
in  Boone  county,  and  now  has  two — the  first  of 
which  was  erected  in  1 889 — and  both  have 


RIOGRAPIITCAT>  HISTORY 


ins 


been  in  constant  use  ever  since  construction. 
Mr.  Hadley  and  his  family  are  greatl}'  re- 
sj)ected  in  the  comrnnnity  in  which  they  live, 
and  he  is  recognized  as  being  a most  useful 
citizen. 

Cynthia  Ann  (Cook-Moffitt)  Woody  was 
born  in  Wayne  comity,  Ind.,  December  4, 
1814,  a daughter  of  Zimri  and  Lydia  P.  (Pegg) 
Cook.  Mr.  Cook  was  born  in  Guilford  county, 
N.  C.,  February  13,  1789,  and  was  a son  of 
Thomas  and  Mary  (Wilkes)  Cook.  Zimri  died 
February  23,  1805,  and  in  1 806  Lydia  married 
Valentine  Pegg.  She  died  January  16,  1820, 
and  he  died  in  April,  1828,  both  Friends.  Zimri 
and  Lydia  Cook  were  parents  of  seven  children, 
as  follows;  Cynthia  Ann;  Cyrus,  born  Sep- 
tember 4,  1818,  died  July  8,  1873;  Clarkson 
T.,  born  May  17,  1821;  Jessie,  born  August 
24,  1824,  died  July  7,  1863;  Cyrena,  born  July 
26,  1826,  died  January  9,  1857;  Joseph,  born 
October  13,  1828,  now  in  Idaho,  and  Calvin, 
born  August  5,  1832,  now  a physician  of 

Hamilton  county,  Ind.  Cynthia  Ann  was 
married  at  Wdiitewater,  Wayne  county,  Ind., 
January  4,  1832,  to  Jeremiah  Moffitt,  who 
was  born  in  Randolph  county,  N.  C.,  August 
16,  1808,  a son  of  Charles  and  Elizabeth 

(Cox)  Moffitt,  natives,  also,  of  North  Carolina 
and  members  of  Friends’  church.  They  were 
the  parents  of  twelve  children,  named  Hugh, 
Jeremiah,  Tacy,  Eunice,  Hannah,  ]ohn,  | 
Nathan,  Ruth,  Elizabeth,  Abijah,  Anna,  Mary 
and  an  infant  deceased.  Jeremiah  Moffitt  was 
reared  a farmer  and  received  a common  school 
education.  He  located  in  Wayne  county, 
Ind.,  when  a young  man,  and  remained  there 
until  1832,  when  he  came  to  Hoone  county, 
which  was  then  a wilderness,  filled  with  wild 
game,  and  entered  160  acres  of  land,  which  he 
improved,  and  on  which  Cynthia  Ann  W'oody 
now  lives,  and  (jii  which  he  passed  away  August 
10,  1852.  He  was  a whig  in  his  politics  and  a 
successful  nurseryman  and  general  farmer.  He 


and  wife  were  parents  of  two  children — Sarah 
J.  (see  biography  of  Mr.  Hadley),  and  Robert, 
deceased.  May  9,  1855,  Mrs.  Cynthia  Moffitt 
was  married  to  James  Woody,  who  was  born 
in  Alamance  county,  N.  C.,  and  was  a farmer, 
blacksmith  and  wagonmaker;  was  a republican, 
and  a good  humored,  prosperous,  steady-going 
citizen,  but  he,  too,  was  called  to  his  last  rest 
December  2,  i 884. 


ILBERT  H.  HAMILTON,  editor  and 
proprietor  of  the  Thorntown  Argus, 
one  of  the  leading  republican  news- 
papers of  central  Indiana,  is  a native 
of  the  Hoosier  state,  born  on  the  ninth  day  of 
February,  i860,  in  the  county  of  Montgomery, 
son  of  John  and  Matilda  (Kendall)  Hamilton. 
The  Hamiltons  are  of  German-English  lineage 
and  the  family  name  is  traceable  to  the  East- 
ern states,  where  it  is  still  common  and  where 
the  remote  ancestors  settled  at  a very  early 
period  in  the  country’s  histoiy.  John  Hamil- 
ton, the  subject’s  father,  whose  birth  occurred 
in  Ohio  in  the  year  1823,  was  a son  of  Henry 
Hamilton,  a native  of  that  state,  and  a farmer 
by  occupation.  Henry  Hamilton  was  twice 
married,  reared  a family  of  five  children,  and 
is  remembered  as  a man  of  most  exemplary 
character,  an  old  line  whig  in  politics,  and 
a strict  Methodist  in  his  religious  belief  and 
affiliations.  John  Hamilton  was  reared  on 
the  home  farm  until  his  majority  and  began 
the  battle  of  life  upon  his  own  responsibility 
as  a tiller  of  the  soil  in  the  vicinity  of  Thorn- 
town,  Boone  county,  to  which  part  of  the 
state  his  jiarents  removed  when  he  was  a 
mere  child.  In  early  life  he  manifested  un- 
usual ajilitude  as  a successful  argiculturist 
and  manager,  became  the  jiossessor  of  a valu- 
able estate,  and  earned  the  reputation  of  a 
first-class  busine.ss  man  and  valuable  citizen, 
having  always  been  highly  esteemed  in  the 


G.  H.  HAMILTON 


MRS.  G.  H.  HAMILTON. 


OF  BOONE  COUNTY. 


821 


communities  where  he  resided  for  his  many 
estimable  qualities,  not  the  least  of  which 
was  the  inviolability  with  which  he  ever  kept 
his  word.  He  was  reared  in  the  religious  faith 
of  the  Methodist  church.  He  was  a rejiubli- 
can  in  politics  and  wielded  an  influence  for  his 
party  throughout  the  community  where  he  lived. 
Mr.  Hamilton  was  married  three  times,  his 
last  union  being  solemnized,  in  1857,  with 
Matilda  Kendall,  who  bore  him  ten  children, 
namely:  Elizabeth,  deceased;  Gilbert  H , whose 
name  heads  this  mention;  Edward  E.,  Mrs. 
Mattie  J.  Allen,  Mrs.  Kittie  Sidenstick,  Charles 
H , Mrs.  Tinnie  Eittle,  Josephine,  Sylvia  and 
John,  the  last  three  residing  with  their  widowed 
mother  at  their  home  in  the  county  of  Mont- 
gomery. Mr.  Hamilton  passed  the  greater  part 
of  his  married  life  in  Montgomery  county  on  a 
beautiful  and  well  cultivated  farm  of  160  acres, 
where  on  the  sixth  day  of  January,  1892,  his 
death  occurred — an  event  deeply  lamented  by 
all  who  had  the  good  fortune  of  his  personal 
acquaintance. 

Gilbert  H.  Hamilton  received  his  early 
parental  training  on  the  home  farm,  and  while 
still  young  was  given  the  advantages  of  the  best 
schools  the  county  at  that  time  afforded,  his 
advancement  being  such  that,  at  the  age  of 
seventeen,  he  was  sufficiently  qualified  to 
teach,  which  profession  he  followed  with  the 
most  gratifying  success  until  attaining  his  ma- 
jority, pursuing  his  duties  assiduously  under 
the  direction  of  competent  instructors  at  inter- 
vals. On  reaching  his  twenty-first  year,  Mr. 
Hamilton  yielded  to  a strong  inclination  to 
enter  the  field  of  journalism,  and  made  his 
first  venture  in  the  profession  by  purchasing, 
without  personal  inspection,  the  Colfax  Chron- 
icle, in  the  office  of  which,  without  any  pre- 
vious knowledge  in  the  line  of  newspaper  work, 
he  began  his  career  as  editor  and  manager. 
The  young  editor  at  first  was  harassed  by 
many  embarrassments,  but  a determined  will 


enabled  him  to  triumph  over  every  obstacle, 
and  he  soon  had  the  satisfaction  of  seeing  the 
enterprise  placed  upon  a substantial  and  re- 
munerative basis,  and  himself  launched  upon 
the  sea  of  successful  journalism.  After  con- 
tinuing the  Chronicle  at  Colfax  from  1882  to 
1885,  Mr.  Hamilton,  thinking  that  the  growing- 
city  of  Frankfort  afforded  a better  field  for  the 
enterprise,  moved  the  office  to  the  latter  place, 
where,  in  partnership  with  G.  Y.  Fowler,  Esq., 
he  established  the  Frankfort  Times,  which, 
although  beset  with  numerous  obstacles  at  the 
beginning,  under  his  successful  management  as 
the  executive  head  and  editor,  in  the  space  of 
a little  over  two  years  arose  to  a circulation  of  . 
nearly  3,000  subscribers  and  enjoyed  a very 
liberal  advertising  patronage,  becoming,  in- 
deed, one  of  the  most  successful  local  papers 
ever  published  in  the  county  of  Clinton.  After 
living  to  see  the  enterprise,  so  inauspiciously 
begun  in  Frankfort,  develop  into  one  of  the 
first  printing  establishments  in  central  Indiana, 
Mr.  Hamilton  disposed  of  his  interest  in  the 
office,  and  during  the  two  succeeding  years  was 
engaged  in  mercantile  pursuits  in  Cincinnati 
and  Indianapolis,  where  for  some  time  he  gave 
his  attention  to  the  advertising  and  handling 
of  specialties.  After  a brief  business  career  in 
the  latter  city,  Mr.  Hamilton  again  embarked  in 
the  newspaper  business  in  January,  1890,  pur- 
chasing the  Thorntown  Argns,at  that  time  a five- 
column  folio,  with  a limited  circulation,  which 
he  enlarged  in  1891  to  a six-column  quarto, 
and  again,  in  June,  1892,  increased  its  size  to 
a seven-column  quarto,  and  the  following  year 
moved  the  office  to  the  present  commodious 
building,  which,  with  all  its  fixtures,  he  now 
owns.  The  office  of  the  Argus  is  thoroughly 
equipped  with  the  latest  improved  machinery, 
including  a fine  power-press,  job  presses  and 
other  modern  appliances,  found  in  first-class 
printing  establishments,  and  in  its  mechanical 
execution  the  paper  is  a model  of  neatness. 


BIOGRAPHICAL  HISTORY 


822 


comparing  favorably  in  every  respect  with  the 
best  local  papers  of  the  state.  In  its  make-up 
the  Argus,  while  republican  in  politics,  is  de- 
signed to  vibrate  with  the  public  ])ulse  and  be 
a reflex  of  the  current  thought  of  the  age,  and 
its  columns  have  ever  been  a medium  through 
which  discussion  of  the  leading  questions  of  the 
day  are  give  publicity.  It  has  a large  and 
constantly  increasing  circulation,  a good  ad- 
vertising patronage,  enjoys  a large  measure  of 
popularity,  and  is  a credit  to  the  energy  and 
successful  management  of  its  editor,  who  has 
in  this,  as  in  similar  ventures,  proved  himself 
to  be  one  of  the  wide-awake  newspaper  men 
of  the  state. 

Of  Mr.  Hamilton  personally,  it  is  only 
neccessary  to  say  that  he  is  a typical  young 
man  of  the  times,  a characteristic  American, 
enterprising  in  all  the  term  implies;  and  in  all 
the  attributes  of  honorable  citizenship,  honesty 
of  purpose,  and  uprightness  of  character,  he 
stands  prominent  in  his  community.  Political- 
ly he  is  a republican,  and  as  such  has  been  a 
potent  factor  in  his  party’s  success,  both  as  a 
trenchant  writer  and  a worker  in  the  ranks. 
In  1890  he  became  a member  of  the  Northern 
Indiana  Republican  Editorial  association,  by 
which  body  he  has  been  chosen  each  year  as  a 
representative  to  the  National  Editoral  asso- 
ciation held  in  the  years  1891-92-93-94-95,  in 
St.  Paul,  Minn.,  California,  Chicago,  Asbury 
Park,  N.  J.  and  Elorida,  respectively.  Era- 
ternally  he  is  an  active  member  of  the  Masonic 
order,  in  which  he  has  risen  to  the  Thirty- 
second  degree  Ancient  Accepted  Scottish  rite. 
He  is  also  a Noble  of  the  Ancient  Arabic  Or- 
der, Nobles  of  the  Mystic  Shrine.  Mr.  Ham- 
ilton was  married  November  24,  1881,  in  Col- 
fax, Ind.,to  Florence  E.  Graves,  who  was 
born  July  24,  1862,  in  the  city  of  Philadclj)hia, 
Pa.,  the  daughter  of  R(jbert  Graves,  an  oflicer 
in  the  United  States  naval  service.  Unto  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  Hamilton  were  born  two  daughters. 


one  dying  in  babyhood  and  the  other  in  early 
infancy.  They  are  each  active  working  mem- 
bers of  the  Presbyterian  church,  with  which 
denomination  they  have  affiliated  from  their 
youth  up. 


HBEL  HARMOM  is  one  of  the  oldest 
residents  of  Worth  township,  Boone 
county,  Ind.,  and  a representative  of 
a well  known  pioneer  family  that 
came  to  Indiana  at  a very  early  period  in  the 
history  of  the  state.  His  father,  John  B.  Har- 
mon, a Virginian,  was  born  March  3,  1795,  of 
English  parentage,  and  his  mother,  whose 
maiden  name  was  Mary  Findley,  descended 
from  Irish  ancestry  and  was  born  February  7, 
1798,  in  the  state  of  Pennsylvania.  John  B. 
Harmon  and  wife  moved  with  their  respective 
parents  to  Indiana  about  the  time  of  the  or- 
ganization of  the  state,  and  were  married 
December  23,  1818,  in  Jackson  county.  They 
resided  in  the  county  of  Jackson  until  about 
1820,  in  which  year  they  removed  to  Marion 
county,  thence,  in  1837,  to  the  county  of 
Boone,  where  they  resided  until  their  respec- 
tive deaths — the  father  departing  this  life  on 
the  twelfth  day  of  June,  i860,  and  the  mother 
in  1878.  They  reared  eleven  children,  name- 
ly— William  E.,  Hiram  M.,  Rebecca  A.,  John 
L.,  Abel,  George  I).,  Isaac  B.,  Emaline,  Jane, 
Mary  A.  and  one  that  died  in  infancy  uunamcd. 

Abel  Harmon  is  a native  Indianian,  born  in 
Marion  county,  December  6,  1828,  and  since 
his  tenth  year  has  lived  within  the  present 
limits  of  the  county  of  Boone.  Reared  amid 
the  scenes  of  farm  life,  his  early  years  were 
marked  by  great  activity;  and  industry,  which 
he  learned  in  the  rugged  school  of  experience, 
has  ever  since  been  one  of  his  cardinal  virtues. 
He  early  determiued  to  devote  his  life  to  agri- 
cultural pursuits,  and  how  well  he  has  succeed- 
eil  is  attested  by  the  comfortable  home  which 


OF  BOONE  COUNTY. 


he  now  owns  in  W'orth  township.  Mr.  Har- 
mon was  married  in  Boone  county,  July  19, 
1849,  to  Martha  Jones,  after  which  he  located 
on  a farm  in  Eagle  township  and  there  resided 
until  his  removal,  in  1859,  to  the  township  of 
Worth,  where  he  now  lives.  Mr.  Harmon  be- 
gan life  for  himself  with  but  little  if  any  finan- 
cial aid,  and  his  present  beautiful  place,  con- 
sisting of  I 19  acres  of  well  cultivated  land  and 
substantial  improvements,  represents  the  fruit 
of  his  own  industry.  He  is  a man  highly  re- 
garded in  the  community  where  he  resides, 
and  his  life  has  been  characterized  by  honor- 
able dealings  with  his  fellows,  and  it  is  praise 
worthily  bestowed  to  ascribe  to  him  a popular- 
ity such  as  few  citizens  of  Worth  township  en- 
joy. For  a number  of  years,  he  and  his  faith- 
ful wife  have  been  active  members  of  the 
Methodist  church,  the  pure  teachings  of  which 
they  exemplify  in  their  daily  lives.  To  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  Harmon  have  been  born  eleven  chil- 
dren, names  and  dates  of  births  as  follows — 
JohnE.,  August  20,  1850;  Mary,  September 
6,  1852;  James  H.,  January  18,  1855;  Alice 
A.,  December  9,  1856;  Abel,  October  3, 

1858;  William  L. , September  9,  i860; 

Charles  E.,  April  5,  1862;  Elmer  G.,  Septem- 
ber 26,  1864;  Martha  J.,  September  28,  1866; 
Matilda  E.,  November  ii,  1869,  and  Annina 
L. , April  2,  1871.  Mrs.  Harmon  is  the  daugh- 
ter of  Evan  and  Matilda  (Dome)  Jones,  early 
pioneers  of  Boone  county,  and  was  born  on 
the  twenty-third  day  of  May,  1828,  in  Harri- 
son county,  Kentucky. 


W.  HARRISON,  who  has  been  a 
resident  of  Lebanon  for  thirty-three 
years,  and  been  actively  engaged  in 
the  practice  of  the  law  for  more  than 
thirty-five  years,  descends  from  an  old  English 
family  that  came  to  this  country  over  a hun- 
dred years  before  the  Revolutionary  war,  sev- 


eral members  of  which  settled  in  Maryland. 
Robert  H.  Harrison,  General  Washington’s 
private  secretary  in  the  war  of  the  Revolution, 
and  later  one  of  the  associate  judges,  of  the 
supreme  court  of  the  United  States,  was  of  the 
same  family.  That  the  Virginia  and  Mary- 
land Harrisons  are  related  is  supported  only  by 
tradition.  Certain  Christian  names  among  the 
men  common  to  each  seem  to  indicate  that 
they  were  of  the  same  origin. 

Joshua  Harrison,  great-grandfather  of  the 
subject  of  this  sketch,  was  born  in  Maryland. 
He  marri-ed  Sarah  Selman,  and  they  reared  a 
large  family.  He  was  a soldier  in  the  Revo- 
lutionary war  on  the  side  of  the  patriots.  In 
1784  he  removed  to  Hardin  county,  Ky.,  and 
resided  in  the  neighborhood  of  the  grandfather 
of  President  Lincoln,  whose  name  was  also 
Abraham  Lincoln,  then  called  “Linkhorn,” 
and  often  in  after  years  related  the  incident  of 
the  murder  of  Mr.  Lincoln  by  the  Indians. 
He  was  a large  man,  six  feet  and  two  inches 
in  height,  and  weighed  two  hundred  pounds. 
His  encounters  with  the  savages  in  “the  dark 
and  bloody  ground”  were  many.  He  subse- 
quently removed  to  Harrison  county,  Ind., 
where  he  died  at  the  age  of  eighty  years.  His 
son  Caleb  was  with  General  Harrison  at  the 
battle  of  Tippecanoe,  and,  it  was  said,  fired 
the  first  gun  in  that  memorable  engagement. 

Joshua  Harrison,  son  of  the  above,  was  born 
in  Frederick  county,  Md.,  and  at  the  age  of  four 
years  was  taken  by  his  father  to  Hardin  county, 
Ky. , where  he  grew  to  manhood  among  the 
pioneers  and  received  the  usual  education  for 
the  times.  He  moved  to  Shelby  county,  Ky., 
and  subsequently  married  Sarah  Paris.  He 
was  a man  of  the  most  amiable  tem- 
per, and  was  universally  respected  among 
his  neighbors.  Although  born  in  a slave 
state,  and  a slave-holder,  he  was  inflexibly 
opposed  to  slavery,  and  in  1829  sold  his 
real  property,  left  his  slaves  in  Kentucky 


BTOGRAPIIICAL  HISTORY 


;521 


and  removed  to  Montf^omery  county,  Ind. 
d'he  reason  for  the  change  was  wholly  on 
account  of  the  existence  of  slavery  in  the 
former  state.  The  law,  at  that  date,  prohib- 
ited a slave-holder  from  making  his  slaves  free 
uidess  he  became  security  tor  their  good  be- 
havior, l)ut  his  slaves  remained  practically  free, 
receiving  their  earnings  and  making  their  own 
living,  until  the  proclamation  of  Abraham  Lin-  j 
coin,  in  1864,  made  them  actually  free,  and  j 
none  rejoiced  more  than  their  old  owner.  He 
rejn'esented  Montgomery  county,  Ind.,  in  the 
legislature  in  1841,  being  the  only  office  he 
ever  held,  but  disputes  or  questions  to  be  set- 
tled by  arbitration  or  compromise  among  his 
neighbors  were  generally  submitted  to  him, 
and  there  was  not  much  litigation  from  the 
community  in  which  he  lived.  He  died  at  his 
home  in  Ladoga,  where  he  resided  with  his 
son-in-law.  Judge  James  F.  Harney,  in  1870, 
at  the  advanced  age  of  ninety  years. 

James  H.  Harrison  (commonly  called 
Harvey  Harrison),  son  of  the  above  and  father 
of  Robert  W.  Harrison,  was  born  December 
7,  1807,  in  Shelby  county,  Kentucky.  The 
schools  in  that  day  hardly  deserve  the  name, 
consequently  his  school  education  was  limited, 
3’et  he  was  well  read,  and  for  a man  of  his 
opportunity  was  unusually  well  iidormed.  His 
memory  was  extraordinary,  both  of  men  and 
events.  About  the  time  he  was  twenty-two 
_\ears  of  age  he  removed  from  Shelby  county, 
Ky.,  to  Montgomery  county,  Ind.,  and  mar- 
ried Elizabeth,  daughter  of  George  and 
Rebecca  (Kelly)  Watkins,  whose  parents  w'ere 
of  Welch  and  Scotch-Irish  desccml.  To 
|ames  11.  Harrison  and  wife  were  born  elevim 
children,  viz;  Robert  Wk , Gharles  B.,  John 
K.,  Wdlliam  C. , joshiia  I’.,  jamesIL,  I'homas 
H.,  Sarah  R.,  Mary,  Louisa  J.  and  Garoline, 
all  deceased  except  Joshua  B.,  Sarah  R , 

( aroliiK!  and  the  subject  of  this  mention.  Mr. 
Harrison  was  a substantial  farmer  of  Mont- 


gomery county,  Ind.  He  probably  raised, 
bought  and  sold,  covering  a period  of  fifty 
years,  more  live  stock  than  any  other  farmer 
in  western-central  Indiana.  In  1883  he  sold 
his  farm  in  Montgomery  county,  and  removed 
to  Douglas  county,  Kan.,  w'here  he  died 
January  8,  i 892,  at  the  advanced  age  of  eighty- 
four  years.  He  was  a man  of  strong  con- 
victions, a whig  until  the  dissolution  of  that 
party,  then  a republican,  casting  his  first  vote 
for  president  for  John  O.  Adams,  and  his  last 
for  Benjamin  Harrison,  and  never  missing  an 
election.  He  served  in  the  general  assembly 
of  Indiana  in  the  ’forties.  He  was  a remark- 
able specimen  of  physical  manhood,  being  six 
feet  high,  very  compactly  built  and  weighing 
about  two  hundred  and  twenty  pounds.  He  was 
vigorous  in  both  mind  and  body,  and  retained 
his  memorv  to  his  death. 

Robert  W.  Harrison  was  born  May  4,  1833, 
near  Ladoga,  Montgomery  county,  Ind.  He 
received  an  ordinary  common-school  education, 
and  at  the  age  of  nineteen  began  teaching  in 
the  schools  of  his  native  county ; then  for  about 
two  years  he  attended  the  Bloomingdale  acad- 
em\',  in  Parke  county,  under  the  auspices  of 
the  Society  of  Friends,  and  at  that  time  pre- 
sided over  by  the  late  Barnabas  C.  Hobbs. 
The  latter  part  of  1856  he  entered  the  law  de- 
partment of  Asbury  (now  DePauw)  university, 
and  completed  the  law  course  of  that  institu- 
tion under  the  instruction  of  Judge  Alexander 
('.  Downey  and  the  Hon.  john  A.  Matson, 
and  was,  in  October,  1858,  elected  prosecut- 
ing attorney  for  the  Crawfordsville  circuit, 
then  composed  of  the  countiesof  Parke,  Vermil- 
lion, I'oiintain,  Montgomery,  P)Oone,  Clinton 
and  Warren.  He  discharged  the  duties  of  the 
posit  ion  in  a manner  entirely  satisfactory,  never 
missing  a term  of  the  court  in  four  years,  and 
and  was  re-elected,  and  complimented  by  be- 
ing ahead  of  his  ticket  in  each  and  every 
I county. 


OF  BOONE  COUNTY. 


825 


The  first  two  years  of  his  career  as  prose- 
cuting attorney  he  resided  at  Crawfordsville, 
and  in  January,  i86i.  after  his  re-election,  he 
came  to  Lebanon.  He  first  formed  a partner- 
ship with  the  Hon  Thomas  J.  Cason,  who  was 
afterwards  judge  of  the  common  pleas  court, 
and  a member  of  congress.  The  firm  thus 
constituted  continued  si.x  and  a half  years.  In 
January,  1867,  he  entered  into  a law  partner- 
ship with  the  Hon.  A.  J.  Boone,  which  con- 
tinued until  the  death  of  the  latter,  in  1885. 
He  subsequently  practiced  with  Judges  Abbott, 
Terhune  and  B.  S.  Higgins.  Mr.  Harrison 
has  always  been  a public-spirited  man,  and 
has  assisted,  to  the  extent  of  his  ability,  in 
every  enterprise  that  tended  to  develop  the 
country  or  improve  the  city  in  which  he  lived, 
and  was  active  in  assisting  to  secure  an  addi- 
tional railroad  throughout  the  county.  His 
brother.  Dr.  Thomas  H.  Handson,  and  he  in- 
troduced the  free  gravel  road  system  in  this 
county.  The  brothers  held  the  first  public 
meetings,  presented  the  first  petitions  to  the 
county  board  of  commissioners,  and  secured 
the  first  orders  for  the  establishment  of  free 
gravel  roads,  and  may  be  said  to  be  the  pio- 
neers in  that  important  improvement,  which 
has  done  so  much  for  this  county.  He  is  a 
member  of  the  Grand  Army  of  the  Repulic,  a 
Mason,  and  a member  of  the  Methodist  Epis- 
copal church.  He  has  always  been  a republi- 
can, and  cast  his  first  vote  for  president  for 
Gen.  John  C.  Fremont,  and  subsequently  for 
Lincoln,  Grant,  Hayes,  Garfield,  Blaine  and 
Harrison.  While  he  was  a strong  republican 
as  between  it  and  other  parties,  he  yet  claimed 
to  be  ready  at  any  time  to  give  up  the  party  if 
a better  organization  should  appear.  With 
him,  principle  was  everything  and  party  noth- 
ing, but  he  regarded  the  republican  the  proper 
medium  through  which  principle  was  to  be 
maintained.  He  thought  the  republican  vastly 
superior  to  any  other  party. 


In  1863,  soon  after  the  expiration  of  his 
office,  he  enlisted  in  the  One  Hundred  and 
Sixteenth  regiment  of  Indiana  volunteers,  and 
was  made  captain  of  company  G,  and  served 
with  said  command  during  the  service  of  the 
regiment.  He  led  his  company  at  the  battles 
of  Blue  Springs,  Tazewell  and  Walker's  Ford. 
The  service  in  which  Capt.  Harrison  en- 
gaged was  said  to  be  very*  severe,  marching, 
starving  and  enduring  privations  equal  to  any 
other  service  of  the  great  war  for  the  suppres- 
sion of  the  rebellion.  He  at  no  time  took 
special  pride  in  his  military  record  or  military 
matters.  He  regarded  the  war  as  a terrible 
necessity,  and  only  engaged  in  it  from  a sense 
of  duty  to  the  country.  War,  in  his  mind, 
was  under  all  circumstances  to  be  deprecated, 
and  avoided  if  possible,  and  nothing  but  a war 
for  the  life  of  the  nation  would  ever  have  en- 
listed him.  He  was  never  habitually  called  by 
his  military  title  except  by  his  old  soldier  boys; 
the  rest  of  the  world  universally  styled  him 
“Bob”  Harrison.  He  is  genial  in  his  nature, 
cheerful  in  disposition,  forms  strong  personal 
attachments  and  is  personally  popular. 

Whilst  it  is  true  he  has  been  active  in 
politics,  it  has  always  been  for  the  benefit  of 
others  and  what  he  thought  was  the  best  for 
the  country,  never  having  held  office  other 
than  that  spoken  of  above.  He  was  twice 
presidential  elector,  which  could  hardly  be 
styled  an  office.  He  is  a man  of  decided  con- 
victions and  a positive  character.  His  law 
practice  has  been  mostly  on  the  civil  side  of 
the  docket,  involving  almost  every  grade  or 
character  of  civil  practice;  yet  he  has  been 
counsel  in  many  criminal  cases  of  nearly  all 
kinds  of  crime,  including  about  thirty-five  mur- 
der cases.  He  has  always  been  inflexibly  true 
to  his  clients,  making  their  interest  paramount 
to  every  other  consideration.  So  far  as  in- 
tegrity and  fair  dealing  are  concerned,  he  has 
the  confidence  of  the  entire  community.  He 


BIOGRAPHICAL  HISTORY 


:I2() 


has  had  as  much  law  business  as  any  other 
resident  attorney  in  the  county.  He  advised 
no  one  to  go  into  a law  suit  if  it  could  be  set- 
tled or  coniproinised,  and  siudi  advice  was 
given  regardless  of  how  it  might  affect  his  per- 
sonal interest.  It  was  his  boast  that  he  had 
settled  and  ccunpromised  more  cjuestions  of 
contention  that  he.  ever  litigated.  His  opin- 
ion might  he  wrong,  but  no  one  doubted 
his  honesty.  His  motive  always  stood  un- 
questioned. 

He  was  married  April  2,  1865.  There  is  a 
daughter  surviving,  Hiss  Mary  Lou  Harrison. 


>^OSIAH  S.  HARRISON,  who  has  been 
4 a resident  of  Lebanon,  Ind.,  for  eleven 
A ■ years,  descends  from  an  old  English 
family  that  came  to  this  country  over  a 
hundred  years  before  the  Revolutionary  war, 
several  members  of  which  settled  in  Maryland. 
Robert  H.  Harrison,  Gen.  Amshington’s  pri- 
vate secretary  in  the  war  of  the  Revolution, 
and  later  one  of  the  associate  judges  of  the 
supreme  court  of  the  United  States,  was  one 
of  the  same  family. 

Greenbery  Harrison,  great-grandfather  of 
Josiah  S.,  was  born  in  Maryland.  In  1784  he 
removed  to  Hardin  county,  Ky.,  and  resided 
in  the  neighborhood  of  the  grandfather  of 
President  Lincoln.  josiah  Harrison,  the 
grandfather  of  the  subject  of  this  sketch,  was 
also  born  in  Maryland,  and  Simpson  Harrison, 
the  father,  was  born  in  Rentucky,  and  later 
came  to  Boone  county,  Ind.,  where  he  marric'’ 
Martha  Roberts  in  May,  1837,  and  settled  ii 
a farm  on  the  north  side  of  Sugar  creek,  in 
(dinton  townshi)),  wluu'e  he  remained  until 
his  death  in  1876,  at  the  age  of  si.\ty-three. 
d o Simpson  and  Martha  Harrison  were  born 
seven  children,  vi/:  jolm,  Amy  R.,  josiah  S., 
Edward  1).,  Avis  G.,  Sarah  A.  and  b'lora,  all 
of  wlunn  lived  to  years  of  maturity  e.xcept 


John,  who  died  at  the  age  of  three  years. 
Politically  he  was  a whig  until  the  dissolution 
of  that  party,  then  a rej)ublican,  and  strong 
in  his  convictions.  He  was  a Methodist,  and 
his  home  was  a favorite  stopping  place  for  the 
itinerant  preachers,  and  a preaching  point  for 
many  years. 

Josiah  S.  Harrison  was  born  October  9, 
1843,  near  Mechanicsburg,  Boone  county,  Ind. 
He  received  an  ordinary  common  school  edu- 
cation. He  has  always  been  a republican,  and 
cast  his  first  presidential  vote  for  Lincoln,  and 
subsecpiently  voted  for  Grant,  Hayes,  Gar- 
field, I'llaine  and  Harrison.  With  him  princi- 
ple was  everything,  but  he  regarded  the  repub- 
lican party  the  proper  medium  through  which 
principle  was  to  be  maintained.  July  23,  1861, 
he  enlisted  in  the  Eleventh  regiment  of  Indi- 
ana volunteers,  called  the  Zouave  regiment, 
and  commanded  by  Lew  MGllace,  later  Gen. 
Wallace.  He  was  a true  and  faithful  soldier 
until  he  was  discharged  at  Crump's  Landing, 
Tenm,  March  31,  1862,  on  acce  mt  of  general 
disability. 

August  20,  1 863,  he  married  Caroline  Riley, 
daughter  of  James  and  Matilda  E.  (Garret) 
Riley.  To  them  were  born  three  children, 
namely  IraE.,  Edward  J.  and  John  B.  Ed- 
ward j.  died  at  the  age  of  seven  years;  Ira  E. 
was  married  in  Lawrence,  Douglas  county, 
Rails.,  to  Theodosia  A.  Bishoji,  in  1884,  and 
moved  to  Lebanon,  Boone  county,  Ind.,  where 
he  resides  at  this  writing. 

April,  1878,  the  subject  of  this  sketch  was 
elected  trustee  of  Washington  township,  and 
served  two  years,  and  afterward  was  appointed 
to  fill  the  une.xpired  term  of  George  E.  Con- 
rad, who  had  resigned.  April,  1882,  he  was 
elected  his  own  successor,  which  trust  he  held 
until  Se|>tember  1 o,  1883,  when  he  resigned 
and  moved  to  Lebanon,  and  accepted  a deputy- 
shij)  under  jolm  W.  Hawkins,  county  treas- 
urer. Ill  I 886  Mr.  Harrison  was  elected  county 


OF  BOONE  COUNTY. 


827 


treasurer,  and  filled  the  office  with  so  much 
ability  and  fidelity  that,  in  1888,  he  was  re- 
elected with  an  increased  majority.  At  the 
expiration  of  his  office,  he  engaged  in  the 
abstract  and  loan  business,  at  which  he  is  still 
engaged.  He  is  a member  of  the  Grand  Army 
of  the  Republic,  of  the  I.  O.  O.  F.  and  of  the 
Methodist  church.  After  the  death  o*'  Caro- 
line (Riley)  Harrison,  he  married  Elizabeth  A. 
Keys,  August  11,  1880,  daughter  of  John  and 
Frances  (Hawkins)  Keys. 


OSEPH  R.  HAWK,  M.  D.,  eminent  as 
a specialist,  at  Thorntown,  Boone  coun- 
ty, Ind.,  was  born  in  Mason  county, 
Ky.,  October  15,  1833,  a son  of  Charles 
and  Araminta  (Collins)  Hawk.  Charles  Hawk, 
the  father,  was  born  on  the  ocean,  October 
14,  1790,  in  coming  to  America  from  Germany. 
His  parents  located  at  Little  York,  Pa.,  and 
there  Charles  grew  to  manhood,  receiving  a 
good  education  at  Philadelphia,  and  there  pre- 
paring himself  for  the  practice  of  medicine, 
after  graduating  in  which  he  immediately  be- 
gan practice  in  the  town  of  Dover,  on  the 
Ohio  river,  in  Mason  county,  Ky.,  whence, 
in  a short  time,  he  moved  to  Carlisle, 
Ky.,  and  from  there,  in  1841,  removed  to 
Midford,  Decatur  county,  Ind.,  and  eight- 
een months  later  to  Cloverdale,  Putnam 
county,  Ind.,  where  he  practiced  until  1845, 
when  he  settled  in  Mooresville,  Morgan  coun- 
ty, Ind.,  where  his  death  occurred  October  14, 
1865.  By  his  marriage  in  Dover,  Ky.,  in 
1821,  to  Araminta  Collins,  a daughter  of 
Thomas  Collins  of  Kentucky,  he  became  the 
father  of  fourteen  children,  who  w'ere  named 
William,  Elizabeth,  Mary  Ann,  Rachel,  Char- 
lotte an  infant  (deceased),  John,  Joseph  R., 
Thomas,  Chambers,  Helen,  Ina,  Sarah  and 
Robert  D.  O.  The  parents  of  these  were 


Tiiembers  of  the  Christian  church,  and  in  ]ioli- 
tics  the  father  was  a democrat. 

Joseph  R.  Hawk  was  but  ten  years  of  age 
\\'hen  brought  to  Indiana.  He  was  educated 
in  the  common  school  until  fourteen  years  old, 
after  which  he  worked  at  anything  he  was  able 
to  do  until  he  was  seventeen,  when  he  began 
the  study  of  medicine  under  his  father,  w'hich 
he  assiduously  pursued  until  twenty-one.  He 
then  passed  thirteen  months  in  Knoxville, 
Iowa,  at  bookkeeping;  then  returned  to  Moores- 
ville, Ind.,  and  followed  the  same  vocation  in 
a general  stor^  for  three  years,  and  for  a year 
afterward  had  charge  of  the  store,  and  then 
w'ent  to  Waverly,  Morgan  county,  Ind.,  and  for 
eighteen  months  practiced  medicine;  then  re- 
turned to  his  father  and  practiced  until  the 
opening  of  the  war.  August  7,  1862,  he  en- 
listed in  company  E,  Twelfth  Indiana  infantry, 
for  three  years.  He  faithfully  and  heroically 
served  tw'o  years  and  ten  months,  when  he 
received  an  honorable  discharge  at  Indian- 
apolis, and  now  receives  a pension  of  $16  per 
month  for  his  gallant  behavior  before  Rich- 
mond, Va.  In  1867  he  made  Indianapolis  his 
headcpiarters,  and  traveled  as  a specialist  until 
1870,  when  he  located  at  Beckville,  Mont- 
gomery county,  Ind.,  where  he  I'emained  until 
•'^73.  when  he  came  to  Thorntown,  where  he 
has  ever  since  remained,  with  the  exception  of 
five  years  passed  in  Colfax,  enjoying  a most 
excellent  practice  at  both  places. 

The  marriage  of  the  doctor  was  solemnized 
November  28,  1871,  in  Montgomery  county, 
Ind.,  with  Sarah  E.  Sharer,  who  was  borrr  irr 
Lodoga,  Montgomery  courrty,  Ind.,  June  3, 
1852,  the  daughter  of  David  and  Hettie 
('Bruce)  Sharer,  and  to  this  happy  union  four 
childrerr  have  beerr  born,  and  named  as  fol- 
lows: Nellie  R.,  Pearl,  Rrrby  Ray,  and  Ollie  G. 
D.  Mr.  and  Mr's.  Hawk  ar'e  members  of  the 
I Presbyterian  church,  and  in  politics  the  doctor 
I is  a democrat.  He  has  won  for  himself  an 


828 


BIOGRAPHICAL  HISTORY 


enviable  re])utation  as  a pliysician,  and  social- 
ly he  stands  with  the  best  people  of  the  town- 
ship and  comity.  [Since  the  above  was  jilaced 
in  type,  the  sad  news  of  the  death  of  Dr. 
Hank  has  been  received. — En. 


K.  HENRY,  the  well  known  fanner 
and  stock  raiser  of  Jackson  township, 
Boone  county,  Ind.,  with  his  post-office 
at  New  Ross,  across  the  Montgomery 
county  line,  was  born  March  7,  1847,  in 

Scott  township,  Montgomery  comity,  Ind., 
and  was  reared  on  a farm.  His  grandfather, 
David  Henry,  was  one  of  the  pioneers  of  that 
county,  was  the  owner  of  480  acres  of  good 
land,  but  died  on  his  way  to  California  during 
the  early  gold  e.xcitement.  His  son,  M.  M. 
Henry,  was  born  on  the  old  homestead,  be- 
came one  of  the  largest  land  owners  in  west 
central  Indiana,  owning  1,180  acres  of  land, 
and  was  a most  intfuential  citizen.  He  mar- 
ried Nancy  Lal'ollette,  who  bore  him  the  fol- 
lowing children:  J.  K.,  Louisa  C.,  Andrew  L., 
Ciressa,  John  M.,  Miranda  A.  and  M.  M.,  Jr. 
His  death  took  place  in  July,  1891,  and  he 
was  buried  under  the  auspices  of  the  Knights 
of  Pythias. 

|.  K.  Henry,  Eebruary  4,  1869,  married 

Miss  Janetta  Tague,  daughter  of  John  and 
Christina  ( PefHey)  Tague,  the  former  a well- 
known  farmer  of  Putnam  county,  Ind.,  and 
famous  as  a breeder  of  C'-hester  White  hogs. 
The  union  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Henry  has  been 
blessed  by  the  birth  of  si.\  children,  in  the  fol- 
lowing order;  Arminnie,  MaryL.,  Charles  A., 
.Myrtle  M.,  Pdoyd  T.,  and  Otto  K.  But,  sad 
to  relate,  death  invaded  this  happy  domestic 
circle,  January  6,  1892,  and  carried  away,  to 
a still  hajipier  home,  the  eldest  child,  Ar- 
minnie, in  lu.'r  twenty- third  year.  She  was  a 
refined  and  highly  culturi'd  young  lady,  was 
very  popular  with  the  3'oung  people  of  her 


neighborhood,  who  adored  her  for  her  many 
graces  of  mind  and  person,  and  was  the  idol 
of  the  household.  Mr.  Henry  settled  in  Jack- 
son  township  in  1869  and  purchased  i 1 i acres 
ol  good  land,  which  he  has  converted  into  one 
of  the  best  in  the  township.  In  1880  he  went 
to  Rush  county,  Ind.,  and  purchased  for  $i  i i, 
at  iniblic  vendue,  the  yearling  stallion,  Poca- 
hontas Sam,  now  the  most  famous  horse  in 
Indiana  as  a getter  of  speedy  foals,  and  still 
.stands  on  Mr.  Henry's  farm  at  $50  for  a guar- 
antee. Of  this  great  stallion  the  Western 
Horseman  has  the  following  to  say:  Pocahon- 
tas Sam  was  foaled  in  1879,  and  is  therefore 
coming  fifteen  years  of  age.  In  color  he  is  a 
l)eautiful  red  chestnut,  stands  full  sixteen 
hands,  and  possesses  substance  in  keeping 
with  his  height;  his  bone  and  muscle  are  fault- 
less, being  heavy,  but  free  from  bulkiness. 
He  was  sired  b}’  that  well  known  progenitor 
of  trotting  speed,  Pocahontas  Boy,  sire  of 
Buffalo  Girl,  2:\2},,  Raven  Boy,  2:15},  and 
many  others  in  the  standartl  list.  Pocahontas 
Boy  stands  to-day  the  source  of  more  extreme 
speed  at  the  pacing  gait  than  any  other  sire 
known  in  the  history  of  Indiana  stallions,  and 
his  blood,  when  combined  with  that  of  other 
great  sires,  is  regarded  by  astute  breeders  as 
golden.  Erom  his  blood  have  come  such  per- 
formers as  Cambriilge  Girl,  2:i2jj,  Jessie  L. 
(4),  2:i2;f,  Touch-Me-Not,  2;i3j,  and  a multi- 
tude of  others  below  2;20,  all  of  which  secured 
records  in  hotly  contested  races.  The  Regis- 
ter tells  us  his  dam  was  I'anny  (dam  of  Low- 
land Girl,  2:i9.L  Hero,  2:28,  and  Star  Wb, 
trial  2;27,\),  by  Pdue  Bull  73.  Lowland  Girl 
(lour  years  2:17])  is  the  dam  of  Dancourt  (3), 
2:21.’,,  and  Gov.  Alger,  2;24.L  Pocahontas 
Sam,  as  his  breeding  would  warrant,  is  an  ex- 
ceptionally fast  horse,  although  his  record  of 
2:27]  does  not  bear  out  the  assertion.  During 
his  racing  career  he  started  in  ten  races,  all 
over  half-mile  tracks,  and  in  every  instance 


OF  BOONE  COUNTY. 


829 


won  either  hrst  or  second  money,  He  has 
gone  full  miles  to  an  old  style  sulky  in  2:18 
over  a half-mile  track,  and  a half  in  i :04.  At 
eight  years  of  age  he  did  not  have,  all  told, 
over  fifteen  living  foals,  and  from  that  number 
have  come  Pixley  Boy,  2:12,  and  Poca  Eagle, 
2:21. U both  over  half  mile  tracks.  His  others 
are:  Touch-Me-Not,  2:13^,  Ziglar,  2:17!  (half 
mile  track),  and  the  trotter,  Billy  E.,  2:29^^. 
In  speaking  of  his  merits  as  a sire  his  owner 
makes  this  pointed  observation;  “Give  Sam 
good  mares  and  I don’t  think  that  horse  lives 
that  can  beat  him  siring  a high  rate  of  speed. 
Sam’s  colts  are  a poor  man’s  horse — they 
come  quickly.  M’hen  one  shows  you  2:40  you 
can  bet  it  will  soon  beat  2:20.  If  anyone  does 
not  think  Sam  is  a sire  of  speed,  come  to  my 
place  and  I will  convince  him  that  he  is.”  Mr. 
Henry  has  refused  $10,000  for  this  wonderful 
animal,  but  to  part  with  him  would  be  almost 
as  bad  as  parting  with  one  of  the  family. 
Pocahontas  Sam  has  been  spoken  of  very  fa- 
vorably by  all  the  sporting  papers  and  live 
/ stock  journals  of  America.  Besides  being  one 
of  the  leading  farmers  and  stockmen  of  Boone 
county,  Mr.  Henry  stands  high  as  a progress- 
ive and  public-spirited  citizen.  He  is  a mem- 
ber of  the  New  Ross  lodge.  No.  294,  K.  of  P. , 
and  his  integrity  has  never  been  touched  by 
even  a breath  of  suspicion. 


lEI.JAM  N.  HENRY,  a prosperous 
farmer  of  Center  township,  Boone 
county.  Inch,  is  a native  of  the 
county,  and  is  a son  of  Martin 
Henry,  a pioneer.  Martin  Henry  was  born  in 
Kentucky,  Eebruary  4,  1801,  and  betw’een 

1830  and  1832,  came  to  Boone  county,  Ind., 
and  entered  276  acres  of  land,  on  part  of 
which  his  son  William  now  lives.  Returning 
to  Kentucky,  he  passed  his  time  until  between 
1833  and  1834,  when  he  returned  to  Indiana, 


and  in  Putnam  county  married  Mary  Stevens, 
born  May  2,  1813,  and  at  once  settled  on  his 
Boone  county  property.  Gn  this  land  there 
were  born  the  following  children  to  Martin  and 
Mary  Henry:  John  S.,  December  12,  1834; 
Rebecca  A.,  February  6,  1836;  George,  Sep- 
tember 28,  1837;  David  M.,  November  5,  1839; 
William  N.,  October  4, 1841  ; Margaret  I.,  Octo- 
ber 10,  1844;  Thomas  ].,  December  6,  1846; 
James  M.,  November  12,  1848;  Charles  A., 
June  23,  1850;  Lydia  O.,  February  7,  1853; 
and  Mary  E.,  October  10,  1856.  Boone  county, 
at  the  time  Martin  Henry  made  his  settlement 
and  broke  land,  was  a wilderness  in  every  sense 
of  the  word,  but  he  bravely  set  to  work  and 
cleared  away  the  heavy  timber  from  his  farm, 
built  a log  cabin  and  made  for  himself  and  young 
family  a comfortable  home.  He  gained  the 
respect  of  all  who  knew  him,  was  thrifty  and 
industrious,  and  beside  his  276  acres  in  Boone 
county,  Ind.,  acquired  a farm  of  240  acres  in 
Benton  county,  Iowa.  His  fellow-democrats 
made  him  township  supervisor  for  one  term 
and  otherwise  reposed  their  confidence  in  his 
integrity,  and  he  died  a strong  Union  man  Au- 
gust 17,  1866,  honored  by  all  who  knew  him. 

\Villiam  N.  Henry,  with  whose  name  this 
biographical  sketch  opens,  grew  up  among  the 
pioneer  scenes  and  experiences  of  Center  town- 
ship on  the  farm  on  which  he  w'as  born,  and 
w'hich  he  still  occupies,  receiving  his  education 
in  the  rude  school  house  of  his  then  rude  dis- 
trict. In  1864  he  enlisted  in  company  G,  One 
Hundred  and  Sixteenth  Indiana  volunteer  in- 
fantry, of  which  company  Dr.  Bounell  of  Boone 
county  was  captain,  but  was  succeeded  by 
Capt.  Robert  H.  Harrison.  The  principal  duty 
of  the  company  was  in  Kentucky  and  Tennessee, 
including  a skirmish  at  Briggs  Springs,  Ky.,  and 
after  a service  of  seven  months  Mr.  Henry  was 
honorably  discharged.  Wdliam  N.  Henry  first 
married  Emily,  the  daughter  of  Jesse  and 
Sarah  (Click)  Parey,  and  to  this  union  w'ere 


BIOGRAPHICAL  HISTORY 


horn  two  children,  ('haiies  and  David,  both  of  I 
whom  are  still  livinj^'.  After  the  death  of  his 
first  wife,  Mr.  Henry  married  Judie  l'.,dangh- 
tcr  of  John  F.  and  Kittie  A.  (Kersey)  Heck, 
and  to  this  marriage  have  been  born  four  chil- 
dren, named  Glenn,  Otto,  Calvin  and  Gladdy 
F.  I'he  grandfather  of  these,  John  F.  Heck, 
is  an  old  settler  of  Center  townshi}\  Hoone 
County,  and  is  a highly  respected  farmer,  own- 
ing 127  acres  of  well  cultivated  land,  on  which 
he  is  passing  his  declining  years  in  peace  and 
comfort.  Mr.  Henry  is  in  politics  a democrat; 
fraternally,  is  a member  of  Hoone  lodge.  No. 

9,  A.  F.  A A.  M.,  in  which  he  has  filled  the 
office  of  deacon,  and  he  is  also  a member  of 
Rich  Mountain  post,  G.  A.  R.,  at  Lebanon. 
He  has  made  the  old  homestead  a model  of 
neatness,  as  well  as  a source  of  profit,  and  is 
held  in  high  esteem  among  his  neighbors,  both 
as  a good  farmer  and  as  a gooil  citizen. 


GHFRT  HIGHEE  is  an  honored  resi- 
dent of  Elizaville,  Hoone  county, 
Ind.,  and  was  born  January  6,  1832, 
in  Hrown  county,  Ohio;  he  is  the  son 
of  jaines  Higbee,  born  in  1798,  and  comes  of 
German  and  Irish  extraction.  His  mother 
was  Sarah  (Mann)  Higbee,  born  in  Hrown 
county,  Ohio.  She  was  a zealous  Christian 
woman,  and  died  before  the  family  w'ere  grown. 
Their  children  were  William,  John,  Egbert, 
Elizabeth,  Amanda,  Eveline,  Harriet,  Harvey, 
lAlith,  Helen.  James  Higbee  was  not  favored 
with  educational  advantages,  but  being  natur- 
ally (juick  and  smart  he  made  his  way  success- 
fully through  the  world.  He  entered  160 
acres  in  Adams  township,  Hamilton  county, 
Ind.,  where  he  farmed  and  made  cattle  raising 
a specialty.  Politically  he  was  a (knnocrat, 
was  a member  of  the  t'hristian  church,  and 
died  aged  sixty-four  years. 


Egbert  Higbee  was  married  May  7,  1861, 
to  Annie  Stratton,  born  October  2,  1840,  in 
Preble  county,  Ohio.  She  was  educated  at 
the  school  managed  by  the  Society  of  Friends, 
and  is  a highly  cultured  lady,  has  taught  for  a 
number  of  terms,  and  is  the  granddaughter  of 
Eli  Stratton,  who  is  of  English  ancestors,  his 
wile  being  Ennice  Dallas,  who  sprang  from 
Welch  ancestors.  He  was  a merchant  and 
lived  in  Philadelphia.  In  1822  they  moved  to 
Ohio,  which  was  then  a wilderness.  His  son, 
who  was  fourteen  years  of  age,  on  seeing 
wolves,  thought  they  were  dogs  and  told  his 
father  he  could  not  tell  whose  dogs  they  were. 
His  father  said,  “don’t  stop  to  look  at  dogs, 
for  they  are  wolves.  ” He  opened  a country 
store  where  were  sold  all  kinds  of  merchandise. 
One  day  a woman  who  had  failed  to  buy  calico 
that  was  fast  colors  came  to  look  at  some 
dishes,  of  which  they  were  all  patterns  and 
colors  made  in  those  days.  Wdien  asked 
which  color  she  whould  have,  she  repiled,  “any 
color  that  will  hide  dirt.”  He  built  a grist 
mill  and  moved  near  Richmond,  Ind.,  and 
there  died  at  the  age  of  sixty-three.  He  was 
an  old-line  whig.  They  were  members  of  the 
Society  of  Friends,  and  his  widow  died  at 
Raysville,  Ind.,  aged  eighty-seven  years. 
Their  children  were  Sarah  C.,  who  died  at 
Richmond;  Johnathan  D.,  died  at  New  Lon- 
don, Howard  county;  Whlliam  L. , died  at 
Camden,  Ohio;  Joseph  E.,  died  at  Carmel, 
Ind.  William  Stratton,  born  in  1808,  was 
married  in  1 832  to  Hathsheba  Hrown,  of  Preble 
countv,  Ohio,  on  a farm,  and  there  they  lived 
for  fifty-three  years.  They  were  conversant 
with  the  “Under  Ground  Railroad”  system, 
and  knew  all  the  stations  in  their  part  of  the 
country,  as  well  as  the  others  ol  the  Society 
of  I'riends.  1 le  was  politically  a repuhlican, 
then  a prohibitionist.  In  1885  he  died  aged 
si'\enty-seven  years.  Hathsheba  Hrown's 
grandfathter  was  an  Englishman,  his  wife 


OF  BOONE  COUNTY. 


331 


being  \'irgin  Gaskill,  who  lived  in  New  Jerse}', 
to  whom  were  born  Joseph,  Abraham  and 
John  (twins),  Clayton,  Mahlon,  Samuel, 
Mary,  Beulah  and  William.  They  were  also 
Quakers,  and  he  a whig.  Grandmother 
Stratton’s  maiden  name  was  Eunice  Dallas, 
who  was  one  of  the  girls  that  strewed  llowers 
in  the  pathway  of  Gen.  George  Washington 
when  he  entered  Trenton,  N.  J.  Grandfather 
John  Brown  married  Sarah  Moore  in  1806, 
when  in  her  twentieth  year.  From  New 
Jersey  they  went  to  Miami  county,  Ohio,  then 
to  Preble  county,  where  he  died  aged  seventy- 
nine  years.  His  wife,  Sarah  Moore,  came  of  a 
sturdy  Irish  ancestor,  Nathaniel  Moore.  His 
wife  was  Bathsheba  Coleman,  whose  parents 
were  English.  Her  father  was  a professional 
diver,  and  died,  when  his  daughter  was  only 
four  years  old,  of  consumption,  which  was 
caused  by  an  accident  when  he  was  delayed  for 
along  time  under  the  water.  Her  mother  died 
of  the  same  disease.  They  were  quite  wealthy, 
but  the  guardian  of  the  children  managed  to 
get  their  money  for  his  own  use.  They  had 
two  children,  named  Sarah,  who  lived  to  be 
over  loi  years,  and  David,  who  was  ninety- 
eight  years  of  age.  The  grandmother  of  Mrs. 
Egbert  Higbee  was  Sarah  (Moore)  Stratton, 
was  endowed  with  a wonderfully  bright  intel- 
lect, and  a woman  of  uncommon  beauty;  so 
pronounced  was  this  that  in  the  city  of  Tren- 
ton, N.  J.,  she  was  known  as  the  “Trenton 
Beauty,”  and  she  was  still  handsome  at  the 
age  of  ninety.  She  saw  Gen.  George  Wash- 
ington. In  1814  she  and  her  husband,  John 
Brown,  came  to  Preble  comity,  Ohio,  and  in 
1816  they  entered  160  acres  of  land.  He  was 
a carpenter,  but  also  a horticulturist,  and 
engaged  in  the  nursery  business.  They  united 
with  the  Society  of  Friends.  After  the  death 
of  her  husband  she  lived  with  her  children, 
who  were  Nathaniel,  Joseph,  Bathsheba.  All 

became  good  citizens  of  Preble  county,  and 
16 


were  tillers  of  the  soil.  Mrs.  Brown  lived  to 
be  1 01  years,  one  month  and  two  days  old, 
never  became  childish,  nor  was  her  wonderful 
intellect  ever  impared.  On  her  one  hundredth 
anniversary  there  was  held  a monster  gather- 
ing, people  coming  from  Virginia,  Kansas,  New 
Jersey  and  within  sight  of  George  Washington’s 
home.  Mount  Vernon,  and  over  500  people 
took  supper.  Mrs.  Higbee  has  a large  photo- 
graph, with  the  likenesses  of  her  grandmother 
and  five  generations,  all  females,  taken  on 
that  occasion. 

Egbert  Higbee,  the  subject  of  our  sketch, 
was  reared  in  Hamilton  county,  Ind.,  where 
he  lived  till  of  age,  when  he  went  to  Highland 
county,  Ohio,  where  he  labored  as  a carpen- 
ter. Not  being  satisfied,  he  came  back  to 
Hamilton  county,  Ind.,  where  he  purchased  a 
saw-mill,  which  he  operated.  They  moved  to 
Elizaville  in  1874,  purchasing  a grist-mill, 
saw-mill  and  the  beautiful  place  which  their 
large  and  commodious  brick  residence  now 
occupies.  This  marriage  was  blessed  with 
Charles  E.,  born  October  25,  1867,  and 

Alfred  E.,  born  March  26,  1876,  Mr.  Higbee 
platted  the  village  of  Sheridan,  Hamilton 
county,  Ind.,  building  the  first  house  in  what 
is  now  a large  and  prospei'ous  town  in  the 
natural  gas  belt.  He  is  a man  of  great  energy 
and  perseverance.  Politically  he  is  a prohi- 
bitionist, and  he  is  a deacon  in  the  Christian 
church.  He  owns  lands  in  Kansas  and  other 
states  amounting  to  460  acres. 


Bred  HOFFMAN,  one  of  the  most 
skillful  photographers  in  the  state  of 
Indiana  and  artist  of  exceptionally 
good  taste,  has  his  studio  in  Lebanon, 
in  Boone  county,  and  had  won  a fine  reputa- 
tion before  settling  here.  He  springs  from  an 
old  Pennsylvania  family  of  German  origin,  his 
father,  Christopher  J.  Hoffman,  having  emi- 


«82 


RIOGRAPIIICAL  HISTORY 


f^rated  frcjin  that  state  to  Wisconsin  in  1854. 
('hristo])her  is  a cabinetmaker  by  trade  and 
married  Frances  Hanson  in  Virginia,  and  they 
went  to  Wisconsin  to  live,  settling  in  Pleasant 
IFancb,  Dane  county,  where  they  still  reside, 
honored  and  respected. 

Fred  Hoffman,  the  artist,  was  born  in  Dane 
county.  Whs,  December  i,  1S57,  at  Pleasant 
Ih'anch,  was  educated  in  the  common  schools, 
and  learned  the  art  of  photography  at  the  cap- 
ital city,  Madison.  In  1885  he  came  to  Indi- 
ana and  located  at  Thorntown,  Hoone  county, 
where  for  four  years  he  conducted  a first-class 
art  gallery,  doing  a most  successful  business 
and  confirming  his  reputation  as  an  artist.  In 
1889  he  left  Thorntown  and  settled  in  Leba- 
non, opening  his  ])resent  tasteful  studio  on  the 
second  floor  of  Dick's  block.  South  Lebanon 
street.  This  gallery  is  ninety  by  eighteen  feet 
and  is  elegantly  fitted  with  all  the  appliances 
that  modern  science  has  brought  to  bear  on  the 
art,  chemical  and  mechanical.  One  of  his 
s})ecialties  is  the  taking  of  life-size  portraits, 
for  which  he  is  particularly  well  prepared,  and 
for  which  he  seems  to  have  a peculiar  and  in- 
nate faculty.  These  portraits  are  truthful 
likenesses  and  never  fail  in  giving  satisfaction 
to  the  subject  of  them.  Mr.  Hoffman  is  also 
a fine  crayon  artist  and  has  on  e.xhibition  a 
large  assortment  of  his  “counterfeit  present- 
ments of  nature  ” in  this  branch  of  art,  which 
are  worthy  a visit  of  inspection  from  the  art- 
loving  puldic.  Taste,  refinement  and  superb 
execution  are  manifest  everywhere,  and  clear- 
ness and  distinctness  depicted  in  every  linea- 
ment. Mr.  Hoffman’s  fame  is  not  confined 
to  the  limits  of  Doone  county,  nor  even  to  the 
borders  of  the  state  of  Indiana,  but  has  ex- 
tended to  several  of  the  surrounding  states, 
where  his  master  hand  has  been  fully  recog- 
nized. He  is  yet  a young,  unmarried  man, 
with  a bright  future  before  him.  He  is  a mem- 
ber of  the  Lutheran  church,  and  in  his  poli- 


tics is  a republican.  Fraternally,  he  is  a 
member  of  Thorntown  lodge,  Knights  of 
Pythias,  and  socially,  his  friends  and  acquaint- 
ances are  among  the  best  families  of  Boone 
county,  by  whom,  and  likewise  by  the  public 
generally,  he  is  esteemed  for  his  personal  qual- 
ities as  well  as  for  his  artistic  taste.  In  the 
fall  of  1894  Mr.  Hoffman  built  a two-story 
building  on  East  Main  street,  twenty  by  seventy 
feet,  with  an  addition  of  twenty-eight  by  forty 
feet,  the  lower  rooms  of  which  will  be  used  for 
studios  and  the  upper  rooms  for  fiats,  etc. 


AMUEL  HOLLINGSW^ORTH,  one 
of  the  very  early  settlers  of  Jefferson 
township,  Boone  county,  Indiana,  is 
a native  of  the  state  and  was  born  in 
Union  county,  February  6,  1816.  Hisparents 
were  Isaiah  and  Patience  (Smith)  Hollings- 
worth, natives  of  North  Carolina  and  of  En- 
glish descent.  Isaiah  came  to  Indiana  in  1800, 
when  the  now  state  was  a territory,  and  he 
may  be  fully  termed  a pioneer.  In  1833  he 
came  to  Boone  county,  where  he  lived  a pure 
and  industrious  existence  until  his  final  relief 
from  earthly  cares  in  1873,  his  wife  joining 
him  in  1877  in  that  “undi.scovered  country  from 
whose  bourne  no  traveler  e’er  yet  returned.  ” 
The  lamented  parents  had  born  to  them  ten 
children,  the  names  of  the  living  being — Joseph, 
Newton,  Eber,  Samuel,  Hannah,  and  Caroline, 
the  names  of  the  deceased  were  Smith,  Anna, 
Sarah  and  Mary. 

Samuel  Hollingsworth  was  reared  by  his 
father  to  a thorough  knowledge  of  agriculture 
and  has  consccpiently  made  a success  in  life  as 
a farmer.  His  marriage  took  place  in  January, 
1841,  to  Miss  b'anny  Alexander,  daughter  of 
William  and  IClizabeth  (Denny)  Alexander. 
The  two  children  born  to  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Hol- 
lingsworth arc  Mary  ).,  wife  of  Ceorge  Miller, 
and  the  mother  of  three  children  named  as  fol- 


OF  BOONE  COUNTY. 


333 


lows:  Fanny  M.,  Richard,  and  Florence  P. 
The  second  child  of  Samuel  Hollingsworth  was 
named  William  W.,  who  was  married,  January 
14,  1879,  to  Mary  Chambers  of  Kentucky. 
This  union  resulted  in  the  birth  of  three  chil- 
dren, James  S.,  Olivet,  and  Rosco  F.  After 
the  marriage  of  Mr.  Hollingsworth  he  settled 
down  to  the  solid  life  of  a farmer  in  the  wilder- 
ness of  Indiana,  where,  at  that  time,  Indians 
were  about  as  numerous  as  the  wild  animals, 
and  of  the  two  infestments  the  latter  were  the 
more  preferable,  inasmuch  as  they  afforded  a 
source  of  food.  From  a small  farm  in  the  be- 
ginning, Mr.  Hollingsworth  has  increased  his 
holding  to  300  acres,  and  is  now  one  of  the 
most  prosperous  farmers  in  the  county  and  one 
of  the  most  highly  respected.  His  first  presi- 
dential vote  was  for  the  old  “hero  of  Tippe- 
canoe,” William  H.  Harrison,  but,  since  the 
dissolution  of  the  whig  party  he  has  been  a 
stanch  republican.  The  son,  William  W., 
has  charge  of  the  farm. 


AVID  HOLLOMAN,  a leading  and 
progressive  farmer  of  Center  town- 
ship, Boone  county,  Ind.,  although 
born  as  far  west  as  the  state  of 
Missouri,  traces  his  descent  to  some  of  the 
early  families  as  far  east  as  North  Carolina, 
and  their  lineage  ultimately  to  Germany.  The 
earliest  ancestor  in  America  of  whom  any  de- 
tailed trace  is  had  was  Elisha  Holloman,  grand- 
father of  David,  the  gentleman  whose  name 
stands  at  the  head  of  this  article.  Elisha  was 
a native  of  North  Carolina,  was  married  in 
that  state  to  Rebecca  Walsh,  but  early  emi- 
grated to  Kentucky,  and  thence  moved,  about 
1819,  to  Crawford  county  in  the  southern  part 
of  the  state  of  Missouri,  where  he  passed  an 
active  and  useful  life  until  his  decease,  at  an 
advanced  age  in  1863,  a devout  member  of  the 
Baptist  church.  William  Holloman,  son  of 


Elisha,  andfatherof  David  Holloman,  our  sub- 
ject, was  born  in  Warren  county,  Ky.,  and 
was  a mere  lad  when  taken  to  Missouri  by  his 
parents.  In  that  state  he  was  reared  to  man- 
hood and  was  there  married,  in  Crawford 
county,  to  Miss  Margaret  Thompson,  daughter 
of  Lovel  and  Mary  (Sanders)  Thompson,  a 
well  known  family  of  Missouri.  Mr.  Thomp- 
son, the  father,  was  also  a Kentuckian  by 
birth,  and  Joshua  Sanders,  the  father  of  Mary 
(Sanders)  Thompson,  came  from  a Pennsyl- 
vania family  that  long  ago  settled  in  Kentucky. 
As  early  as  1818,  however,  Joshua  Sanders 
emigrated  to  Washington  county.  Mo.,  and 
later  to  Crawford  county.  Mo.,  of  which  he 
was  a pioneer,  going  there  when  Indians  held 
possession  of  that  county  in  companionship 
with  animals,  herbivorous  and  carnivorous. 
His  daughter,  Mary,  the  grandmother  of 
our  subject,  lived  to  be  eighty-three  years  of 
age.  William  Holloman  and  wife  had  born  to 
them  ten  children,  of  w'hom  seven  lived  to 
reach  the  age  of  manhood  and  womanhood, 
and  were  named  Robert  G.,  David,  Rebecca, 
Lovell  T. , Matilda,  Sarah  and  William  (Jr). 
William,  the  father  of  this  family,  was  a promi- 
nent farmer  and  business  man  in  Crawford 
county.  Mo. , where  he  passed  most  of  his  life 
and  was  looked  upon  as  one  of  its  most  sub- 
stantial citizens.  He  died  in  that  county  in 
1851,  a memberof  the  Baptist  church,  a demo- 
crat in  politics,  and  honored  by  his  fellow- 
citizens  as  one  of  the  most  useful  and  ener- 
getic inhabitants  that  Crawford  county  ever 
had  within  its  borders. 

David  Holloman,  the  principal  of  this  bio- 
graphical notice,  was  born  January  10,  1835, 
in  Crawford  county.  Mo.,  as  has  already  been 
intimated.  He  was  quite  well  educated  in  the 
subscription  schools  of  his  district,  then  pioneer 
in  their  character,  and  at  the  age  of  eighteen, 
being  well  developed  as  to  manhood,  crossed 
the  great  plains  to  California,  in  search  of  gold, 


BIOGRAPHICAL  HISTORY 


n;u 


his  brother,  Robert  G.,  bearing  him  company, 
'I'he  e.xpedition  started  March  24,  1853,  and 
consisted  of  twelve  wagons,  of  wliich  the  bi'oth- 
ers  acted  as  teamsters,  and  a numerous  ac- 
comj)animent  of  adventurers  in  search  of  the 
auriferous  deposits.  The  party  reached  the 
iiorthern  line  of  California  August  5,  in  the 
same  year,  and  the  brothers  at  once  engaged 
in  placer  mining.  In  1863,  Robert  was  seized 
with  consumption,  and  the  two  brothers  sought 
Santa  Clara  valley  as  a refuge  for  the  recover}^ 
of  his  health,  but  this  resort  was  of  no  avail, 
and  Robert  jiasscd  away  in  1864.  In  1865 
David  sought  his  home  via  Panama  and  New 
York,  and  in  Crawford  county.  Mo.,  August 
16,  1866,  married  Elizabeth,  a daughter  of 
John  Dunlap,  a soldier  of  the  war  of  1812,  and 
to  this  union  were  born  four  children,  viz. : 
Robert  G.,  Reed,  William  T.,  and  one  that  died 
in  infancy.  After  following  farming  for  nearly 
eight  years  in  Missouri  after  marriage,  Mr. 
Holloman  took  his  family  to  Santa  Clara  val- 
ley, Cal.,  in  the  latter  part  of  1873,  and  there 
farming  engaged  his  attention  until  1880,  when 
he  returned  to  and  made  his  home  in  Boone 
county,  Ind.  In  the  meantime,  March  31, 
1877,  he  lost  his  wife,  and  Nt^vember  17,  1881, 
took  for  his  second  conjugal  companion  Miss 
Fannie,  daughter  of  Mitchell  M.  and  Eliza 
(Patterson)  Henderson,  and  to  this  happy 
union  have  been  born  three  children:  Lila  D., 
Newell  T.  and  Alma  M.  In  1881,  also,  the 
year  of  his  last  marriage,  he  settled  on  his 
jiresent  fine  farm  of  105  acres,  on  which  he  has 
made  numerous  improvements  by  erecting 
first-class  farm  buildings,  and  thoroughly  drain- 
ing the  land  by  putting  in  about  1,800  rods  of 
tile,  ;ind  redeeming  it  from  its  |)revious  swamj)y 
condition.  b'orty  acres  have  been  thoroughly 
cleared,  and  ])ortions  of  this  have  |)roduced  a 
croj)  of  fifty  bushels  to  the  acre.  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Holloman  arc  members  of  the  Methodist 
church,  in  which  he  has  been  class  leader. 


steward,  and  superintendent  of  the  Sunday- 
school.  In  politics  he  is  a democrat,  but  has 
never  been  an  office  seeker.  He  is  progressive 
in  all  things,  is  public  spirited  and  a strong  ad- 
vocate of  education,  and  his  children  are  re- 
ceiving the  full  benefit  of  his  proclivities  in  this 
direction.  Center  township  has  no  citizen  that 
is  held  in  higher  honor,  and  no  citizen  that  is 
more  sincerely  devoted  to  the  interests  and 
progress  of  the  township.  His  son,  Robert 
Holloman,  was  married  Februai'y  21,  1892,  to 
Amelia,  daughter  of  Thomas  B.  Evans,  a 
prominent  farmer  of  the  township,  whose  sketch 
will  be  found  elsewhere. 


Hebert  N.  HOLLOWAY,  a promi- 
nent manufacturer  of  Lebanon,  of  the 
firm  of  Holloway  A Turner,  is  also 
one  of  the  old  soldiers  of  the  Civil 
war.  His  ancestors  were  of  English  stock  and 
an  old  American  family.  Jacob  Holloway, 
the  grandfather  of  our  subject,  was  a native 
of  New  jersey.  He  went  to  Pennsylvania, 
where  he  remained  some  years,  and  finally 
settled  in  Hamilton  county,  Ohio,  and  married 
there  Hannah  Cory,  to  which  union  six  children 
were  born,  viz:  Noah,  Moses,  David,  Amos, 
Cephas  and  Elizabeth.  Mr.  Holloway  was  a 
prosperous  farmer  and  owned  a large  body  of 
land  in  Hamilton  county,  Ohio.  He  finally 
moved  to  W'arren  county,  Ohio,  and  with  his 
wife  became  greatly  interested  in  the  doctrines 
taught  by  the  Shakers  at  Shaker  Village, 
three  miles  from  Lebanon,  in  W'arren  county. 
He  finally  took  his  wife  and  all  his  children, 
who  were  then  small,  and  joined  the  Shaker 
community,  and  gave  them  all  his  property, 
which  was  then  large.  Here  he  passed  the 
remainder  of  his  days  and  died  aged  eighty- 
five  years.  His  wife  survived  him  and  re- 
mained with  the  Shakers  until  her  death, 
which  occurred  at  the  great  age  of  ninety-one 


MRS.  A.  N.  HOLLOWAY. 


OF  BOONE  COUNTY 


years.  Tlie  children  gradually  left  the  com- 
munity as  they  grew  up,  without  any  of  the 
property  e.xcept  $130  each,  which  Mr.  Hollo- 
way, on  joining  them,  had  arranged  by  con- 
tract for  each  one  to  have  in  case  they  left  the 
community.  Cephas  alone  remained  and 
passed  his  life  among  them,  and  died,  a few 
years  since,  aged  eighty-two  years,  a firm  be- 
liever in  the  doctrine  of  the  Shaker  church. 

Moses  Holloway,  the  father  of  our  subject, 
was  born  March  15,  1/97’  near  Cincinnati, 
where  his  father  was  one  of  the  very  earliest 
pioneers.  He  received  but  a limited  educa- 
ion,  became  a farmer,  and  was  taken  by  his 
parents  to  live  with  the  Shakers  at  the  age  of 
sixteen  years.  He  remained  with  them  until 
he  was  thirty-two  years  old,  then  became  dis- 
satisfied and  left  the  community,  taking  the 
$130.  He  married  in  Warren  county,  having 
taken  as  a wife  one  of  the  Shaker  maidens. 
They  ran  away  to  get  married,  as  marriage  is 
strictly  forbidden  by  this  society.  The  name 
of  this  Shaker  maiden  was  Kachael  Johnson. 
They  settled  down  in  Warren  county  and  two 
children  were  born  to  them  ; Amos  and  Eliza- 
beth. 

In  1835  Mr.  Holloway  came  to  Boone 
county  with  John  Higgins,  afterward  a promi- 
nent farmer  and  citizen  of  Washington  town- 
ship. Mr.  Holloway  entered  120  acres  of 
land  and  cleared  it  up  from  the  woods,  and  by 
means  of  thrift  he  bought  more  until  he  owned 
200  acres  of  good  land.  His  wife  died  in  the 
spring  of  1837,  and  was  the  first  person  buried 
in  Hopewell  graveyard  in  Clinton  township. 
Mr.  Holloway  afterward  married  Jeanette, 
daughter  of  John  Buntin,  who  came  to  Clinton 
county  from  Kentucky  in  1828  and  was  one  of 
the  very  earliest  pioneers.  They  were  only 
five  families  living  on  Twelve  Mile  Prairie 
when  he  settled  there.  He  soldiered  in  the 
war  of  1812.  To  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Holloway 
were  born  six  children:  Hannah,  Amelia,  John 


889 


W'.,  Albert  N.  and  Jasper  M.  (twins),  and 
David  H.  Mr.  Holloway  died  on  his  farm  Feb- 
ruary 2 i , 1878,  aged  nearly  eighty-one  years. 
He  was  an  ohl-line  whig,  afterward  a republi- 
can and  a strong  Union  man,  having  four  sons 
in  the  Civil  war;  John  M.,  Albert  N.,  Jasper 
M.  and  David  H.  John  M was  in  company 
A,  Tenth  regiment,  Indiana  volunteer  infantry, 
and  served  three  years  and  was  in  several  bat- 
tles. Jasper  M.  was  a corporal  in  company 
C,  One  Hundred  and  Thirty-ninth  Indiana  vol- 
unteer infantry,  and  served  four  months,  later 
enlisted  with  subject  in  company  E,  Eleventh 
Indiana  volunteer  infantry;  David  H.  was  in 
company  E,  Eleventh  regiment  Indiana  volun- 
teer infantry,  and  served  as  a private  six 
months  at  the  age  of  sixteen  years.  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Holloway  were  members  of  the  Christian 
church.  He  was  an  honorable  citizen,  re- 
spected by  all. 

Albert  N.  Holloway  was  born  January  12, 
1845,  on  his  father’s  farm  in  Washington  town- 
ship. He  received  a common  education  and 
enlisted  at  the  age  of  twenty  years  at  Lebanon, 
in  the  spring  of  1 864,  in  company  C,  One 
Hundred  and  Thirty-ninth  Indiana  volunteer 
infantry,  for  four  months.  He  served  out  his 
enlistment  and  was  honorably  discharged  at 
Indianapolis  in  July,  1864,  and  returned  home. 
On  the  seventeenth  day  of  February,  1865,  he 
re-enlisted  as  a veteran  in  company  E,  Eleventh 
regiment  Indiana  volunteer  infantry,  under 
Capt.  John  T.  McCauley.  This  was  Gen. 
Lew  Wallace's  famous  zouave  regiment.  This 
service  was  in  the  eastern  army,  and  princi- 
pally around  Baltimore.  He  served  until  the 
close  of  the  war  and  was  mustered  out  at  Bal- 
timore, Md.,  July  26,  1865,  and  was  honorably 
discharged  at  Indianapolis.  Mr.  Holloway 
was  not  sick  in  hospital,  but  served  actively  as 
a soldier  with  his  regiment.  After  his  return 
home  he  attended  the  high  school  at  Frankfort 
and  gained  a good  education.  He  engaged  in 


BIOGRAPHICAL  HISTORY 


JI40 


school-teaching,  which  he  continued  fifteen 
years,  mostly  in  Boone  county.  He  married, 
March  21,  1879,  Flora,  daughter  of  Leland 
M.  Eaton,  now  a substantial  farmer  near 
Elizaville.  Five  children  have  been  born  to 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Hollow'ay — Jasper  Cecil,  Edith 
E.,  Everett  J.,  Glenn  and  Jessie.  In  1876 
Mr.  Holloway  w'ent  on  the  home  farm  and 
cared  for  his  father  and  mother  until  the  death 
of  his  father,  when  he  moved  to  a farm  one 
mile  east  of  Lebanon.  In  1 888  he  engaged  in 
the  plow-handle  business  in  Lebanon,  the  firm 
being  Morris,  Neff  & Holloway,  now  Holloway 
& Turner.  In  political  opinions  Mr.  Holloway 
is  a stanch  republican,  socially  a non-affiliating 
Odd  Fellow  and  Knight  of  Maccabees,  and  he 
and  wife  are  members  of  the  Christian  church, 
in  which  he  has  been  deacon  for  several  years. 
He  has  always  taken  an  active  interest  in  the 
cause  of  education  and  was  president  of  the 
school  board  si.x  years,  and  was  one  of  the 
trustees  at  the  time  of  the  building  of  the  new' 
West  side  school  and  the  Center  school  build- 
ing. Mr.  Hollow'ay  is  a self-made  man. 
When  he  came  out  of  the  army  he  had  but 
little  education,  but  had  the  ambition  to  edu- 
cate himself,  and  became  an  efficient  school- 
teacher, and  is  now  a prosperous  business 
man  and  representative  citizen. 


ILLIAM  H.  HOSTETTER,  a lead- 
ing farmer  of  Jackson  township, 
Boone  county,  Ind.,  was  born  in 
Montgomery  county,  Ind.,  October 
3,  1840.  His  great-grandfather,  Henry  Hos- 
tetter,  was  of  German  descent,  and  lived  and 
died  in  York,  Pa.,  where  he  had  followed  the 
vocation  of  a farmer.  Great-grandfather  Hos- 
tetter  died  at  the  age  of  seventy  years,  and  his 
wife  at  eighty-eight.  David  Hostetter,  son  of 
the  above,  left  his  native  state  of  lYnnsylvania 
when  very  young,  and  for  a short  time  lived 


in  Virginia,  and  in  Pickaway  county,  Ohio, 
and  then  came  to  Indiana,  and  bought  240 
acres  of  land  in  Montgomery  county,  which  he 
improved  to  the  fullest  extent.  He  first  mar- 
ried Polly  Hicks,  who  died  in  Ohio,  and  after 
coming  to  Indiana  married  Mrs.  Polly  Boyer, 
a widow,  whose  maiden  name  was  Wolfley. 
By  the  fir.st  marriage  he  was  the  father  of  the 
following  children:  Sherman,  James,  Beniah, 
Serilda,  David  and  Mary,  and  by  his  second 
marriage  the  father  of  Lucky  W.  and  Lewis 
L.  Sherman  Hostetter,  son  of  David  and 
father  of  William  H.,  was  born  in  Rockbridge 
county,  Va.,  September  23,  1809,  and  was 
quite  young  when  he  went  to  Ohio  with  his 
father.  When  twenty-four  years  of  age  he 
came  to  Montgomery  county,  Ind.,  and  soon 
afterward  married  Courtney  Harrison,  daughter 
of  Robert  and  Polly  (Hammer)  Harrison,  and 
to  this  union  was  born  one  child,  Mary  L.,  the 
mother  dying  soon  after  its  birth.  His  second 
marriage  was  to  Mary  A.  Byrd,  daughter  of 
Abram  and  Jane  (Randall)  Byrd,  and  to  this 
union  have  been  born  the  following  children: 
William  H.,  John  B.,  Melissa  R.,  Phronissa 
C.,  Abram  S.,  James  D. , Margaret  E.,  Lewis 
W. , Allen  H.  and  Edgar  C.  Sherman  Hos- 
tetter was  a republican  of  much  promi- 
nence in  his  day,  as  well  as  a farmer 
of  most  progressive  spirit,  and  in  the 
latter  capacity  had  acquired  a property 
of  over  400  acres.  He  had  been  entrusted 
with  many  important  offices  of  honor  by 
the  people  of  Montgomery  county,  ainl  was 
also  their  representative  in  the  lower  house  of 
the  state  legislature  in  1846-48.  In  the  year 
1 859  he  settled  in  Boone  county,  Jackson  town- 
ship, where  his  abilities  as  a statesman  were 
cpiickly  recognized,  and  in  the  stirring  times  of 
1862-64,  was  sent  to  the  legislature  to  rejire- 
sent  the  strong  Union  feelings  of  the  county, 
which  he  did  most  forcibly  and  successfully. 
His  nerve  was  made  manifest  on  one  occasion. 


OF  BOONE  COUNTY. 


when  a convention  was  held  in  the  legislative 
hall,  and  military  rnle  threatened  to  override 
civil  rule;  a bolt  was  e.xpected,  and  he  was 
appointed  to  keep  the  door  open;  he  took  his 
stand  at  the  designated  spot,  and  when  the 
chair  ordered  the  door  closed,  he  simply  thrust 
his  cane  in  the  aperture  and  held  the  door 
open  for  the  bolt,  and  thus  saved  the  state 
from  absolute  military  control.  This  accom- 
lished  gentleman  died  December  6,  1868,  and 
his  widow  died  December  25,  1892. 

William  H.  Hostetter  was  reared  on  his 
father’s  farm  and  was  inured  to  hardship  suffi- 
ciently to  strengthen  his  muscles.  August  7, 
1861,  he  enlisted  at  North  Salem,  Ind.,  in 
company  A,  Twenty-seventh  Indiana  volunteer 
infantry,  in  the  three-year  service.  He  was 
placed  in  the  army  of  the  Potomac,  under  Gen. 
Banks.  He  fought  at  Winchester,  Va.,  and 
at  Cedar  Mountain;  he  was  also  at  the  second 
battle  of  Bull  Run;  was  at  Antietam,  w'here 
his  corps  commander,  Gen.  Mansfield,  lost  his 
life,  and  Mr.  Hostetter  twice  struck  by  bullets; 
was  next  at  Chancellorsville,  and  at  Gettys- 
burg. In  July,  1863,  his  regiment  assisted  in 
subduing  the  New  York  draft  riots,  and  in  Sep- 
tember was  sent  back  to  the  army  of  the  Po- 
tomac at  the  river  Rapidan.  He  w'as  then 
sent  west  and  was  at  Chattanooga,  in  the  siege 
of  Atlanta,  and  at  the  battle  of  Resaca,  at 
New  Hope  church,  and  in  skirmishes  innumer- 
able. His  war  service  lasted  over  three  years, 
and  his  bravery  has  been  recognized  by  the 
government  with  a pension  of  $8  per  month; 
but  the  tardy  recognition  was  not  made  until 
1890.  His  comrades,  however,  since  his  re- 
turn home,  have  not  failed  to  recall  his  meri- 
torious conduct  in  the  field.  By  them  he  was 
elected  the  first  commander  of  Antietam  post. 
No.  524,  G.  A.  R.,  at  Jamestown,  Ind.,  which 
membership  was  later  transferred  to  Advance, 
where  his  worth  was  again  acknowledged,  and 
he  was  placed  in  the  same  position,  which  he 


still  holds,  an  honor  seldom  granted  by  the  G. 
A.  R.  The  many  battles  in  which  Mr.  Hos- 
tetter took  part  are  matters  of  history,  and  the 
details  of  each  heroic  contest  are  too  numer- 
ous to  be  related  in  the  limited  scope  of  the 
biographies  intended  to  be  given  in  this  vol- 
ume. William  H.  Hostetter  was  married  Oc- 
tober 19,  1870,  to  Miss  Margaret  A.,  daughter 
of  Abram  and  Ann  fSanderson)  Nicely,  and 
they  at  once  went  to  housekeeping  on  their 
present  farm  of  240  acres  in  Boone  county. 
They  have  had  born  to  them  a family  of  three 
children,  named  as  follows:  Neva  E.,  Harry 
L.  and  Anita,  who  have  all  received  an  excel- 
lent education,  Harry  L. , especially,  being  in- 
tended for  a college  course.  Mr.  Hostetter  is 
the  only  republican  who  ever  held  the  office  of 
trustee  in  his  township,  and  has  held  that  of- 
fice three  terms. 


^^AMUEL  T.  HOOK,  farmer  and  ex- 
j soldierof  Washington  township,  Boone 

I ^ y county,  Ind. , was  born  in  Bartholomew 
county,  Ind.,  September  9,  1842.  The 
parents  were  Matthias  M.  and  Amanda  M.  (Ja- 
(]ues)  Hook,  who  were  among  the  early  pioneers 
of  Indiana  The  father  died  at  Indianapolis,  De- 
cember 9,  1880,  at  the  age  of  seventy-two 
years;  the  mother  still  survives  and  resides  at  In- 
dianapolis, enjoying  the  ripe  old  age  of  eighty- 
three.  They  were  the  parents  of  eleven 
children,  viz:  Paulina,  William  H.,  John  W., 
Eot  E.,  Erancis  M.,  Samuel  T.,  Mary  C., 
Martha  A.,  Sarah  E.,  Lousia  J.,  and  Lodoska, 
all  deceased  except  Martha  A.,  Samuel  T.  and 
Sarah  E. 

Samuel  T.  Hook  was  married  in  Hancock 
county,  Ind.,  October  13,  1864,  to  Sarah  A., 
daughter  of  Louis  and  Phoebe  (Bennett)  Burke, 
both  natives  of  Ohio  and  of  English_and  Irish 
extraction.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Burke  were  among  the 
early  settlers  of  Hancock  county,  Ind.,  and  were 


842 


BIOGRAPHICAL  HLSTORY 


theparentsof  twelve  children,  viz;  Nancy,  de- 
ceased; Rachael  T.,  deceased;  Sophia,  de- 
ceased; Amanda,  deceased;  Samuel  L.  and 
Sarah  A.;  Phcebe  E. , deceased;  Lemmon  O.  ; 
Elizabeth  A.  (deceased)  and  Temperance  V., 
twins;  MaryL. , and  John  L.,  deceased.  Mrs. 
Hook  was  born  in  Hancock  comity,  Ind.,  Oc- 
tober 13,  1844.  In  1887  Mr.  Hook  settled  on 
the  farm  on  which  he  now  lives,  and  where  he 
has  resided  since.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Hook  are 
the  parents  of  two  children,  viz;  Frank  M., 
born  April  ii,  1866,  married  Miss  Nina  J. 
Beck  and  resides  in  Indianapolis;  he  is' private 
secretary  for  Mr.  VanWinkle,  the  general  su- 
perintendent of  the  C.,  C.,  C.  & St.  L.  R.  R. ; 
Glenn  H.,  born  March  28,  1870,  and  married 
to  J.  Frank  Daily,  who  is  engaged  in  the  Leb- 
anon National  bank  and  resides  in  Lebanon. 
Mr.  and  Mr.  Hook  are  members  of  the 
Church  of  God.  On  August  9,  1862,  Mr.  Hook 
enlisted  in  company  B,  Seventy-ninth  Indiana 
volunteers,  and  served  until  the  battle  of  Stone 
River,  at  which  place  he  was  shot,  his  wound 
being  in  the  right  thigh  near  the  hip  joint, 
which  wound  disabled  him  for  further  service. 
He  was  honorably  discharged  May  7,  1863, 
and  now  draws  a pension  of  $24  per  month. 
Mr.  Hook  is  as  good  a citizen  as  he  was  a soldier, 
and  his  walk  through  life  has  given  full  evi- 
dence of  this  fact.  His  social  standing  is  with 
the  most  respectable  residents  of  the  county, 
and  there  are  but  few  people  in  the  township 
who  do  not  feel  a jiride  in  being  accpiainted 
with  his  family. 


DDISON  L.  HOWARD.— The  veteran 
soldiers  are  well  represented  in 
Boone  county,  and  we  are  pleased  to 
give  honorable  mention  of  another  of 
its  members.  Addison  L.  Howard  is  a promi- 
nent farmer  and  a respected  citizen  of  Boone 


county.  He  springs  from  an  old  colonial  Ameri- 
can family  of  Scotch  descent.  Twelve  brothers 
came  from  Scotlapd  to  the  United  States,  one 
of  whom — John — settled  in  Pennsylvania  and 
was  a soldier  in  the  war  of  the  Revolution. 
He  married  in  Pennsylvania,  and  was  one  of 
the  early  pioneers  of  Kentucky.  His  wife  was 
Margaret,  daughter  of  James  A.  Alexander,  of 
Mason  county,  Ky.,  of  which  union  there  were 
eight  children — Cynthia  A.  Mary  J.,  John  W., 
James  A,,  William  J.,  Henry  \V.,  Addison  L. 
and  Richard  W.  In  in  1836  Mr.  Howard 
moved  to  Boone  county,  Ind.,  and  camped  in 
the  woods  in  Clinton  township,  six  miles 
northeast  of  Lebanon.  He  entered  160  acres 
of  land  in  the  wilderness,  cleared  up  a farm 
and  became  a substantial  farmer  and  a thrifty 
and  well-to-do  man.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Howard 
were  members  of  the  Christian  church.  In 
political  opinions  he  was  an  old  time  whig 
until  the  war,  when  he  became  a republican 
and  strong  Union  man,  and  had  five  sons  in  the 
Civil  war;  John  W.,  was  in  company  I,  One 
Hundred  and  Twenty-fifth  regiment  Illinois 
volunteer  infantry,  served  through  the  war, 
and  was  in  all  the  battles  of  his  regiment; 
James  A.,  was  in  company  F,  Eighty-sixth 
regiment  Indiana  volunteer  infantry.  He  was 
an  orderly  sergeant  and  was  killed  in  the 
battle  of  Chickamauga  and  left  on  the  field; 
William  J.,  was  in  the  Twentieth  regiment 
Missouri  volunteer  infantry,  was  taken  pris- 
oner at  the  battle  of  Lexington,  Mo.,  when 
Mulligan  made  his  famous  defense  of  that  city; 
Henry  W.,  was  in  company  I,  Tenth  regiment 
Indiana  volunteer  infantry.  He  was  an 
ortlerly  sergeant,  served  three  years,  and  was 
in  all  the  battles  of  his  regiment.  Lor  military 
record  of  Addison  L.,  see  sketch  below. 
John  Howard,  the  father  of  this  family  of 
patriotic  soldiers,  lived  to  be  seventy-four 
years  of  age  and  died  on  his  farm  in  Boone 
county.  He  was  a good  business  man,  a hard- 


OF  BOONE  COUNTY. 


working,  pioneer  citizen,  and  very  industrious. 
It  is  not  too  much  to  say  of  him  that  his  word 
was  as  good  as  his  bond. 

Addison  L.  Howard  was  born  in  Clinton 
township,  Boone  county,  June  26,  1840.  He 
received  a good  common,  education  and  at  the 
age  of  twenty-one  years  enlisted  in  company 
A,  Eighty-sixth  regiment  Indiana  volunteer 
infantry,  at  Lebanon,  on  August  ii,  1862, 
under  Capt.  Aaron  Frazee,  for  three  years  or 
during  the  war,  and  served  until  honorably  dis- 
charged, June  15,  1865,  at  Nashville,  Tenn. 
He  was  in  the  battles  of  Perryville,  Nashville, 
Chickamauga,  Missionary  Ridge,  and  was  in 
Sherman’s  famous  Atlanta  campaign.  (See 
sketch  of  Jesse  Neff.)  He  was  in  the  battles 
of  Jonesboro,  Spring  Hill,  Columbia  and 
Nashville,  Tenn.  Mr.  Howard  was  not  in  a 
hospital,  was  neither  wounded  nor  a prisoner, 
but  served  actively  with  his  company  and  was 
in  all  its  battles  and  skirmishes.  After  the  war 
he  returned  to  Boone  county.  He  had  mar- 
ried, November  3,  1861,  Sarah,  daughter  of 
Solomon  and  Elizabeth  (Greenwell)  Bartlett. 
To  the  union  of  Mr.  and  Mrs  Howard  were 
born  six  children — Mollie,  Lizzie,  Olive,  Arthur 
and  Luther  (twins)  and  Lois.  Luther  died  an 
infant. 

Mr.  Howard  settled  on  a farm  in  Center 
township  and  became  a prosperous  farmer, 
owning  220  acres  of  fine  land  and  valuable 
real  estate  in  Lebanon.  He  votes  for  the 
party  who  protected  him  as  a soldier  and  who 
carried  on  the  war — the  republican  party.  He 
has  always  enjoyed  the  confidence  of  the  peo- 
ple and  has  been  held  in  high  esteem  by  his 
neighbors.  He  is  a member  of  the  G.  A.  R. , 
Rich  Mountain  post,  Lebanon,  and  also  a mem- 
ber of  the  I.  O.  O.  F.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Howard 
are  members  of  the  Christian  church.  The 
Howards  are  truly  one  of  the  patriotic  families 
of  Boone  county.  It  is  seldom  that  five  sons 


848 


of  any  one  family  are  soldiers  in  the  same  war, 
and  the  record  of  their  services  should  be 
handed  down  in  the  family  from  generation  to 
generation  as  a lesson  in  patriotism  to  their 
descendants.  There  is  no  man  in  Boone  coun- 
ty that  is  deservedly  moi'e  popular  than  Addi- 
son L.*  Howard.  He  is  a capable  and  straight- 
forward business  man  of  an  energetic  and  ac- 
tive disposition.  He  has  accumulated  a hand- 
some property  by  his  own  exertions,  and  his 
integrity  is  unimpeached. 


OHN  a.  HYSONG  is  one  of  the  re- 
spected and  prominent  farmers  of  Jef- 
ferson township,  Boone  county,  Ind., 
and  a veteran  soldier  in  the  Civil  war. 
His  grandfather,  Peter  Hysong,  came  from 
Germany,  bringing  his  wife  and  settling  on 
land  in  Maryland.  His  children  were  John, 
Peter,  Adam,  Jacob,  Kate  and  Polly,  all  born 
in  America.  At  an  early  day  Mr.  Hysong 
moved  to  Kentucky  and  settled  in  Fleming 
county,  where  he  became  a prosperous  farmer 
and  miller;  he  lived  to  be  an  aged  man  and 
died  in  I'leming  county.  Peter  Hysong,  son 
of  the  above  and  father  of  our  subject,  was 
born  in  Maryland  in  1799,  and  was  brought  by 
his  parents,  when  young,  to  Fleming  county, 
Ky.  He  learned  the  wheelwright  and  wagon- 
maker’s  trade,  and  married,  in  Kentucky,  Mary, 
daughter  of  Samuel  and  Margaret  Burk.  Mr. 
Burk  was  an  old  settler  of  Fleming  county, 
Ky.,  and  a prosperous  man.  To  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Hysong  were  born  nine  children:  John, 
Aaron,  Stephen,  Samuel,  Margaret,  Sarah, 
Huldah,  Elizabeth  and  Susan. 

Mr.  Hysong  moved  to  Indiana  in  1828-9, 
and  settled  in  Putnam  county,  and  went  from 
there  to  P'ountain  county,  about  1830.  He 
afterward  lived  in  Montgomery  county.  When 
he  came  to  Boone  county,  about  1840,  he  lo- 


BIOGRAPHICAL  HISTORY 


nu 


cated  on  land  in  Center  township,  and  finally 
settled  on  land  in  Harrison  township,  where  he 
died,  a^ed  about  sixty-one  years.  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Hysong  were  members  of  the  Methodist 
church.  He  voted  the  republican  ticket  and 
was  justice  of  the  peace,  in  Harrison  township, 
rom  eif^ht  to  twelve  years.  He  was  a very 
resjiectable  man  and  brou>.(ht  uj)  a good  family 
of  children.  Three  of  his  sons  were  in  the 
Civil  war:  John  A.,  the  subject  of  this  sketch; 
Aaron  H.,  in  company  A,  Eighty-sixth  regiment, 
Indiana  volunteer  infantry,  was  transferred  to 
the  marine  brigade,  served  to  the  close  of  the 
war  and  was  in  many  battles;  Stephen  C.  was 
in  company  A,  Eighty-sixth  regiment,  Indiana 
volunteer  infantry,  and  died  suddenly  in  camp, 
soon  after  the  battle  of  Stone  River.  His 
company  went  into  that  battle  with  thirty  men 
and  lost  all  but  three. 

John  A.  Hysong  was  born  in  Fountain 
county,  Ind.,  July  14,  1831,  and  was  about 
nine  years  of  age  when  his  father  moved 
to  Boone  county.  He  received  his  edu- 
cation in  the  common  district  school  and 
learned  the  wagon-maker’s  trade  at  which  he 
worked  until  the  war  broke  out.  Mr.  Hysong 
was  united  in  marriage,  October  30,  1856,  to 
Elenor,  daughter  of  Robert  and  Nancy  Burns. 
The  Burns  family  are  of  Irisli  descent  and  the 
Cnnninghams  of  Scotch  descent.  Robert  Burns 
was  a prominent  farmer  of  Center  township, 
where  he  settled  in  1836.  John  and  Elenor 
Hysong  had  born  to  them  eight  children: 
Charles  P. , Albert  R.,  John  L.,  Harry  H., 
Cora  B.,Mary  M.,  Dessie  M.  and  Ered  Grant. 
Mr.  Hysong  enlisted  in  company  A,  Eighty-sixth 
regiment  Indiana  volunteer  infantry,  August  1, 
1862,  at  Lebanon,  and  served  until  honorably 
discharged  July  2,  1865.  He  was  in  the  battle 
of  Perry\ille  and  many  skirmishes.  After  the 
battle  of  Perryville  he  was  taken  sick  and  was 
in  hosi)ital  three  months,  after  which  ho  was 
on  detached  duty.  After  the  close  of  the  war 


he  returned  to  Center  township,  Boone  county, 
Ind.,  where  he  bought  a home  in  1871. 
In  1881  he  moved  to  Jefferson  township, 
where  he  now  owns  a fine,  fertile  farm  of  145 
acres,  beautifully  situated  close  to  Hazelrigg. 
He  has  drained  this  farm  thoroughly,  made 
good  improvements,  and  now  enjoys  a pleas- 
ant, attractive  home. 

Mr.  Hysong  takes  an  active  interest  in  pol- 
itics, but  would  never  hold  office.  He  was  an 
old-time  whig  and  one  of  the  original  republi- 
cans of  Boone  county,  to  which  political  faith 
he  still  firmly  adheres,  voting  with  the  same 
unswerving  loyalty  with  which  he  served  his 
country  in  time  of  need,  during  that  greatest 
war  in  history,  and  he  states  with  pride  that 
he  has  reared  no  democrat.  He  is  a practical, 
industrious  farmer,  respected  citizen,  and  stands 
high  for  his  integrity  and  other  manly  character- 
istics. Three  of  Mr.  Hysong’s  children  are  mar- 
ried. Charles  P.  is  a member  of  Boone  lodge. 
No.  9,  Lebanon,  F.  and  A.  M.  He  married 
Bell,  daughter  of  Noah  Regan.  He  is  a farmer 
of  Harrison  townshiji,  and  they  are  the  parents 
of  fourchildren:  John  P. , Pearl,  Ruby  and  Fern 
Grace.  Cora  B.  married  John  T.  Abanathy, 
a farmer;  now  deceased  and  leaving  two  chil- 
dren as  the  fruit  of  this  union,  Mabel  and  Nel- 
lie. Mary  M.  married  Abraham  S.  Taylor,  a 
farmer  of  Jefferson  township.  The  three  chil- 
dren born  to  them  were  Fred,  Earl  and  Ruth. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Hysong  are  Presb3’terians, 
and  their  son  Charles  P.  and  wife  are  mem- 
bers of  the  Methodist  church  ; Mary  M.  is  a 
Presbyterian,  of  which  church  Dessie  M.  is 
also  a member  and  the  organist.  She  is  a fine 
and  natural  musician.  The  home  of  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Hysong  is  brightened  by  the  drphaned 
grandchildren,  Mabel  and  Nellie,  who,  with 
their  mother,  reside  with  them.  John  Hy- 
song is  a member  of  Boone  lodge.  No.  9,  h'. 
and  A.  M.,  is  also  a member  of  Lebanon 
chapter.  No.  39,  Royal  Arch. 


OF  BOONE  COUNTY. 


845 


HOMAS  H.  IRICK  is  a respected  and 
well  known  citizen  of  Marion  town- 
ship, Boone  county,  Ind.  He  came 
from  a mixture  of  Irish  and  Dutch 
ancestors.  His  father  was  John  R.  Irick,  who 
was  born  in  Virginia,  1808.  His  brother’s 
name  was  David,  and  he  had  a sister  Cather- 
ine who  married  a man  named  Rhodeheffer. 
John  R.  Irick  settled  in  Muskingum  county, 
Ohio,  but  moved  in  1848  to  Eagle  town- 
ship, west  of  Zionsville,  Boone  county,  Ind., 
where  he  bought  280  acres,  adding  to  it  till  he 
had  355  acres.  His  first  wife  lived  but  about 
eleven  months,  and  her  name  is  not  known. 
His  second  marriage  was  to  Celia  H.  Scho- 
field, and  the  following  children  were  born  to 
them:  Hannah  F.,  married  George  Goodnight 
and  lives  in  Kansas;  Jane,  married  Elias 
Bishop;  of  Kansas;  Thomas  H. ; Elizabeth, 
died  aged  about  thirty-five  years;  Sarah  A., 
married  Henry  F.  Goodby,  who  is  now  dead; 
Mary  E.  married  S.  B.  Crane,  a prominent 
farmer  of  Union  township,  Boone  county,  Ind.  ; 
Catherine  married,  March  6,  i860,  Jesse 

Smith,  an  attorney  of  Zionsville,  Ind.  ; she  died 
October  30,  1893;  John  W.  married  — Fore- 
man; he  died  in  1876;  Isabel,  married  James 
S.  Wood;  David  A.,  married  Mary  J.  Wing; 
Amanda,  died  aged  fourteen;  William,  died 
young.  Mr.  Irick’s  second  wife  died  Novem- 
ber 5,  1853.  His  third  marriage  was  to  Mrs. 
Mary  J.  (May)  Miller,  and  this  marriage  was 
blessed  by  the  following  children:  Allen  W., 
Ida  May,  Silas  J.,  Dora,  Alvin,  James,  Nora, 
Alice  and  Claude.  This  Mrs.  Irick,  when  left 
a widow,  married  a Mr.  Vermillion  and  moved 
to  Texas.  John  R.  Irick  was  a man  of  energy, 
industrious,  and  quite  a trader  in  land.  He 
engaged  extensively  in  stock  raising.  He 
formerly  belonged  to  the  Methodist  church, 
but,  on  coming  to  Indiana,  joined  the  Christian 
society.  He  was  justice  of  the  peace  for  four 
years,  and  at  that  time  that  officer  had  charge 


of  overseeing  the  poor.  He  was  a stanch  old- 
line  whig,  afterward  joining  the  republican 
party.  He  was  noted  for  his  punctuality  and 
promptness,  and  his  word  was  as  good  as  his 
bond.  He  died  November  18,  1877,  and  was 
buried  in  Salem  cemetery.  Union  township. 

Thomas  H.  Irick,  born  November  20, 
1834,  in  Perry  county,  Ohio,  was  reared  a 
farmer’s  boy,  living  at  home  till  twenty  years 
of  age,  when  he  went  to  Missouri,  thence 
came  to  Indiana,  making  his  trip  in  one  year. 
February  8,  1855,  he  married  Eliza  A.  Roberts, 
born  October  25,  1834.  Their  children  were 
Mary  J.,  born  January  5,  1856;  JohnN.,  born 
November  19,  1857;  Francis  I.,  born  August 

29,  1859;  William  T. , born  June  6,  1862; 

David  W , born  March  27,  1866.  After  mar- 
riage he  farmed  until  1862,  when  he  erected  a 
shingle  factory  south  and  west  of  Zionsville, 
which  he  operated  for  eight  years.  He  then 
purchased  his  present  farm  of  twenty  acres. 
He  went  to  Kansas  in  1870,  coming  again  to 
Indiana.  His  wife  having  died,  he  married, 
January  27,  1877,  Mrs.  Charlotte  (Kimble) 

Cornell,  born  January  6,  1827,  being  the 

widow  of  Thomas  Cornell,  born  in  Butler 
county,  Ohio.  Their  family  consisted  of 
William,  born  February  25,  1844;  Mary  A., 
born  August  21,  1846;  Sarah  T.,  born  March 

30,  1850;  Joseph,  born  September  21,  1852, 

died  June,  1878;  Isaac,  born  August  16,  1854, 
died  June  12,  1880;  James  R.,  born  June  30, 
1861;  Della  W.,  born  October  ii,  1864,  died 
September  27,  1868,  and  Susan  M.,  born 

April  2,  1867.  Mrs.  (Cornell)  Irick’s  father 
was  Joseph  Kimble,  born  November  6,  1805, 
in  Hamilton  county,  Ohio;  he  was  a Methodist, 
a democrat,  and  a farmer  owning  200  acres  of 
land.  He  was  a man  of  jovial  disposition,  of 
exceedingly  fine  appearance,  and  took  delight 
in  being  well  dressed  and  looking  well.  He 
was  married  March  20,  1 826,  to  Mary  Boatman, 
born  December  7,  1827,  in  Butler  county, 


BIOGRAPHICAL  HISTORY 


840 


Ohio.  He  died  August  37,  1864.  Their 
desceudauts  were  Charlotte,  boru  January  6, 
1827;  Sarah  A.,  born  September  27,  1828; 
James  IT,  boru  January  8,  1831.  James 
Boatman’s  wife  was  Ann  Mills,  daughter 
of  Sarah  Mills.  She  was  a doctress,  noted  for 
her  skill,  considered  a splendid  shot  with  a 
rifle,  and  (juite  a hunter.  She  came  from 
Pennsylvania.  T.  H.  Irick,  for  twenty  years 
at  odd  times  has  worked  at  the  carpenter’s 
hench;  engaged  for  six  years  in  keeping  good 
horses  and  Jacks  for  stock  purposes,  but  as 
that  became  unprofitable  he  returned  to  the 
carpenter’s  trade.  He  erected  his  frame  resi- 
dence, which  is  roomy  and  commodious,  and 
makes  a very  tasty  appearance.  They  use 
natural  gas  in  their  home.  He  is  a man  of 
social  qualities  and  belongs  to  the  Horse  Thief 
Detective  association,  atTerhune,  Ind.  About 
1872  he  became  a Mason  and  joined  Fidelity 
lodge.  No.  365,  P'.  & A.  M.,  and  filled  for 
four  years  the  office  of  treasurer.  He  has  also 
belonged  to  the  I.  O.  R.  M.  at  Zionsville, 
Ind.  Politically  he  is  a people’s  party  man. 


ARY  A.  ISENHOUR.  -This  lady  is 
H 1 I settlers  of  Boone 

^ county,  who  managed  the  farm 
many  years  after  the  death  of  her  hus- 
band -Noah  Isenhour — who  was  horn  March 
19,  1821,  in  east  Tennessee,  Cocke  county. 

He  was  the  son  of  Martin  Isenhour,  who  came 
from  Germany,  bringing  his  wife,  Catherine, 
and  several  children.  They  were  the  parents 
of  ten  children — John,  Elizabeth,  George,  Con- 
rad, Moses,  Noah,  Simeon,  David,  Helena, 
and  one  daughter  who  died  young.  Mr.  Isen- 
hour had  a good  farm  in  Cocke  county,  Tenn., 
was  an  industrious,  resi)ected  citizen,  and  lived 
to  be  an  aged  man.  He  was  a member  of  the 
Eutheran  church,  to  which  his  wife  also  be- 
longed. 


Noah  Isenhour,  the  husband  of  our  subject, 
was  reared  a farmer,  received  a common  edu- 
cation and  married  in  Cocke  county,  Tenn., 
P'ebruary  14,  1843,  Mary  A. , daughter  of  Isaac 
and  Elizabeth  (Simmsj  Boyer.  Mr.  Boyer  was 
an  old  settler  of  Cocke  county,  Tenn.,  of  Penn- 
sylvania Dutch  stock,  and  the  father  of  a regular 
pioneer  family  of  fifteen  children — William, 
Mary  A.,  Charles — died  at  thirteen  years  of 
age — Peter — died  at  three  years  of  age  — 
James,  Jane,  Nelson,  David,  Jackson — died 
young  — Creed,  Sarah,  Martha,  Catherine, 
Jonah  and  Harriet.  Mr.  Boyer  died  in  Cocke 
county,  an  old  man.  He  was  a very  industri- 
ous, hard-working  farmer  of  Tennessee,  and  of 
honorable  Christian  character,  and  an  old-time 
whig  in  political  opinions.  After  marriage, 
Mr.  and  Mrs,  Isenhour  settled  on  land  in  Cocke 
county,  Tenn.,  and  farmed  there  for  about 
eleven  years.  August  31,  1853,  they  came  to 
Indiana  and  settled  on  a farm  of  160  acres  one 
month  later.  This  land  was  covered  with 
heavy  timber,  with  not  a stick  amiss.  A clear- 
ing had  to  be  made  in  which  to  build  a log 
I cabin,  and  Mr.  Isenhour,  through  hard  work 
and  unceasing  perseverance,  finally  cleared  up 
a good  farm,  which  he  continued  to  improve 
with  vigorous  industry,  injuring  himself  there- 
by, and  causing  his  death  at  the  comparative 
early  age  of  fifty-three  years,  January  26,  1874. 
He  was  a republican  and  a strong  Union  man 
during  the  war.  He  was  a Eutheran  in  relig- 
ious convictions,  of  which  church  Mrs.  Isen- 
hour is  also  a member.  Mr.  Isenhour  was 
an  honorable  man,  much  respected,  and  he  and 
Mrs.  Isenhour  were  the  parents  of  eleven  chil- 
dren - W'illiam,  Catherine,  Isaac,  George, 
EouisaJ.,  lUizabeth,  Mary,  David,  Martha, 
Amanda  and  Josej)!!,  who  died  at  thirteen 
years  of  age.  After  the  death  of  her  hushand, 
our  subject  mauageil  the  farm  with  great  in- 
dustry and  worked  hard  to  bring  up  her  large 
family  of  children.  She  was  verily  a light  to 


OF  BOONE  COUNTY. 


347 


their  footsteps.  Thirty-nine  children  have 
called  her  grandmother,  thirty-three  of  whom 
are  now  living.  Of  the  original  homestead, 
Mrs.  Isenhour  has  divided  eighty  acres  among 
her  children,  and  sold  one  acre,  and  still  has  a 
snug  home  of  seventy-nine  acres.  She  is  now 
a member  of  the  U.  B.  church.  To  such 
women  as  Mrs.  Isenhour  the  community  owes 
a deep  debt  of  gratitude.  She  was  a faithful 
mother,  and  spared  no  pains  in  impressing  the 
principles  of  truth  and  honesty  into  the  minds 
of  her  children,  who  are  now  numbered  among 
our  most  respected  citizens. 

Isaac  Isenhour,  son  of  above  and  a patron 
of  this  work,  now  manages  the  home  farm. 
He  was  born  December  27,  1847,  o”  his 

father’s  farm  in  Cocke  county,  Tenn.,  and 
was  si.x  years  of  age  when  the  family  came  to 
Boone  county,  in  1853.  He  received  a com- 
mon education,  was  reared  a farmer  and  mar- 
ried Margaret,  daughter  of  Benjamin  and 
Catherine  (Immel)  Hancock.  Mr.  Hancock 
was  one  of  the  pioneers  and  substantial  farm- 
ers of  Boone  county.  To  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Isen- 
hour have  been  born  four  children:  Martha  A., 
Rosa  B.,  Mildred  A.  and  George  F.  Martha 
married  Ora  Ottinger,  a farmer  of  Worth 
township,  this  county.  Rosa  B.  married  John 
Laughner,  a shipping  clerk  in  a wholesale  con- 
fectionery establishment  in  Indianapolis. 
Mildred  A.  married  Isaac  Rader,  a farmer  of 
this  township.  Mrs.  Isaac  Isenhour  departed 
this  life  October  28,  1881.  Both  husband 
and  wife  were  devout  members  of  the  U.  B. 
church.  Mr.  Isenhour  was  one  of  the  found- 
ers of  the  U.  B.  church  in  Center  township. 
He  attended  the  first  meeting  ever  held  in  the 
township,  by  the  Rev.  Win.  Forbes,  a U.  B. 
minister  who  preached  for  some  time  in  the 
homes  of  the  settlers.  He  has  been  a mem- 
ber of  this  church  since  he  w'as  eighteen,  a 
period  of  nearly  thirty  years.  He  has  always 
taken  a great  interest  in  the  prosperity  of  his 


church  and  has  been  class  leader  for  many 
years  and  steward  for  three  terms.  He  is  now 
Sunday-school  superintendent  and  chorister, 
having  a good  voice  for  singing  and  a thor- 
ough knowledge  of  church  music,  and  is 
now  training  a choir  of  children  and  young 
people  in  music,  for  children’s  day,  a beautiful 
celebration  of  the  U.  B.  church.  Mr.  Isen- 
hour has  lived  to  see  his  church  grow  strong 
from  humble  beginnings,  and  has  the  satisfac- 
tion of  seeing  all  his  children  members  of  this 
church,  which  he  has  always  liberally  aided 
with  his  means,  and  assisted  to  build  the  pres- 
ent U.  B.  church  in  his  neighborhood,  and 
hewed  the  first  stick  of  timber  and  put  to- 
gether the  entire  frame  of  the  edifice.  For 
two  years  he  has  taught  the  young  ladies’ 
class  in  Sunday-school.  All  of  his  children 
inherited,  fi'om  himself  and  his  mother,  musi- 
cal talent  and  fine  voices.  Politically  he  is  a 
stanch  republican;  he  is  a practical  farmer, 
and  is  highly  esteemed  for  his  Christian  char- 
acter bv  all  who  know'  him. 


ISAAC  J.  ISENHOUR.  — Worth  township 
boasts,  among  its  citizens,  a number  of 
the  leading  men  of  Boone  county,  with 
whom  it  is  proper  to  class  Isaac  J.  Is- 
enhour, a prominent  farmer  and  stock  raiser 
and  a man  of  much  popularity  wherever  known. 
Mr.  Isenhour  w'as  born  in  Monroe  county, 
Ind.,  on  the  fifth  day  of  January,  1841,  and  is 
a descendant  of  an  old  and  highly  respectable 
North  Carolina  family,  several  members  of 
which  emigrated  to  Tennessee  about  the  year 
1816.  His  grandparents,  John  and  Eive  Isen- 
hour, left  Tennessee  a number  of  years  ago, 
emigrating  to  Indiana  and  settling  in  Monroe 
county  about  1832,  and  Mrs.  Isenhour  died 
there  some  years  later;  subsequently  John  Is- 
enhour came  to  Boone  county  and  died  at  the 
residence  of  one  of  his  sons.  John  and  Eve 


BIOGRAPHICAL  HISTORY 


:h8 


Iscphour  luul  a family  of  twelve  children, 
namely:  Lli/abetli,  Peter,  Catherine,  Georget 
|olm,  Polly,  Philip,  Caleb,  Jonathan,  Susan, 
Lavina  and  Martin. 

Jonathan  Isenhour  was  born  in  North  Car- 
olina, November  15,  1815,  and  was  brought 
b\'  his  parents  from  Tennessee  to  Monroe 
county,  Ind.,  in  his  boyhood.  He  married,  in 
the  county  of  Monroe,  November  9,  1837, 

Margaret  Whiesand,  who  was  born  December 
22,  1818,  in  Virginia.  Mrs.  Isenhour's  parents 
were  pioneers  of  Indiana,  moving  to  this  state  j 
when  she  was  quite  young.  In  the  year  1848,  | 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Jonathan  Isenhour  moved  to  [ 
Boone  county,  since  which  date  they  have  been  j 
well  known  and  honored  residents  of  Worth 
township,  in  the  growth  and  development  of 
which  they  have  borne  no  insignificant  part. 
.Mr.  Isenhour  is  a large  land  owner,  having  250 
acres  in  Worth  township  beside  valuable  prop- 
erty at  Wdiitestown,  where  he  now  makes  his 
home.  The  folhjwing  are  the  names  of  their 
children;  Rebecca  L. , Isaac  J.,  John  E., 
George  W. , James,  William  W.,  Irllen,  Ma- 
tilda, Jonathan  and  Samuel,  of  whom  three 
died  in  infancy.  The  father  of  this  family, 
Jonathan,  died  at  his  home  .\ugust  9,  1894, 
deeply  lamented  by  his  family  and  neighbors. 

Isaac  J.  Isenhour  grew  to  manhood  in  In- 
diana, and  his  educational  training  embraced 
the  curriculum  of  the  common  schools,  which 
he  attended  during  certain  seasons  previous  to 
his  twenty-first  year.  On  the  eighth  day  of 
August,  1861,  he  entered  intc^  the  marriage  re- 
lation with  Sallie  C.  Laiighner,  who  was  born 
August  31,  1844,  in  Clinton  county,  Ind.,  the 
daughter  of  Whlliam  J.  and  Catherine  (Har- 
mon) Laughner.  Mr.  Isenhour,  shortly  after 
his  marriage,  engaged  in  farming  on  his  father’s 
place  for  a part  of  the  ju'oceeds,  and,  after  re- 
siding updii  the  same  about  four  years,  juir- 
chased  twenty  acri;s  adjoining,  where  he  re- 
mained for  a limiti'd  period  and  then  bought 


and  settled  upon  his  present  home  place  in 
Worth  township.  Mrs.  Isenhour  died  June  23, 
1877,  and  on  March  7 of  the  year  following 
Mr.  Isenhour  was  united  in  marriage  to  Mrs. 
Sarah  E.  Larimore,  vvidow  of  Jeremiah  Lari- 
j more  and  daughter  of  John  and  Priscilla  (Du- 
lin)  Earimore;  Mrs.  Isenhour  is  a native  of 
Boone  county,  where  she  was  born  on  the  si.x- 
leenth  day  of  August,  1843.  i^y  h’S  first  mar- 
riage Mr.  Isenhour  had  one  child,  Zulia  E., 
whose  birth  occurred  October  24,  1869. 

As  already  stated,  Mr.  Isenhour  is  one  of 
the  leading  farmers  and  stock  raisers  of  Worth 
township,  and  his  home  farm,  consisting  of 
123,^  acres,  is  highly  improved  and  supplied 
with  all  the  adjuncts  necessary  to  render  rural 
life  agreeable.  He  is  a member  of  the  Masonic 
fraternity  and  with  his  wife  belongs  to  the  reg- 
ular Baptist  church,  at  Mounts  Run. 


IRENEUS  ISENHOUR,  of  Perry  town- 
ship, Boone  county,  Ind.,  was  born 
in  Cocke  county,  Tenn.,  April  ii, 
1842,  a son  of  Coonrad  and  Eva  (Ot- 
tinger)  Isenhour.  Coonrad  was  born  in  North 
Carolina  in  1818  and  was  a son  of  Martin  and 
Catherine  (Null)  Isenhour,  also  natives  of 
North  Carolina,  of  German  descent,  and  the 
parents  of  ten  children,  viz:  Betsey,  George, 
John,  Coonrad,  Moses,  Noah,  David,  Lena, 
Simeon  and  Catherine.  The  father,  Martin, 
lived  to  be  ninety-throe  years  old,  and  his  wife 
to  be  eighty.  Both  were  members  of  the 
Eutheran  church.  Coonrad  was  about  eight 
years  old  when  taken  to  Tennessee  by  his  par- 
ents, where  he  was  reared  and  was  married, 
and  where  he  died  in  1854,  the  father  of  eleven 
children,  vi/:  Martin,  who  died  of  fever  while 
seizing  in  the  Eoiirth  'rennessee  infantry,  at 
the  age  of  twenty-eight ; Jacob,  Ireneus,  Paul, 
Erancis,  Sarah,  Harriet,  I'ronie,  Alice,  Til- 
man  and  Rachel.  The  mother  still  resiiies  on 


OF  BOONE  COUNTY. 


840 


the  old  homestead  of  300  acres  in  Tennessee, 
at  the  age  of  seventy-six,  and  is  a Lutheran,  as 
was  her  husband.  Coonrad  was  a republican, 
and  prior  to  the  formation  of  that  party  was  a 
know-nothing.  He  was  a strong  Union  man, 
and  was  robbed  of  over  $7,000  worth  of  prop- 
erty during  the  late  war  by  the  rebels,  who 
also  captured  himself,  and  were  about  to 
hang  hinr  for  the  reason  that  his  sons  had 
joined  the  Union  forces,  but  he  was  saved  by 
the  intervention  of  friends,  of  whom  he  had  a 
great  number.  There  were  nine  of  his  chil- 
dren living  at  the  time  of  his  death,  to  each  of 
whom  he  gave  $1,200,  and  to  his  widow  he 
bequeathed  his  300-acre  farm  and  $500 in  cash. 
He  was  a man  of  considerable  consequence  in 
his  time,  as  well  as  of  versatility;  was  commis- 
sioner three  different  times,  practiced  dentistry 
and  phlebotomy  for  his  neighbors,  was  an 
elder  in  his  church,  and  a liberal  contributor  to 
its  support,  as  well  as  to  the  aid  of  every 
deserving  enterprise. 

Ireneus  Isenhour  remained  on  his  father’s 
farm  until  twenty  years  old,  when  he  married, 
in  Cocke  county,  Tenn.,  January  i,  1862, 
Miss  Caroline  Easterly,  who  w'as  born  in  that 
county  June  ii,  1841,  a daughter  of  Philip 
and  Elizabeth  (Nease)  Easterly.  In  Novem- 
ber of  the  same  year  Mr.  Isenhour,  in  com- 
pany with  his  brother  Jacob,  enlisted  in  the 
Eighth  Tennessee  (Union)  infantry,  then  at 
Camp  Nelson,  was  sworn  in  as  a recruiting 
officer,  returned  home  and  enlisted  110  men, 
whom  he  took  to  camp;  he  then  returned  to 
Cocke  county,  in  company  with  another  re- 
cruiting officer,  James  Kinser,  and  secured  140 
more  men.  He  remained  with  his  regiment 
until  September,  1863,  as  a recruiting  officer, 
and  then  joined  the  Third  Tennessee  mounted 
infantry  as  a private  and  was  elected  first  cor- 
poral; was  afterward  with  the  Eighth  Tennes- 
see, taking  part  in  all  of  the  marches  and  en- 
gagements of  both  until  the  close  of  the  winter 


of  1863,  when  he  was  mustered  out  of  service 
and  returned  to  his  own  county,  but  was  in 
hiding  in  a cave  near  his  own  home  for  six 
months  to  avoid  capture.  Eventually  escap- 
ing, he  joined  the  Third  Tennessee  infantry 
and  W'as  on  active  duty  until  mustered  out, 
November  22,  1864,  at  Knoxville.  He  then 
farmed  in  Cooke  county,  Tenn.,  until  the  fall 
of  1865,  when  he  came  to  Boone  county,  Ind., 
and  located  in  Worth  tow'nship,  w'here  he 
w'orked  by  the  day  tw'o  years,  then  bought 
forty  acres  in  Center  tow'nship  and  remained 
there  one  year;  then  came  to  Perry  tow'nship 
and  bought  a saw-mill  which  he  ran  three 
months;  then  engaged  in  stave  making  in 
Worth  tow'nship  one  year;  then  bought  fifty 
acres  east  of  Whitestow'ii;  sold  out  tw'o  years 
later  and  lived  on  rented  land  for  a year; 
then  built  a mansion  in  Whitestown  and  re- 
mained there  eighteen  months,  dealing  in 
staves;  then  passed  a year  on  a farm,  and 
then  bought  sixty  acres  w'here  he  now 
lives,  to  which  he  added  twenty  acres,  all 
now  w'ell  drained  and  otherwise  improved. 
To  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Isenhour  have  been  born 
nine  children,  viz  : Emma,  w-ife  of  James 
Eletcher;  Mary,  wife  of  P".  Scott;  Calvin; 
Ellen,  married  to  Charles  Burgess;  Laura, 
now'  Mrs.  A.  Jones;  Minerva,  Melvin,  Della 
and  Alineda.  The  family  are  members  of  the 
Methodist  Episcopal  church  and  are  greatly 
respected.  Mr.  Isenhour  is  township  prosecu- 
tor of  Worth  tow'nship,  and  the  G.  A.  R. 
claim  him  as  a member.  He  never  has  ap- 
plied for  a pension. 


II.LIAM  S.  JETT,  a prominent 
farmer  and  stock  raiser  of  Sugar 
Creek  township,  Boone  county,  Ind., 
of  which  he  is  a native,  was  born 
December  15,  1852.  The  Jett  family,  so  far 
as  known,  were  from  Kentucky,  in  w'hich  state 


BIOGRAPHICAL  HISTORY 


HfyO 


the  subject’s  grandfather,  Stephen  Jett,  was 
horn  and  reared.  Stephen  Jett  married,  in  his 
native  state,  Nancy  Gipson,  a Kentucky  lady 
who,  after  lier  husband’s  death,  came  to 
Boone  county  about  the  year  1827  and  with  her 
son  located  not  far  from  the  place  now  occu- 
pied by  the  subject  of  this  sketch.  Preston 
Jett,  father  of  William  S. , was  born  February 
6,  1S27,  in  Kentucky,  and  brought,  when  quite 
young,  to  Boone  county,  Imh,  grew  to  man- 
hood on  a farm  and  remained  with  his  mother 
until  her  death,  which  occurred  in  the  year 
1870.  He  married,  in  Boone  county,  Mary 
C.  Jessie,  who  was  born  November  27,  1829, 
the  daughter  of  Samuel  and  Catherine  (Porter) 
Je.ssie,  natives  of  Virginia  and  early  pioneers 
of  the  county  of  Boone.  To  the  marriage 
of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  jessie  were  born  eleven 
children — John,  Mary,  Martha,  Sarah,  Jane, 
Francis,  Flizabeth,  David,  Nancy,  Eveline 
and  Esteline.  Eour  children  were  born  to  the 
marriage  of  Preston  and  Mary  C.  Jett — 
William  S , Margaret  A.  (deceased),  Isaac  N., 
and  Samuel. 

William  S.  Jett  rettiained  with  his  parents, 
assisting  with  the  labors  of  the  farm  until  at- 
taining his  majority,  when  he  purchased  a 
place  within  a short  distance  of  the  old  home 
and  engaged  in  the  pursuit  of  agriculture  upon 
his  own  responsibility.  His  life  has  been  one 
of  great  activity,  and  his  success  in  his  chosen 
calling  has  been  commensurate  with  the  in- 
dustry and  energy  displayed  by  him  since  his 
early  youth.  He  married,  March  6,  1873, 

Hannah  M.  Blacker,  who  was  born  in  Clinton 
county,  Ind.,  October  20,  1853,  the  daughter 
of  Green  and  Isabelle  (Hinton)  Blacker,  to 
which  union  six  children  have  been  born, 
namely-  Norvell,  Curtis  E.,  Nina  M.,  Elorence, 
William  E.  and  Ossie.  Mr.  Jett  owns  a fine 
farm  of  209  acres,  adorned  with  good  improve- 
ments, and  he  is  classed  among  the  substantial 
citizens  of  Sugar  Creek  township.  11  is 


political  belief  is  in  harmony  with  the  demo- 
cratic party  and  he  is  an  active  worker  in  the 
Odd  I'ellows’  fraternity,  belonging  to  both 
subordinate  lodge  and  encampment.  He  and 
wife  are  members  of  the  Methodist  Protestant 
church,  in  which  they  are  both  highly  esteem- 
ed for  their  good  works.  Mrs.  Jett,  mother  of 
our  subject,  lives  with  her  two  younger  sons  on 
the  home  farm,  and  she  is  now  sixty-six  years 
of  age,  hale  and  hearty,  and  her  hospitable  ways 
have  endeared  her  to  the  hearts  of  a host  of 
friends. 


AMES  W.  JAMES,  one  of  the  respect- 
ed farmers  of  Center  township,  Boone 
county,  Ind.,  comes  from  Scotch, 
German  and  Irish  ancestry,  is  a native 
of  the  county  in  which  he  still  resides,  and 
was  born  November  i,  1845.  His  paternal 
grandfather  moved  from  Ahrginia  to  Nicholas 
county,  Ky. , when  quite  young,  and  his 
maternal  great-grandfather,  Jackson  Scott, 
came  from  Germany  and  settled  in  Virginia. 
The  latter  served  seven  years  in  the  war  of 
the  Revolution  under  Washington,  afterward 
located  in  Kentucky,  and  there  died  at  the 
advanced  age  of  no  years.  The  maternal 
grandfather,  John  Scott,  was  a native  of 
Kentucky  and  quite  a prominent  farmer  of 
Montgomery  county,  in  that  state.  John  J. 
James,  father  of  James  W.,  our  subject,  was 
born  in  Nicholas  county,  Ky.,  moved  thence 
to  Putnam  county,  Ind  , then  to  Boone 
county,  and  then,  in  1830,  to  Pulaski  county, 
Ind.  At  that  time  the  country  was  filled  with 
Indians  and  great  droves  of  deer  and  wild 
turkeys;  being  a pioneer,  he  assisted  in  the 
organization  of  Boone.  Ilis  death  took  place 
March  29,  185C.  David  James,  hrother  of 

John  J.,  was  one  of  the  early  preachers  of 
Boone  county,  and  but  seventeen  years  of  age 
when  he  began  his  ministerial  work;  another 
brother.  Elder  Stafford,  is  still  living. 


OF  BOONE  COUNTY. 


351 


James  W.  James  was  reared  on  his  father’s 
farm  and  educated  in  the  common  schools  of 
Boone  county.  At  the  youthful  age  of  seven- 
teen he  enlisted,  July  27,  1863.  in  company  G, 
One  Hundred  and  Sixteenth  regiment  Indiana 
infantry,  and  did  guard  duty  at  Dearborn,  Ind., 
thence  went  to  Detroit,  then  to  Cleveland, 
Ohio,  Nicholasville,  Ky, , and  then  made 
a long,  dry  and  hot  march  of  1 50  miles  to 
Granville,  Tenn. ; then  made  a march  of 
seventeen  days  to  Cumberland  Gap — the  worst 
experience  he  had  during  the  war — many  of  his 
comrades  dying  from  starvation  and  fatigue; 
the  next  march  was  a double-quick  through 
mud  and  water  to  Walker’s  Ford,  four  miles 
distant,  where  they  lay  on  their  arms  at  night 
in  their  wet  clothes.  Numerous  skirmishes 
were  had  about  this  time.  After  another 
march  of  125  miles  to  Nicholasville,  Ky. , 
and  having  been  laid  up  with  yellow  jaundice 
for  a time,  Mr.  James  was  honorably  discharged 
at  La  Fayette,  March  i,  1864.  He  next  en- 
listed May  2,  1864,  and  w'as  placed  on  guard 
duty  for  three  months  at  Bridgeport,  Ala., 
and  discharged  September  22,  1864;  his  next 
enlistment,  February  14,  1865,  was  in  the  One 
Hundred  and  Fiftieth  regiment,  and  he  saw 
service  at  Harper’s  Ferry,  Va. , and  Stephen- 
son’s Station;  w'as  taken  sick  with  catarrh, 
neuralgia,  liver  and  kidney  disorders  and  gen- 
eral debility;  was  sent  to  Cumberland,  Md., 
and  confined  to  hospital  sixteen  days,  and  w’as 
finally  discharged  at  Wheeling,  Va. , June 
7,  1865,  by  general  order  No.  77,  being  con- 
sidered unfit  for  further  duty,  and  returned  to 
his  home  in  Boone  county. 

December  31,  1865,  Mr.  James  married 
Miss  Lizzie  Robinson.  He  then  bought  forty- 
eight  acres  of  his  present  farm,  which  he  has 
highly  improved  with  substantial  buildings  and 
first-class  drainage.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  James  are 
both  devout  members  of  the  Methodist  Episco- 
pal church  and  are  liberal  in  their  contribu- 

17 


tions  to  its  support.  He  votes  wdth  the  repub- 
licans and  is  a member  of  the  G.  A.  R.,  Rich 
Mountain  post.  No.  42.  In  addition  to  his  in- 
come from  his  farm,  Mr.  James  is  in  receipt  of 
a pension  from  the  government  he  assisted  to 
preserve,  this  pension  now  netting  him  $14 
per  month.  He  stands  deservedly  high  in  the 
estimation  of  the  neighbors  among  whom  he 
has  resided  so  many  years,  wKo  delight  in  do- 
ing him  honor  as  a soldier  and  a citizen.  To 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  James  have  been  born  nine  chil- 
dren, viz:  William  O.,  Mary  J.,  Charles  E., 
Belle,  Henry  H.,  Emma,  Claudia,  Minta  E., 
and  Carter  S. 


EORGE  H.  JOHNSON.— Prominent 
among  the  successful  farmers  and 
stock  raisers  of  Boone  county,  Ind., 
is  George  H.  Johnson,  who  for  many 
years  has  been  one  of  the  representative  citi- 
zens of  the  township  of  Harrison.  Mr.  John- 
son’s ancestors  belonged  to  that  large  and 
eminently  respectable  class  of  Scotch-Irish 
emigrants  that  sought  homes  on  American  soil 
in  an  early  day  and  stamped  their  character  so 
permanently  in  many  communities  of  the  east- 
ern and  central  states,  and  whose  descendants 
are  to-day  among  the  most  substantial  and  law- 
abiding  citizens  of  the  republic.  Erom  the 
most  reliable  information  obtainable  it  appears 
that  members  of  the  Johnson  family  settled 
many  years  ago  in  Kentucky,  in  which  state 
George  H.  Johnson,  grandfather  of  the  subject 
of  this  sketch,  w'as  born  and  reared.  George 
H.  Johnson,  Sr.,  married  Mary  Walter,  daugh- 
ter of  George  Walter,  and  became  a resident 
of  Boone  county,  Ind.,  as  early  as  the  year 
1829,  locating  in  Jackson  towmship,  wdien  the 
few  scattered  settlements  w'ere  as  niches  in  the 
surrounding  forest.  In  the  organization  of 
Boone  county  he  w'as  a prominent  factor,  and 
he  became  a leading  man  of  the  community 


8r)2 


BIOGRAPHICAL  HISTORY 


which  he  was  instrumental  in  founding,  and 
also  did  much  for  the  moral  well-being  of  the 
new  country,  having  been  an  active  member 
of  the  Baptist  church,  several  congregations 
of  which  he  assisted  in  constituting.  Politi- 
cally he  was  a democrat  of  the  old  school,  and 
it  is  a fact  worthy  of  ncAe  that  his  descend- 
ants have  all  taken  considerable  interest  in 
matters  political.  Mr.  Johnson  was  twice 
married,  his  second  wife  being  Mrs.  Mary 
Chenoweth.  Patrick  Johnson,  son  of  the  pre- 
ceding and  father  of  the  subject  of  this  men- 
tion, was  born  in  Knox  county,  Ky. , March 
12,  i8i8,  and  accompanied  his  parents  to 

Boone  county,  Ind.,  when  twelve  years  of 
age.  He  was  reared  a farmer,  and  in  Septem- 
ber, 1842,  was  united  in  marriage  to  Hannah 
Clements,  daughter  of  John  C.  and  Nancy 
(Highland)  Clements,  early  settlers  of  Jackson 
township,  and  became  the  father  of  the  fol- 
lowing children:  George  H.,  Mary  A.,  James 
F. , John  C.,  Albert  N.,  Martin  L.,  Nancy  E., 
Martha  C. , William  P.,  Wilson  T.,  Herbert, 
Florence  and  Willard  P.,  all  living  and  heads 
of  families. 

George  H.  Johnson,  whose  name  appears 
at  the  head  of  this  mention,  is  a native  of 
Boone  county,  Ind,,  and  dates  his  birth  from 
the  twenty-ninth  day  of  June,  1844.  He 
passed  his  youthful  days  amid  the  routine  of 
farm  labor,  and  in  the  old-fashioned  log  school- 
house  received  the  rudiments  of  an  English 
education,  which,  supplemented  by  subsequent 
years  of  close  and  intelligent  observation  and  ob- 
servation and  business  contact  with  his  fellow- 
citizens,  has  made  him  a broad-minded  and 
well  informed  man.  He  early  chose  agricul- 
ture for  his  life  work,  and  after  his  marriage, 
which  was  solemnized  on  the  twenty-second 
day  of  October,  1867,  with  Nancy  J.  Martin, 
daugliter  of  Elias  and  Mary  JC  Martin,  began 
housekeeping  in  a little  log  cabin  on  his  first 
farm,  consisting  at  that  time  of  forty  acres 


j only,  a small  part  of  which  was  under  cultiva- 
! tion,  the  remainder  being  a dense  woods  and 
j quagmire.  With  the  energy  characteristic  of 
the  man,  Mr.  Johnson  at  once  went  to  work, 
and  in  due  season  reclaimed  his  land,  added 
j to  his  orginal  purchase  from  time  to  time,  un- 
[ til  now  he  is  the  fortunate  possessor  of  one  of 
the  best  improved  farms  in  his  township.  His 
place  is  supplied  with  all  the  modern  con- 
veniences of  agriculture,  and,  in  addition  to 
general  farming,  he  gives  considerable  atten- 
tion to  stock  raising,  which  has  yielded  very 
satisfactory  returns  financially. 

In  all  that  goes  to  make  up  the  high- 
minded,  honorable  citizen,  Mr.  Johnson  is  not 
lacking,  and  it  is  safe  to  assert  that  no  man 
in  the  community  in  which  he  resides  com- 
mands in  a more  marked  degree  the  esteem  and 
confidence  of  the  public  than  he.  In  politics 
a democrat,  he  has  never  sought  nor  desired 
official  preferment  at  the  hands  of  his  fellow- 
citizens,  and  as  a member  of  the  Baptist 
church,  with  which  he  has  been  identified 
since  1879,  his  life  has  been  a commendable 
example  of  the  pure  teachings  of  that  faith. 
Two  children  have  been  born  to  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Johnson:  Wblliam  P. , died  at  the  age  of 
seven  years,  December  10,  1876,  and  Carrie 
E.,  married  Jordan  Sutphin,  lives  at  this  time 
in  Boone  county.  The  grandparents  of  Mrs. 
Johnson  were  Benjnmin  and  Elizabeth  Mar- 
tin, who  resided  for  many  years  in  Shelby 
county,  Ky. , where  their  resjiective  deaths  oc- 
curred. Her  parents,  IClias  and  Mary  Martin, 
also  residents  of  the  same  county  and  state, 
came  to  Boone  county,  Ind.,  a number  of 
years  ago,  and  here  the  mother  still  resides, 
the  father  having  departed  this  life  on  the 
twelfth  day  of  March,  1856.  Their  children 
are  as  follows:  Nancy  J.,  Elizabeth  M., 
Henry  A.,  IL  M.,  deceased.  Elias  Martin 
was  a devoted  member  ol  the  Bajitist  church, 
a democrat  in  his  political  faith,  and  is  remcm- 


OF  BOONE  COUNTY. 


353 


berecl  as  a man  of  high  sense  of  honor  and 
sterling  integrity  hy  all  who  knew  him. 


ACOB  JONES  is  one  of  the  represent- 
ative farmers  of  Eagle  township, 
l^oone  county,  Ind.,  and  a man  widely 
and  favorably  known.  His  native  state 
is  Ohio  and  his  birth  occurred  in  Morgan  county 
on  the  eighteenth  day  of  October,  1814.  His 
father,  Jacob  Jones,  was  born  October  18,  1794, 
in  Pennsylvania,  where  he  grew  to  manhood 
and  where  he  married  Elizabeth  Calvert,  a de- 
scendant of  an  old  German  family  of  the  Key- 
stone state,  by  whom  eight  children  were  born 
to  him,  the  subject  of  this  sketch  being  the 
third  in  the  order  of  birth.  From  Pennsyl- 
vania Jacob  Jones  and  family  emigrated  to 
Morgan  county,  Ohio,  where  he  remained  until 
1834,  in  the  spring  of  which  year  he  came  to 
Boone  county,  Ind. , and  purchased  real  estate 
in  Union  township,  where  he  made  his  home 
until  about  1852.  In  that  year  he  emigrated 
westward  to  the  far-off  state  of  Oregon,  where 
the  remaining  years  of  his  life  were  spent. 
Jacob  Jones,  Sr.,  was  four  times  married  and 
reared  twenty-three  children,  a number  of 
whom  became  well  known  citizens  of  Indiana 
and  other  states. 

The  immediate  subject  of  this  biography 
passed  the  years  of  youth  and  early  manhood 
in  his  native  state,  where  he  received  his  edu- 
cational training  in  the  common  schools,  and 
in  the  spring  of  1834,  accompanied  his  parents 
to  Boone  county,  Ind.,  of  which  he  has  since 
been  a well  known  and  honored  resident.  He 
early  chose  agriculture  for  his  life  work,  to 
which  useful  calling  he  has  since  devoted  his 
energies,  and  is  now  the  possessor  of  a tract  of 
land  in  Eagle  township  consisting  of  347  acres, 
nearly  all  of  which  is  well  improved  and  highly 
cultivated.  Mr.  Jones  was  married  in  Hamil- 
ton county,  Ind.,  November  13,  1842,  to  Susan 


P.  Miller,  daughter  of  Louis  and  Polly  (Mickey) 
Miller,  to  which  union  five  children  have  been 
born,  namely:  Mary  J.,  wife  of  Wrn.  Hutton, 
residing  in  Union  township;  James  N.,  who 
married  Anna  E.  Hutton,  a farmer  of  the  town- 
ship of  Union;  Lizzie,  wife  of  Albert  Pitts, 
living  in  Eagle  township;  John,  deceased;  and 
an  infant  that  died  unnamed.  Mrs.  Jones  was 
born  in  North  Carolina  February  8,  1822,  and 
came  with  her  parents  to  Boone  county  in 
1833,  and  has  been  a resident  of  the  same  for 
a period  of  over  sixty-one  years.  After  his 
marriage  Mr.  Jones  settled  on  his  father’s  old 
farm,  where  he  lived  until  the  spring  of  1852, 
at  which  time  he  purchased  land  of  his  own  in 
Union  township,  cultivating  the  same  until  his 
removal  to  the  township  of  Eagle,  where  he 
now  resides.  Mr.  Jones  is  a prominent  citi- 
zen, has  lived  a life  of  great  industry,  and  now, 
when  the  frosts  of  age  are  coming  on,  he  finds 
himself  fortunately  situated  with  a comfortable 
competency  of  this  world’s  goods.  His  life 
has  been  one  of  great  activity,  and  the  man- 
ner in  which  he  has  met  and  overcome  its 
many  obstacles  is  sufficient  proof  that  he  has, 
in  a great  degree,  solved  the  problem  of  success. 


OHN  C.  JOHNSON  was  bcrn  in  Boone 
county,  Ind.,  October  8,  1849,  and  is  a 
son  of  Patrick  and  Hannah  (Clements) 
Johnson.  Patrick  Johnson  was  born 
in  Knox  county,  Ky..  March  12,  1818,  and 
Hannah  Johnson  was  born  in  the  same  state 
in  September,  1824.  They  were  married  in 
Boone  county,  Ind.,  September  15,  1842, 

bought  forty  acres  of  land  in  Jefferson  town- 
ship, and  entered  eighty  acres  additional.  They 
became  the  parents  of  thirteen  children,  born 
in  the  following  order:  George  H.,  Mary  A. 
(wife  of  J.  Johnson),  James  F. , John  C. , 
Albert  N.,  Morton  L.,  Nancy  E.  (wife  of 
Charles  Burke),  Martha  C.  (wife  of  W.  Cassi- 


BIOGRAPHICAL  IILSTORY 


:5r)4 

(lay),  William  P. , Wilson  T. , Patrick,  Florence 
(wife  of  S.  Davis),  and  Herbert  M.  The  par- 
ents now  reside  in  Hendricks  county,  where 
the  father  owns  a farm  of  i 8o  acres.  In  reli- 
pdon  he  is  a Baptist,  and  in  politics  is  a stanch 
prohibitionist. 

John  C.  Johnson  remained  on  the  home 
farm  until  twenty-four  years  of  af:^e,  when  he 
married  and  located  on  the  forty-acre  farm  on 
which  he  now  lives.  The  date  of  his  wedding 
was  March  24,  1874,  and  the  name  of  his 
bride  was  Martha  E.  Bray;  she  was  born  in 
Hendricks  county,  Ind.,  November  24,  1852, 
daughter  of  Alfred  and  Margaret  Bray,  who 
were  respectively  born  in  Ohio  and  North  Car- 
olina. John  C.  and  wife  became  the  parents 
of  seven  children,  as  follows:  Alfred  W.  (de- 
ceased), Martin  E.  (deceased),  Elorida  E., 
Effie  L.,  Mystel  B.,  an  infant  that  died  un- 
named, and  Ethel  J.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Johnson 
are  respected  members  of  the  Baptist  church, 
and  in  politics  he  is  a democrat.  He  is  also 
an  active  member  of  the  Horse  Thief  Detective 
association,  a society  that  is  of  greatbene  fit 
to  horse  owners  throughout  the  country.  Per- 
ry township  contains  no  more  useful  citizen 
than  Mr.  Johnson. 


ILLIAM  ALLEN  JONES. —Boone 
county  is  noted  for  the  number 
of  well-to-do  citizens  who  be- 
gan life  here,  after  serving  their 
country  as  soldiers,  with  small  means,  and,  by 
practicing  the  virtues  of  industry  and  thrift, 
have  become  prosperous  farmers.  William  A. 
Jones  is  an  c.xcellent  example  (4  this  fact.  He 
descends  from  ]ohn  C.  Jones,  a hardy  })ioneer 
of  Kentucky,  who  was  his  grandfather,  and 
settled  at  an  early  period  in  b'lerning  county 
in  that  state,  where  he  married  a Miss  Swaim, 
became  the  father  of  three  sons — James,  John 
and  Isaac,  and  three  daughters,  Hannah, 


Mary  and  Celie.  Mr.  Jones  moved  to  Marion 
county,  Ind.,  about  the  year  1828,  settled  eight 
miles  northwest  of  Indianapolis,  built  a grist- 
mill on  Big  Eagle  creek,  and  lived  there  until 
the  end  of  the  Black  Hawk  war,  in  1834, 
when  he  moved  with  his  family  to  Marshall 
county,  where  he  was  one  of  the  original  pio- 
neei'S  among  the  Pottawattomie  Indians,  seven 
miles  north  of  Plymouth.  He  was  a mechanic 
and  worked  at  various  trades,  lived  to  the 
great  age  of  eighty  years  and  died  in  Marshall 
county.  James  Jones,  the  father  of  William 
Allen  Jones,  was  born  in  Kentucky  in  1811 
and  came  with  his  father,  when  young,  to 
Marion  county,  Ind.  He  learned  the  cab- 
inet maker’s  trade  with  one  Andrew  Reed  in 
Franklin,  Ind.,  in  the  year  1833,  and  was 
a soldier  in  the  Black  Hawk  war.  He  mar- 
ried, December  25,  1834,  Lydia,  daughter  of 
Allen  and  Sallie  Brock,  and  soon  afterward 
moved  to  Marshall  county.  To  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Jones  were  born  two  children — James  M., 
born  April  20,  1836,  and  William  A. , March 
22,  1838,  both  born  in  Marshall  county.  Mr. 
Jones  died  at  the  comparatively  early  age  of 
twenty-seven  years,  in  November,  1838.  He 
was  a man  of  excellent  character,  industrious 
and  respected.  Lydia  Jones,  at  the  death  of 
her  husband,  returned  to  the  home  of  her 
father,  Allen  Brock,  in  Boone  county,  where 
she  lived  with  her  two  children  until  she  was 
married,  January  27,  1841,  to  John  Lowe, 
with  whom  she  lived  happily  until  her  death, 
July  17,  1885.  Lydia  Brock  was  born  May 
9,  1811,  in  Grainger  county,  Tenn.,  near 

Tazewell,  and  came  to  Indiana  with  her  par- 
ents, who  located  in  Putnam  county,  on  the 
Walnut  fork  of  the  Eel  river,  where  they  re- 
sided until  about  1830,  when  they  removed  to 
Boone  county  and  settled  about  six  miles  east 
of  Lebanon.  y\llen  and  Sallie  Brock,  her  par- 
ents, reared  a family  of  ten  children  five 
sons  and  five  daughters,  viz  : Jayhus,  Nancy, 


OF  BOONE  COUNTY. 


S55 


Lidd}',  Allen,  Sallie  A.,  Khoda,  Hiram,  Prior, 
Louisa,  and  Campbell,  all  of  whom  married 
and  reared  respected  families.  John  Lowe  was 
born  March  4,  1813,  was  brought  to  Indiana  in 
November,  1816,  while  the  state  was  yet  a 
territory,  and  came  to  Boone  in  1826,  four 
years  before  the  county  was  organized. 

Mhlliam  A.  Jones  received  the  education  of 
the  district  school  and  during  the  winter  of 
1860-61  attended  Crawfordsville  college.  In 
August,  1862,  he  enlisted  at  Indianapolis,  as  a 
musician  of  the  brass  band,  Thirty-ninth  Ind- 
iana volunteer  infantry.  After  a spell  of 
pneumonia  of  about  six  weeks’  duration,  Mr. 
Jones  was  ordered,  with  his  company,  to  report 
to  the  regiment  at  Camp  Nevin,  Ky. , and  Mr. 
Jones  stayed  with  the  company  until  January, 
1863,  when  he  was  discharged  at  Mumfords- 
ville,  Ky. , by  general  order,  regimental  bands 
having  been  discontinued.  After  the  war  Mr. 
Jones  came  to  Boone  county  and  engaged  in 
the  saw-mill  business,  which  he  followed  suc- 
cessfully for  years.  In  1865  he  engaged,  in 
company  with  Jacob  H.  Laughner,  under  the 
firm  name  of  Laughner  & Jones,  in  Marion 
county,  Ind.,  and  continued  three  years.  In 
1870  he  moved  to  Boone  county  and  settled  on 
his  present  farm  of  148  acres.  This  land  was 
covered  with  splendid  timber  of  many  varieties, 
and  Mr.  Jones  put  up  a saw-mill  on  it,  which 
he  operated  for  two  years,  the  hugh  trees  of 
oak,  walnut,  ash,  popular  and  elm,  making 
the  best  of  timber.  Mr.  Jones  gradually  cleared 
up  his  farm,  to  which  he  turned  his  entire 
attention,  and  now  has  one  of  the  best  in 
Boone  county,  which  he  has  improved  and 
drained  well,  and  on  which  he  has  erected 
good  buildings.  On  November  22,  1865,  he 
married,  in  Boone  county,  Allie  C.,  daughter 
of  William  and  Mary  (Hamilton)  Hunter. 
Mr.  Hunter  was  a silversmith  in  Indianapolis 
and  was  from  an  old  Kentucky  family,  who 
were  of  Pennsylvania-Dutch  stock,  first  set- 


tling in  Ohio,  afterward  Kentucky,  and  then 
Indiana.  He  and  wife  were  the  parents  of 
three  children — Walter  H.,  Allie  C.  and  one 
who  died  young.  Walter  PI.  Hunter  was  in 
Col.  Oyler’s  regiment  Indiana  volunteer 
infantry.  He  enlisted  at  the  breaking  out  of 
the  war,  and  was  among  the  missing  at  the  bat- 
tle of  Resaca.  His  body  was  never  found.  Mr. 
Hunter  died  at  Greenwood,  Ind.,  at  the  home 
of  Henry  Hunter,  and  Mrs.  Jones  was  left  an 
orphan  at  three  years  of  age,  her  mother 
having  died  one  year  previously.  She  was 
brought  up  by  her  step-grandmother,  the 
second  wife  of  her  grandfather — Henry  Hunter 
— who  came  from  Kentucky  in  1835  and  set- 
tled at  Greenwood,  where  he  died.  Mrs. 
Jones  came  to  Boone  county  at  the  age  of  seven- 
teen years  and  lived  with  her  aunt,  Jane  Dooley, 
and  was  married  at  the  age  of  twenty  years, 
having  been  born  in  Indianapolis,  December 
27,  1847.  She  is  a lady  of  refined,  pleasant 
manners,  and  many  virtues.  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Jones  have  four  children  living — Zula,  Bessie, 
Gracie  and  William.  Mr.  Jones  votes  with 
the  republican  party;  he  has  generally  been 
successful  in  business,  is  a practical  and  pros- 
perous farmer  and  entirely  self-made.  He 
has  one  of  the  most  intelligent  and  respected 
families  in  Boone  county,  and  is  giving  his 
children  good  educations.  Fraternally  he  is  a 
non-affiliating  Odd  Fellow  and  has  filled  the 
office  of  vice-grand  at  Tipton,  Ind. 


OHN  MERRITT  JONES,  of  Marion 
township,  Boone  county,  Ind.,  was 
born  in  Mason  county,  Va.,  October  17, 
1842,  the  son  of  John  and  Sarah 
(Knapp)  Jones,  natives,  respectively,  of  Vir- 
ginia and  Ohio.  The  subject’s  grandfather, 
John  Jones,  was  born  of  English  parentage  and 
early  moved  from  Virginia  to  Kentucky,  where 
he  accumulated  a large  landed  estate  and  be- 


BIOGRAPHICAL  HISTORY 


B5G 


came  quite  wealthy,  owning  at  the  time  of  his 
death,  beside  otlier  jmoperty,  quite  a number 
of  slaves.  He  served  in  the  Indian  wars  under 
Gen.  St.  Clair  and  received  a gun-shot  wound 
in  the  knee,  which  necessitated  the  amputation 
of  his  leg.  He  was  twice  married,  the  first 
time  to  a Miss  Caplinger,  by  whom  he  had  one 
child,  Elizabeth  A.,  and  his  second  marriage, 
which  was  solemized  with  a Miss  Varble,  re- 
sulted in  the  birth  of  a son,  James  Jones,  father 
of  the  subject  of  this  biography.  John  Jones 
died  some  time  in  the  ’forties  and  was  laid  to  rest 
at  Westport,  Ky.,  where  his  wife  is  also  buried. 

James  Jones  was  born  July  20,  1806,  in 
Oldham  county,  Ky. ; was  reared  a farmer, 
and  afterward  worked  at  the  shoemaker’s 
trade.  He  was  a mechanical  genius,  and  a 
number  of  inventions  of  different  kinds  was 
the  result  of  his  skill  in  this  direction.  Beside 
manufacturing  different  kinds  of  tools,  he  built 
flouring-mills,  carding  machines,  and  for  many 
years  was  a valuable  member  of  the  community 
where  he  resided.  In  early  life  he  attended 
the  schools  of  Louisville,  Ky. , where  he  re- 
ceived a fine  education,  and  he  always  took  a 
lively  interest  in  the  intellectual,  as  well  as 
material,  development  of  his  neighborhood. 
He  became  a resident  of  Boone  county  a num- 
ber of  years  ago,  settling  in  Clinton  township, 
where  he  resided  until  his  death,  which  oc- 
curred at  the  age  of  fifty-seven  years.  James 
Jones  was  twice  married,  his  first  wife  being  a 
Miss  Chambers  of  Westport,  Ky. , who  bore 
two  children,  John  G.,  born  in  1829,  and 
Robert  F. , whose  birth  occurred  in  the  year 
1832.  By  his  second  wife,  whose  maiden 
name  was  Cynthia  Knapj:),  daughter  of  John 
and  Sarah  Knapp,  of  Ohio,  he  reared  a family 
of  four  children,  namely:  Joann,  born  1838; 
John  M.,  whose  birth  is  mentioned  above; 
Etta,  born  1843;  Harriet,  born  in  the  year 
1845,  whom  grew  to  be  men  and  women 

and  reared  families  of  their  own. 


The  early  life  of  John  Merritt  Jones  was 
passed  upon  a farm  with  the  rugged  duties 
of  which  he  became  familiar  while  quite  young, 
and  he  followed  agricultural  pursuits,  princi- 
pally in  Boone  county,  until  entering  the 
service  of  the  Union  in  1861.  In  August  of 
that  year  he  enlisted  in  company  F, 
Fortieth  Indiana  infantry,  and  was  with 
his  command  in  Kentucky  and  Ten- 
nessee, but  owing  to  physical  disability,  did 
not  participate  in  very  much  active  military 
duty.  On  account  of  sickness  he  was  dis- 
charged from  the  service  June  10,  1862,  but  in 
March,  1864,  he  re-enlisted  in  company  G, 
One  Hundred  and  Sixteenth  Indiana  volunteers, 
with  which  he  served  for  a limited  period;  sub- 
sequently he  entered  the  army  for  the  third 
time,  enlisting  in  company  C,  One  Hundred  and 
Thirty-ninth  regiment,  with  which  he  served  in 
the  capacity  of  sergeant  until  honorably  dis- 
charged on  the  29th  day  of  September,  1864. 
After  his  discharge  he  returned  to  Boone 
county  and  for  three  years  was  engaged  in  the 
saw-milling  business,  at  the  end  of  which  time 
he  purchased  forty  acres  of  land  and  began 
farming.  He  has  added  to  his  original  pur- 
chase and  now  owns  a comfortable  little  home 
in  Marion  township,  which  contains  many  of 
the  conveniences  necessary  to  make  it  attract- 
ive and  desirable.  Mr.  Jones  is  a man  of  re- 
fined tastes  and  conservative  disposition,  and 
belongs  to  that  large  and  eminently  respectable 
class  of  people  who  do  so  much  in  a quiet  way 
for  the  well-being  of  a community.  Political- 
ly he  is  a republican,  and  as  such  served  four 
years  as  assessor  of  his  township,  refusing  to 
accei)t  a third  election.  He  was  married 
August  22,  1867,  to  Ann  F.,  daughter  of 

William  and  Mahala  (Swain)  Lane,  a union 
blessed  with  the  birth  of  four  children  - Addie 
L. , born  November,  1871;  Alforetta,  born 
|uly  26,  1873;  Nellie,  born  in  1881;  W’ilbert, 
born  1885. 


OF  BOONE  COUNTY. 


357 


ENJAMIN  F.  and  JOHN  C.  COGLE. 
These  brothers  are  honored  veter- 
an soldiers  of  the  Civil  war,  both 
having  risked  their  lives  in  some  of 
its  hardest-fonght  battles,  out  of  which  neither 
came  unscathed,  or  without  sacrifice  and  suffer- 
ing. Benjamin  F.  Coglewas  born  in  Frankfort, 
Ky. , in  April,  1840,  and  gained  a common 
school  education.  He  was  at  New  Castle,  Ky. , 
when  the  war  broke  out,  and  came  to  Silver 
Creek,  Camp  Jo  Holt,  Ind.,  and  on  August 
13th,  1861,  enlisted  in  company  C,  Second 
regiment  Kentucky  cavalry,  serving  until  July 
17th,  1865,  when  he  was  honorably  discharged, 
at  Lexington,  N.  C.,  as  corporal.  During  this 
long  and  gallant  service  he  was  in  the  follow- 
ing battles:  Shiloh,  Chattanooga,  Perryville, 
Frankfort,  Atlanta,  Savannah,  Munfordsville, 
Ky. , and  in  many  skirmishes.  He  was  also  in 
ail  the  battles  of  the  Atlanta  campaign,  and 
on  Sherman’s  march  to  the  sea.  While  skir- 
mishing between  Goldsboro  and  Lexington, 
Corporal  Cogle  was  thrown  from  his  horse, 
badly  spraining  his  right  ankle,  injuring  it  so 
greatly  that  he  was  sent  to  the  hospital  at 
McDougal,  sixteen  miles  from  New  York  city, 
where  he  remained  about  two  months,  return- 
ing to  his  regiment  at  Lexington,  N.  C.,  where 
he  was  discharged  on  account  of  the  closing 
of  the  war.  After  the  war  he  returned  to 
New  Castle,  remaining  until  he  came  to  Boone 
county,  Ind.,  about  1870,  and  engaged  in 
farm  work.  He  also  receives  $ 1 2 per  month 
pension.  In  politics  he  is  a republican.  He 
is  a hard-working  man  and  respected  citizen. 

John  C.  Coglewas  born  March  15,  1843,  at 
Frankfort,  Ky.,  received  a common  education, 
and  learned  the  candy  and  bakery  business, 
which  he  followed  in  New  Castle,  Ky.  At  the 
early  age  of  nineteen  years  he  enlisted  at  Emi- 
nence, Henry  county,  Ky. , in  August,  1862,  in 
company  H,  Ninth  Kentucky  cavalry,  and 
served  until  discharged  at  Eminence,  Ky. , Sep- 


tember, 1863,  with  rank  of  sergeant.  He  was 
in  the  battle  of  Perryville,  Ky. , but  was  prin- 
cipally engaged  against  Morgan.  He  was  in 
the  famous  chase  after  Morgan  through  Ken- 
tucky, Indiana  and  Ohio,  and  when  Morgan 
made  his  famous  invasion  of  the  latter  state 
Sergeant  Cogle’s  battalion  captured  the  rebel 
general  and  his  men  on  the  Ohio  river.  At  the 
battle  of  Perryville  Seargeant  Cogle  was  se- 
verely wounded  and  his  horse  was  shot  dead 
from  under  him.  The  corporal’s  spine  was  in- 
jured and  he  lost  the  sight  of  his  right  eye. 
After  the  war  he  carried  on  a confectionery  es- 
tablishment at  New  Castle,  Ky.,  until  he  came 
to  Boone  county,  Ind. , in  i 876,  and  engaged 
in  farm  work.  July  31,  1883,  Mr.  Cogle  was 
united  in  marriage  to  Mary  A.,  daughter  of 
Elias  and  Susan  (Mclntire)  Garner.  Mr.  Gar- 
ner was  a farmer  and  a native  of  Jefferson 
township,  Boone  county.  He  died  at  the  age 
of  about  fifty-five  years.  He  was  a much  re- 
spected citizen,  and  to  him  and  wife  were  born 
six  children  — Samuel  R.,  William,  Albert, 
Charles,  Mary  A.  and  Eva.  After  marriage, 
Mr.  Cogle  and  wife  settled  down  to  farm  life. 
He  bought  his  present  farm  of  fifty  acres  in 
1892,  and  has  a comfortable  and  pleasant  home 
and  $16  per  month  pension.  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Cogle  are  the  parents  of  four  children — Stella 
M.,  Bessie  E.,  Ula  (died  at  three  years  of  age) 
and  Egbert. 

Mr.  Cogle  votes  with  the  republican  party. 
He  is  a member  of  the  I.  O.  O.  F.  of  New 
Castle,  Ky. , and  was  treasurer  of  his  lodge  for 
several  years.  He  is  also  a member  of  Thorn- 
town  lodge,  I',  and  A.  M.,  and  both  of  these 
brothers  are  members  of  the  G.  A.  R. , of  Ad- 
vance, Ind.  They  were  both  in  a hostile 
state  when  the  war  broke  out  and  were  sur- 
rounded by  rebels,  when  it  was  dangerous  to 
express  Union  sentiments,  but  they  loyally 
stood  by  their  conscience  and  the  country  in 
the  time  of  her  greatest  need,  when  it  required 


358 


BIOGRAPIIICAT.  HISTORY 


great  courage  both  moral  and  physical.  The 
father  of  these  soldier  boys  was  Benjamin 
F.  Cogle,  born  in  Pennsylvania,  of  ster- 
ling Dutch  stock.  He  learned  the  baker  and 
confectionery  trade,  and  when  young  went  to 
Kentucky,  where  he  married  Martha  Kincaid 
of  P'rankfort,  and  she  became  the  mother  of 
these  two  soldiers.  Mrs.  Cogle  died,  and  Mr. 
Cogle  married  Amanda  Brewer,  who  bore 
three  children:  Amanda,  Mary  and  William. 
This  wife  also  died,  and  Mr.  Cogle  married 
Jennie  Suddith.  Mr.  Cogle  died  at  fifty-six 
years  of  age.  He  was  an  industrious,  upright 
man,  and  respected  member  of  the  Christian 
church,  honorable  in  all  his  dealings. 


EV.  WILLIAM  H.  JONES,  of  Le- 
banon, Boone  county,  Ind.,  is  the 
popular  minister  of  the  United  Breth- 
ren church  and  an  old  soldier.  His 
great-grandfather  came  from  Scotland  before 
the  war  of  the  Revolution.  His  son,  John,  the 
grandfather  of  our  subject,  was  born  in  Mary- 
land, was  a farmer,  and  settled  in  Dearborn 
county,  Ind.,  among  the  pioneers,  where  he 
married  and  reared  a family  of  seven  chil- 
dren. Their  names  are  Parrnelia,  Josiah,  Will- 
iam, James,  John,  Amanda  and  Thomas. 
Mrs.  Jones  died,  and,  soon  after,  Mr.  Jones 
moved  to  Decatur  county,  Ind.,  where  he 
married  a widow,  Mrs.  Phcebe  Wilson,  to 
whom  were  born  four  children,  as  follows — 
Nancy,  Robert,  Milton  and  Hiram.  Mr.  Jones 
passed  the  remainder  of  his  days  in  Scott  coun- 
ty, Ind.,  and  was  a substantial  farmer.  He 
was  a soldier  in  the  war  of  1812,  and  with 
Perry  in  the  battle  of  Lake  Erie  on  the  brig 
Niagara  and  a messmate  of  the  famous  James 
Byrd, -who  was  wounded  and  transferred  from 
the  brig  Niagara  to  the  St.  Lawrence  without 
proper  authority  and  tried  and  sho  tas  a desert- 
er, the  vessel  bearing  his  reprieve  being  in 


sight.  Mr.  Jones  was  a deacon  in  the  Baptist 
church.  All  of  his  sons  young  enough  were 
soldiers  in  the  Civil  war — William,  John, 
James,  Thomas,  Robert,  Milton  and  Hiram; 
two  of  them,  John  and  William,  died  from  sick- 
ness, and  John  was  killed  at  the  battle  of 
Chickamauga.  Mr.  Jones  also  had  two  grand- 
sons in  the  war — William  H.  and  John  P'.  He 
lived  to  the  great  age  of  ninety-one  years  and 
died  in  Scott  county,  Ind.  William  Jones, 
son  of  above  and  father  of  our  subject,  was 
born  in  Dearborn  county,  Ind.,  near  Law- 
renceburg,  July  24,  1824,  received  a limited 
education  and  learned  farming.  He  married 
Sarah  A.  Mitchell,  of  Decatur  county,  Ind., 
who  still  survives  him.  To  them  were  born 
five  children — William  H.,  George  W.,  Joseph 
A.,  Priscilla  J.,  and  James.  After  marriage 
Mr.  Jones  settled  in  Decatur  county,  Ind., 
but  in  1859  moved  to  Scott  county,  Ind., 
where  he  passed  all  the  remainder  of  his  days. 
He  enlisted  in  1864,  November  30,  at  Indian- 
apolis, in  company  C,  One  Hundred  and 
P'orty-fifth  regiment  Indiana  volunteer  infant- 
ry, for  one  year,  and  died  in  Cumberland  hos- 
pital at  Nashville,  Tenn.,  June  30,  1865. 

He  was  a member  of  the  Christian  church,  and 
an  industrious  man  and  respected  citizen.  He 
was  a republican  in  politics  and  a member  of 
the  I.  O.  O.  F. 

Rev.  William  H.  Jones,  our  subject,  was 
born  July  29,  1847,  in  Westport,  Decatur 
county,  Ind.  He  received  a common  school 
education  and  was  but  seventeen  years  of  age 
when  he  enlisted,  November  30,  1864,  at  In- 
dianapolis, Ind.,  in  company  1),  Plighth  regi- 
ment Indiana  volunteer  cavalry,  under  Ca[)t. 
Stanley  and  Col.  P'.  A.  Jones.  He  served 
about  nine  months,  when  he  was  honorably 
discharged  at  Indianapolis,  Ind.,  August  29, 
1865,  on  account  of  the  closing  of  the  war. 
He  was  in  the  battles  of  Columbia,  S.  C., 
Black  River,  Bentonville,  Durham  Station 


OF  BOONE  COUNTY 


359 


and  many  skirmishes.  He  was  in  Sherman’s 
campaign  through  the  Carolinas,  starting  from 
Savannah,  Ga.,  and  he  was  present  with  Sher- 
man when  he  held  his  armistice  with  the  Con- 
federate general,  Johnston.  Mr.  Jones  was  al- 
ways an  active  soldier  and  was  never  sick, 
wounded,  nor  taken  prisoner.  He  was  in  all 
the  battles,  skirmishes  and  marches  of  his 
regiment.  He  took  part  in  the  battle  of  Nash- 
ville, although  his  company  and  regiment  were 
not  in  it.  He  served  his  country  faithfully  and 
with  credit  to  himself  and  family.  After  the 
war  he  attended  high  school  at  Austin,  Ind. 
He  was  for  several  years  an  engineer,  during 
which  time  he  ran  a railroad  switch  engine 
nine  months.  Rev.  Jones  was  converted  to 
the  cause  of  Christ  at  the  early  age  of  fourteen 
years  and  joined  the  Methodist  church.  In 
1872  he  became  a member  of  the  Evangelical 
church  and  was  licensed  as  a local  minister 
the  next  year.  In  December,  1876,  he  be- 
came united  with  the  church  of  the  United 
Brethren  in  Christ  and  was  regularly  ordained 
as  a minister,  in  Newton  county,  Ind.,  by 
Bishop  Weaver,  and  immediately  began 
preaching  at  Clark’s  Hill,  Tippecanoe  county? 
Ind.  Since  that  time  he  has  had  charges  at 
Ash  Grove,  111.,  Rossville,  111.,  Newport, 
Ind.,  Ambia,  Ind.,  Stone  Bluff,  Ind.,  Wood- 
land, 111.,  St.  Joseph,  111.,  and  was  trans- 
ferred to  Longview,  111.,  whence  he  came  to 
Thorntown,  in  1892,  where  he  remained  one 
year,  and  came  to  Lebanon  in  1893.  Rev. 
Jones  has  been  successful  in  his  ministry. 
He  organized  the  church  near  Alvin,  111., 
and  has  assisted  in  building  several  churches. 
He  was  married  March  17,  1871,  at  Green- 
field, Ind.,  to  Miss  Mary  C.,  daughter  of 
Martin  Lee;  and  to  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Jones  three 
children  have  been  born:  Elmer  E.,  deceased 
an  infant,  William  O.,  and  Sarah  E. 
Socially  Mr.  Jones  is  an  Odd  Fellow  and  is 
chaplain  of  Ben  Adhem  lodge,  Lebanon.  He 


is  one  of  those  clergymen  who  work  solely  for 
the  cause  of  Christ  and  the  salvation  of  the 
people,  and  his  unvarying  success  can  be  attrib- 
uted to  his  sincerity,  unceasing  diligence  and 
a natural  kindness  of  heart  which  attracts 
many  people  to  him.  His  son,  William  O., 
is  a young  man  of  ability,  of  excellent  morals 
and  a vigorous  mind,  which  enables  him  to 
readily  grasp  most  branches  of  study.  He  is 
educating  himself  with  a view  to  one  of  the 
learned  professions. 


OHN  J.  KERN,  one  of  the  most  pros- 
perous farmers  of  Center  township, 
Boone  county,  Ind.,  and  also  a re- 
doubtable hunter  of  large  game,  de- 
scends from  an  old  Pennsylvania-Dutch  family, 
but  was  born  in  Lawrence  county,  Ind., 
December  25,  1828.  His  grandfather,  Adam 
Kern,  was  the  progenitor  of  the  American 
family,  having  come  from  Holland  in  the 
colonial  days  and  settled  in  Pennsylvania. 
He  there  reared  a family  and  then  went  to 
Nicholas  county,  Ky.,  of  which  he  was  a 
pioneer,  but  finally  settled  in  Monroe  county, 
Ind.,  where  he  died  at  an  advanced  age.  His 
son,  William  Kern,  the  father  of  John  J., 
whose  name  opens  this  sketch,  was  born  in 
Pennsylvania,  and  was  twenty-one  years  of 
age  when  he  went  with  his  father  to  Kentucky. 
He  there  married  Susan  Sears,  of  that  state 
but  of  Pennsylvania  descent.  To  their  union 
were  born  ten  children,  who  lived  to  be  grown 
and  were  named  as  follows  : Ezra,  Noah, 
Benjamin,  Peter,  John  J.,  Adam  C.,  Catherine, 
Louisa,  Susan  J.  and  Mary  S. ; of  these  Ezra 
was  born  in  Kentucky,  but  early  in  the  century 
removed  to  Lawrence  county,  Ind.,  with  his 
father,  William,  who  became  one  of  the  fore- 
most farmers  of  that  county,  and  was  owner 
of  one  the  best  farms,  160  acres  of  which  he 


800 


BIOGRAPHICAL  HISTORY 


left  his  children  at  the  time  of  his  death  at  the 
age  of  hfty-six  years. 

John  J.  Kern,  whose  nativity  is  given 
above,  was  born  on  his  father’s  farm  and  re- 
ceived a common  school  education.  As  a 
young  man  he  took  great  delight  in  hunting 
and  fishing,  and,  as  game  was  abundant,  killed 
many  a deer  and  wild  turkey,  as  well  as  bear, 
catamounts,  wild  cats  and  numerous  coons, 

’ possoms,  pheasants  and  squirrels,  keeping 
the  family  well  supplied  with  provisions,  as 
well  as  ridding  the  country  of  vicious  beasts  of 
prey.  August  15,  1847,  married  Margaret 
E.  Feely,  daughter  of  William  and  Sarah 
(Alexander)  Feely,  which  union  was  blessed 
with  five  children  : Eliza  J.,  Fois  A.,  Marion, 
Susan  R.  and  Mary  E.  In  December,  1852, 
Mr.  Kern  came  to  Boone  county  and  settled 
on  his  present  farm  of  160  acres,  to  which  he 
added  by  industry  and  thrift  until  he  owned 
535  acres,  and  of  this  handsome  estate  he  has 
given  his  children  all  but  295  acres.  Mr. 
Kern  has  always  been  a thrifty  and  hard-work- 
ing man,  and  is  entirely  self-made.  His  course 
through  life  has  been  upright,  winning  the  re- 
spect of  his  neighbors  wherever  he  has  resided. 
He  and  wife  have  long  been  members  of  the 
Christian  church,  in  which  he  has  been  a dea- 
con for  many  years,  and  of  which  he  is  a 
trustee;  he  is  also  quite  liberal  in  his  contri- 
butions to  its  suppiort.  In  politics  he  is  an 
earnest  republican,  and,  fraternally,  a non- 
affiliating Odd  Fellow.  Mr.  Kern  is  among 
the  best  known  hunters  of  large  game  in 
the  state  of  Indiana,  as  intimated  in  the 
opening  of  this  biograjdiy.  He  has  in  his 
possession  a magnihcent  head  and  antlers 
of  a brown  elk,  which  he  shot  in  the  Rocky 
Mountains  in  Wyoming  in  1889,  on  the  Co- 
lumbia line,  and  these  have  been  mounted 
by  Beasley,  of  Febaium,  and  are  considered 
the  finest  in  America.  He  has  also  many 
splendid  specimens  of  skulls  and  antlers  of 


deer  which  he  has  killed.  His  farm  is  well 
stocked  with  choice  animals,  and  his  is  one  of 
the  best  pasture  farms  of  Center  township.  Mr. 
Kern’s  daughter,  Eliza  J.,  is  married  to  James 
H.  Kersey,  a thriving  farmer  of  the  township, 
and  is  the  mother  of  two  children — Stella  M. 
and  John  J. ; his  daughter,  Lois  A.,  is  the  wife 
of  Solon  M.  Atkinson,  also  a prosperous 
farmer  of  the  township,  and  has  one  daughter, 
Lillian  L.  None  occupy  a higher  social  posi- 
tion in  Boone  county  than  the  family  of  Mr. 
Kern. 


AMES  KERSEY  is  one  of  the  original 
pioneers  of  Center  township  and  a man 
who  has  reached  the  patriarchal  age  of 
eighty-five  years.  The  founder  of  the 
family  came  to  America  before  the  war  of  the 
Revolution.  He  is  descended  from  excellent 
Scotch-Irish  ancestry.  James  Kersey,  father 
of  our  subject,  was  born  in  Carolina.  His  par- 
ents died  when  he  was  young  and  James  Ker- 
sey was  reared  by  others.  He  became  a farm- 
er and  was  a soldier  in  the  Revolutionary  war. 
He  was  also  a pioneer  in  Kentucky,  and  was 
acquainted  with  the  famous  frontiersman, 
Daniel  Boone,  and  was  in  several  difficulties 
with  the  Indians.  He  married  Susan  Bell,  a 
relative  of  Daniel  Boone.  The  Bells  were  of 
English  stock,  but  an  old  American  family. 
To  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Kersey  were  born  six  chil- 
dren; Elisha,  Vica,  Elizabeth,  John,  James 
and  Eliza.  This  is  the  proper  order  of  birth 
and  all  are  now  deceased,  except  our  subject. 
Mr.  Kersey  became  a substantial  farmer  of 
Nicholas  county,  Ky.,  owning  a good  farm. 
He  lived  to  tlie  age  of  seventy-seven  years. 
He  was  the  t3'pical  American  i)ioneer  farmer, 
straightforward  in  his  dealings  and  in  his 
younger  days  he  was  a great  hunter,  the  state 
of  Kentucky  being  a paradise  lor  game  of  all 
kinds.  In  political  opinions  he  voted  with  the 


OF  BOONE  COUNTY. 


301 


old-line  whigs.  James  Kersey,  our  subject, 
was  born  in  Nicholas  county,  Ky. , November 
9,  1809,  on  his  father’s  farm.  He  received 
but  little  education,  but  learned  to  read  and 
write.  He  was  taught  to  work  as  soon  as  his 
young  arms  could  bear  the  burden,  and  at  nine 
years  of  age  he  began  to  plow,  and  since  that 
time  has  assisted  to  make  a crop  every  year. 
He  married  at  the  age  of  twenty-one,  in  Bath 
county,  Ky. , in  October,  1830,  Nancy,  daugh- 
ter of  John  and  Priscilla  Neal,  sister  of  Judge 
Stephen  Neal  of  Lebanon.  Mr.  Kersey  bought 
land  and  engaged  in  farming.  In  the  fall  of 
1836,  he  came  to  Boone  county,  making  the 
journey  with  a four-horse  wagon,  and  settled 
on  land  which  he  had  bought  the  August  be- 
fore, which  consisted  of  eighty  acres.  By  hard 
labor  and  great  industry,  he  cleared  this  land 
from  the  primeval  forest  and  by  thrift  he  grad- 
ually added  to  it  until  he  owned  240  acres, 
which  was  an  excellent  farming  property.  Be- 
ing liberal  to  his  children  he  gave  them  part  of 
it  and  sold  some  of  it,  and  now  retains  1 20 
acres  for  a homestead,  which  is  well  improved 
and  drained.  When  he  first  settled  on  his 
land,  it  was*  covered  with  large  trees,  except 
about  five  acres,  which  were  partly  cleared, 
and  on  which  a log  cabin  stood,  which  had 
neither  floor,  chimney  nor  door.  Part  of  this 
cabin  is  still  standing,  now  used  as  an  out- 
house. This  hardy  pioneer,  assisted  by  his 
sturdy  wife,  made  light  of  trifles  and  patiently 
endured  the  hardships  of  frontier  life  and  soon 
made  a good  home.  They  became  the  parents 
of  six  children,  John  M.,  James  W.,  Stephen 
J.,  Caroline,  William  A.  and  Armstead  J. — 
their  names  being  in  the  order  of  their  birth. 
Mr.  Kersey  gave  his  children  all  good  common 
educations  and  reared  a respected  family.  He 
has  always  been  one  of  the  industrious  and 
thrifty  men  of  Boone  county,  and  honored  for 
his  integrity.  He  was  a strong  Union  man 
during  the  Civil  war,  in  which  he  had  one  son, 


Stephen  J.,  who  served  nine  months.  In  po- 
litical opinions,  Mr.  Kersey  was  one  of  the  or- 
ignal  republicans  of  Boone  county,  and  he 
at  one  time  held  the  office  of  county  supervisor. 
Armstead  Jerome  Kersey,  son  of  above,  was 
born  October  28,  1850,  on  the  old  homestead, 
received  a common  education  and  was  brought 
up  a farmer.  He  is  one  of  the  practical  farm- 
ers and  stock  raisers  of  Center  township,  and 
is  straightforward  in  his  business  transactions, 
and  is  now  managing  the  home  farm.  He 
voted  with  the  republican  party  until  recently, 
when  he  became  a populist.  His  father,  James 
Kersey,  is  the  oldest  man  now  living  in  Boone 
county,  who  came  to  this  county  with  a wife, 
who  is  now  living.  He  has  been  married  the 
long  period  of  sixty-four  years. 


AMES  H.  KIBBEY,  leading  farmer 
and  one  of  the  old  settlers  of  Jackson 
township,  Boone  county,  Ind  , was 
born  in  Carter  county,  Ky. , Sep- 
tember 8,  1825.  His  granilfather,  Ephraim, 
and  his  father,  Moses,  were  born  in  New  Jer- 
sey, came  to  Ohio  where  Cincinnati  now 
stands,  and  Moses  was  reared  in  Ohio.  Moses 
Kibbey,  when  a young  man,  emigrated  from 
Cincinnati  to  Carter  county,  Ky.,  where 
he  engaged  in  the  manufacture  of  salt,  and 
where  he  married  Sallie  Everman,  daughter 
of  Michael  Everman,  a well-to-do  farmer. 
To  this  marriage  were  born  Jacob,  Clarinda, 
David,  Delilah,  Jacinthia,  Moses,  William, 
Perry,  Ephraim  and*  James  H. — the  last 
named  the  only  one  now  living.  Moses  Kib- 
bey accumulated  considerable  property  and 
was  the  owner  of  a large  number  of  slaves. 
He  and  wife  were  members  of  the  Christian 
church,  in  which  he  was  an  elder,  and  their 
house  was  often  the  place  of  worship  in  those 
early  days.  He  was  a soldier  in  the  war  of  1812, 
and  was  a very  prominent  citizen  of  his  county. 


362 


BIOGRAPHICAL  IILSTORY 


James  H.  Kibbey  was  instructed  in  the  ru- 
diments of  an  English  education  in  an  old- 
fasliioned  log  school-house  in  Carter  county. 
December  4,  1 849,  he  married  Martha  Ann 
Gill,  daughter  of  Samuel  C.  and  Sallie  ( Ma- 
lone ) Gill,  of  Bath  county,  Ky.,  and  to 
an  interesting  sketch  of  the  Gill  family,  further 
on,  the  attention  of  the  reader  is  invited. 
After  his  marriage,  Mr.  Kibbey  purchased  a 
300-acre  farm  and  engaged  in  farming  and 
saw-milling,  but  this  he  sold  and  bought  an- 
other tract,  containing  500  acres,  on  which, 
also,  was  a saw-mill,  grist-mill  and  carding  fac- 
tory. This  land  he  sold  in  due  course  of  time, 
and  came  to  Boone  county,  Ind. , arriving 
November  20,  1853,  and  here  settled  on  an 
unimproved  tract  of  225  acres,  which  his 
wife’s  father  had  entered  some  years  pre- 
viously. This  was  an  utter  wildwood  when 
Mr.  Kibbey  took  possession,  but  is  now  one  of 
the  best  improved  farms  in  the  county.  Here 
were  reared  the  children  born  to  James  H. 
and  Martha  Ann  Kibbey;  they  are  named  as 
follows:  Sarah  T.,  Mary  G.,  Ephraim,  Ann 
Eliza,  Moses,  Emila  E.  (the  last  named  three 
deceased),  William  P. , Clara  H.  and  George. 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Kibbey  have  for  many  years 
been  devout  Christians,  and  Mr.  Kibbey  is  the 
oldest  living  member  of  the  old  Union  church. 
In  politics  Mr.  Kibbey  is  a democrat,  and  was 
formerly  very  active  in  his  support  of  the 
party.  He  has  served  as  township  trustee 
three  terms,  and  has  filled  the  position  of  jus- 
tice of  the  peace.  I'raternally,  he  is  a member 
of  Luther  lodge.  No.  227,  I.  O.  O.  E.,  at  James- 
town, and  is  the  oldest  in  membership,  having 
been  a charter  member  in  1862;  he  passed  all 
the  chairs,  united  with  the  grand  lodge,  and 
then  became  a member  of  the  encampment  at 
|amestown.  The  standing  of  the  Kibbey  family 
in  the  township  and  county  in  which  they  have 
so  long  lived  is  a most  enviat)le  one,  both  so- 
cially and  financially,  and  their  walk  through 


life  well  worthy  of  emulation.  The  follow- 
ing interesting  notes  are  abridged  from  the 
HISTORY  OF  THE  GILL  FAMILY. 

About  the  year  1718,  some  peasants,  or 
fishermen,  found  an  infant  lying  upon  the 
shores  of  one  of  those  seas  that  lash  the 
coast  of  Ireland.  The  child  was  wrapped 
in  rags,  had  the  gill  of  a fish  in  its  mouth  and 
was  lying  within  easy  reach  of  the  rapidly 
approaching,  resistless,  and  merciless  tide. 
* * * * * Since  the  gill  of  a fish  had 
been  found  between  its  lips,  they  at  once 
called  it  Gill,  to  which  the  name  of  John 
was  prefi.xed.  The  blood  of  this  child  has 
run  in  the  veins  of  more  than  10,000  Ameri- 
cans. Their  number  is  beyond  calculation, 
and  the  names  of  thousands  of  them  beyond 
the  reach  of  the  historian.  * * * * * 

This  lad,  John  Gill,  in  1732,  was  learning 
the  weaver’s  trade  in  Ireland,  but  on  account 
of  a quarrel  betw'een  himself  and  master,  he 
fled  from  the  Emerald  isle,  secreted  himself 
on  a boat  bound  for  the  new  world,  and 
landed  in  New  York  harbor.  In  1748  he 
married  a Miss  Duncan,  of  Scotch  descent. 
Thomas  Gill,  son  of  the  above  and  grand- 
father of  Mrs.  Martha  A.  (Gill)  Kibbey,  was 
born  in  1765.  He  was  a captain  in  the  Revo- 
lutionary w'ar  and  was  noted  for  his  bravery 
in  battle.  He  married  Hannah  Criswell  in 
1785.  They  settled  in  South  Carolina,  but 
later  moved  to  Kentucky.  Thomas  and 
Hannah  (Criswell)  Gill  lived  to  a ripe  old 
age  and  died  in  Crawford  county.  Ilk,  in 
1857.  Samuel  C.  Gill,  son  of  Capt.  Thomas 
Gill,  the  Revolutionary  soldier  and  grandson 
of  the  Irish  waif,  was  born  in  the  state  of 
South  Carolina  November  22,  1783.  The 

boy  early  became  inured  to  farm  labor. 
The  j)low  was  made  with  the  wooden  mold 
board.  He  married  Sarah  Malone  Septem- 
ber 23,  1807,  daughter  of  Jonathan  and 

Mary  Malone.  All  their  worldly  possessions 


OF  BOONE  COUNTY. 


363 


they  placed  on  a pony  and  emigrated  to  Bath 
county,  Ky. , settling  on  Licking  river.  He 
bought  the  only  mill  in  the  vicinity  for  fifty 
dollars,  made  a good  dam,  and  put  in  new 
and  better  machinery.  Later  he  attached  a 
saw-mill,  and  supplied  the  whole  country, 
for  a radius  of  fifty  miles,  with  sawed  timber. 
He  made  numerous  trips  into  Indiana  and 
entered  large  bodies  of  land  in  Boone,  Put- 
nam, Montgomery  and  Hendricks  counties, 
as  well  as  in  Douglas  county.  111.,  thus  lay- 
ing the  foundation  for  a large  fortune,  especi- 
ally for  his  children.  Samuel  C.  Gill  was 
highly  respected  by  the  people  of  his  county, 
and  they  often  honored  him  with  their  confi- 
dence by  electing  him  to  some  county  office. 
He  served  as  justice  of  the  peace  for  nearly 
a quarter  of  a century.  By  virtue  of  the 
office  and  according  to  the  law  (he  becoming 
the  oldest  justice)  he  also  filled  the  office  of 
sheriff.  He  lived  an  honest  and  upright  life, 
and  although  he  was  not  identified  with  any 
religious  sect,  he  aided  liberally  in  building 
churches  and  paying  preachers.  The  wife 
was  a consistent  member  of  the  old  Iron- 
side Baptist  church.  She  was  loved  for  her 
many  charities  and  her  hospitable  disposition. 
She  died,  as  she  had  lived,  December  22, 
1847.  On  November  i,  1849,  he  married 
Elizabeth  Reed.  The  old  people  lived  happily 
together  for  many  years.  About  the  year 
1845  he  sold  the  mill  and  farm,  and  died  in 
Fleming  county,  Ky.,  November  23,  1854. 


ILLIAM  A.  KUSER.— Among  the 
respected  citizens  of  Boone  county 
who  served  their  country  bravely 
and  with  credit  during  the  great 
Civil  war,  and  whose  record  well  deserves 
preservation  in  history,  is  William  A.  Kuser, 
the  subject  of  this  sketch.  The  founders  of 
his  family  in  America  were  pioneers  in  the 


great  Keystone  state  and  descended  from  that 
race  who  are  noted  for  their  steadiness  and  in- 
dustry— the  Germans.  Daniel  Kuser,  the 
father  of  our  subject,  was  one  of  the  oldest 
railroad  engineers  in  the  United  States.  Be- 
fore steam  was  applied  on  the  B.  & O.  rail- 
road, he  hauled  freight  on  this  line  with  horses. 
He  finally  settled  in  Frederick  county,  Md., 
and  in  the  fall  of  1856  moved  with  his  family 
to  Indiana  and  settled  on  land  in  Marion  coun- 
ty. He  had  married,  in  Maryland,  Christina 
Fisher,  and  to  them  were  born  five  children — 
Samuel,  William  A.,  Cornelia  E.,  Rebecca 
and  Mary  C.  Mr.  Kuser  passed  all  the  re- 
mainder of  his  days  in  Marion  county  and  died 
at  the  age  of  seventy  years.  In  political  opin- 
ions he  was  a stanch  democrat.  He  was  an 
industrious  and  honorable  citizen. 

William  A.  Kuser  was  born  in  Frederick 
City,  Md.,  February  5,  1840,  received  the  edu- 
cation of  the  common  schools  and  was  about 
si.xteen  years  of  age  when  he  came  with  his 
father  to  Indiana.  He  worked  with  his  father 
until  1862  on  the  farm,  and  on  July  19,  he  of- 
fered his  services  to  his  country  and  enlisted  at 
Indianapolis,  Ind.,  in  company  G,  Seven- 
tieth regiment,  Indiana  volunteer  infantry,  for 
three  years  or  during  the  war,  under  Capt. 
Parker  S.  Carson.  He  was  in  the  battle  of 
Russellville,  Ky. , September  30,  1 862 ; Resaca, 
Ga.,  May  15,  1864;  Golgotha,  Ga.,  June  15, 
1864;  Dallas,  Ga. , in  June,  1864;  Kenesaw 
Mountain,  Ga.,  July  3,  1864;  Peach  Tree  Creek, 
Ga.,  July  20,  1864;  siege  of  Atlanta,  Ga.,  July 
— August,  1 864;  Savannah,  Ga. , December  21, 
1864;  Lottenville,  N.  C.,  February  6,  1865; 
Arrysboro,  N.  C. , March  16,  1865;  Benton- 
ville,  N.  C. , 1865,  and  in  many  skirmishes, 
some  of  them  so  severe  as  to  be  really  battles. 
He  was  in  Sherman’s  famous  march  to  the  sea, 
and  endured  all  the  hardships  and  vicissitudes 
in  this  greatest  march  in  history.  Mr.  Kuser 
was  neither  sick  in  hospital  nor  wounded  and 


804 


BIOGRAPHICAL  HISTORY 


did  not  ride  a day  in  an  ambulance  during  the 
war.  He  was  always  on  active  duty  and  at 
his  post,  and  took  part  in  every  battle  and 
skirmish  of  his  regiment.  Ex-President  Har- 
rison was  the  colonel  of  his  regiment  when  it 
left  Indianapolis,  and  while  on  Sherman’s 
march  to  the  sea  he  was  commissioned  l)riga- 
dier-general.  Mr.  Kuser  was  on  the  return 
march  and  in  the  grand  review  at  Washington. 
After  the  war  he  returned  to  Marion  county, 
Ind.,  and  resumed  farming,  and  on  December 
6,  1865,  married  Rachael  E.,  daughter  of 

Richard  and  Erances  (McLain)  Hogland.  To 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Hogland  were  born  three  chil- 
dren— James,  Mary  A.,  and  Rachael  E.  Mr. 
Hogland  moved  to  Boone  county  in  1870,  and 
settled  on  eighty  acres  of  land  in  Center  town- 
ship. He  died  March  15,  1876,  aged  sixty- 
ihree  years.  In  politics  he  voted  the  democratic 
ticket,  and  he  was  a member  of  the  Baptist 
church.  He  was  a man  of  good  character  and 
very  industrious.  After  marriage  Mr.  Kuser 
resided  in  Marion  county,  until  1870,  when  he 
came  to  Boone  county  and  settled  on  a farm 
of  sixty-four  acres  where  he  still  lives.  He  has 
always  voted  with  the  democrats.  He  and 
wife  are  members  of  the  Christian  church.  Mr. 
Kuser  is  a veteran  soldier,  who  has  a splendid 
military  record.  He  did  his  duty  cheerfully 
and  faithfully,  and  has  faced  rebel  bullets  in 
many  a hard-fought  battle  field.  Eew  soldiers, 
if  any,  in  this  county  have  a better  military 
record,  than  this  cpiiet  and  respected  citizen  of 
Center  township. 


aHAKI.ES  CLAY  LaFOLLETTE, 
one  of  the  firm  of  Buckles  Ik.  LaEol- 
lette,  undertakers  and  furniture  deal- 
ers of  Thorntown,  Boone  county, 
Ind.,  was  born  in  Shaimondale,  Ind.,  Septem- 
ber 19,  1867,  and  is  a scm  of  Jacob  and 

Sarah  E.  (Young)  Eah'ollctte. 


Charles  Clay  Lah'ollette  was  reared  on  the 
home  farm  until  eighteen  years  of  age,  receiv- 
ing, in  the  meantime,  all  the  advantages  that 
the  country  schools  of  his  district  afforded. 
At  eighteen  he  entered  Wabash  college,  where 
for  one  and  one-half  years  he  devoted  his  most 
assiduous  attention  to  study,  and  then  returned 
to  the  home  farm.  Being  now  past  twenty- 
one  years  old,  he  entered  the  Commercial  col- 
lege of  Indianapolis,  where  he  concluded  his 
studies  in  June,  1890,  and  then  again  returned 
to  the  home  farm,  on  which  he  remained  until 
October,  1792,  when  he  came  to  Thorntown 
to  assume  the  responsibilities  of  business  life. 
Here  he  followed  the  grocery  trade  until  April, 
1893,  when  he  sold  out  and  bought  an  interest 
in  the  furniture  and  undertaking  establishment 
of  Buckles  & Binford,  and,  under  the  firm 
style  of  Buckles,  Binford  & LaFollette,  the 
business  was  carried  until  Sepetmber,  1893, 
when  the  partnership  was  dissolved,  and  since 
then  the  firm  has  been  known  as  Buckles 
& LaFollette.  This  enterprising  firm  carry  a 
large  and  well  selected  stock  of  household 
furniture  and  of  undertaking  supplies;  their 
stock  is  neatly  arranged,  and  both  members  of 
the  firm  are  gentlemanly  and  pleasant  to  deal 
with. 

Mr.  LaFollette  was  happily  married  at 
Thorntown,  September  17,  1893,  to  Miss 

Emma  Campbell,  a native  of  Boone  county, 
Ind.,  born  February  4,  1867,  a daughter  of 
Joseph  and  Cynthia  (Ball)  Campbell,  who  are 
now  living  in  Thorntown,  in  retirement.  Mr. 
LaFollette  is  a member  of  the  blue  lodge,  F. 
A A.  M.,  and  of  the  grand  lodge  and  encamp- 
ment of  the  I.  ().  (4.  I'.,  and  also  of  the  grand 
lodge  of  the  K.  of  P.  Ile  jias  been  preixared 
for  his  business  by  graduating  from  the  Indiana 
Embalming  college.  He  and  wife  are  Presby- 
terians in  their  religious  belief,  and  both  enjoy 
an  enviable  position  in  society.  1 n his  jiclitics 
he  is  an  ardent  democrat. 


OF  BOONE  COUNTY. 


365 


EVI  LANE  is  one  of  the  most  hon- 
ored and  respected  citizens  of  Leb- 
anon. He  has  for  many  years  been 
connected  with  the  office  of  circuit 
clerk,  holding  this  office  personally  for  several 
years,  and  was  deputy  under  the  second  clerk 
of  the  circuit  court — Samuel  S.  Brown — the 
first  clerk  of  this  court  for  Boone  county  hav- 
ing been  David  Hoover.  Mr.  Lane  descends 
from  sterling  English  stock.  His  grandfather, 
James  Lane,  came  from  England  at  the  age  of 
fourteen  years,  having  run  away  from  his  par- 
ents, who  lived  in  the  city  of  London.  He 
shipped  on  board  a vessel  for  America,  and  at 
New  York  was  apprenticed  to  pay  his  passage 
money.  At  the  age  of  eighteen  he  was  drafted 
into  the  colonial  army  and  served  throughout 
the  Revolutionary  war.  He  married  in  Vir- 
ginia, and,  with  his  wife,  shortly  after  moved 
to  Grainger  county,  Tenn.,  in  which  state  Mr. 
Lane  was  one  of  the  pioneers.  He  cleared 
up  a good  farm  on  Flat  creek,  and  here  passed 
the  remainder  of  his  days.  To  Mr.  Lane  and 
wife  were  born  four  children — William,  James, 
Edward,  and  one  daughter,  whose  name  is  not 
remembered.  He  was  a member  of  the  Bap- 
tist church,  and  well  known  throughout  the 
county  as  a man  of  sterling  worth.  He  reached 
the  great  age  of  eighty  years.  William  Lane, 
his  son,  the  father  of  our  subject,  was  born  in 
Virginia,  December  2,  1787,  was  taken  to 

Tennessee  by  his  parents  and  grew  up  among 
the  pioneers  of  that  state.  He  became  a 
farmer  and  married  Sarah  Haines,  who  was 
born  February  14,  1782.  She  was  the  daugh- 
ter of  David  Haines,  who  was  of  Irish  stock. 
To  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Lane  were  born  the  follow- 
ing children;  Polly,  Addison,  Josiah  C., 
Louis,  John,  Ruth,  Levi.  Ann,  Rhoda,  and 
one  who  died  an  infant.  They  are  all  deceased 
except  our  subject,  and  all  left  families.  Wil- 
liam Lane  was  a substantial  farmer,  owning 
200  acres  of  land.  He  was  appointed  by  the 


state  legislature  justice  of  the  peace,  and  served 
continuously  for  forty  years,  his  judgment 
being  respected  by  all  who  knew  him.  At  an 
early  day  he  served  as  a soldier  in  the  Indian 
troubles.  He  died  on  his  farm  February  19, 
1845,  aged  sixty-eight  years.  He  was  a man 
of  honorable  character  and  a typical  American 
pioneer. 

Levi  Lane,  his  son,  was  born  July  9,  1815, 
on  his  father’s  farm  in  Grainger  county,  Tenn., 
twenty-two  miles  north  of  Knoxville.  He  was 
reared  a farmer  and  left  home  at  the  age  of 
twenty-five  years.  He  had  received  a good, 
common  education  for  his  day,  and  taught  a 
subscription  school  two  winters.  In  1840,  the 
day  after  the  election  of  William  H.  Harrison 
tq  the  presidency,  he  left  his  old  home  for 
Boone  county,  Ind.  His  brother,  Josiah,  ac- 
companied him.  He  was  a man  of  family  and  had 
already  settled  in  Boone  county,  and  had  been 
home  on  a visit.  Levi  Lane  had  just  taken  an 
active  part,  for  his  age  and  position,  in  the 
famous  “Log  Cabin  and  Hai'd  Cider”  cam- 
paign, in  which  the  excitement  had  run  very 
high,  the  war  cry  being  “Tippecanoe  and 
Tyler,  too.”  On  the  first  day  of  the  journey, 
the  brothers  passed  the  famous  chestnut  tree 
where  the  three  states — Tennessee,  Virginia  and 
Kentucky — meet.  Here  had  been  held  a polit- 
ical rally  and  the  flag  still  waved  in  shreds  from 
the  top  of  a tree.  The  woods  near  by  were 
filled  with  cider  barrels,  from  which  the  hard 
cider  had  freely  flowed  to  quench  the  thirst 
and  cause  the  enthusiasm  in  the  celebrated 
campaign.  Mr.  Lane  came  directly  to  Leb- 
anon, making  the  journey  of  400  miles  on 
horseback,  in  three  weeks,  arriving  here  in 
November.  P'orn'  brothers  of  the  Lane  family 
settled  in  Boone  county,  three  of  them — Addi- 
son, Josiah  C.,  and  Lewis  came  from  Putnam 
county,  Ind.,  where  they  had  settled  between 
1830  and  1832.  They  are  now  deceased.  In 
the  May  following  his  arrival,  in  1840,  Levi 


BIOGRAPHICAL  HISTORY 


BIT) 


Lane  and  Ids  brother  Addison  and  family  re- 
turned to  the  old  home  in  Tennessee  for  a 
visit. 

Levi  Lane  returned  to  Lebanon  in  Septem- 
ber, 1841,  and  from  that  time  remained  per- 
manently. On  the  ne.xt  day  after  his  arrival 
in  September,  1841,  he  entered  the  office  of 
county  clerk  as  deputy  and  continued  in  this 
position  two  and  one-half  years.  Mr.  Brown, 
the  clerk,  being  succeeded  by  John  Christman, 
who  resigned  his  position,  Mr.  Lane  was 
elected  to  fill  his  imexpired  term  and  served  by 
appointment  and  election  six  and  one-half 
years.  He  was  then  deputy  under  subsequent 
clerks  until  the  present  time,  with  the  excep- 
tion of  eight  years.  During  this  long  period 
of  more  than  forty-five  years,  he  has  made 
more  court  records  than  any  man  in  the  state 
of  Indiana;  has  issued  more  marriage  licenses, 
as  he  has  served  in  the  clerk’s  office  for  a 
longer  period  than  any  other  man  in  the  state. 
His  recorcjs  are  accuiate  and  very  legible  and 
now  of  great  value. 

Mr.  Lane  married  August  23,  1842,  Phe- 
riba  Hayes,  daughter  of  Charles  Hayes,  of  Ill- 
inois. To  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Lane  have  been  born 
ten  children — Henry  S.,  now  of  Chicago;  Clara 
L. , Ernpson,  Willard  W.,  Samantha  E.,  de- 
ceased; Joseph  B.,  Nellie  L. , Albert  L. , Mor- 
ris E.  and  Georgianna,  who  died  an  infant,  all 
born  in  Lebanon,  and  this  is  the  proper  order 
of  their  birth.  Both  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Lane  are 
members  of  the  Methodist  church,  of  which 
he  is  one  of  the  trustees  and  also  steward,  and 
for  forty  years  has  been  secretary  of  the  (juar- 
terly  conferences  and  board  of  stewards.  Po- 
litically he  is  a stanch  republican:  he  was  a 
strong  Union  man  during  the  war,  in  which  he 
had  two  sons — Henry  S.  and  Ernpson  T. 
Henry  S.  was  in  an  Indiana  infantry  regiment 
and  served  during  the  war.  He  was  in  the 
battle  of  Pittsburg  Landing  and  in  the  gun- 
boat service,  and  hospital  steward  and  pay- 


master’s clerk.  Ernpson  T.  was  in  an  Indiana 
regiment  and  in  seven  skirmishes.  Mr.  Eane 
is  one  of  the  best  Union  men  in  the  county 
and  is  universally  respected.  He  has  been  so 
long  connected  with  the  clerk’s  office  that  the 
people  of  the  county  feel  that  his  supervision 
of  the  records  is  almost  necessary  for  their 
accuracy. 


OSEPH  MALCOLM  LANHAM,  farmer 
of  Marion  township,  Boone  county, 
Ind.,  was  born  in  Virginia,  January  i, 
1 832,  and  was  reared  on  the  home  farm. 
His  great  grandfather  came  from  Ireland  to 
America  in  colonial  days  and  settled  in  Vir- 
ginia, where  his  son,  \Villiam,  was  born. 
Pleasant,  son  of  William,  was  born  in  Bote- 
tourt county,  Va.,  and  married  Jane  McCowen, 
daughter  of  James  and  Cynthia  (Castor)  Mc- 
Cowen, and  to  this  union  were  born  thirteen 
children,  of  whom  Joseph  M.  was  the  sixth  in 
order  of  birth. 

Joseph  M.  Lanham,  at  the  age  of  twenty- 
three,  came  to  Boone  county,  Ind.,  on  a visit, 
and  was  so  well  pleased  with  the  country  that 
he  decided  to  make  it  his  home;  but  he  re- 
turned to  Virginia  for  a year,  and  then  came 
back  to  Boone  county,  and  Eebruary  3,  1857, 
married  Mary  E.  Wright,  who  was  born  March 
9,  1836,  a daughter  of  John  C.  and  Johanna 
(Norris)  Wright.  Mr.  Lanham  worked  in  a 
sawmill  fora  year  after  his  marriage,  and  then 
cleared  forty  acres  of  heavily  timbered  land, 
taking  in  payment  for  his  labor  forty  acres  of 
similar  land.  This  he  later  sold,  and  purchased 
forty  acres  in  Marion  township.  To  the  mar- 
riage of  Mr.  Lanham  have  been  born  the  fol- 
lowing children:  William  P.,  born  December 
31,  1857,  and  mari-ied  to  Alice  Price;  George 
H.,  born  March  20,  1860,  and  died  at  eighteen; 
John  b'. , born  May  27,  1862,  and  died  when 
young;  |ohanna,  born  September  26,  1864, 


OF  BOONE  COUNTY. 


367 


and  married  to  William  Bush;  Amanda,  born 
January  i8,  1867,  and  married  to  A.  P.  Pop- 
ino;  Frederick,  born  August  23,  1869,  and 

married  to  Cordie  P.  Jones;  Mollie  E.,  born 
January  7,  1872,  and  married  to  William  Kin- 
cade;  Copeland,  born  April  27,  1874;  Pearl, 
born  August  17,  1876,  deceased;  Cassius,  born 
February  10,  1879;  Empson,  born  Novem- 
ber 28,  1880,  and  died  June  27,  1882;  Olga, 
born  June  27,  1882. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Lanham  prospered  in  their 
farming,  and  when  he  had  added  twenty  acres 
to  his  original  forty,  sold  out,  and  bought  sev- 
enty-nine acres  on  the  east  side  of  his  present 
farm.  About  1879  Mrs.  Lanham’s  father  died, 
and  the  farm,  by  inheritance  and  purchase, 
was  increased  to  i 59  acres.  This  farm  is  well 
tilled  and  has  some  600  rods  of  tiling,  and 
some  fifteen  acres  reserved  for  timber.  Mr. 
Lanham  has  some  fine  trotting  horses  and  has 
made  raising  sheep  a specialty,  Shropshire 
strain  being  his  favorite,  it  being  short- 
legged, heavily-bodied,  and  the  leading  animal 
for  mutton.  His  dwelling  cost  $1,000,  and 
his  out-buildings  are  substantial  and  commo- 
dious; he  takes  great  interest  in  good  roads  and 
has  contributed  liberally  toward  their  construc- 
tion, and  has  a splendid  gravel  road  at  his  very 
door.  He  is  a stockholder  in  the  natural  gas 
company,  and  uses  the  gas  in  his  tasty  dwell- 
ing. He  and  wife  are  members  of  the  Method- 
ist Protestant  church,  and  their  upright  walk 
in  life  proves  the  sincerity  of  their  faith.  In 
politics  Mr.  Lanham  affiliates  with  the  peo- 
ple’s party.  He  is  much  respected  by  his 
neighbors,  and  his  family  enjoy  a large  share 
of  this  respect.  Mrs.  Lanham  has  three 
brothers  who  served  in  the  late  war,  as  follows: 
Robert,  was  killed  at  Kenesaw  Mountain;  Will- 
iam, served  without  injury  until  the  close  of 
the  war;  Franklin,  lost  the  fingers  of  his  right 
hand.  All  three  were  in  the  Fortieth  Indiana 

volunteer  infantry. 

18 


EORGE  LYSTER,  insurance  and 
real  estate  agent  and  general  financier, 
at  Thorntown,  Boone  county,  Ind., 
was  born  in  Johnson  county,  Ind., 
February  12,  1865,  a son  of  Peter  V.  and 
Mary  J.  (Deer)  Lyster,  who  were  both  born 
in  Kentucky,  but  were  married  in  Johnson 
county,  Ind.,  of  which  county  their  parents 
were  pioneers  and  their  fathers  farmers. 
Peter  V.  and  Mary  J.  were  members  of  the 
Christian  church  and  were  highly  respected 
by  their  neighbors,  and  in  politics  Peter  V. 
was  a democrat.  In  1873  this  family  came  to 
Boone  county  and  located  in  Sugar  Creek 
township,  where  the  father  followed  farming 
until  his  death,  which  occurred  in  January, 
1887.  Mrs.  Mary  J.  Lyster  is  now  residing  in 
Thorntown.  To  this  worthy  couple  five  chil- 
dren W2re  born,  as  follows:  Alonzo,  deceased; 
Riley,  a stock  dealer  in  Thorntown;  Cornelius, 
Amanda  and  Ceorge. 

Ceorge  Lyster  was  educated  in  the  grad- 
ed schools  of  Thorntown,  and  he  remained 
on  the  home  farm  until  1889,  when  he  went 
to  Anderson,  Ind. , and  for  a year  was  engaged 
in  the  insurance  business;  then  he  returned  to 
Thorntown  and  established  an  insurance  and 
real  estate  agency,  in  which  he  has  prospered 
most  satisfactorily  ever  since.  He  is  also 
secretary  of  the  Thorntown  Building  and  Loan 
association,  and  Business  Men’s  Protective 
and  Savings  association,  and  also  does  an  in- 
dividual loan  and  collecting  business.  He 
was  married,  in  Boone  county,  December  15, 
1891,  to  Miss  Myrtle  Cox,  who  was  born  in 
this  county  August  12,  1868,  a daughter  of 

Ceorge  and  Melisia  (Gregory)  Cox,  and  to  this 
congenial  marriage  one  child  has  been  born, 
named  Lloyd.  Mrs.  Lyster  is  in  religious  faith 
a Methodist,  while  Mr.  Lyster  is  a member  of 
the  Christian  church;  in  his  politics  he  is  a 
democrat ; fraternally  he  is  a Knight  of  Pythias, 
a Red  Man,  and  an  Odd  Fellow,  being  in  the 


808 


BIOGRAPHICAL  HISTORY 


encampment  and  having  taken  the  Rebecca 
degree  of  the  last  named  order.  He  owns  a 
neat  and  pleasant  home,  and  his  social  and 
business  standing  is  of  the  best  in  Thorntown. 


EORGE  \V.  LEWIS.— The  grand- 
father of  the  gentleman  for  whom 
this  sketch  is  prepared  was  Charles 
Lewis,  a Virginian  by  birth  and  an 
early  settler  of  ISIontgomery  county,  Ind.,  to 
which  part  of  the  state  he  moved  from  Ren- 
tucky  in  pioneer  times.  Later  he  became  a 
resident  of  the  county  of  Boone,  and  entered 
a large  tract  of  government  land  in  Jackson 
township,  the  greater  part  of  which  he  cleared 
and  brought  into  a successful  state  of  cultiva- 
tion. He  reared  a family  consisting  of  the 
following  children:  George  W.,  Benjamin  F., 
Fielding,  Charles,  John  and  Sallie,  and  de- 
parted this  life  in  1856.  Fielding  Lewis, 
father  of  the  immediate  subject,  was  born  Oc- 
tober 23,  1807,  in  Rentucky,  and  came  with 
his  parents  to  Indiana  when  a young  man.  He 
married  Tabitha  Davis,  daughter  of  John 
Davis,  one  of  the  pioneers  of  Boone  county, 
and  became  the  father  of  the  following  child- 
ren, namely:  Charles  L. , John  W. , Priscilla, 
Nancy  L.,  George  W.,  Alfred,  James,  Thomas, 
Hubbard  L.  and  Mary  J.  Shortly  after  his 
marriage  Mr.  Lewis  settled  on  the  farm  in 
Jackson  township  where  his  son  George  W. 
now  resides,  and  with  the  exception  of  about 
three  years  continued  to  live  on  the  same  until 
his  death,  which  occurred  on  the  ninth  day  of 
December,  1859.  Mrs.  Lewis  survived  her 
husband  nearly  twenty  years,  departing  this 
life  August  15,  1879.  Fielding  Lewis  was 

widely  and  favorably  known  throughout  Jack- 
son  and  adjoining  townships,  and  occupied  a 
conspicuous  place  in  the  estimation  of  his  fel- 
low citizens.  He  was  a man  of  many  excel- 


lent (lualities,  a good  neighbor,  and  in  his 
death,  which  was  mourned  by  the  entire  com- 
munity, Boone  county  lost  one  of  its  substan- 
tial and  well-to-do  citizens. 

George  W.  Lewis  was  born  in  Missouri  June 
13,  1844,  and  while  a mere  boy  was  brought 
by  his  father  to  Indiana,  since  which  time  he 
has  been  an  honored  resident  of  Boone  county. 
His  youthful  years  were  spent  on  the  home 
farm,  where  he  early  beeame  accustomed  to 
hard  work,  and  learned  to  appreciate  the  true 
dignity  of  the  agriculturist’s  vocation,  and  in 
such  schools  as  the  country  afforded  he  ac- 
quired the  rudiments  of  a practical  English 
education.  At  the  breaking  out  of  the  late 
war  he  tendered  his  services  to  his  country, 
and  during  the  dark  days  of  the  rebellion  did 
valiant  service  in  many  campaigns  as  a mem- 
ber of  the  One  Hundred  and  Thirty-fifth  Indi- 
ana volunteer  infantry,  with  which  he  served 
until  honorably  discharged  at  the  expiration  of 
his  term  of  enlistment,  April  2,  1864.  On 
leaving  the  army  Mr.  Lewis  returned  to  Boone 
county,  where  he  has  since  resided,  actively 
engaged  in  agricultural  pursuits,  which  he 
carries  on  successfully,  being  at  this  time  one 
of  the  leading  farmers  and  representative  citi- 
zens of  the  community  in  which  he  lives.  He 
is  an  ardent  supported  of  the  republican  party, 
the  principals  of  which  he  has  always  believed 
to  be  for  the  best  interest  of  the  country,  and 
he  is  to  be  found  working  with  might  and 
main  for  the  success  of  his  ticket  in  every  po- 
litical contest.  Hubhard  Lewis,  brother  of 
George  W.,  is  a native  of  Boone  county,  Ind., 
horn  on  the  old  home  farm  in  Jackson  town- 
ship, y\ugust  10,  1852.  His  early  life,  spent 
amid  the  rugged  duties  of  the  farm,  was  com- 
paratively uneventful,  and  he  has  passed  his 
days  in  the  peaceful  luirsuit  of  agriculture. 
He  is  one  of  the  substantial  citizens  of  Jack- 
son,  takes  an  active  interest  in  everything  per- 
taining to  the  good  of  the  public,  and  is  a 


LIBRARY 
OF  THE 

tmivERsrn  of  tLUNor 


OF  BOONE  COUNTY. 


871 


recognized  worker  in  the  republican  party, 
with  which  he  has  been  affiliated  ever  since 
attaining  his  majority. 


EN.  F.  McKEY,  the  editor  of  the 
Pioneer,  at  Lebanon,  Boone  county, 
Ind.,  was  born  in  Montgomery  coun- 
ty, Iiid.,  December  5,  1857,  and 

springs  from  an  old  colonial  family  of  Scotch- 
Irish  extraction.  His  father,  Jefferson  C. 
McKey,  was  a native  of  east  Tennessee,  born 
near  Knoxville,  and  was  quite  young  when  he 
came  to  Indiana  and  located  in  Montgomery 
county,  where  he  followed  farming  and  also 
his  vocation  of  carpenter  and  builder.  In 
1856  he  married,  in  that  county.  Miss  Sarah 
A.  Sering,  daughter  of  George  A.  and  Nancy 
Sering,  the  former  of  whom  came  from  a 
family  of  prominent  farmers  in  Union  county, 
but  later  became  a citizen  of  Boone  county, 
where  he  passed  the  last  years  of  his  life. 
Jefferson  C.  McKey  is  now  a citizen  of  Boone, 
and  resides  in  Lebanon. 

Ben.  F.  McKey,  in  1865,  came  to  Boone 
county  with  his  father,  who  settled  on  a farm. 
He  attended  the  district  schools  of  the  county 
and  worked  on  the  farm  until  March,  1870, 
when  the  family  moved  to  Lebanon,  where 
Ben.  F.  attended  the  public  schools  for  three 
years,  and  in  1883  entered  the  Pioneer  office, 
as  an  apprentice  under  Ben  A.  Smith,  who 
paid  him  the  munificent  sum  of  one  dollar  per 
week.  He  then  went  to  Covington,  Ind., 
with  a Mr.  Smith,  and  for  two  years  worked 
on  the  People’s  Friend,  and  being  attentive 
and  industrious,  had  by  this  time  become 
thoroughly  acquainted  with  his  trade.  In 
1876  he  returned  to  Lebanon,  worked  for  some 
time  on  the  Democrat,  a newspaper  venture 
which  found  an  early  grave,  and  then  went 
with  Mr.  Smith  to  Laurel,  Franklin  county, 
where  he  worked  on  the  Review  for  a year. 


He  next  came  back  to  Lebanon  and  here  at- 
tended the  public  school  under  Prof.  John  W. 
Kise,  a gentleman  for  whom  he  still  entertains 
a high  respect,  and  added  considerably  to  his 
stock  of  general  information.  Mr.  McKey 
then  went  to  work  on  the  Patriot  for  John  A. 
Abbott,  until  January  i,  1879,  when  he  be- 
came foreman  of  the  Lebanon  Pioneer,  under 
Dr.  T.  H.  Harrison,  took  the  management  of 
the  paper,  became  a local  writer,  and  soon 
had  thrust  upon  him  the  entire  responsibility 
of  the  establishment.  In  1889  he  leased  the 
office  from  Dr.  Harrison  for  a year,  and  at  the 
end  of  that  time  purchased  the  plant  and  has 
since  been  editor  and  proprietor,  having  large- 
ly increased  the  circulation  of  the  journal  and 
added  to  its  advertising  patronage.  Mr. 
McKey  began  at  the  bottom  of  the  ladder;  by 
thorough  ability,  foresight  and  good  manage- 
ment he  has  placed  his  journal  in  its  present 
prosperous  condition.  He  is  an  incisive 
writer,  and  the  Pioneer  is  what  every  local  pa- 
per should  be — spicy,  newsy  and  prompt  in  re- 
cording the  events  of  the  neighborhood.  Its 
dress  is  neat  and  attractive,  and  its  press  work 
clean  and  clear.  It  is  emphatically  and  pro- 
nouncedly democratic  in  its  enunciations,  and  is 
the  only  sheet  advocating  democratic  principles 
in  the  county.  Attached  to  the  Pioneer  office 
is  a job  department,  furnished  with  new  type 
and  modern  machinery,  with  skillful  and 
tasteful  compositors  ready  for  any  class  of 
work  in  their  line. 

The  marriage  of  Mr.  McKey  took  place 
March  31,  1880,  to  Miss  Jennie  Dyson,  of 

Lebanon.  This  lady  lost  her  eyesight  when 
a young  girl,  by  an  accident,  and  was  carefully 
educated  at  the  Indiana  Institution  for  the 
Blind,  becoming  an  accomplished  scholar  and 
musician.  Her  moral  training  has  been  of  the 
strictest  character,  and  her  religious  convic- 
tions reach  a high  spiritual  plane.  She  is  a 
member  of  the  Methodist  church,  an  active 


372 


BIOGRAPHICAL  HISTORY 


Sabbath-school  worker,  and  is  one  of  the  most 
highly  res})ected  ladies  of  Lebanon.  Mr. 
McKey  is  also  a member  of  the  Methodist 
church,  and  is  a member  of  its  board  of 
stewards.  Fraternally  he  is  a member  of 
Lebanon  lodge.  No.  45,  Knights  of  Pythias, 
Winnebago  tribe.  No.  36,  Improved  Order  of 
Red  Men,  and  Sidney  lodge.  No.  1784, 
Knights  of  Honor. 


OHN  FITZER  McKINLEY,  an  hon- 
ored citizen  of  Clinton  township,  Boone 
county,  Ind.,  and  gallant  ex-soldier, 
was  born  in  Cincinnati,  Ohio,  Decem- 
ber 25,  1840.  His  father  was  William  Mc- 
Kinley, a native  of  Ohio  and  of  Irish  descent, 
and  his  mother  was  Cynthia  (Holmes)  McKin- 
ley, daughter  of  Capt.  Wilkes  Holmes,  for  a 
number  of  years  a commander  of  an  Ohio 
river  steamboat.  William  McKinley  was  a 
ship  carpenter  by  occupation  and  he  became 
the  father  of  the  following  children:  Zelotes 
A.,  William,  John  F. , Anderson  and  one 
daughter. 

John  F.  McKinley  was  six  years  old  when 
his  mother  died,  and  when  ten  years  of  age 
was  called  upon  to  mourn  the  death  of  his 
father,  who  was  killed  by  a fall  while  engaged 
in  repairing  a ship.  After  the  latter  event 
young  John  went  to  live  with  a man  by  the 
name  of  Jesse  O’Neal,  who  proved  anything 
but  a kind  task-master,  in  conse(iuence  of 
which  the  boy  started  out  for  himself,  work- 
ing at  different  places  and  at  anything  honorable 
which  his  hands  could  find  to  do  until  the 
breaking  out  of  the  great  rebellion.  He  was 
one  of  the  first  to  respond  to  the  country’s  call 
for  defenders,  being  moved  to  enter  the  army, 
after  listening  to  a patriotic  speech  delivered 
by  Abraham  Lincoln  in  Indianapolis  in  Octo- 
ber, 1 86 1.  He  soon  afterward  enlisted  in 
company  C.  Fifty-first  Indiana  infantry,  and 


accompanied  his  command  to  Louisville, 
thence  to  Bardstown,  Ky.,  and  later  to  Mill 
Springs,  the  brigade  to  which  his  regiment 
was  assigned  being  commanded  by  Gen.  James 
A.  Garfield,  afteward  president  of  the  United 
States.  To  narrate  in  detail  the  many  army 
experiences  of  Mr.  McKinley  while  battling  for 
the  national  honor  would  far  transcend  the 
limits  of  a sketch  of  this  character,  accordingly 
but  a brief  epitome  of  the  campaigns  and 
battles  in  which  he  participated  is  herewith 
attempted.  From  Mill  Springs  the  regiment 
proceeded  to  Bowling  Green,  and  from  that 
point  marched  over  the  greater  part  of  the 
state  of  Kentucky  and  various  parts  of  Ten- 
nessee, and  was  engaged  in  the  last  day’s  fight 
at  Pittsburg  Landing.  The  next  movement 
was  to  Corinth,  Miss. , where  Mr.  McKinley  bore 
a gallant  part  in  the  subjugation  of  that  place 
and  then  joined  in  the  pursuit  of  the  rebel  Gen. 
Bragg  through  Kentucky,  being  thus  actively 
engaged  for  a period  of  thirty-three  days, 
or  until  getting  ahead  of  the  enemy’s  forces  at 
Louisville,  Ky.  While  at  the  latter  place  Mr. 
McKinley  met  with  an  accident  which  for 
some  time  incapacitated  him  for  active  service 
in  the  ranks,  but  he  followed  his  regiment  by 
railway  overtaking  the  command  at  Bowling 
Green,  and  later  participated  in  the  bloody 
battle  at  Perryville.  At  Nashville  the  brigade 
was  sent  to  Decatur,  Ala. , to  guard  bridges  and 
gather  in  the  loyal  residents  hidden  in  the 
mountains  to  keep  them  from  being  conscripted 
into  the  service  of  the  Confederaey.  From 
Bridgport  the  command  proceeded  to  Nash- 
ville, thence  to  Stone  River,  in  the  battle  of 
which  place  it  took  part,  and  was  also 
engaged  in  the  bloody  battle  of  Murfreesboro. 
At  Day’s  Gap  the  brigade  had  a hard  fight,  in 
which  James  W.  Sheets,  the  first  captain  of 
Mr.  McKinley’s  comjiany,  was  killed,  while  act- 
ing in  the  cai)acity  of  lieutenant-colonel  of  the 
regiment.  Hotly  pressed  by  Gen.  Forrest’s 


OF  BOONE  COUNTY. 


87B 


cavalry,  the  brigade  reached  the  Green  Mount- 
ain iron  works,  where  the  enemy  were  casting 
cannon,  which  was  captured  and  destroyed,  as 
were  also  several  important  bridges  in  the  vi- 
cinity, the  loss  being  a severe  blow  to  the  Con- 
federacy. During  the  raid  in  which  the  above 
events  took  place,  Mr.  McKinley  acted  as 
brigade  orderly,  in  which  capacity  he  did  val- 
iant service.  The  further  particulars  of  this 
celebrated  raid,  which  forms  an  interesting 
page  in  the  history  of  the  war,  were  as  follows; 
The  ammunition  was  carried  on  mules,  as  well 
as  two  twelve-pound  cannon,  and  at  the 
“Gap”  a full  battery  with  horses  was  captured, 
which  was  used  until  the  ammunition  was  ex- 
hausted, when  the  guns  were  spiked,  and  for  a 
number  of  miles  the  road  was  completely  de- 
stroyed. After  various  engagements,  hard 
marching,  and  other  vicissitudes,  the  Federals, 
under  Gen.  A.  D.  Streight,  were  compelled  to 
surrender,  but  not  until  after  certain  conditions 
had  been  agreed  to,  among  which  were  that 
each  soldier  was  to  keep  his  own  private  prop- 
erty and  that  the  force  was  to  march  out 
with  colors  flying.  The  regimental  flag  of  the 
Fifty-first  was  taken  in  charge,  but  the  boys 
soon  succeeded  in  stealing  the  precious  emblem, 
which  they  at  once  proceeded  to  cut  in  pieces, 
giving  to  each  soldier  a small  fragment,  which 
was  presented  as  a memento.  Mr.  McKinley 
succeeded  in  secreting  in  the  waistband  of  his 
trousers  about  $40  in  greenbacks,  which  after- 
wards proved  the  means  of  procuring  him 
many  comforts  while  a prisoner.  After  great 
suffering  of  forty  days’  duration,  all,  with  the 
exception  of  the  officers,  were  paroled,  and 
Mr.  McKinley,  with  others,  went  to  Washing- 
ton city,  thence  to  Columbus,  Ohio,  where  he 
received  new  clothing.  From  the  latter  place 
Mr.  McKinley  returned  to  Indianapolis,  and 
after  his  exchange,  which  was  effected  March 
3,  1863,  he  again  went  to  the  front  and  took  | 
part  in  the  siege  of  Chattanooga,  battles  of  1 


Lookout  Mountain,  Mission  Ridge  and  Chicka- 
mauga.  He  veteranized  in  January,  1864, 
and  after  a furlough  of  thirty  days  was  again 
sent  to  Chattanooga,  where  for  some  time  he 
did  guard  duty.  Subsequently  his  regiment  par- 
ticipated in  the  various  battles  of  the  Atlanta 
campaign,  Franklin  and  Nashville,  and  later 
Mr.  McKinley  accompanied  his  command  to 
Texas,  where  he  did  guard  duty  until  mustered 
out  of  the  service,  at  San  Antonio,  in  Decem- 
ber, 1865.  He  was  honorably  discharged  at 
Indianapolis,  January  13,  1866,  and  on  the 
thirteenth  of  the  following  month  was  united 
in  marriage  to  Mrs.  Lucy  A.  (Kelly)  Harlan, 
whom  he  had  previously  met  in  a hospital, 
where  she  was  attending  her  former  husband, 
who  received  his  death  wound  in  one  of  the 
battles  near  Atlanta.  To  the  union  of  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  McKinley  have  been  born  the  follow- 
ing children:  Marion  E.,  Mary  M.,  Levi  L. , 
Attagara,  wife  of  James  Evans;  Zelura  N., 
Reona  A.  and  Cynthia  E.  Mrs.  McKinley 
was  born  in  Marion  county,  Ind.,  August  22, 
1840,  the  daughter  of  Joseph  A.  and  Mary 
(Randall)  Kelly,  both  parents  natives  of  Ken- 
tucky. She  was  married  October  28,  1857, 
to  Martin  M.  Harlan,  who  died  at  Kenesaw 
Mountain,  Ga. , July  4,  1864,  and  by  him  had 
two  children;  Pametta  M.  and  John  C.  Har- 
lan. After  their  marriage  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Mc- 
Kinley went  to  house-keeping  not  far  south- 
east of  Indianapolis,  at  the  home  of  the  latter, 
where  they  lived  until  1872,  when  they  moved 
to  their  present  in  Clinton  township,  Boone 
county.  In  addition  to  farming,  Mr.  McKin- 
ley has  for  some  years  been  engaged  in  con- 
tracting ditch  work,  and  it  is  probable  that  no 
man  in  Boone  county  has  laid  more  drain  tile 
than  he.  Years  ago  he  learned  the  trade  of 
brick  laying,  to  which  he  now  devotes  the 
greater  part  of  his  attention.  In  politics  Mr. 
McKinley  is  an  uncompromising  republican, 
and  at  this  time  holds  the  office  of  justice  of 


374 


BTOGRAPHTCAL  HISTORY 


the  peace  in  the  township  of  Clinton.  He  is 
an  ardent  member  of  the  G.  A.  R.  and  with 
his  wife  belongs  to  the  Baptist  church. 


HOMAS  J.McMURRAY.— It  is  seldom 
that  the  biographical  historian  of  these 
modern  days  records  the  services  of  a 
veteran  of  the  Mexican  war,  which 
occupied  the  attention  of  the  American  people 
in  1847-8.  Thomas  J.  McMurray,  the  subject 
of  this  sketch,  is  one  of  the  few  veterans  of 
that  war  yet  living  in  Boone  county.  He  is  a 
practical  farmer,  a respected  citizen  and  a 
native  Indianian.  A few  words  in  regard  to 
his  ancestry,  placed  in  this  record,  would  be 
valued  by  his  descendants.  He  is  the  second 
generation  from  the  founder  of  his  family,  in 
America,  his  grandfather  having  first  emigrated 
from  Scotland  to  Ireland,  where  he  settled  in 
Donegal  county,  and  where  he  died.  John 
McMurray,  the  father  of  our  subject,  was  born 
in  Donegal  county,  Ireland,  and  learned  the 
weaver’s  trade.  He  came  to  America  in  1819, 
and  married  in  Nelson  county,  Ky.,  Mary, 
daughter  of  John  and  Elizabeth  (Scraggs) 
Carr.  Mr.  Carr  was  a pioneer  in  Nelson 
county,  Ky.,  came  from  Ireland  at  the  age  of 
sixteen  years,  his  parents  having  died  on  the 
passage.  Mr.  Carr  and  wife  were  the  parents 
of  Ruth,  William,  Lydia,  Jane,  Elizabeth, 
Joseph,  John,  Robert,  James  and  Henry.  Mr. 
Carr  became  a wealthy  planter  and  slave 
owner.  He  lived  to  be  seventy  years  of 
age  and  died  in  Nelson  county,  Ky.  He  was 
a devout  member  of  the  Presbyterian  church, 
in  which  he  was  a leader.  John  McMurray 
settled  in  Owen  county,  Ind.,  in  1822,  and 
entered  160  acres  of  land  in  the  woods.  He 
had  just  cut  a set  of  house  logs  when  he  sick- 
ened and  died.  He  left  one  son,  Thomas  J., 
our  subject.  After  the  death  of  her  husband, 
Mrs.  McMurray  took  her  infant  son  in  her  lap, 


and  rode  through  the  woods,  horseback,  to 
Nelson  county,  Ky. , a distance  of  140  miles. 
This  sturdy  pioneer  woman  was  undeterred  by 
hardshijis  and  fatigue,  which  would  daunt  the 
strongest  man  at  the  present  day. 

“The  mothers  of  our  forest  land. 

Stout  hearted  dames  were  they; 

With  nerve  to  wield  the  battle-ax 
And  join  the  border  fray.” 

She  afterward  married,  in  Kentucky, Thomas 
R.  Anderson,  and  they  were  the  parents  of 
Ruth  A.,  William  and  Elizabeth,  who  are  yet 
living,  and  James,  Joseph,  George,  Sarah  and 
Isaac,  who  are  deceased.  Mrs.  Anderson  was 
a member  of  the  Presbyteiian  church,  a woman 
of  great  force  of  character  and  many  virtues. 

Thomas  j.  McMurray,  our  subject,  was 
born  in  Owen  county,  Ind.,  March  2,  1823, 
six  weeks  before  the  death  of  his  father.  He 
was  reared  by  his  mother  and  grandfather  Carr, 
and  was  but  two  years  and  a half  of  age  at  the 
time  of  his  mother’s  second  marriage,  and  was 
taken  by  his  mother  to  Owen  county,  Ind., 
where  Mr.  Anderson  settled.  As  he  grew 
up,  much  of  the  support  of  the  family 
devolved  upon  him,  and  he  had  no 
opportunity  of  gaining  any  education.  He 
remained  with  his  mother  and  cared  for 
her  until  he  was  twenty-three  years  old, 
when  he  began  to  work  for  himself.  While 
in  his  twenty-fourth  year,  on  June  4,  1847, 
enlisted  in  comiiany  B,  Eourth  regiment  Indi- 
ana volunteer  infantry,  at  Gosport,  Owen 
county,  under  Capt.  J.  I.  Alexander.  The 
company  went  to  Jeffersonville,  Ind.,  in  wag- 
ons, and  thence  down  the  Ohio  and  Mississippi 
rivers  in  a steamboat  to  New  Orleans.  They 
left  that  city  on  July  9,  by  steamer,  and  on  the 
12th  of  that  month  the  steamer  blew  up  in 
the  Gulf  of  Mexico,  but  was  oidy  partially 
disabled,  and  ran  into  Galveston,  Tex.  The 
troops  were  embarked  on  a steamer,  which 
sailed  to  the  mouth  of  the  Rio  Grande  river, 


OF  BOONE  COUNTY. 


375 


and  landed  them  in  Mexico.  Our  subject 
served  under  Gen.  Taylor,  then  under  Gen. 
Scott,  and  afterward  under  Gen.  Lane.  He 
was  in  the  battles  of  Huamantla,  Pueblo,  At- 
lixco  and  other  battles.  He  served  thirteen 
months  and  returned  home  with  the  troops. 
He  was  neither  sick  nor  wounded,  but  was 
always  in  active  duty  as  a faithful  soldier. 
After  six  months’  service  with  the  infantry,  he 
was  transferred  to  the  artillery,  and  was  “right 
gunner  and  number  one  rammer.”  During 
this  service  his  right  ear  drum  was  burst  by  the 
discharge  of  the  artillery,  and  he  has  ever 
^ince  been  totally  deaf  in  one  ear.  On  his 
return  to  Owen  county,  Ind.,  he  married  Chris- 
tina, daughter  of  Francis  K.  and  Presha  (Hil- 
ton) Porter.  Mr.  Porter  was  a pioneer  of 
Johnson  county,  Ind.,  born  in  New  Hamp- 
shire, of  English  descent,  and  finally  settled  in 
Owen  county,  when  he  became  a prosperous 
farmer.  He  and  wife  were  the  parents  of  four 
children:  Christina,  Lethanna,  Verlinda  and 
Presha  E.  Mr.  Porter  had  been  previously 
married  to  Margaret  Glass.  Their  children 
Were  Julia  A.,  Hiram,  Sarah,  Rhoda  and  Mar- 
garet H.  (twins).  Mr.  Porter  lived  to  be  seventy- 
nine  years  old,  and  died  in  Owen  county,  Ind 
He  was  a member  of  the  Swedenborgian 
church.  He  was  well  educated  and  a promi- 
nent citizen.  After  marriage  Mr.  McMurray 
settled  in  Owen  county,  Ind.,  in  1850,  and 
bought  250  acres  of  land  in  Illlinois.  In  i860 
he  moved  to  Johnson  county,  Ind.,  and  in  1879 
he  came  to  Boone  county,  Ind.  He  now  owns 
160  acres  of  land,  being  equally  divided  in 
Center  and  Harrison  township.  He  and  wife 
are  the  parents  of  nine  children:  Letha, 
Charles  H.,  Mary  E.,  John  K.,  James  H., 
Thomas  J.,  Willis,  Sarah  and  Lillis  A.  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  McMurray  are  members  of  the  Chris- 
tian church,  in  which  he  has  been  deacon 
many  years.  He  votes  the  straight  democratic 
ticket.  Mr.  McMurray  has  been  a man  of  iron 


coiistitution,  and  worked  with  great  industry 
to  accumulate  his  property.  He  is  an  honest, 
straightforward  man,  with  the  bluff  manners 
of  the  veteran  soldier.  Aided  by  his  faithful 
wife,  he  has  brought  up  a respectable  family 
of  children.  Charles  H.  married  Lovina  Bur- 
ton. He  is  a farmer  in  Kansas.  They  have 
six  children.  Mary  E.  married  Joseph  L. 
Mitchell,  a farmer  of  Johnson  county,  Ind. 
They  have  six  children.  Letha  married  R.  W. 
Burris,  a farmer  of  Boone  county.  They  have 
five  children.  Thomas  J.  married  Lou  Doty. 
He  is  a farmer,  and  they  have  six  children. 
John  married  Savannah  Lipps.  He  is  a farmer 
and  they  have  two  children.  Willis  A.  mar- 
ried Lizzie  Mitchell.  He  is  a farmer  and  they 
have  three  children.  James  H.  married  Mary 
E.  McEadden.  They  are  farmers  and  have 
three  children.  Lillis  A.  married  James  F. 
Mullen,  a farmer. 


BLEMING  mace  is  descended  from  an 
old  colonial  Irish-American  family 
and  dates  his  birth  from  June  16, 
1830.  His  grandfather.  Job  Mace,  a 
native  of  Pennsylvania,  married  Nancy  Heath, 
of  the  same  state,  and  became  the  father  of 
four  children:  Samuel,  Job,  Nancy  and  Naomi. 
Samuel  Mace,  father  of  Eleming,  was  born  in 
the  year  1792,  married  Martha  McFarland, 
who  bore  him  nine  children — Eliza  A.,  Wil- 
liam, Job,  Isabell,  P'leming,  Samuel,  Robert 
H.,  Jane  and  Betsey,  all  deceased  except  Wil- 
liam, Isabell,  and  the  subject  of  this  mention. 
Samuel  Mace  was  drafted  at  the  close  of  the 
war  of  1812,  but  of  course  saw  no  service.  He 
was  also  a native  of  Pennsylvania,  and,  al- 
though himself  a Methodist,  it  was  in  his  cabin 
that  the  early  religious  services  of  various 
denominations  were  held.  He  was  a farmer 
by  occupation,  a man  of  deep  piety  and  depart- 
ed this  life  November  13,  1852,  lamented  by 


876 


BIOGRAPHICAL  HISTORY 


all  who  knew  him.  He  was  buried  in  Ripley 
county,  Ind.  His  wife  died  in  1866,  aged 
sixty-eight  years,  and  is  buried  in  Pennsylvania. 
Fleming  Mace  was  reared  to  manhood  in 
Pennsylvania,  but,  for  many  years,  was  a 
prominent  resident  of  Ripley  county,  Ind., 
throughout  which  he  is  widely  and  favorably 
known  for  his  many  sterling  traits  of  character. 
He  was  united  in  marriage  March  13,  1853,  in 
Ripley  county,  Ind.,  to  Abigail  Vergason, 
daughter  of  Jesse  Vergason,  which  union  was 
severed  by  the  death  of  Mrs.  Mace  on  the 
thirtieth  day  of  March,  1857.  August  31, 
1759,  Mr.  Mace  and  Margaret  Barickman  were 
made  man  and  wife,  a union  blessed  with  the 
following  children — Martha  E.,  born  February 
7,  1862,  died  December  25,  1882;  Mary  E. , 
born  August  2,  1865;  William  F. , born  May 
10,  1867;  Sarah  S.,  born  January  2,  1869; 
Gnimelb,  born  December  29,  1870;  Francisco 
O.,  born  July  9,  1872,  and  John  W. , born 
February  7,  1876. 

At  the  breaking  out  of  the  rebellion  Mr. 
Mace  warmly  espoused  the  cause  of  the  Union 
and  enlisted  in  July,  1862,  in  company  F, 
Sixty-eighth  Indiana  volunteer  infantry,  with 
which  he  served  until  July  of  the  following 
year,  when  he  was  discharged  from  the  service 
on  account  of  physical  disability.  While  with 
his  command,  guarding  a junction,  he  was 
taken  very  sick,  from  the  effects  of  which  he 
has  never  entirely  recovered,  suffering  at  this 
time  from  partial  paralysis,  which  entitles  him 
to  a pension  of  thirty-six  dollars  per  month. 
He  entered  the  army  a comparatively  vigorous 
man,  but  returned  almost  a physical  wreck, 
so  much  broken  down,  indeed,  that  he  was 
compelled  to  go  about  with  the  aid  of  crutches, 
yet  in  this  condition  he  traveled  through  the 
country  in  the  interests  of  a publication,  hiring 
his  farm  work  done  in  the  meantime.  In  1866 
he  felt  it  his  duty  to  engage  in  the  ministry, 
and  at  once  began  preaching,  even  before  he 


became  identified  with  any  church  organiza- 
tion; subsequently  he  joined  the  Methodist 
church,  in  the  ministry  of  which  he  continued 
for  a period  of  four  years,  when  he  severed  his 
connection  with  that  denomination  and  for  the 
two  succeeding  years  was  a minister  for  the 
United  Brethern  church.  Later  his  relation 
was  again  terminated,  and  for  the  past  four- 
teen years  he  has  been  an  ordained  minister  of 
the  Christian  connection,  commonly  know  as 
New  Lights.  During  his  ministry  Mr.  Mace 
has  labored  zealously,  organizing  several 
churches  and  receiving  into  their  membership 
a great  many  people  who  have  since  become 
bright  and  shining  lights  in  the  Christian  world. 
He  manifested  great  interest  in  the  Sunday- 
school  work  during  his  first  ministry,  which 
work  he  considers  equal  in  importance  to  that 
of  the  church,  and  all  other  moral  and  religi- 
ous movements  have  ever  found  in  him 
an  earnest  advocate  and  liberal  patron.  Owing 
to  financial  reverses,  Mr.  Mace  at  one  time 
was  compelled  to  give  up  his  property,  includ- 
ing his  home,  and  for  the  support  of  his  family 
began  to  sell  tin  and  glass-ware,  and  this,  at  a 
time,  when  his  physical  condition  was  such 
that  he  was  obliged  to  travel  through  the 
country  with  the  aid  of  crutches.  His  pension, 
originally  four  dollars  per  month,  was  after- 
ward reduced,  and  this  at  a time  when  his 
financial  reverses  made  such  a reduction  ex- 
ceedingly hard  to  bear.  Subsequently  his 
name  was  replaced  on  the  rolls  through  the 
interposition  of  Senator,  afterward  President 
Harrison,  when  his  claims  were  allow'ed,  re- 
ceiving the  sum  of  $1,145.  With  the  assist- 
ance thus  receivetl,  he  paid  every  dollar  of  his 
indebtedness,  and  in  1884  moved  to  Boone 
county  and  purchased  a small  farm  in  the 
township  of  Marion,  where  he  has  since  resided. 
He  now  owns  a well  cultivated  place  of  seventy 
acres,  which  is  farmed  by  his  children,  and  he 
is  now  passing  his  declining  years  in  the  enjoy- 


OF  BOONE  COUNTY. 


377 


ment  of  that  quiet  which  only  those  who  have 
battled  so  long  with  the  obstacles  of  life  know 
how  to  appreciate.  Before  the  war  he  affili- 
ated with  the  democratic  party,  but  since  that 
time  has  been  a stanch  supporter  of  the  princi- 
ples of  the  republican  party.  He  is  a man  of 
character,  well  respected  by  all  who  know  him, 
and  is  justly  entitled  to  mention  in  this  con- 
nection with  the  representative  citizens  of 
Marion  township. 


ELFORD  P.  MAHONEY,  a suc- 
cessful farmer  of  Jackson  township, 
Boone  county,  Ind.,  is  of  good  old 
Irish  stock,  as  his  name  implies, 
his  grandfather  on  the  paternal  side  having 
been  the  first  of  the  family  to  take  up 
his  residence  in  America.  Henry  Mahoney, 
father  of  Belford  P.,  was  born  in  Ken- 
tucky, where  he  married  Polly  A.  Steele, 
and  where  he  died  before  Belford  P. , a 
posthumous  child,  saw  the  light  of  day,  and 
where  the  mother  died  when  Belford  P.  was 
three  years  of  age.  The  latter  was  reared  by 
his  grandmother  until  eight  years  of  age,  and 
was  by  her  educated.  At  this  age  he  was 
placed  with  a stranger,  for  whom  he  worked 
until  seventeen  years  old,  when  he  came  to 
Indiana  and  enlisted  in  defense  of  the  Union, 
October  2,  1862,  at  Ladoga,  in  company  G, 
Eleventh  Indiana  volunteer  infantry,  was  sent 
to  Helena,  Ark.,  and  from  October,  1862,  un- 
til January,  1863,  was  on  guard  and  picket 
duty ; was  then  in  the  first  battle  of  Port  Gib- 
son, Miss.,  was  next  at  Champion  Hill;  then 
at  the  siege  of  Vicksburg  from  June  i until 
July  4,  when  the  city  surrendered,  all  the  de- 
tails of  which  gallant  siege  are  given  in  full  in 
war  dispatches  and  works  of  history.  After 
the  capture  of  Vicksburg  Mr.  Mahoney  was 
taken  sick,  and  was  confined  in  hospital  at  St. 


Louis  for  three  months  ; after  his  recovery  he 
rejoined  his  regiment  at  Tallapoosa  Bay,  and 
was  in  the  fight  near  this  point,  was  in  several 
severe  skirmishes,  and  here  his  regiment  vet- 
eranized. After  doing  guard  duty  at  New  Or- 
leans, the  regiment  was  sent  up  Red  river  as 
far  as  Shreveport,  and  then  returned  east  as 
far  as  Washington,  D.  C. , via  the  ocean;  hav- 
ing been  on  active  duty  the  entire  interval. 
Mr.  Mahoney  was  then  sent  up  the  Shenan- 
doah valley  and  was  in  the  historical  Win- 
chester fight  in  1864;  was  at  Fisher’s  Hill  and 
up  the  valley  to  near  Staunton,  and  back  to 
Cedar  Creek.  It  was  at  this  fight  that  Phil 
Sheridan  came  to  the  rescue,  it  will  be  re- 
membered, after  his  famous  ride  of  twenty 
miles  from  Winchester,  and  Mr.  Mahoney  was 
on  the  ground  at  the  time.  He  also  helped  to 
capture  the  last  cannon,  and  finally  went  to 
Baltimore,  Md.,  where  he  was  on  guard  duty 
until  his  honorable  discharge,  July  26,  1865, 
when  he  came  back  to  Indiana.  It  is  here  im- 
possible to  here  relate  all  the  many  acts  of 
daring  performed  in  detail  by  Mr.  Mahoney 
during  his  very  effective  war  service.  Suffice 
it  to  say  that  he  was  a brave  and  gallant  sol- 
dier, and  that  his  services  have  been  recog- 
nized by  the  grant  of  a pension,  first  in  1888, 
of  $12  per  month,  and  since  increased  to  $18 
per  month.  Mr.  Mahoney  is  married  to  Mar- 
garet C. , daughter  of  Isaiah  and  Nancy  (Mc- 
Gill ) Slaven,  and  their  only  child,  Lou  Ann, 
died  at  the  age  of  seventeen  months.  In  1876 
he  settled  in  Boone  county,  and  bought  a farm 
of  forty  acres,  to  which  his  industry  has  added 
until  he  now  owns  ninety-seven  acres  of  .most 
fertile  land,  well  ditched  and  improved  with 
substantial  farm  buildings  and  nice  barn  and 
comfortable  dwelling.  He  and  wife  are  mem- 
bers of  she  Christian  church,  and  are  among 
the  most  highly  respected  residents  of  the 
community.  He  is  a member  of  Advance 
post.  No.  524,  G.  A.  R. , and  has  served  as 


378 


BIOGRAPHICAL  HISTORY 


its  senior  vice-commander,  and  is  recognized 
as  a most  useful  factor  in  all  departments  of 
useful  citizenship. 


APT.  THOMAS  H.  MARTIN  is  one 
of  the  leading  dentists  of  Lebanon, 
and  a veteran  of  the  late  war.  Pa- 
ternally he  is  descended  from  an  old 
English  family,  representatives  of  which  were 
living  in  Pennsylvania  and  other  eastern  states 
in  colonial  times,  and  on  his  mother’s  side, 
also,  he  is  of  English  lineage.  His  grand- 
father and  his  only  brother  Jacob,  natives  of 
Pennsylvania,  came  to  Ohio  with  Wayne’s 
army.  They  purchased  land  near  the  Big 
Miami  river  and  attempted  to  settle  there,  but 
were  driven  out  by  the  Indians.  They  re- 
turned to  Fort  Washington,  and  while  there, 
Joseph  Martin  purchased  land  in  the  Little 
Miami  bottom.  After  the  Indians  were  driven 
from  that  part  of  the  state  he  married  Miss 
Rebecca  Gyrard  and  settled  on  the  land  near 
Newtown,  in  Hamilton  county.  He  became 
a wealthy  farmer  and  owned  a fine  place  in  the 
famed  Miami  bottoms,  where  he  passed  the  re- 
mainder of  his  life,  dying  an  aged  man.  The 
following  are  the  names  of  twelve  of  his  six- 
teen children:  William,  John,  Levi,  Jacob, 
Gano,  Joseph,  Patsy,  Chloe,  Jane,  Susan, 
Rachael  and  Mehitable.  Jacob  Martin,  son  of 
Joseph,  and  father  of  Thomas  H.,  was  born 
near  the  town  of  Newtown,  Hamilton  county, 
Ohio,  received  a good  English  education  for 
his  day,  taught  school  for  some  years,  and  for 
over  a half  century  was  an  acceptable  minister 
of  the  Baptist  church.  He  left  home  while 
young  to  attend  an  academy  at  Alexandria, 
Ky.,  and  while  there  married  Miss  Mariam 
Spilrnan.  Mrs.  Martin’s  father  was  a Revolu- 
tionary soldier,  became  a man  of  prominence 
in  Kentucky  and  held  the  office  of  high  sheriff 
of  his  county;  also,  he  was  for  many  years  jus- 


tice of  the  peace.  He  was  proprietor  of  a tav- 
ern at  the  town  of  Alexandria  and  lived  to  be 
quite  an  old  man.  To  the  marriage  of  Jacob 
and  Mariam  Martin  were  born  ten  children,  all 
of  whom  lived  to  maturity,  viz. : Rev.  Frank 
J.,  Rebecca  A.,  James  Wk,  Sarah  J.,  Capt. 
Thomas  H.,  John  S.  (deceased).  Dr.  Jacob  A. 
J.,  Margaret  L.,  Martha  M.  and  Nancy  E. 
After  his  marriage  Jacob  Martin  settled  near 
Alexandria,  taught  school  and  preached  in  the 
states  of  Kentucky  and  Ohio. 

In  1838  he  moved  to  Decatur  county,  Ind., 
locating  near  Greensburg,  where  the  remaining 
years  of  his  life  were  passed  on  a farm.  He 
was  a man  well  known  and  greatly  respected 
as  a minister  of  the  Missionary  Baptist  church, 
and  was  instrumental  in  organizing  many  con- 
gregations of  that  denomination  in  Kentucky, 
Ohio  and  Indiana.  Originally  a free-soil  dem- 
ocrat, he  afterward  became  an  earnest  sup- 
porter of  the  republican  party,  and  during  the 
war  was  noted  for  his  loyalty  and  out-spoken 
friendship  for  the  Union.  He  had  three  sons 
in  the  Civil  war — James  W. , surgeon;  Thomas 
H.,  captain,  and  Jacob  A.  J.,  hospital  steward. 
He  reached  the  advanced  age  of  eighty-four 
years,  but  continued  to  preach  the  gospel  until 
a very  short  time  previous  to  his  death. 

Thomas  H.  Martin  was  born  in  Campbell 
county,  Ky. , vSeptember  30,  1836,  and  was 

about  two  years  of  age  when  brought  by  his 
parents  to  Indiana.  He  received  a fair  English 
education  in  the  common  schools  and  later 
obtained  a knowledge  of  the  higher  branches 
of  learning  at  Franklin  college,  which  institu- 
tion he  attended  for  a jieriod  of  two  years, 
making  commendable  j)rogress  in  the  meantime. 
Having  decided  to  devote  his  life  to  the  pro- 
fession of  dentistry,  he  began  the  study  of  the 
same  in  Greensburg,  and  after  acquiring  pro- 
ficiency began  the  practice  at  Covington  in  the 
ye.'ir  1859.  In  August,  1862,  he  enlisted  at 
Covington  in  company  E,  Sixty-third  Indiana 


OF  BOONE  COUNTY 


879 


infantry,  and  upon  the  organization  of  the 
company  was  elected  second  lieutenant,  and 
as  such  was  mustered  into  the  service,  his 
commission  hearing  the  signature  of  Gov. 
Morton.  Mr.  Martin  served  as  lieutenant  until 
March,  1864,  at  which  time  he  was  promoted 
captain  of  company  H,  One  Hundred  and 
Twenty-third  Indiana  infantry,  and  as  such 
served  with  distinction  until  honorably  dis- 
charged in  December,  1865.  He  was  in  all  the 
battles  of  the  Atlanta  campaign,  led  his  company 
gallantly  at  Rocky  Faced  Ridge,  Resaca,  Kene- 
saw  Mountain,  and  other  engagements  and 
skirmishes  during  the  siege  of  Atlanta.  Later 
he  was  in  pursuit  of  Gen.  Hood  through  Ten- 
nessee, Alabama  and  Georgia  and  back  to  Nash- 
ville, and  took  part  in  the  battle  of  Franklin, 
where  his  regiment  was  cut  off  from  the  rest 
of  the  Union  forces.  After  the  battle  of 
Nashville,  in  which  he  also  participated,  the 
regiment  proceeded  to  Washington  city,  thence 
to  North  Carolina,  near  Fort  Fisher,  and  he 
was  with  his  command  in  a severe  battle 
fought  near  Kingston,  N.  C.  He  was  mus- 
tered out  at  Indianapolis  and  honorably  dis- 
charged on  the  date  above  mentioned  after 
having  seen  over  three  years  of  active  service, 
during  which  period  he  achieved  a reputation 
of  which  any  soldier  might  be  reasonably 
proud.  He  was  never  wounded  nor  in  the  hos- 
pital, and  shirked  from  no  duty,  however  irk- 
some or  dangerous. 

After  the  war  Capt.  Martin  resumed  the  prac- 
tice of  dentistry  at  Greensburg,  and  in  April, 
1866,  located  at  Lebanon,  where  he  has  si^ce 
resided,  being  the  oldest  practitioner  in  the 
city,  his  residence  covering  a period  of  twenty- 
eight  years.  Capt.  Martin  has  been  an  enthu- 
siastic student  of  dentistry,  keeps  fully  abreast 
of  the  times  in  the  profession,  and  has  a large 
and  lucrative  practice,  which  is  not  confined 
to  Lebanon  or  Boone  county.  He  served  two 
terms  as  township  trustee  and  in  politics  is  a 


republican.  Fraternally  he  is  a member  of 
Lebanon  lodge.  No.  45,  K.  of  P. , and  his 
name  appears  upon  the  charter  of  Rich  Mount- 
ain post,  G.  A.  R. , in  which  he  has  at  differ- 
ent times  held  important  official  positions. 
Religiously  he  is  a Baptist,  as  are  also  his 
wife  and  several  members  of  his  family.  Capt. 
Martin  was  married  in  February,  1870,  to 
Ella,  daughter  of  John  and  Sarah  (Blair)  Jack- 
son.  Mr.  Jackson  was  a wealthy  farmer  of 
Westmoreland  county.  Pa.,  where  he  lived 
and  died.  To  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Martin  were  born 
three  children — Frank  F.,  a graduate  of  Frank- 
lin college;  Harry  J.,  editor  of  the  Lebanon 
Daily  Reporter,  and  Bertha,  a graduate  of 
the  Lebanon  high  school.  The  mother  of 
these  children  died  in  1877,  and  afterward 
Capt.  Martin  married  Emma  Williams,  daugh- 
ter of  Rev.  Eliphalet  and  Mary  A.  (Harding) 
Williams.  Her  father  for  many  years  was  a 
well  known  Baptist  minister. 


AMUEL  K.  MASTERS,  a highly  re- 
spected retired  citizen  of  Thorntown, 
Boone  county,  Ind.,  was  born  in 
Franklin  county  of  the  same  state 
October  2,  1823.  His  parents  were  John  and 
Elizabeth  (DeHaven)  Masters,  who  were  born 
in  Berks  county.  Pa. , and  were  of  German 
descent.  John,  born  June  21,  1783,  was  a 

son  of  Christopher  Meschter  (as  the  name  was 
originally  spelled),  who  was  a son  of  Gregori- 
ous  and  Maria  (Krauss)  Meschter,  who  were 
the  founders  of  the  family  in  America  and 
settled  in  Pennsylvania  in  1734.  Their  seven 
children  were  born  in  the  following  order : 
Christopher,  on  the  Atlantic  ocean,  in  June, 
1734;  Maria,  December  21,  1 736;  Melchoir, 
June  28,  1740;  Susannah,  September  25,  1742; 
Baltzer,  October  i,  1745;  Anna,  May  29, 
1748;  and  George,  April  18,  1750,  The 


380 


BIOGRAPHICAL  HISTORY 


mother  of  these  children  died  November  lo, 
1756,  and  the  father  December  16,  1775,  in 
the  seventy-first  year  of  his  age- 

Christopher  Meschter,  May  7,  1766,  mar- 
ried Christine  Yeakel,  and  by  her  became  the 
father  of  the  following-named  children  ; 
Susannah,  born  February  20,  1767;  Maria, 
March  10,  1768;  David,  September  13,  1769; 
Christina,  December  24,  1771;  George,  in 

1774;  Regina,  September  25,  1776;  Chris- 
topher, March  13,  1778;  Magdalena,  June  17, 
1780,  John,  June  21,  1783;  Isaac,  January  23, 
1787.  The  family  now  lived  in  Chester  coun- 
ty, near  Pottstown,  and  here  changed  the 
spelling  of  the  name.  John  Masters  was  born 
in  this  county,  and  February  21,  1804,  mar- 
ried Elizabeth  DeHaven,  who  bore  the  follow- 
ing children;  Rachel,  June  3,  1805;  Isaac, 
July  23,  1807;  David,  April  20,  1809;  Mary, 
April  I,  1811;  Elizabeth,  May  20,  1813;  Ann, 
February  25,  1816;  Christopher,  November  4, 
1817;  John,  May  17,  1820;  Samuel  K.  our 
subject  and  Jacob — the  latter  born  December 
6,  1825.  The  father,  mother,  and  Pennsyl- 
vania-born children  came  to  Indiana  in  1819, 
and  located  in  Franklin  county,  where  the 
father  died  January  16,  1852,  and  the  mother 
December  5,  1864 — both  members  of  the 
Methodish  Episcopal  church.  In  fact,  the 
family  had  for  generations  back  been  Prostest- 
ants  and  were  compelled  to  leave  Germany 
on  account  of  their  adherence  to  what  was 
known  as  the  Schwenkfelder  doctrine. 

Samuel  K.  Masters  was  reared  to  farming, 
and  from  the  date  of  the  death  of  his  mother 
was  engaged  in  that  occupation  on  his  own  ac- 
count in  Franklin  county  until  1866,  when  he 
settled  in  Washington  township,  Boone  coun- 
ty, buying  a farm  of  160  acres,  for  which  he 
paid  $7,300  On  this  farm  he  lived  until 
1886,  when  he  came  to  Thorntown  to  seek 
retirement.  Samuel  K.  Masters  was  married 
in  Franklin  county,  Ind.,  January  25,  1855, 


to  Nancy  Burke,  who  was  born  in  Lancaster 
county.  Pa.,  March  5,  1836,  a daughter  of 
Hunter  and  Margaret  (Kennedy)  Burke,  the 
former  a native  of  Ireland  and  the  latter  born 
in  Pennsylvania.  To  Samuel  K.  and  Nancy 
Masters  have  been  born  four  children,  viz : 
Elizabeth  J.,  William  H.,  Mary  L. , and  Lewis 
W.  The  eldest,  Elizabeth  J.,  was  born  May 
30,  1856;  the  second,  William  H.,  was  born 
November  i,  1858,  and  is  a graduate  of  De 
Pauw  university  and  now  principal  of  the  high 
school  at  Muncie,  Ind.;  Mary  L. , the  third 
child,  was  born  April  21,  1862,  was  educated 
at  the  Frankfort  (Ind.)  high-school  and  grad- 
uated, also,  from  the  high  school  at  Ladoga, 
Ind. , whence  she  went  to  the  medical  college 
at  Syracuse,  N.  Y.,  and  prepared  herself  for  a 
medical  missionary,  and  in  August,  1892, 
started  for  Foo  Chow,  China,  where  she  ar- 
rived forty-seven  days  later  and  is  now  a resi- 
dent physician;  Lewis  W. , the  youngest  child, 
was  born  February  23,  1864,  and  now  manages 
the  home  farm.  Samuel  K.  Masters  and  wife 
are  members  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  church 
and  strictly  adheres  to  its  teachings.  In  politics 
he  is  a republican.  His  farm  comprises  160 
acres,  and  his  town  house  is  the  home  of  hos- 
pitality. 


ARION  M.  MANNER.— Eor  nearly 
■ ■Ha  quarter  of  a century  Mr.  Manner 
^ has  been  a business  man  of  Leba- 
non, and  connected  with  the  print- 
ing and  publishing  business.  He  descends 
from  good  old  Pennsylvania-Dutch  ancestry  on 
his  father’s  side,  and  on  the  maternal  side 
from  New  England  Green  Mountain  stock. 
David  Manner,  the  father  of  our  subject,  was 


born  in  Pennsylvania  and  went  to  Ohio  when 
young,  settling  in  Ashland  county,  afterward 
moving  to  Putnam  county,  Ohio.  He  married 
a Miss  Mowers,  in  Ohio,  and  they  were  the 


OF  BOONE  COUNTY. 


881 


parents  of  five  children:  Joseph  H.,  David, 
Mary  E.,  Sarah  and  Elizabeth.  This  wife 
died,  and  Mr.  Manner  married,  in  Ashland 
county,  Ohio,  Angelina,  daughter  of  Harvey 
Hill,  of  Vermont.  To  them  were  born  Ham- 
ilton, Abigail,  Marion  M.,  Elmina  J.  and  Julia. 
Mr.  Manner  died  in  Allen  county,  Ohio,  in 
1851,  aged  fifty-one  years.  He  was  a man  in 
comfortable  circumstances,  owning  a farm, 
and  was  an  excellent  citizen. 

Marion  M.  Manner,  our  subject,  was  born 
August  24,  1845,  Goben’s  Hollow,  Ashland 
county,  Ohio,  and  was  educated  in  the  public 
schools  and  learned,  when  very  young,  the 
printing  business  at  Kalida,  Putnam  county, 
Ohio,  and  gained,  in  the  vocation  of  Franklin, 
the  art  preservative,  a practical  and  excellent 
education.  He  worked  in  various  towns  in 
Ohio  at  his  trade,  and  in  the  spring  of  1864  he 
went  up  the  Missouri  river  with  John  Buchanan, 
the  editor  of  “The  Kalida  Sentinel,”  to  Vir- 
ginia City,  now  Montana,  at  that  time  Idaho 
territory.  They  tcok  with  them  a hand  print- 
ing press.  The  journey  was  made  by  steam- 
boat up  the  Missouri  river  to  Cow  Island,  one 
hundred  miles  below  Fort  Benton,  and,  with 
an  Indian  for  a guide,  the  press  was  hauled 
two  hundred  and  eighty  miles  to  Virginia  City. 
In  these  early  days  the  journey  into  this  new 
country  was  a very  eventful  one;  large  herds 
of  buffalo  were  frequently  seen,  and  elk,  black 
bear  and  other  large  game  abounded.  While 
on  the  way  up  the  river  the  boat  was  landed 
to  take  on  trees  for  fuel  that  had  been  cut 
down  by  beavers,  and  to  bury  a man  who  had 
died  of  the  small-pox.  Mr.  Manner  and  two 
soldiers  went  out  perhaps  half  a mile  on  the 
prairie  and  shot  the  first  buffalo  killed  by  the 
party,  and  wounding  another  that  was  prepar- 
ing for  an  attack  upon  the  slayers  of  his  mate. 
This  was  at  the  time  of  the  great  gold  excite- 
ment and  there  was  no  law  in  the  territory, 
except  that  of  the  vigilance  committee,  and 


border  life  was  seen  in  its  original  wildness. 
The  saloons  and  gambling  houses  were  in  full 
blast.  American  frontier  civilization  was  in 
all  its  freedom,  with  no  police  or  justice  court, 
prison  or  jail,  to  hold  in  awe  the  lawless  ele- 
ment. “The  Montana  Post”  was  the  first 
newspaper  published  in  the  territory  and  Mr. 
Manner  pulled  the  lever  of  the  hand  press 
which  printed  the  first  number  of  that  paper. 

They  soon  tired  of  this  rough  state  of  soci- 
ety, and  both  Mr.  Buchanan  and  Mr.  Manner 
retured  overland  to  Putnam  county,  Ohio,  our 
subject  riding  an  Indian  pony  fourteen  hun- 
dred miles  to  the  state  of  Iowa,  and  saw  the 
great  northern  deserts  and  plains  in  their  prim- 
itive grandeur.  Numerous  trains  and  cara- 
vans, both  going  west  and  returning,  were 
scattered  all  along  the  route,  and  at  night  the 
blazing  campfires  of  their  bivouacs  brightened 
like  stars  in  the  lonely  desert.  Frequent  par- 
ties of  Indians  were  seen,  and  many  of  them 
came  freely  about  the  camps  and  were  gener- 
ally peaceable  to  large  and  armed  parties,  but 
would  rob  and  steal  from  the  defenseless. 

After  this  eventful  experience,  Mr.  Manner 
arrived  in  Putnam  county,  Ohio,  about  the 
middle  of  November,  1864,  having  been  gone 
since  the  first  of  April  preceding.  In  January, 
1865,  he  enlisted  at  Lima,  Ohio,  in  company 
H,  One  Hundred  and  Ninety-First  regiment, 
Ohio  volunteer  infantry,  Capt.  John  E.  Tracy. 
His  service  was  in  Virginia,  at  Harper’s  Ferry 
and  Winchester,  and  he  was  honorably  dis- 
charged August  4,  1865,  and  came  to  La  Fay- 
ette, Ind.,  and  worked  in  various  printing 
offices.  In  March,  1870,  he  came  to  Lebanon 
and  bought  a one-half  interest  in  “The  Pa- 
triot ” and  was  connected  with  this  paper  until 
1872,  when  he  bought  the  job  department. 
Since  that  time  he  has  been  engaged  in  the 
job  printing  business.  He  has  now  the  only 
exclusive  job  printing  office  in  Boone  county. 
This  office  is  well  equipped  with  excellent 


382 


BIOGRAPHICAL  HISTORY 


presses  and  all  varieties  of  type  for  the  job 
printing  business. 

Mr.  Manner  married,  in  April,  1872,  Ella 
A.,  daughter  of  John  and  Ellen  (Kirkpatrick) 
Bill.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Manner  have  two  chil- 
dren— Alva  E.  and  Lyle  R.  Mr.  Manner  is 
one  of  the  charter  members  of  the  G.  A.  R. 
Rich  Mountain  post,  Lebanon,  Ind.  Frater- 
nally he  is  a member  of  the  K.  of  P. , Leb- 
anon lodge.  No.  42,  and  has  passed  all  the 
chairs,  and  has  been  representative  to  the 
grand  lodge.  He  is  also  a member  of  the  Red 
Men,  Winnebago  tribe.  No.  36,  Lebanon,  and 
has  filled  all  the  offices  in  his  lodge,  of  which 
he  has  been  representative  to  the  grand  lodge. 
Mr.  Manner  is  entirely  a self-made  man  and  a 
very  reliable  citizen,  who  has  had  a varied  ex- 
perience in  life.  He  is  skillful  in  his  art  and  a 
practical  business  man,  whose  integrity  is  un- 
questioned. 


MITH  FRY  COX.— A good  livery 
stable  is  of  great  ailvantage  to  any 
thriving  town,  and  such  a one  is  con- 
ducted by  the  subject  of  this  sketch, 
his  establishment  being  the  largest  and  best 
e(inipped  of  any  in  Boone  comity.  Let  us 
first,  however,  deal  with  the  genealogy  of  Mr. 
Cox,  and  then  trace  his  life  career  to  the  point 
where  he  entered  upon  his  present  prosperous 
business.  His  grandfather,  Samuel  Cox,  was 
born  in  Virginia  during  the  Revolutionary  war, 
and  went  to  Boyle  county,  Ky.,  when  yonng, 
when  that  county  was  in  a wild  state.  He  was 
a typical  pioneer  and  hunter,  and  many  a deer 
and  other  game  animal  of  the  forest  fell  be- 
fore the  unerring  aim  of  his  rille.  He  was 
twice  married,  and  by  his  first  wife  became  the 
father  of  several  children,  of  whom  the  names 
of  John  and  Samuel  are  rememhcred,  and  to 
his  second  marriage  were  born  Archibald, 
George,  Richard,  Fannie,  Melissa,  Nannie 


and  Sallie.  Mr.  Cox  was  a man  of  small 
stature,  but  possessed  an  iron  constitution, 
lived  to  the  truly  patriarchal  age  of  103  years, 
and  was  one  of  the  oldest  Americans  on  rec- 
ord; his  wife  also  lived  to  be  of  the  remarka- 
ble age  of  ninety-five  years.  They  were  both 
members  of  the  Christian  church.  George 
Cox,  the  father  of  our  subject,  was  born  in 
Boyle  county,  Ky.,  in  1832,  attended  the  pio- 
neer school,  became  a farmer  and  married 
Mary,  daughter  of  Cager  and  Malinda  Good. 
To  them  were  born  six  children — Narcissa, 
Smith  F.,  Lizzie,  Sallie,  James  H.  and  Nan- 
nie— all  born  in  Boyle  county,  Ky. , on  a farm. 
Mr.  Cox  passed  nearly  all  his  life  in  that 
county,  and  in  1878  moved  to  Boone  county, 
Ind.,  and  is  now  living  in  Milliageville,  Hen- 
dricks county,  Ind.  His  first  wife  died  in  Ken- 
tucky, and  he  next  married,  in  that  state,  a Miss 
Johnson.  This  lady  died  in  Hendricks  county, 
Ind.,  and  he  then  married  Jane  Cogshill,  who 
has  borne  one  daughter — Emma. 

Smith  F.  Cox,  the  subject  of  this  sketch, 
was  born  in  Boyle  county,  Ky.,  on  his  father’s 
farm,  February  6,  1852.  He  attended  the 

common  school  and  also  learned  farming,  but 
left  home  when  twelve  years  of  age,  since  which 
time  he  has  made  his  own  way  in  life.  He 
first  hired  out  at  farming  at  twenty  cents  jier 
day,  remaining  with  one  employer  for  five 
years,  his  wages  being  increased  as  be  became 
more  able  to  work.  He  afterward  worked  for 
Judge  Lee,  of  Danville,  Ky.,  for  three  years. 
He  married,  P'ebruary  4,  1873,  Mary  J.,  daugh- 
ter of  Ezekiel  and  Julia  A.  (Dale)  Shirley,  of 
Boone  county.  (P'or  early  history  of  Shirley 
family,  see  sketch.)  Two  chihiren  have  blessed 
this  union — Claudio,  who  died  aged  seven  years 
and  six  months,  and  Lola  L.  On  October  8, 
1871,  Mr.  Cox  came  to  Lebanon  and  worked 
at  farm  work  one  winter,  then  worked  one  year 
as  a carj)entcr,  after  which  he  farmed  in  Boone 
county,  finally  buying  a small  farm  near  Mill- 


SMITH  F.  COX, 


UBRARV 

OF 

amVERSllY  Of 


OF  BOONE  COUNTY 


385 


edgeville.  By  hard  work,  thrift  and  good  man- 
agement he  added  to  his  farm  until  he  owned 
102  acres  of  fertile  land,  some  of  which  he  has 
sold,  until  he  now  owns  but  forty  acres.  Mr. 
Cox  was  appointed  ditch  commissioner  of 
Boone  county  a few  years  since  and  held  this 
office  three  and  one-half  years.  He  then  en- 
gaged in  the  buggy  and  implement  business  in 
Lebanon,  and  after  this  was  engaged  in  the 
general  mercantile  business. 

On  July  4,  1890,  he  engaged  in  the  livery 
business  in  Lebanon,  and  one  year,  in  com- 
pany with  I.  T.  Davis,  was  engaged  in  buying 
horses  for  the  shipping  and  livery  trade,  and 
they  did  a successful  business.  He  now  owns 
and  conducts  one  of  the  best  livery  stables  in 
Boone  county.  He  has  many  fine  livery 
horses,  buggies  and  carriages,  and  his  equi- 
pages are  always  in  fine  condition.  Mr.  Cox 
and  wife  are  members  of  the  Methodist  church, 
and  he  is  a member  of  the  I.  O.  O.  F,  and  has 
held  all  the  offices  of  his  lodge.  He  is  a mem- 
ber of  the  Red  Men,  Winnebago  tribe,  of  Leb- 
anon. Mr.  Cox  is  also  a member  of  the  Boone 
county  lodge  of  Masons,  No.  9,  of  Lebanon, 
and  is  also  a K.  P. , Lebanon  lodge.  No.  45. 
In  politics  he  is  a democrat.  Mr.  Cox  is  an 
energetic  and  successful  business  man,  genial 
and  pleasant  in  his  manners,  accommodating 
and  straightforward  in  his  business  methods. 
He  is  one  of  the  most  popular  men  in  Lebanon, 
and  is  entirely  self-made. , having  accumulated 
all  his  property  by  his  own  unaided  exertions. 


OHN  S.  MASTERS,  recorder  of  Boone 
county,  Ind. , is  descended  from  an  old 
colonial  family  that  first  settled  in 
South  Carolina,  when  Charleston  was 
but  a city  in  embryo,  thence  removed  to  Rich- 
mond, Va.,  and  finally  made  settlement  in 
Kentucky.  The  grandfather  of  our  subject, 
John  Masters,  married  Miss  Holmes,  who  bore 


him  a son  named  James,  who  became  a 
planter  near  Nicholasville,  Jessamine  county, 
Ky. , and  in  that  county  married  Elizabeth, 
daughter  of  John  and  Elizabeth  Hambrick, 
and  to  this  estimable  couple  were  born  ten 
children,  named  as  follows;  John  S.,  Eliza- 
beth, William  J.,  Madison  (who  died  when  a 
child),  Jane,  Sophina  W. , Mary,  Henry  G., 
Marcus  L.  and  Joseph  H.  (who  died  in  in- 
fancy). About  the  year  1825  or  1828,  the 
Masters  family  came  to  Indiana  and  settled  in 
the  then  wilderness  of  Decatur  county,  but  on 
account  of  sickness  Mr.  Masters  was  compelled 
to  return  to  Kentucky;  in  the  spring  of  1850, 
however,  he  again  came  to  Indiana,  and  this 
time  rented  a farm  in  Johnson  county,  on 
which  the  family  resided  until  abont  the  year 
1863,  when  they  came  to  Boone  county  and 
settled  in  Washington  township,  where  James 
Masters  arose  to  prominence  as  a citizen  and 
farmer,  and  a democratic  politician  of  con- 
siderable note.  His  demise  took  place  on  his 
homestead  in  Washington  township  in  1871, 
at  the  age  of  sixty-five  years. 

John  S.  Masters,  the  subject  proper  of  this 
biographical  notice,  was  born  in  Decatur 
county,  Ind.,  July  19,  1830.  He  was  early 
inured  to  the  toughening  processes  of  farm 
labor,  through  which  his  physical  frame  was 
strengthened  and  his  mental  faculties  brighten- 
ed. His  educational  advantages  were,  how- 
ever, quite  limited,  as  he  had  access  only  to 
the  primitive  schools  of  those  pioneer  days, 
and  his  father  having  met  with  business  re- 
verses, he,  at  the  early  age  of  thirteen,  with 
his  brothers  and  sisters,  manifested  their  filial 
affection  by  engaging  at  work  in  a woolen  mill 
in  Jessamine  county,  Ky.,  in  order  to  add  to 
the  family  income,  and  his  time  and  attention 
were  occupied  by  this  humble  but  worthy  em- 
ployment six  long  years.  In  the  spring  of 
1850  the  entire  family  returned  to  Indiana, 
and  here  John  S.  followed  the  woolen  busi- 


886 


BIOGRAPHICAL  HISTORY 


ness  in  Martinsville,  Lebanon,  and  other  towns 
for  several  years.  January  i,  1857,  he  mar- 
ried Amanda  Gully,  daughter  of  Willis  and  Eli- 
zabeth (Land)  Gully,  and  to  this  marriage  have 
been  born  eleven  children,  viz:  twoinfants  that 
died  unnamed,  William  A.,  John  A.,  James  A., 
Willis  E.,  Albert  E.,  Oda  W.,  Lora  L.,  Ezra 
H.  and  Daisy  E.  Mr.  Masters  resided  in  Leb- 
anon from  1873  to  1875  and  then  moved  to 
Thorntown,  which  place  he  made  his  home 
until  elected  county  recorder  in  1890,  when  he 
returned  to  Lebanon,  which  has  since  been  his 
home.  In  politics  Mr.  Masters  is  a thoroughgo- 
ing democrat  and  w'as  post-master  at  Thorn- 
town  four  years  under  Cleveland’s  first  admin- 
istration as  president  of  the  United  States.  He 
was  elected  to  his  present  office  as  recorder  by 
a very  handsome  majority,  showing  his  great 
popularity  with  the  people  at  large,  of  whom 
he  is  proud  to  rank  himself  as  one — in  sympa- 
thy, interest  and  action.  He  is  assisted  by  his 
son,  Lora  L. , as  deputy  recorder,  and  Oda  W. 
is  Lora  L. ’s  clerk.  Mr.  Masters  is  a devout 
member  of  the  Christian  church,  and  for  fif- 
teen years  was  deacon  of  the  congregation  of 
that  denomination  at  Thorntown.  He  is  an 
Odd  Eellow  in  high  standing,  having  passed 
all  the  chairs  of  Osceola  lodge.  No.  173,  of 
Thorntown,  and  having  represented  his  sub- 
ordinate lodge  in  the  grand  lodge.  Mr.  Masters 
is  a gentleman  of  quiet  demeanor,  is  honorable 
and  upright;  painstaking  and  industrious,  and 
enjoys  the  affection  and  esteem  of  innumerable 
friends  throughout  Boone  county. 


OSEPH  H.  MAYES,  a prosperous  and 
skillful  farmer  of  Center  township, 
Boone  county,  Ind.,  was  born  in  Parke 
county  of  the  same  state  August  31, 
1846.  His  maternal  grandfather,  William 
Jackson,  of  Illinois,  was  a cousin  of  Gen. 
Andrew  Jackson,  the  hero  of  1812.  William 


Jackson  was  the  father  of  the  following  chil- 
dren: John,  Joseph,  James,  Alfonsius,  Lizzie, 
Minerva,  Uphanda  and  Dorcas.  Robert  Mayes, 
father  of  Joseph  H.,  was  born  in  South  Caro- 
lina, of  which  state  his  ancestors,  who  prob- 
ably came  from  Scotland,  were  early  settlers. 
Robert  Mayes  was  one  of  the  early  settlers  of 
Parke  county,  Ind.,  and  married  Dorcas  Jack- 
son,  and  to  this  union  were  born  the  following 
children:  James,  John,  Leander,  Albert, 

Joseph  H.,  Elizabeth,  Euphony,  Mary  and 
Sarah. 

Joseph  H.  Mayes  was  only  nine  years  of 
age  when  he  lost  his  father,  and  a few  months 
later  his  mother  was  taken  from  him.  Being 
thus  early  left  an  orphan,  he  went  to  live  in 
Montgomery  county,  with  a farmer  named 
Fullinwider,  with  whom  he  remained  until  the 
Civil  war  burst  forth,  when  he  enlisted  in  com- 
pany C,  Fortieth  Indiana  volunteer  infantry, 
at  the  remarkably  young  age  of  fifteen  years 
and  two  months — undoubtedly  the  youngest 
lad  to  enter  the  service.  He  was  shortly  after- 
ward taken  with  measles  and  came  near  dying 
in  the  hospital  at  Nashville,  Term.,  but  became 
convalescent  and  returned  home  to  recuperate. 
He  then  enlisted  in  company  H,  Fortieth 
Indiana,  and  was  sent  to  Chattanooga,  Tenn., 
being  engaged  the  following  four  months  in 
constant  skirmishing  and  fighting,  and  partici- 
pating in  all  of  the  following  battles:  Dalton, 
Resaca,  New  Hope  Church,  Kenesaw  Mount- 
ain, Peach  Tree  Creek  and  others,  all  of  them 
very  severe.  He  was  sent,  also,  with  Gen. 
Thomas,  to  harass  the  rebel  Hood,  and,  beside 
several  skirmishes,  was  in  the  terrific  battle  at 
P'ranklin,  Tenn.  Mr.  Mayes  was  made  pris- 
oner with  a party  of  600  men  and  sent  to 
Cahaba,  Ala.,  where  they  were  confined  six 
months,  with  rations  too  ])oor  to  be  fed  to 
swine.  At  Selma  they  found  better  quarters, 
and  were  finally  sent  to  Vicksburg,  where, 
after  a detention  of  five  or  six  weeks,  they 


OF  BOONE  COUNTY. 


887 


were  discharged  September  19,  1865.  Mr. 

Mayes,  witli  hundreds  of  others,  was  placed 
on  board  the  ill-fated  steamer  Sultana  for  re- 
turn to  his  home,  but  the  boiler  of  this  boat 
soon  exploded,  and  nearly  all  its  living  freight 
either  scalded  to  death  or  drowned.  The 
account  of  the  escape  of  Mr.  Mayes  is  here 
given  in  his  own  language: 

“I  was  on  the  cabin  deck  of  the  Sultana 
when  the  boiler  exploded.  One  of  the  smoke 
stacks  about  six  feet  from  me  fell  and  broke 
the  deck  in  and  I went  through  onto  the  lower 
deck.  I noticed  that  every  man  had  to  take 
care  of  himself.  I could  not  swim,  so  I got 
four  slats,  one.  inch  thick,  three  inches  wide, 
and  about  ten  feet  long,  and  took  my  tent  rope 
and  tied  them  together;  then  I was  ready.  I 
picked  up  the  slats  and  jumped  into  the  river 
and  started  to  “paddle  my  own  canoe;”  I got 
along  finely  till  a drowning  man  caught  me  by 
the  ankle.  I kicked  him  loose  and  then  tried 
to  pull  for  the  shore;  sometime  I would  get 
within  fifty  yards  of  the  shore,  and  the  current 
would  carry  me  toward  the  other  side  of  the 
river,  and  I would  try  for  that  side,  but  it 
would  strike  me  again,  so. I just  kept  floating 
back  and  forth  across  the  river.  I came  across 
a man  from  a Michigan  regiment.  I said 
‘Hello,  comrade;  advance  and  give  the  coun- 
tersign.’ I asked  him  if  he  could  swim.  He 
sain  ‘No.’  Then  I asked  him  what  kind  of  a 
plank  he  had.  He  replied,  ‘One  three  feet 
wide  and  ten  feet  long.’  We  got  together  and 
tried  to  reach  the  shore,  but  the  current  wonld 
carry  us  back  and  forth  across  the  river  as  be- 
fore, and  by  this  time  we  were  getting  cold 
and  somewhat  discouraged.  The  man  from 
Michigan  said  he  would  have  to  let  go  and 
drown,  I told  him  that  would  never  do,  and 
encouraged  him  to  hold  on.  By  this  time  we 
were  so  cold  that  we  stopped  trying  to  get 
out.  We  could  move  neither  hand  nor  foot, 

and  the  Michigan  man  swore  that  he  could  not 
19 


hold  on  any  longer.  I looked  down  the  river 
and  saw  the  headlight  of  a boat  coming,  and 
encouraged  my  comrade  to  hold  on  by  saying 
it  would  probably  take  us  in.  This  was  about 
one  hour  before  daylight.  We  became  un- 
conscious and  did  not  remember  when  we  were 
picked  up.  We  came  to  about  9 a.  m.  that 
day.”  On  his  return  home  Mr.  Mayes  re- 
engaged in  farming,  and  December  2,  1875, 
married  Miss  Mary  (Stokes)  Moza,  daughter  of 
Joseph  and  Nancy  (Grimes)  Moza,  and  in 
March,  1876,  came  to  Boone  county  and 
bought  125  acres  of  land  in  Jefferson  township, 
on  which  he  resided  twelve  years,  and  then 
bought  his  present  farm  of  seventy-four  acres, 
which  he  has  thoroughly  cultivated  and  im- 
proved. To  the  marriage  of  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Mayes  have  been  born  two  children — Charley 
S.  Mayes  and  Otto  C.  Mayes.  Mr.  Mayes,  it 
will  be  seen,  descends  from  a family  of  patriots, 
and  the  part  he  has  acted  shows  that  he  is  well 
worthy  his  ancestry,  and  it  is  needless  to  say 
that  his  fellow-citizens  esteem  him  accordingly. 


Earl  H.  MEYER  is  a young  farmer 
of  progressive  ideas  and  substantial 
means,  residing  in  Jackson  town- 
ship, Boone  county,  Ind.  His  father, 
Henry  Meyer,  was  born  in  Detrnold,  Germany, 
in  the  year  1836,  but  came  to  America  in 
company  with  an  uncle  when  only  fourteen 
years  of  age  and  returned  home  on  a visit 
in  1880.  For  some  years  his  life  was  spent 
in  Dayton  and  Cincinnati,  Ohio,  where  he 
learned  and  worked  at  the  shoemaker’s  trade. 
Some  years  later  he  settled  in  Boone  county, 
Ind.,  and  bought  a tract  of  unimproved 
land,  finally  adding  to  this  until  he  owned 
450  acres.  At  his  death,  he  owned  420  acres, 
which  he  had  improved,  erecting  a large,  two- 
story,  brick  residence,  beside  a large  barn  and 
other  farm  buildings.  He  proved  himself  a 


BIOGRAPHICAL  HISTORY 


1188 


most  \v(Mthy  citizen,  jnof^ressive  in  all  his 
undertaking's.  Coininf^'  to  America  without 
education  or  capital,  he  made  himself  one  of 
the  wealthiest  men  of  Jackson  township  by 
hard  work  and  fruj.;al  industry.  In  politics  he 
was  a member  of  the  old  independent  party. 
Both  he  and  wife  were  consistent  and  devout 
members  of  the  New  Lif^ht  church,  of  which 
he  was  numbered  amonj;' the  strongest  hnancial 
members,  and  of  which  he  was  trustee.  He 
married  Mary  F.  Pratt,  which  union  was 
blessed  with  two  children,  namely:  Charlotte 
and  Dota,  the  former  alone  surviving.  The 
second  marriage  of  Mr.  Meyer  was  to  Elizabeth 
Islay,  daughter  of  David  and  Mary  (Murphy) 
Islay,  who  were  natives  of  Tennessee  and 
among  the  hrst  settlers  of  Boone  county.  The 
children  l)y  this  second  union  were  born  in  the 
following  order:  David,  Anderson,  MalindaJ., 
and  Karl  H.,  our  subject.  The  father  and 
mother  so  lived  that  they  had  the  confidence 
and  esteem  of  all  who  enjoyed  their  acquaint- 
ance. He  was  killed  (hetober 
rimaway  team;  the  mother  afterward 
Milton  Young,  who  is  also  the  father-in-law  of 
our  subject.  Mr.  Young  owns  a fine  farm  of 
over  200  acres  and  now  lives  a retired  life  in 
Lebanon.  He  and  his  wife  are  members  of 
the  New  Light  church  and  he  affiliates  with  the 
democratic  party. 

Karl  H.  Meyer  was  born  in  Jackson  town- 
ship, Boone  county,  September  26,  1870,  on 
the  farm  where  he  now  resides  and  where  he 
has  always  lived.  He  received  a common 
school  education  and  began  life  for  himself 
upon  arriving  at  his  majority,  and  since  has 
followed  the  life  of  an  agiiculturist.  He  mar- 
ried Lila  M.  Yonug,  the  daughter  of  Milton 
and  Susan  (Parish)  \'oung.  'I'lie  ^'olmgs  were 
among  the  first  settlers  of  Montgomery  county, 
Ind.,  and  Mr.  Young  is  now  one  of  the  gray- 
haired ])ioneer  farmers  of  Boone  county,  who 
has  lived  to  see  these  counties  rescued  from 


' their  jwimitive  state.  To  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Meyer 
has  been  born  one  child,  namely:  Sylva  I., 
who  is  the  idol  of  the  home.  Mr.  Meyer  owns 
[ the  old  homestead  of  i i 5 acres,  a good  farm 
j in  every  sense  of  the  term,  beautifully  situated 
on  the  Lebanon  and  Jamestown  pike,  two 
’ miles  from  Jamestown.  He  has  a two-story, 
spacious,  brick  residence,  and  a large  modern 
barn,  windmill  and  other  out-buildings.  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  Meyer  in  religion  belong  to  the  New 
Light  church,  and  Mr.  Meyer  is  an  active 
worker  as  well  as  teacher  in  the  Sunday-school. 
He  is  the  hajipv  owner  of  a beautiful  draft 
stallion  of  the  Norman  breed,  named  Duke. 
The  horse  is  a beautiful  dark  bay  of  powerful 
build,  five  years  of  age,  and  is  the  pride  of  the 
country  renmdabout. 


EORGE  LRVIN  MILLER,  merchant 
of  Terhune  and  gallant  ex-soldier, 
was  born  in  Brerwn  count}',  Ohio, 
November  2,  1844.  His  paternal 

grandparents  were  Robert  and  Mary  (Wooster) 
Miller,  who  reared  a family  consisting  of  the 
following  children — Robert  S.,  )ohn  G. , Bar- 
ton, Mary  A.,  Julia  A.,  and  Nancy  A.  His 
j maternal  grandfather  was  William  Evans,  born 
1787  and  married  in  1813  to  Mary  Potter,  who 
bore  him  ten  children,  namely — Ld  P., 
Samuel  J.,  Martha,  W'illiam  IL,  Mary  J., 
james  K.,  Iflijah,  Nathan,  Louisa  and  Lu- 
cinda. His  second  marriage  was  consummated 
with  Harriet  Taylor,  the  result  of  which  union 
I was  four  children — Mary  J.,  Jemima,  Taylor 
i and  Amanda.  William  Evans  was  a soldier 
under  Gen.  Harrison  in  the  war  of  1812,  was 
for  a period  of  fort}-five  years  an  ehler  of  the 
Presbyterian  church  and  dic'd  I'ebruary  1 6,  I 873. 
Robert  Scott  Millei',  father  of  the  subject  of 
this  sketch,  was  born  in  Brown  county,  Ohio, 
November  22,  1817.  He  married  Mary  J. 
I'fvans,  who  was  born  |idy  12,  1821,  and  reared 


5,  1890,  by  a 
narried 


© 


OF  BOONE  COUNTY. 


389 


a family  consisting  of  the  following  children— 
George  K.,  John  \V. , Robert  W.,  William  W.,, 
Jane  Belle.  James  E.,  Caroline,  and  Sarah  F., 
all  living  except  Caroline,  who  died  at  the  age 
of  twenty-two  years.  The  mother  of  the 
above  children  died  on  the  twenty-fourth  day 
of  January,  1875;  the  father  is  still  living. 

George  Ervin  Miller  was  reared  to  man- 
hood in  Brown  county,  Ohio,  where  he  began 
life  for  himself  as  a farmer,  owning,  at  one 
time  there,  a well  improved  place  of  i62.\ 
acres.  He  afterwards  sold  his  farm  and  mov- 
ing to  Indianapolis,  Ind.,  engaged  in  carpen- 
tering, which  he  followed  for  a period  of  seven 
years,  and  then  began  huckstering,  continuing 
the  same  about  one  year.  His  next  move  was 
to  Terhune,  Boone  county,  where  he  opened 
a general  store,  which  he  has  since  continued, 
and,  at  this  time,  carries  a stock  amounting  to 
about  $7,000,  and  is  in  the  enjoyment  of  a 
large  and  lucrative  patronage  in  the  town  and 
surrounding  country.  Mr.  Miller  is  a careful 
business  man,  is  well  known  in  commercial 
circles  and  has  a I'eputation  for  fair  dealing  much 
more  than  local.  He  served  as  trustee  of 
Marion  township  for  a jieriod  of  two  years  and 
discharged  the  duties  of  the  position  in  a man- 
ner highly  satisfactory  to  the  public.  Mr. 
Miller  has  traveled  extensively,  having  visited 
twenty-one  states  and  territories.  Mr.  Miller 
and  Louisa  T.  Summers,  daughter  of  Albert 
B.  and  Caroline  (Trexler)  Summers,  were 
united  in  the  bonds  of  wedlock  May  18,  1865, 
the  result  of  which  union  is  the  following  chil- 
dren— Albert  S.,  born  April  6,  1867;  Mary  E., 
February  18,  1870;  Katie  B..  December  30, 
1872;  Tilla  A.,  December  7,  1875;  Ervin  E., 
November  4,  1878;  Chester  L. , October  7, 
1880;  Blanch  A.,  July  i,  1882,  and  Frankie 
R.,  April  II,  1888. 

Mr.  Miller  served  with  distinction  in  the 
late  rebellion,  enlisting  at  the  early  age  of  sev- 
enteen in  company  E,  Eighty-ninth  Ohio  vol- 


unteer infantry,  and  saw  his  first  active  serv- 
ice in  Kentucky,  going  thence  through  the 
Kanawha  valley  to  Fayetteville,  a distance  of 
125  miles,  being  under  fire  there  for  a number 
of  days.  From  Fayetteville  his  command 
went  to  Chickamauga,  Tenn.,  but  owing  to 
sickness,  he  did  not  accompany  the  regiment, 
but,  instead,  was  sent  to  Charleston,  and 
thence  on  a furlough  returned  home.  On  re- 
rejoining his  command  he  was  placed  in  com- 
pany G,  Seventeenth  invalid  corps,  and  later 
transferred  or  detailed  to  Gen.  Hovey’s  body 
guard  as  one  of  the  latter’s  private  escorts. 
He  was  one  of  the  soldiers  who  assisted  in  the 
arrest  of  Horsey,  Bowles  and  Milligan  for  trea- 
son, and  at  one  time  assisted  in  guarding  the 
Confederate  prisoners  confined  at  Camp  Mor- 
ton, Indianapolis.  He  was  intrusted  at  differ- 
ent times  with  messages  of  much  importance, 
and  became  pretty  familiar  with  the  inside 
workings  of  the  conspiracy  which,  but  for  the 
timely  discovery,  would  doubtless  have  re- 
sulted in  much  aid  to  the  rebellion  in  the  liber- 
ation of  the  Confederates  held  at  Camp  Mor- 
ton. At  this  camp  there  were  13,000  rebel 
prisoners  guarded  by  fifty-one  Eederals  during 
the  day,  which  number,  however,  was  in- 
creased at  night.  Rebel  sympathizers,  or  mem- 
bers of  the  Knights  of  the  Golden  Circle,  who 
planned  the  release  of  these  jirisoners,  at- 
tached letters  to  rocks  and  threw  them  over 
the  stockade,  explaining  the  scheme  to  those 
inside.  This  scheme  was  to  furnish  them  with 
arms,  on  their  release,  to  enable  them  to  give 
battle  right  in  the  streets  of  the  city.  Several 
boxes  iharked  “Sunday  School  Books,”  were 
unloaded  at  the  Sentinel  building,  and  their 
great  weight  was  the  cause  of  the  governor’s 
attention  being  called  to  them  ; on  being 
opened,  the  boxes  were  found  to  contain  re- 
volvers. The  governor,  of  course,  notified  the 
commander  of  the  prison,  at  once,  that  there 
was  to  be  a revolt  at  a set  time,  the  guards 


HI()(;R  AI’TIICAL  HISTORY 


:!<)() 


were  to  l)e  shot,  and  that  the  prisoners  were 
to  escape.  George  K.  Miller  was  the  trusty 
messenger  to  be  called  from  his  bed  at  mid- 
night to  carry  this  dispatch  from  the  private 
office  of  Gen.  Hovey  to  the  commandant  of 
the  camp  and  take  his  receipt  therefor. 

As  stated  in  the  preceding  paragraph,  Mr. 
Miller  has  been  an  e.xtensive  traveler,  and  he 
was  one  of  the  passengers  on  the  ill-fated  train 
wrecked  on  the  Monon  route  January  27,  1890, 
in  which  six  persons  were  killetl  and  a great 
many  wounded.  In  that  terrible  accident  he 
was  severely  injured  in  the  shoulder,  spine  and 
lower  limbs,  the  nature  of  which  was  such  as 
to  render  him  a physical  wreck  for  life.  He 
brought  suit  for  damages  against  the  railroad 
and  received  judgment  to  the  amount  of  $10,- 
000,  which  judgment  has  recently  been  con- 
firmed by  the  highest  court  of  the  state.  Po- 
litically Mr.  Miller  is  an  earnest  supporter  of 
the  republican  party,  and  has  been  an  active 
worker  for  upward  of  thirty  years,  and  is  con- 
sidered as  one  of  the  leaders.  He  is  an  active 
member  of  the  G.  A.  R. , belonging  to  post 
No.  103,  at  Sheridan,  Ind. 

Mrs.  Miller  was  born  in  Philadelphia,  Pa., 
October  8,  1848,  and,  at  the  age  of  ten  years, 
came  with  her  jiarents  to  Indianaj)ohs,  where 
she  grew  to  womanhood,  was  educated  in  the 
city  schools,  and  was  here  when  she  was  mar- 
ried. Mrs.  Miller  is  a member  of  the  Presby- 
terian church. 

Albert  P.  Summers  was  a carpenter  b}-  trade 
and  an  active  citizen  and  became  well  to  do.  He 
met  his  death  August  5,  1886,  by  falling  from 
a ladder  while  working  at  his  trade.  He  was  a 
stanch  republican  and  a member  of  the  b'ifth 
Presbyterian  church.  He  left  a family  of  four 
children  and  a wife  at  his  death,  and  Mrs.  Sum- 
mers yet  resides  in  Indiana))ohs,  a mend)er  of 
the  Congregational  church.  I le  and  wile  were 
j)arent.s  of  eight  children  -Mary,  Louise,  Gilbert 
Albert,  I'homas,  Sarah,  Llizabeth  and  Caroline. 


ILLIAM  MILLER,  one  of  Boone 
county's  substantial  and  representa- 
tive citizens,  is  a native  of  Cocke 
county,  Tenn.,  where  his  birth  oc- 
curred on  the  third  day  of  January  1832.  His 
father,  Charles  M.  Miller,  was  a son  of 
I'rederick  Miller,  the  latter  a native  of  France, 
who  came  to  the  Uirited  States  with  Gen. 
La  Fayette  during  the  Revolution,  in  which 
struggle  he  served  with  distinction  until  inde- 
pendence had  been  achieved.  Frederick  Miller 
married,  in  North  Carolina,  a Miss  Edwards, 
by  whom  he  had  three  children — Andrew, 
Mary  and  Charles  M.  Charles  M.  Miller 
was  born  in  Rowan  county,  N.  C.,  in  1791, 
and  there  married  Sarah  Fries,  whose  birth 
occurred  the  same  year.  Her  father,  Jacob 
I'ries,  emigrated  to  the  United  States  from 
Germany  in  the  time  of  the  colonies,  and, 
at  the  breaking  out  of  the  Revolutionary 
war,  he  espoused  the  cause  of  freedom  and  did 
valiant  service  in  assisting  his  adopted  country 
to  throw  off  the  British  yoke.  Charles  M. 
Miller  settled  in  east  Tennessee  in  an  early 
day,  and  made  that  his  home  until  his  death, 
which  occurreil  on  the  twenty-ninth  day  of 
May,  1876;  his  wife  survived  him  until  the 
following  winter,  dying  on  the  twenty-third 
day  of  December  of  the  same  year.  The  fol- 
lowing are  the  names  of  the  children  born  to 
Charles  M.  and  Sarah  Miller — I'rederick  S., 
deceased;  Mary,  deceased;  C'atherine,  deceased; 
George  W.,  deceased;  Susan,  Margaret, 
b'rances,  Charles  P.,  Andrew,  William  and 
Mahala  A. 

William  Miller  grew  to  manhood  in  his 
nati\'e  state,  and  in  the  fall  of  1853  moved  to 
Indiana,  locating  first  in  Clinton  county,  and 
later  removing  to  the  county'  ol  Howard, 
thence,  after  ashort  ])i'riod  of  residence,  moving 
to  Worth  township,  Boone  county.  C)n  arriv- 
ing in  the  townshi|»oi  Worth,  Mr.  Miller  leased 
a tract  of  land  of  Ambrose  Neese  and  resided 


OF  BOONE  COUNTY. 


upon  the  same  for  a period  of  about  seven 
years.  In  the  meantime,  he  had  been  quite 
successful  in  his  financial  affairs — so  much  so, 
indeed,  that  he  was  enabled  to  purchase  the 
farm  on  which  he  lived,  and  he  has  ever  since 
continued  to  make  it  his  home.  To  his  original 
purchase  he  has,  at  different  times,  made  ad- 
ditions, and  he  now  owns  233  acres,  200  of 
which  are  under  a high  state  of  cultivation. 

Mr.  Miller’s  marriage  with  Rachel  M. 
Ottinger,  daughter  of  I^Iichael  and  Elizabeth 
(Winters)  Ottinger,  was  solemnized  in  Cocke 
county,  Tenn.,  on  the  twenty-fourth  day  of 
December,  1851.  Mrs.  Miller  was  born  in 
Tennessee  May  21,  1836,  and  departed  this 
life  on  the  fourteenth  day  of  December,  1870; 
she  was  the  mother  of  four  children,  namely  : 
Sarah  E. , born  May  29,  1862;  William  H., 
born  Eebruary  29,  1864;  Mary  J.,  born  April 
18,  1866,  and  Albert  A.,  born  July  12,  1869, 
died  July  31  of  the  same  year.  On  the  thir- 
tieth day  of  November,  1871,  Mr.  Miller  was 
united  in  marriage  with  Miss  Eanra  A.  Ronk 
of  North  Carolina,  daughter  of  John  P.  and 
Eve  (Leinback)  Ronk.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Ronk 
came  to  Indiana  from  Tennessee  in  1875,  set- 
tling in  Bcone  county,  where  their  deaths  oc- 
curred—the  mother  dying  December  3,  1887, 
and  the  father  April  16,  1894.  They  were 

the  parents  of  seven  children:  Eugene  R.. 
Laura  A , Permain,  John  B , Sybila  C.,  Irvin 
S.  and  Amanda  D.  To  Mr.  Miller's  second 
marriage  eight  children  have  been  born,  name- 
ly ; Charles  I.,  whose  birth  occurred  August 
26,  1872,  John  M.,  January  5,  1874;  Gilbert 
A.,  March  30,  1875;  Leotis  N , August  25, 
1876,  died  March  24,  1893;  Zerba  C.,  born 
May  5,  1878,  died  July  19,  1878;  LouadaE., 
March  27.  1880;  Bessie  E. , Eebruary  i,  1883, 
and  Elora  J.,  November  21,  1885.  Mrs. 

Miller  was  born  in  Eorsythe  county,  N.  C.,  on 
the  second  day  of  April,  1843.  Mr.  Miller  is 
highly  esteemed  in  the  community  where  he 


891 


resides  and  is  a man  who  commands  the  re- 
spect of  all  who  come  in  contact  with  him  in 
social  or  business  relations.  His  life  has  been 
singularly  free  from  the  slightest  taint  of  sus- 
picion, and  his  excellent  judgment  and  high 
sense  of  honor  have  always  won  for  him  a 
conspicuous  place  in  the  estimation  of  the 
public.  ^ 


EORGE  D.  MILLER  is  a successful 
farmer  of  Jefferson  township,  Boone 
county,  Ind. , and  he  springs  from  an 
old  American  family  of  Virginia.  His 
father  was  Alexander  Miller,  who  married 
Louisa  Bell,  of  a Kentucky  family,  a family  of 
nine  children  resnlting  from  the  union:  Eliza- 
beth, John  G.,  Catherine,  Mary,  George  D., 
Ellen,  Julia,  Martha  and  James.  Mr.  Miller 
moved  to  Indiana  in  1816,  bringing  his  family, 
and  passed  the  remainder  of  his  days  in  Deca- 
tur county,  whei'e  he  was  a substantial  farmer. 
He  lived  to  be  sixty-five  years  of  age,  was  a 
member  of  the  Methodist  church,  and  a repub- 
lican in  political  opinions,  having  been  an  old- 
time  whig  until  that  party  became  consolidated 
into  the  great  republican  party.  He  was  re- 
spected by  the  people  as  an  honorable  man 
and  an  industrious  and  prosperous  citizen.  His 
son  John  C.  was  in  the  Civil  war  in  the  Sev- 
enth Indiana  volunteer  infantry,  serving  three 
years. 

George  I).  Miller,  our  subject  and  son  of 
Alexander,  was  born  in  Decatur  county,  Ind., 
October  16,  1838,  where  he  received  a common 
education.  He  enlisted  in  Decatur  county  at 
the  age  of  twenty-two,  in  company  E,  Seventh 
Indiana  volunteer  infantry,  for  three  months, 
on  April  12,  1861,  at  Clarksburg,  under  Capt. 
Joseph  Beernisdoffer.  He  was  in  the  battles 
of  Philippi,  Carmix  Lord  and  a severe  skirmish, 
serving  out  his  enlistment.  He  then  re-enlisted 
1 at  Greensburg,  Decatur  county,  Ind.,  in 


802 


BIOGRAPHICAL  HISTORY 


August,  1862,  ill  the  Twenty-sixth  Indiana 
battery,  and  served  until  the  close  of  the  war, 
in  July  of  1865.  He  was  engaged  in  the  siege 
of  Knoxvillle,  many  skirmishes  and  other 
engagements.  Mr.  Miller  was  in  the  hospital 
but  little,  but  was  sick  of  typhoid  fever  in  an 
ambulance  for  one  month,  and  at  a private 
house.  This  sickness  greatly  injuredjiis  health, 
which  he  has  never  fully  recovered.  His  wife 
was  Mary  J.  Hollingsworth,  daughter  of 
Samuel  and  Fanny  (Alexander)  Hollingsworth. 
Mr.  Hollingsworth  is  a venerable  and  much 
respected  gentleman  of  eighty  years,  and  an 
old  settler  of  Boone  county,  coming  here  in 
1833-4,  from  North  Carolina — of  English  stock 
and  an  old  Quaker  family.  He  is  a well-to-do 
farmer,  owing  320  acres  of  land,  and  the 
father  of  but  two  children — Mary  J.  and  M'ill- 
iam  W.  George  D.  and  Mary  J.  Miller  had 
born  to  them  but  two  children — I'annie  H.  and 
Florence  J. 

Politically,  Mr.  Miller  is  a republican,  and 
fraternally  he  is  a Mason  of  Thorntown  lodge. 
He  came  to  Boone  county  in  1867.  There  is 
no  more  industrious,  straightforward  and 
honorable  citizen  in  Jefferson  township  than 
George  L).  Miller.  Natuarally  of  a quite  dis- 
position, he  is  a kind  friend  and  accommodating 
neighbor.  John  Miller,  the  grandfather  of 
George  D.,  was  born  in  Virginia,  and  moved 
to  Decatur  county,  Ind.,  about  1816,  coming 
down  the  Ohio  river  in  a flat  boat.  He  set- 
tled in  the  new  country  of  Indiana.  He  was 
a backwoodsman  and  a hunter  and  the  father 
of  six  children,  as  follows;  Alexander  H., 
John,  George,  Elizabeth,  fane  and  Mary. 
John  Miller  was  a tyjncal  American  ])ioneer, 
possessing  the  rugged  virtues  of  the  old  settlers. 
George  1).  Miller  w’as  one  or  those  sturdy 
soldiers  of  the  Civil  war  who  served  fnnn  the 
beginning  to  the  end.  He  was  alwa3's  ])rompt, 
faithful  and  reliable,  and  is  deserving  of  a 
place  in  the  record  of  Boone  county,  as  a 


veteran  who  endured  the  hardships  and  fought 
the  battles  as  one  of  the  defenders  of  the  Union. 


HBEL  MOEEITT,  of  Thorntown, 
Boone  county,  Ind. , was  born  in  Ran- 
dolph county,  N.  C.,  October  8, 
1826,  a son  of  David  and  Rachel 
(Cox)  Moffitt.  Both  parents  were  born  in 
Randolph  county,  and  were  there  married  and 
lived  on  their  farm  until  1840,  when  they 
came  to  Indiana,  and  for  a year  resided  in 
Hamilton  countyg  whence  they  came  to  Boone 
county  and  settled  down  to  farming,  although 
Mr.  Moffitt  was  also  a wagonmaker.  They 
were  the  parents  of  nine  chihlren,  named  as 
follows:  ISlary,  William,  Jane,  Joshua,  Rachel, 
David,  Abel,  Ruth  and  Silas,  all  deceased  with 
the  exception  of  Abel  and  Silas,  the  latter 
being  a real  estate  agent  in  Minnesota.  Both 
parents  are  also  deceased,  and  their  remains 
are  at  repose  in  Sugar  Plains  cemetery  at 
Thorntown,  David,  the  father,  was  a member 
of  the  I'riends'  church,  ami  in  politics  was  a 
republican.  He  was  a very  successful  man, 
owned  1 60  acres  at  his  death,  and  had  given 
his  two  chihlren  surviving  him  160  acres  each. 
He  had  been  quite  prominent  in  local  affairs 
and  his  death  was  greatly  lamented  by  the 
community. 

Abel  Moffitt  was  but  fourteen  years  of  age 
when  brought  to  Indiana  by  his  parents.  He 
was  educated  as  farmers'  lads  usually  are,  and 
lived  with  his  father  and  mother  until  they 
were  called  to  their  long  home.  At  the  age  of 
twenty-seven  he  began  the  affairs  of  life  on  his 
own  account,  traveling,  however,  for  three 
years  in  the  states  and  Canada  for  pleasure  and 
observation  before  permanently  settling  down 
to  farming  on  his  1 60  acres  in  this  township, 
on  which  he  remained  until  1872,  when  he 
went  to  Battle  t'reek,  Mich.,  for  a year,  and 
then  went  to  Vermillion  county.  Ilk,  where  he 


OF  BOONE  COUNTY. 


898 


purchased  i 14  acres  and  employed  himself  with 
farming  for  two  years,  when  he  came  again  to 
Thorntown  and  for  a year  carried  on  a meat 
market,  and  then  engaged  in  the  livery  busi- 
ness, in  I 887,  which  he  has  since  followed  with 
gratifying  success.  Mr.  Moffitt  was  married 
in  Montgomery  county,  Ind.,  March  13,  1858, 
to  Asenath  H.  Clark,  who  was  born  in  Ran- 
dolph county,  N.  C.,  in  August,  1829,  a daugh- 
ter of  Samuel  and  Mary  (Husseyj  Clark,  and 
to  this  union  have  been  born  eight  children, 
viz:  Rollin  C.,  deceased;  Elmer  E. ; Orrin,  de- 
ceased; Alvaretta,  Eeora  Electo,  deceased; 
Walter,  deceased;  Josephine  and  Quincy  A. 
The  mother  of  this  family  died  July  13,  1889, 
and  lies  buried  in  Sugar  Plains  cemetery. 

Elmer  E.  Moffitt,  son  of  Abel  and  Asenath 
Moffitt,  was  born  in  Sugar  Creek  township, 
Boone  county,  Ind.,  March  23,  1861,  and  was 
reared  a farmer.  He  received  the  ordinary 
education  of  the  common  school  of  his  district, 
which  was  supplemented  by  a course  in  the 
city  school  of  Battle  Creek,  Mich.  October 
13,  1887,  he  married  in  Sugar  Creek  township 
Miss  E.  May  Wickersham,  who  was  born  here 
October  2,  1866,  a daughter  of  George  and 
Mary  (Hadden)  Wickersham  of  Kentucky.  To 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Moffitt  has  been  born  one  child, 
W’alter.  Mrs.  Moffitt  is  a member  of  the 
Methodist  Episcopal  church,  and  in  politics 
Mr.  Moffitt  is  a republican.  By  trade  he  is  a 
butcher,  and  also  handles  fine  draft  horses  and 
trotters,  owning,  among  the  latter,  Eittle  Sam, 
with  a record  of  2:22.\. 

A more  fitting  close  to  the  above  biography 
cannot  be  made  than  the  giving  of  the  follow- 
ing short  account  of  the  ancestors  of  the 
Moffitt  family  in  America;  Robert  Moffitt  was 
born  in  Scotland,  but  emigrated  to  Ireland 
when  young,  and  married  there  to  Margaret 
Stewart  of  England,  a near  relative  of  King 
James  H.  Both  died  in  Ireland.  Their  chil- 
dren were  as  follows:  James,  William,  Adam, 


Margaret,  Mary,  Catherine,  Robert,  Hugh, 
John  and  Patrick.  The  latter  never  came  to 
America.  John  came  over,  but  went  back,  and 
married  and  died  in  Ireland.  William  came 
over  first,  alone,  and  went  back.  Being  pleased 
with  this  country,  he  with  five  other  brothers 
came  to  Philadelphia  and  remained  there  some 
time,  then  went  to  North  Carolina,  into  Chat- 
ham or  Randolph  county.  James  went  to 
Georgia  or  South  Carolina  about  the  year 
1790.  William,  Adam  and  Charles  died  in 
North  Carolina;  Hugh  emigrated  to  Ohio  in 
1798  or  1799,  and  settled  near  Chillicothe,  and 
died  about  a year  afterw'ard.  Robert  started 
back  to  Ireland  and  w'as  never  heard  from  by 
those  that  remained.  They  suppose  he  was 
lost  at  sea.  At  that  time  only  sail  ships  were 
in  use.  Whlliam  and  Hugh  married  Charles 
Uavis’  daughters  in  North  Carolina.  Their 
father  was  from  England  and  was  a boy  when 
his  father  died;  his  mother  put  him  at  the 
weaver’s  trade,  but  not  being  pleased  with  his 
situation  he  left  England  without  his  mother’s 
knowledge  and  landed  in  Philadelphia,  where 
he  was  sold  to  pay  his  passage. 


ACOB  F.  MOORE,  a prosperous  farmer 
and  ex-soldier  of  Marion  township, 
Boone  county,  Ind.,  was  born  in  Dear- 
born county,  same  state,  June  9.  1824, 
and  is  of  English  and  German  and  Irish  de- 
scent. Peter  Moore,  father  of  Jacob  F. , was 
born  June  17,  1797,  married  Rachael  Norris 
for  his  first  wife,  and  died  in  i860.  To  this 
union  were  born  Jacob  F.,  Joseph  N.,  John  S. , 
Mary  A.,  James  B.,  George  W. , William  W. 
and  Peter  R.,  the  last  named  dying  young. 
Mrs.  Moore  died  when  about  forty-six  years  of 
age.  Mr.  Moore  then  married  Sarah  Amos, 
who  bore  one  child,  Martha  R.  Peter  Moore, 
who  was  a native  of  Rowan  county,  N.  C., 
moved  to  Boone  county,  Ky. , when  fifteen 


394 


T^IOGR  APIIICAL  IIISl'ORY 


years  of  a^^e,  and  in  i<S36  came  to  Boone 
county,  Ind.,  and  entered  i6o  acres  of  land  in 
a wilderness  tilled  with  Indians  and  wild  ani- 
mals. This  he  eventually  caused  to  “blossom 
like  the  rose,”  and  added  to  until  he  became 
one  of  the  larj^est  land  owners  in  the  township, 
and  was  able  to  leave  his  children  forty  acres 
each  at  his  decease.  He  was,  beside,  a skill- 
ful boot  and  shoemaker,  which  trade  mate- 
rially assisted  him  in  ac(]uirinj^  a fortune. 

Jacob  F.  Moore,  after  coming  to  this 
county,  December  6,  1836,  although  but  yet  a 
lad,  aided  his  father  materially  in  developing 
the  crude  farm.  In  his  thirtieth  year,  January 
8,  1854,  he  married  Mary  A.  Harbert,  daugh- 
ter of  Richard  and  Mary  A.  (Moore)  Harbert. 
His  only  child  by  this  marriage,  William,  died 
June  9,  1888.  The  second  marriage  of  Mr. 
Moore  was  on  May  25,  1865,  to  Mary  E.  Sed- 
wick,  who  was  born  January  8,  1836,  a daugh- 
ter of  Scipio  and  Louisa  iBrinton)  Sedwick, 
the  former  of  whom  was  born  in  Boone  county, 
Ky. , in  1801,  was  a brick  mason,  and  erected 
the  first  brick  building  in  Indianajiolis,  Ind. 
The  children  born  to  this  second  marriage 
were  named  Rebecca,  James,  Elizabeth  and 
Mary  E. 

Jacob  F.  Moore  enlisted  November  22, 
1863,  in  company  F,  Fortieth  Indiana  volun- 
teer infantry,  at  Indianapolis,  whence  he  was 
sent  to  Nashville  and  then  to  Chickamauga; 
he  fought  at  Rocky  Face  Ridge  and  at  Resaca; 
was  in  the  siege  of  Atlanta,  but  as  he  had  been 
seized  with  camp  diarrhcea  was  not  able  to  do 
duty  at  Chattanooga.  From  this  disorder  he 
has  never  recovered.  On  account  of  this 
trouble  he  was  frequently  examined,  and  was 
sent  to  the  rear  further  and  further  until  he 
reached  Jeffersonville  hospital,  where  he  was 
confined  over  six  months;  thence  he  was  sent 
to  Madison,  Ind,,  for  further  treatment,  and 
then  to  Indianapolis,  where  he  was  placed  in 
the  invalid  corps,  from  which  he  was  mustered 


out  October  22,  1865.  He  returned  to  his 
farm  and  had  it  cleared,  ditched,  grubbed  of 
stumps,  and  converted  into  a garden  spot  of 
120  acres,  with  fine  groves  and  pasture  lots, 
which  make  a beautiful  landscape.  His  build- 
ings are  all  substantial  and  modern  in  con- 
struction, and  the  wonderful  change  from  a 
wilderness  to  a paradise  has  been  made  through 
the  energy  of  himself  and  faithful  wife.  Mr. 
Moore  has  served  as  a school  director  for  over 
twelve  years  and  he  has  done  much  toward 
the  advancement  of  the  educational  interests 
of  his  township.  He  is  one  of  the  trustees  of 
the  church,  and  has  received  from  his  fellow- 
citizens  many  other  evidences  of  their  confi- 
dence and  respect. 


TEPHEN  MOULTON,  a well-to-do 
farmer,  gallant  ex-soldier,  and  influ- 
ential citizen  of  Marion  township,  is 
a native  of  Indiana,  born  September 
20,  1835,  in  the  county  of  Hancock.  Pater- 
nally he  is  descended  from  English  ancestry, 
and  traces  his  family  history  back  to  his  grand- 
father, whose  name  was  Benjamin  Moulton. 
His  father,  also  named  Benjamin,  was  united 
in  marriage,  in  Kentucky,  to  Sarah  Curtis,  and 
became  the  father  of  the  following  children  : 
Levi  H.,  Eliza,  Rebecca,  Alfus,  Stephen  and 
George  W.  The  father  of  these  children  was 
an  industrious  man  and  exemplary  citizen,  and 
died  about  1843. 

Stephen  Aloulton  was  reared  on  a farm, 
and,  after  the  death  of  his  father,  found  a 
home,  for  some  years,  with  a Mr.  Ward  of  In- 
dianapolis, to  which  place  he  went  for  the 
])urp()se  of  learning  the  tailor’s  trade  ; in  this, 
however,  he  was  disappointed,  and  after  re- 
maining six  years,  engaged  as  a common  la- 
borer on  a farm  for  the  sum  of  four  dollars  jier 
month.  Subse(|uenlly,  he  worked  lor  a lim- 
ited period  in  a llouring  mill,  and  then  on- 


OF  BOONE  COUNTY. 


gaged  in  agricultural  pursuits,  but  not  being  sat- 
isfied with  the  latter,  abandoned  them  and 
learned  the  trade  of  wool  carding,  which  he 
followed,  with  reasonably  fair  success,  for 
some  time.  Afterward  he  engaged  in  teaming 
for  a saw-mill  firm  in  Marion  county,  and 
was  similarly  employed  in  the  county  of  Ham- 
ilton until  his  marriage,  which  occurred  on  the 
first  day  of  September,  1859,  to  Miss  Mary 
Newby,  daughter  of  Edward  and  Mary 
(Vought)  Newby.  Immediately  after  his 
marriage  Mr.  Moulton  began  farming,  and  was 
thus  engaged  until  1862,  in  August  of  woich 
year  he  entered  the  army,  enlisting  in  com- 
pany B,  Seventeenth  regiment  Indiana  volun- 
teer infantry,  going  first  to  Indianapolis, 
thence  to  Kentucky,  where,  within  a few 
weeks  after  leaving  home,  he  participated  in 
the  bloody  battle  of  Munfordville.  In  this  en- 
gagement he  was  made  a prisoner,  but  being 
exchanged  shortly  thereafter,  rejoined  his  reg- 
iment at  Nashville,  Tenn.,  and  took  part  in 
several  active  campaigns  in  that  state  and 
Kentucky.  Among  the  battles  in  which  he 
bore  a gallant  part  were  Hoover’s  Gap,  Chat- 
tanooga and  Chickamauga,  in  the  last  named 
of  which  he  was  shot  in  the  left  thigh,  causing 
a severe  wound,  the  ball  being  taken  out  of  the 
knee-cap.  The  wound  was  received  in  the 
night,  the  result  of  a mistake,  his  regiment 
being  fired  into  by  a detachment  of  Federals 
under  the  impression  that  they  were  the  en- 
emy. On  account  of  this  disability,  he  was 
removed  to  the  hospital  at  McMinville,  Tenn., 
where  he  remained  under  the  surgeon’s  care 
until  January  20,  1864,  and  on  the  eighth  of 
the  following  June  was  honorably  discharged 
from  the  service  at  Indianapolis.  Mr.  Moul- 
ton has  a military  record  of  which  he  feels  de- 
servedly proud,  and  has  in  his  possession  a 
number  of  relics  of  the  campaigns  and  battles 
through  which  he  passed,  including,  among 
others,  the  bullet  which  caused  him  so  much 


390 


suffering,  a cannon  ball  from  the  field  of 
Chickamauga,  and  a cane  curiously  carved 
from  a piece  of  timber  shot  from  a tree  at 
Stone  River. 

On  leaving  the  army,  Mr.  Moulton  returned 
to  Marion  county  and  resumed  farming,  which 
he  carried  on  for  a period  of  eight  years,  and 
then  became  a resident  of  the  county  of  Boone, 
purchasing,  in  1870,  the  place  on  which  he 
now  resides  in  Marion  township.  His  farm 
consists  of  eighty  acres  of  well  improved  land, 
and  his  buildings  are  comfortable  and  substan- 
tial, bespeaking  the  contented  American  home. 
Owing  to  disability  occasioned  by  wounds  and 
exposure  while  in  the  service,  Mr.  Moulton  has 
been  compelled  to  undergo  much  suffer- 
ing, and  his  physical  condition  is  such  as  to 
render  permanent  recovery  a matter  of  grave 
doubt.  He  does  not  regret  the  fact  that  he 
willingly  gave  the  best  part  of  his  life  to  the 
ser\’ice  of  his  country,  and  as  a small  return  is 
now  receiving  from  the  government  a pension 
of  $16  per  month.  The  following  are  the 
names  of  the  children  born  to  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Moulton,  and  dates  of  birth;  Cyrenius,  June 
20,  1861;  Mary  L. , July  19,  1865;  Edmund 
V.,  August  26,  1867;  died  September  16,  1868; 
Naomi  J.,  December  28,  1868;  Minnie  S. , 
March  24,  1873,  died  April  6,  1883. 


EKEMIAH  M.  NEIDEINGER,  dealer 
in  general  merchandise,  Whitestown, 
Boone  county,  Ind.,  is  a native  of 
Lehigh  county.  Pa.,  and  son  of  James 
and  Abigail  Neidlinger,  both  parents  born  in 
the  same  state.  James  and  Abigail  Neidlinger 
came  to  Indiana  in  1865,  locating  at  Frank- 
fort, where  they  resided  until  their  respective 
deaths  in  the  years  1891  and  1874.  Mr.  Neid- 
linger was  twice  married,  his  first  wdfe,  whom 
he  married  in  Pennsylvania  and  who  died  in 
that  state,  being  Christena  Stroevinger,  who 


BlOGRAl’IirCAL  HISTORY 


bore  liiin  tliree  children — William  H.,  Cliris- 
tena  and  IHiza.  l>y  his  second  wife,  whose 
maiden  name  was  Abigail  Fritzinger,  he  had 
eight  children,  whose  names  in  order  of  birth 
are  as  follows — Keul)en,  Rebecca,  James  F. , 
Elizabeth,  Jeremiah  M , Ella,  Andrew  and 
Abigail. 

Jeremiah  M.  Neidlinger,  whose  name  in- 
troduces this  sketch,  was  born  Eebruary  26, 
1855,  and  spent  his  youth  in  Pennsylvania,  in 
the  schools  of  which  state  he  received  his 
educational  training.  He  accompanied  his  par- 
ents to  Indiana,  for  a number  of  years  resided 
at  Frankfort,  and  on  the  twentieth  of  August, 
1876,  at  the  town  of  New  Augusta,  was  united 
in  marriage  to  Eaura  T. , daughter  of  Jeremiah 
and  Susannah  (Pitts)  Coble.  Mrs.  Neidlinger 
is  a native  of  Indiana,  born  at  New  Augusta 
on  the  twenty-first  day  of  November,  1859. 
In  the  year  1880  Mr.  Neidlinger  purchased,  of 
Isaac  Dye,  the  W'hitestown  I'louring  mills, 
and  operated  the  same  with  success  and  finan- 
cial profit  until  1883,  at  which  date  he  disposed 
of  the  same  to  Samuel  Butnor,  and  for  a 
limited  period  thereafter  was  engaged  in  agri- 
cultural pursuits.  Subsequently,  he  exchanged 
his  farm  for  a stock  of  goods  at  Whitestown, 
with  the  mercantile  interest  of  which  place  he 
has  since  been  actively  identified,  his  business 
at  this  time  representing  annual  sales  of  from 
$20,000  to  $25,000.  His  stock,  valued  at 
about  $ I 2,000,  includes  all  articles  of  merchan- 
dise demanded  by  the  general  trade,  and  his 
business,  l)y  far  the  mos^  extensive  in  Whites- 
town, ranks  with  the  best  of  the  kind  in  Boone 
county.  Mr.  Neidlinger  is  a careful  business 
man,  strictly  honorable  in  his  dealings,  and 
has  more  than  a local  re])utation  in  commercial 
circles.  He  and  wife  are  iiKunbers  of  the 
Eutheran  church  and  in  politics  he  supports 
the  democratic  ]>arty.  The  names  of  the  chil- 
dren of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Neidlinger,  together  with 
their  dates  of  birth,  are  herewith  given;  Abigail 


S. , July  I,  1877;  Laura  P. , March  28,  1880; 
George  M.,  September  23,  1883;  Maggie  B., 
December  8,  1885;  Jeremiah  F.,  April  3,  1888; 
Geraldine  J.,  June  19,  1892. 


ESSE  NEFF. — When  the  great  Civil 
war  swept  over  the  country,  and  Abra- 
ham Lincoln  made  the  first  call  for 
troops  to  defend  the  Union,  the  Ameri- 
can people  were  pursuing  the  arts  of  peace, 
and  the  farmer's  son  was  holding  the  plow  and 
assisting  in  the  support  of  his  father’s  family. 

Jesse  Neff,  the  subject  of  this  sketch,  was 
one  of  these  farmer  boys.  He  is  a native  In- 
dianian  and  descends  from  hardy  Swiss  stock — 
from  those  people  who  founded  the  first  per- 
manent republic  in  the  history  of  the  world. 
Two  brothers  of  the  name  were  the  founders 
of  the  family  in  America,  in  old  colonial  times. 
One  settled  in  North  Carolina  and  one  came 
west.  Col.  C.  C.  Nave  was  a veteran  of  the 
Mexican  war,  was  from  east  Tennessee,  and 
descended  from  the  brother  who  went  to 
North  Carolina.  The  colonel  was  well  in- 
formed as  to  the  family  history,  and  stated 
that  the  name  was  originally  spelled  Nave,  and 
that  they  were  of  Swiss  ancestry.  Col.  Nave 
practiced  law  for  many  years  in  Hendricks 
county,  Ind.,  and  at  the  time  of  his  death  was 
the  oldest  practitioner  at  the  bar  in  the  state 
of  Indiana. 

P'rom  the  brother  who  came  west,  or  his 
descendants,  came  its  name  Neff.  John  Neff, 
the  grandfather  of  the  subject,  was  born  near 
Ifaltimore,  Md.  He  was  a farmer  and  settled 
in  Boyle  county,  Ky.,  near  Danville,  and 
reared  a family  consisting  of  the  following 
children  : )acob,  Abraham,  Margaret,  Martha 
aiul  Sarah.  John  Neff  came  to  Hendricks 
county.  Inch,  in  1835,  and  settled  in  Eel 
river  township,  where  he  entered  160  acres  of 
land,  became  a j)romincnt  and  substantial 


OF  BOONE  COUNTY. 


397 


farmer,  and  lived  to  the  great  age  of  eighty- 
eight  years.  Jacob  Neff,  father  of  Jesse,  was 
born  in  Boyle  county,  Ky.,  February  22,  1804, 
received  the  common  education  of  his  day  and 
became  a farmer.  He  married  in  Boyle 

county,  Ky.,  Gabriella  Skinner,  who  bore  him 
twelve  children  : John,  William,  Elizabeth, 
James  B.,  Elias,  Pantha  J.,  Martha  E.,  Jesse, 
Lucebra,  Emily,  Sarah  F.  and  Albert  ; the 
first  four  were  born  in  Boyle  county,  Ky. ; the 
remainder  in  Hendricks  county,  Ind.  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Neff  were  members  ef  the  Christian 

church,  in  which  he  was  deacon  for  some 

years.  In  1863  Mr.  Neff  moved  to  Boone 

county,  Ind.,  and  settled  near  Lebanon  on  a 
farm.  He  died  at  the  age  of  seventy-four 
years,  an  honored  citizen.  He  was  a stanch 
republican  in  politics,  was  strongly  in  favor  of 
the  Union,  and  had  three  sons  in  the  Civil  war. 

Jesse  Neff  was  born  in  Eel  River  township, 
Hendricks  county,  Ind.,  March  17,  1843.  He 
received  the  common  school  education  of  his 
native  county  and  early  learned  to  work  on  the 
farm.  At  the  age  of  eighteen  years  he  enlisted  in 
company  E,  P'ortieth  regiment  Indiana  vol- 
unteer infantry,  at  Lebanon,  Ind.,  for  three 
years,  as  a private  under  Col.  W.  C.  Wilson, 
and  Cap.  Elias  Neff,  on  October  7,  1861.  He 
served  until  honorably  discharged  December  7, 
1864,  at  Nashville,  Tenn.  He  was  in  the 
battles  of  Shiloh,  Tenn.,  fought  April  6 and  7, 
1862,  when  Grant,  with  45,000  troops,  was 
attacked  by  40,000  Confederates  under  Gen- 
erals Johnston  and  Beauregard;  the  battle 
of  Perryville,  Ky. , October  8,  1862 — between 
15,000  Federals  under  Col.  Daniel  McCook  of 
Buell’s  army  and  four  divisions  of  the  Confed- 
erate army  under  Lewis,  Bragg,  Polk  and 
Hardee;  Stone  River,  Term.,  December  31, 
1862,  and  January  i,  2 and  3,  1863,  between 
43,400  Unionists,  under  Gen.  Rosecrans  and 
62,490  Confederates  under  Hardee,  Polk  and 
Kirby  Smith;  Missionary  Ridge,  Tenn.,  Novem- 


ber 24,  25  and  26,  18C3,  between  80,000 

Unionists  under  Gen.  Grant  and  50,000  Con- 
federates under  Gen.  Bragg,  and  in  Sherman’s 
expedition  from  Chattanooga,  Tenn.,  to  Atlan- 
ta, Ga.  He  took  part  in  the  battles  of  Resaca, 
Ga.  May  14,  1864,  between  Gen.  Sherman  and 
Johnston’s  Confederate  army.  Rocky  Faced 
Ridge,  Pine  Mountain,  Ga.,  battle  of  Calhorn, 
battle  of  Burnt  Hickory;  battle  of  Kenesaw 
Mountain,  June  27,  1864;  battle  of  Peach 

Tree  Creek,  Ga. , July  20,  1864,  between  Gen. 
Sherman’s  army  and  the  Confederates  under 
Gen.  Johnston;  Jonesboro,  Ga. , August  31, 
1864,  under  Gen.  Sherman’s  army  and  a 
heavy  force  of  Confederates,  who  soon  with- 
drew; then  at  Lovejoy  Station,  Ga. 

Mr.  Neff  took  part  in  all  the  battles  as 
above  given  of  this  memorable  expedition,  and 
after  the  Atlanta  campaign,  the  Fortieth  regi- 
ment returned  with  “Pap”  Thomas  to  Chatta- 
nooga, and  then  went  to  Athens,  Ala.,  and 
Columbus,  Tenn.  They  fell  back  with 
Thomas  to  Spring  Hill,  where  a hard  battle 
was  fought,  considering  the  number  of  troops 
engaged.  He  took  part  in  the  battle  of  Frank- 
lin, Tenn.,  on  November  30,  1864,  between 
Gen.  Schofield’s  Union  force,  consisting  of  two 
army  corps,  commanded  by  Gens.  Stanley 
and  Cox,  and  two  corps  of  Hood’s  Confeder- 
ate army  under  Gens.  Lee  and  Cheatham. 
This  was  Sergeant  Neff’s  last  battle,  and  the 
terrible  scenes  of  that  day  are  vividly  im- 
pressed upon  his  mind.  He  witnessed,  as  a 
combatant,  the  final  charge  of  Gen.  Hood’s 
Confederates,  which  is  considered  one  of  the 
most  brilliant  infantry  charges  during  the  war, 
attacking  Gen.  Schofield’s  entire  army.  It 
was  one  of  the  most  desperate. scenes  ever 
witnessed  on  the  field  of  battles.  Sergeant 
Neff  was  wounded  in  the  storming  of  Mission- 
ary Ridge,  November  25,  1863.  ,He  charged 
up  the  ridge  with  his  company  and  was  shot 
through  the  right  thigh  by  an  ounce  ball.  He 


BIOGRAPHICAL  HISTORY 


:U)8 


was  taken  tcj  the  held  liosjhtal,  where  he  re- 
mained for  six  weeks  under  a tent,  and  was 
then  h(nne  on  a furlough  for  six  weeks — the 
only  furlough  he  received  during  the  war.  He 
then  rejoined  his  regiment.  He  was  the  sec- 
ond time  wounded  in  the  charge  np  Kenesaw 
Mountain,  June  2<S,  1,864.  This  was  a slight 
wound  on  the  right  shoulder,  which  did  not 
trouble  him.  The  veteran  soldier,  Capt. 
Hragg,  of  Lebanon,  who  was  in  command  of 
his  company,  was  taken  sick  just  before  the 
battle  of  Kenesaw  Mountain,  and  Lieut.  J.  C. 
Sharp,  temporarily  in  command  of  company 
L,  was  killed  in  this  charge,  and  Sergeant 
Neff  commanded  the  company,  from  this  time 
until  just  before  the  fall  of  Atlanta,  in  many 
Irani  skirmishes  and  in  the  advance  oir  skir- 
mish line  and  picket  fighting. 

After  the  battle  of  Chattanooga  he  was 
tendered  a captaincy  of  an  Alabama  white 
regiment  on  account  of  his  gallant  conduct  and 
meritorious  duty  as  a soldier,  but  he  preferred 
to  remain  with  his  own  regiment,  the  b'ortieth 
Indiana,  most  of  whose  men  were  from  his 
own  and  neighboring  counties.  During  his  serv- 
ices as  a soldier  he  was  on  many  hard  and 
tedious  marches,  which  greatly  taxed  his 
powers  of  endurance.  He  well  remembers 
a hard  two-days’  march  from  Louisville,  Ky., 
to  Dardstown,  Ky..  in  the  month  of  january, 
over  muddy  roads,  and  another  from  Mum- 
fordville,  Ky.,  to  Dowling  Green,  in  March, 
marching  sixty-eight  miles  in  two  da\’s.  He 
was  then  a new  soldier  and  carried  heavy  bag- 
gage; also  a fcjrced  march  from  Nashville, 
Tenn.,  to  the  battle  of  Shiloh,  day  and  night 
for  six  days,  with  but  little  sleep,  marching  all 
of  Sunday  night  before  going  into  battle.  Ser- 
geant Neff  was  a strong,  active  and  efficient 
scddier,  and  at  a time  of  life  when  his  health 
and  s])irits  were  at  their  best,  and  he  entered 
with  alacrity  and  cheerfuhu-ss  upon  his  duties, 
and  served  his  country  faithfully  and  well. 


After  the  war  Mr.  Neff  returned  to  Lebanon 
and  engaged  in  the  mercantile  business  with  ■ 
his  father  and  brother  John.  At  the  expira- 
tion of  one  year  he  engaged  in  the  mercantile 
business  at  Jamestown  with  an  old  comrade, 
John  J.  Carriger,  who  married  his  youngest 
sister,  and  remained  in  this  business  seven 
years.  In  the  fall  of  1872  he  was  elected 
clerk  of  Boone  county  on  the  republican  ticket 
and  served  four  years.  He  was  not  a candi- 
date for  re-election,  but  remained  with  his 
successor  as  deputy  clerk  for  three  years.  He 
then  engaged  with  others  in  the  manufacture 
of  implement  handles,  and  wdiile  engaged  in 
this  business  he  was  chief  deputy  clerk  of  De- 
catur county  for  three  years.  He  finally  sold 
out  his  business,  and  was  deputy  county  clerk 
for  Dr.  Reagan  for  four  years.  He  then  as- 
sisted the  present  county  clerk,  Charles  Mb 
vScott,  in  opening  his  office;  for  six  months. 
Afterwards  he  became  connected  with  J.  H. 
Perkins  cS;  Co  , as  one  of  the  managers  of  their 
clothing  department  and  in  charge  of  their 
books,  which  position  he  still  occupies.  Polit- 
ically he  is  popular,  and  was  elected  council- 
man from  the  First  ward  five  terms.  He  was 
married  in  P'ebruary,  1865,  to  Miss  Mary  M., 
daughter  of  William  and  Elizabeth;  Piersol)  Gal- 
vin. Mr.  GaK'in  is  a farmer  of  Center  town- 
ship, formerly  of  Heiulricks  county,  where  he 
owned  a farm  adjoining  Jacob  Neff’s,  so  that  onr 
subject  and  his  wife  were  reared  together. 
Mr.  Calvin  is  from  an  old  American  family 
and  a member  of  the  Christian  church.  Mr. 
Calvin  and  wife  are  the  ])arents  of  nine  chil- 
dren: Mary  M.  John  P.,  Carrie,  William, 
Albert,  Olive,  Ifinily,  George  A.  and  Christo- 
pher C.  Politically  Mr.  Calvin  was  formerly 
a stanch  republican,  but  is  now  a democrat, 
fesse  Neff  is  a charter  member  of  Rich  Mount- 
ain post.  No.  42,  C.  A.  R.,  at  Lebanon,  and 
has  held  the  office  of  commander  three  differ- 
ent terms  in  succession,  of  one  year  each,  and 


OF  BOONE  COUNTY. 


899 


was  again  elected  coinniaiuler  for  1892.  He 
was  a delegate  to  the  last  national  encamp- 
ment at  Indianapolis,  representing  the  Ninth 
congressional  district.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Neff  are 
members  of  the  Christian  church,  in  which  he 
is  an  elder. 

Albert  Neff,  youngest  son  of  Jacob,  en- 
listed in  the  regular  United  States  service  in 
1886,  company  A,  Sixteenth  regiment.  United 
States  infantry,  and  served  five  years  on  fron- 
tier duty  in  Texas  and  Utah,  and  re-enlisted 
in  company  F,  Eighteenth  United  States  in- 
fantry, and  was  instantly  killed  in  the  city  of 
Laredo,  Tex.,  being  accidentally  thrown  from 
a wagon. 


B.  NOE,  physician,  Thorntown,  Ind., 
is  the  senior  member  of  the  well 
knowm  medical  firm  of  Noe  & Bruce. 
The  doctor  is  a graduate  of  the 
Homoepathic  Medical  college  of  Missouri, 
and  located  in  Thorntown  in  1 890,  wdrere  he 
has  since  been  in  the  continuous  practice  of  his 
profession,  and  is  one  of  the  leading  and  suc- 
cessful physicians  of  Boone  county,  Ind. 


OSES  NEESE  is  a Tennesseean  by 
birth  and  a prominent  citizen  of 
MMrth  township,  Boonecounty,  Ind. 
His  grandfather,  John  Neese,  a na- 
tive of  Virginia,  emigrated  in  an  early  day  to 
east  Tennessee,  having  been  one  of  the  pio- 
neers of  that  part  of  the  state.  George  Neese, 
son  of  the  above  John,  and  father  of  the  sub- 
ject of  this  mention,  was  born  in  Shenandoah 
county,  Va.,  where  he  married  Catherine  Bow- 
man and  afterward  emigrated  to  east  Tennes- 
see, settling  in  Greene  county,  subsequently 
moving  to  the  county  of  Cocke,  where  his 
death  occurred  in  March,  1854,  at  the  age  of 
seventy-two  years.  Mrs.  Neese  afterward 


came  to  Boone  county,  Ind.,  and  departed 
this  life  at  the  home  of  her  son,  the  subject  of 
this  sketch,  at  a ripe  old  age.  George  and 
Catherine  Neese  were  the  parents  of  a large 
family,  the  names  of  their  twelve  children 
being  as  follows  : Michael,  Abraham,  Samuel, 
William^  John,  Solomon,  Benjamin,  Ambrose, 
Elizabeth,  Susannah,  Catherine  and  Moses. 

Moses  Neese  first  saw  the  light  of  day  in 
Cocke  county,  Tenn.,  February  14,  1825,  and 
married,  in  his  native  state,  in  December,  1848, 
Miss  Mary  J.  Boyer,  daughter  of  Isaac  and 
Elizabeth  (Sims)  Boyer.  Mrs.  Neese,  also  a 
native  of  Tennessee,  was  born  on  the  twenty- 
ninth  day  of  October,  1831.  Bred  a farmer, 
Mr.  Neese  has  devoted  his  entire  life  to  the 
pursuit  of  agriculture,  in  which  he  has  met 
with  the  most  encouraging  success  both  in  the 
state  of  his  nativity  and  Indiana.  He  became 
a resident  of  the  Hoosier  state  in  1855,  mov- 
ing to  Boone  county  and  settling  in  section 
twelve,  Worth  township,  where  he  purchased 
a farm  and  continued  to  reside  there  until  re- 
moving to  the  place  where  he  now  lives  in 
section  eleven  in  the  fall  of  1882.  As  a result 
of  his  industry  and  well  directed  business  fore- 
sight, Mr.  Neese  has  been  enabled  to  make 
judicious  investments  in  real  estate,  and  at  the 
present  time  is  the  possessor  of  408  acres  of  as 
fine  land  as  there  is  in  the  township  of  Worth, 
aside  from  which  he  has  divided  240  acres 
among  the  various  members  of  his  family. 
Mr.  Neese  adheres  to  the  creed  of  the  Luther- 
an church,  and  his  daily  life  has  been  consist- 
ent with  the  teachings  of  the  same.  He  is 
highly  regarded  in  the  community  for  his 
moral  worth  as  well  as  for  his  business  ability, 
and  it  is  no  disparagement  to  others  when  the 
compliment  is  paid  him  of  being  one  of  the 
most  popular  citizens  of  the  township  of 
Worth.  Like  his  father  before  him,  Mr. 
Neese  is  a progenitor  of  a large  family,  twelve 
children  in  all,  and  their  names  are  here 


400 


1}  lOG  R API  I IC  AL  1 II  STORY 


fa;iven  : Sarah  A.,  deceased;  Amanda  J., 
SophroniaE.,  Alexander,  Jeannette,  Jerome, 
James  L.,  John  O. , Charles  P. , Lawrence  C., 
and  twins  that  died  in  infancy  witliont  being 
named. 


H MB  ROSE  NEESE,  a pioneer  of 
Boone  county,  Ind.,  and  well  known 
farmer  of  Worth  township,  now  prac- 
tically retired  from  the  active  duties 
of  life,  was  born  in  Greene  county,  Tenm,  June 
23,  1816,  son  of  George  and  Catherine  Neese, 
natives  of  Virginia  and  of  German  descent. 
George  Neese  and  Catherine  Bowman  were 
married  in  their  native  state,  and,  in  an  early 
da}^  emigrated  to  Greene  county,  Tenn., 
thence  moved  to  the  county  of  Cocke,  in  the 
same  state,  where  the  father’s  death  subse- 
quently occurred. 

Ambrose  Neese  passed  the  years  of  his 
youth  and  early  manhood  in  his  native  state  and 
began  the  pursuit  of  agriculture  in  Cocke 
county,  where  he  purchased  land  upon  which 
he  resided  until  his  removal  to  Boone  county, 
Ind.,  in  the  fall  of  1849,  where  he  purchased 
a tract  of  land  in  ^^Y)rth  township,  a part  of 
which  is  now  occupied  by  the  original  plat  of 
hitestown,  and  shortly  thereafter  bought  an 
eighty  acre  tract  of  land  adjoining  his  first 
place,  making  his  real  estate  at  that  time 
consist  of  160  acres.  In  1853  he  helped  sur- 
vey and  plat  the  village  of  W’hitestown,  and 
about  the  same  time  erected  the  first  building 
on  the  town  site  which  was  uscil  for  mercan- 
tile purposes.  .Subsequently,  he  disposed  of 
the  original  plat,  and,  after  laying  out  the  hrst 
and  second  additions  of  the  village,  which  at 
that  time  was  known  by  the  nanu'  of  German- 
town, he  disposed  of  his  interests  to  a company 
organized  under  tlu'  name  of  Buck,  Ground  A 
Co.,  for  the  luirpose  of  developing  the  place. 
In  the  year  1869,  .Mr.  Neese  moved  to  his 


present  farm,  which  he  had  previously  pur- 
chased, and  has  since  continued  to  reside  upon 
the  same  place,  which  at  this  time  consists  of 
212  acres  of  good  land,  containing  valuable  and 
substantial  improvements.  Mr.  Neese  was 
married  in  Cocke  county,  Tenn.,  August  23, 
1838,  to  Catherine  Winter,  who  was  born  in 
the  same  county  and  state  Eebruary  11,  1818, 
daughter  of  Joseph  and  Catherine  Winter. 
Mrs.  Neese  departed  this  life  March  3,  1892, 
after  having  borne  her  husband  eleven  chil- 
dren; the  following  are  their  names:  Amelia, 
born  June  14,  1839,  niarried  M'illiam  W. 

Trout,  and  resides  near  Hazelrigg  Station, 
Boone  county;  Elora,  born  February  16,  1841, 
married  Andrew  J.  Eanghner,  and  lives  in 
Whitestown;  Alfred,  born  September  9,  1843, 
died  November,  13,  1857;  Miles,  born  June  3, 
1846,  died  May  10,  1850;  Emma,  wife  of  John 
W.  Bowser,  born  December  17,  1848;  Jerome, 
born  August  20,  I851,  lives  in  Illinois;  Isabelle, 
born  August  24,  1854,  married  Michael  Keef, 
and  resides  in  Lebanon,  Ind.  ; Jesse,  born  Oc- 
tober 14,  1857;  Salmon  H.,  born  May  7, 

1862,  married  Nantie  Jennings,  and  lives  with 
his  father  on  the  old  homestead;  Ida,  born 
October  19,  1865,  died  November  9,  of  the 
same  year.  Mr.  Neese  is  a member  of  the 
Lutheran  church,  to  which  his  wife  also  be- 
longed for  a number  of  years  before  her  death, 
lie  is  a man  highly  honored  by  his  many 
friends  and  neighbors,  and  a list  of  \\'orth 
township's  representative  citizens  would  be  in- 
complete without  his  name. 


ACOB  OTTINGlMv,  one  of  the  pio- 
neers of  Boone  county,  is  a native  of 
Tennessee,  born  in  Cocke  county  on  the 
third  of  Sci)tembcr,  1822.  llis  father, 
Michael  Ottinger,  was  born  in  Bennsylvania, 
and  his  mother,  whose  maiden  name  was 
Elizabeth  Winters,  was  a native  of  Tennessee, 


library 

OF  TKE 

OWIVERSITY  OF  fLUNOr 


D.  W OSBORN. 


OF  BOONE  COUNTY 


403 


both  branches  of  the  family  being  of  German 
descent.  The  subject’s  paternal  grandfather, 
also  a native  of  Pennsylvania,  served  in  the 
Revolutionary  war,  and  in  the  war  of  1812 
was  a tifer  in  the  army  of  Gen.  Andrew  Jack- 
son.  He  was  a pioneer  of  east  Tennessee, 
and  had  a family  of  nine  children,  of  whom 
the  names  of  seven  sons  are  now  recalled, 
to-wit:  George,  John,  Henry,  Michael,  Peter, 
William  and  Jacob.  Michael  Ottinger,  the 
subject's  father,  accompanied  his  parents  to 
Tennessee  when  a small  boy,  married  and 
reared  a famliy  in  that  state,  and  lies  buried 
near  the  site  of  the  family’s  original  settle- 
ment. Eleven  children  were  born  to  Michael 
and  Elizabeth  Ottinger,  namely:  Philip,  Jacob, 
Andrew,  Sarah,  Catherine,  Rachel,  Lovina, 
Elizabeth,  Narcissus,  Triphena  and  Joseph. 

Jacob  Ottinger  was  reared  to  manhood  in 
Tennessee,  and  in  1 844  came  to  Boone  county, 
Ind. , riding  the  entire  distance  on  a horse,  and 
taking  sixteen  days  to  make  the  journey.  He 
married  in  Boone  county,  August  ii,  1853, 
Lucretia,  daughter  of  Jonathan  and  Mary 
(Stultz)  Marklin.  Mrs.  Ottinger  was  born 
Octobor  29,  1832,  in  North  Carolina,  and  was 
brought  to  Indiana  when  a mere  infant,  her 
parents  moving  to  this  state  as  early  as  the 
the  year  1833.  After  his  marriage  Mr.  Ottin- 
ger located  at  the  towm  of  Zionsville,  where 
he  remained  one  winter,  and  the  follow'ing 
spring  moved  on  a farm  in  Eagle  Creek  town- 
ship, where  he  followed  agricultural  pursuits 
until  the  early  part  of  1855,  at  which  time  he 
became  a resident  of  the  township  of  Worth. 
Mr.  Ottinger  assisted  in  the  erection  of  the 
first  building  at  Whitestown,  which  was  occu- 
pied as  a store  by  Mr.  Spencer,  and  he  is  now 
an  honored  resident  of  the  village,  having 
practically  retired  from  active  life  in  1893. 
He  is  the  possessor  of  valuable  real  estate  in 
Boone  county,  aggregating  over  280  acres,  and 
he  has  for  years  occupied  a front  rank  among 


the  successful  agriculturists  of  the  town- 
ship in  which  he  resides.  Measured  by  the 
usual  standard,  his  life  has  indeed  been 
crowned  with  success,  and  he  is  now  enjoying 
the  fruits  of  the  labor  of  his  active  years,  hon- 
ored and  respected  by  all  who  know  him.  Six 
children  constitute  the  family  of  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Ottinger,  namely:  MaryE.,  Martha  J. , Sarah 
A.,  John  M.,  Cora  and  Luetta. 


AVID  W.  OSBORN,  the  popular 
county  treasurer  of  Boone  county, 
Ind.,  was  born  in  Jackson  township, 
same  county,  July  8,  1854,  and  is  of 
English  extraction.  His  father,  Caleb  Osborn, 
came  from  Russell  county,  Va. , by  wagon,  in 
1851.  He  had  married  a Miss  Gose  in  Vir- 
ginia, and  there  were  born  to  him  six  children, 
viz:  Judith,  Elizabeth,  Eliza,  Mary  A., 

Josephine  and  James  C. — the  latter  dying  as  a 
soldier  in  the  P'ifty-fourth  Indiana  volunteer 
infantry  during  the  Civil  war.  On  coming  to 
Indiana  Mr.  Osborn  settled  on  wild  land  in 
Boone  county,  Jackson  township,  entering 
eighty  acres,  which  by  industry  and  good  man- 
agement he  increased  to  240  acres.  Caleb  Os- 
born lost  his  first  wife  in  1851,  and  for  his  sec- 
ond life-companion  married  Mrs.  Matilda 
(Gose)  Hudson,  who  bore  him  one  child, 
David  W.,  the  gentleman  whose  name  opens 
this  notice.  Caleb  Osborn  had  been  a demo- 
crat in  politics  until  the  breaking  out  of  the 
Civil  war,  when  he  became  a republican.  He 
was  an  influential  citizen  among  the  old  set- 
tlers, and  was  greatly  missed  from  the  rural 
districts  when  he  sold  his  farm  and  retired  to 
Jamestown,  where  he  passed  from  earth  a few 
years  later,  in  the  month  of  February,  1878, 
at  the  age  of  sixty-eight  years. 

David  W.  Osborn  attended  the  common 
schools  until  the  age  of  eighteen,  and  then  en- 
tered Asbury  (now  DePauw ) university, 


401 


BIOGRAPHICAL  HISTORY 


where  he  devoted  himself  to  hard  study  for 
three  years.  lie  then  engaged  in  the  hard- 
ware trade  at  Jamestown,  Ind.,  for  five  years  ; 
for  twelve  years  he  was  deputy  auditor,  and  in 
I CS92  was  elected  treasurer  of  Hoone  county  on 
the  republican  ticket,  which  office  he  filled 
with  much  credit  to  himself  and  for  which  he 
was  thoroughly  qualified  through  his  liberal 
education  and  his  practical  business  experi- 
ence. So  well,  indeed,  did  he  perform  his 
duties,  that  he  was  renominated  for  the  same 
positioTi  June  23,  1894.  Fraternally,  Mr.  Os- 
born is  a Mason — a member  of  Hoone  lodge, 
No.  9 ; he  is  also  a member  of  the  Lebanon 
lodge,  Knights  of  Pythias,  and  has  passed  all 
the  chairs  both  in  the  Lebanon  and  Jamestown 
lodges.  In  his  dome  Tic  relations,  Mr,  Osborn 
is  most  felicitously  situated,  having  married  at 
Lebanon,  in  1894,  January  3,  Miss  Mary  E. 
Houston,  daughter  of  the  well-known  F.  M. 
Houston.  Mr.  Osborn  is  considered  to  be  one 
of  the  most  able  officials  in  the  county,  and 
his  personal  amiability  has  made  him  one  of 
its  greatest  favorites  socially.  Indeed,  so  pop- 
ular did  he  become  during  his  first  term  as 
county  treasurer,  that  as  a se<]uence  of  his 
nomination  to  succeed  himself,  he  was  re- 
elected triumphantly,  November  6,  1894, 

carrying  the  whole  strength  of  the  rejniblican 
majority,  that  party  making  a clean  sweep  of 
the  county  at  the  date  mentioned,  thus  giving 
evidence  of  the  wisdom  of  the  rejniblican  coun- 
ty convention  in  making  the  renomination, 
and  the  popularity  of  Mr.  Osliorn  with  the 
people.  The  attention  of  the  reader  is  called 
to  a truthful  likeness  of  Mr.  Osborn  on  the 
opposite  page,  the  life-like  lineaments  of  which 
will  be  readily  recognized  by  all  wlu^  have  ever 
met  the  genial  official.  Indeed,  in  all  his  re- 
lations in  life  Mr.  Osborn  has  held  a most 
prominent  i)osition,  and  his  generous  disposi- 
tion and  broad  views  have  placed  him  in  the 
lead  of  his  fellow-citi/ens. 


OAH  J.  PALMER,  a well  known 
farmer  and  ex-soldier  of  Jackson 
township,  Boone  county.  Inch,  was 
born  in  Marion  county,  this  state, 
Eebruary  6,  1843,  and  was  educated  in  an  old- 
style  log  school-house.  His  great-grandfather 
was  born  in  England  and  was  an  early  settler  of 
North  Carolina.  His  son  John  was  born  aud 
reared  in  that  state,  married  Esther  Patterson, 
emirgrated  to  Kentucky  contemporaneously 
with  Daniel  Boone,  making  the  journey  on 
pack-horses,  and  the  wife  carrying  a young 
child  and  a spinning  wheel  on  one  of  the  ani- 
mals. He  settled  in  Garrard  county  on  a farm 
of  ninety-six  acres,  but  eventually  became  one 
of  the  wealthiest  farmers  of  the  county.  Jesse 
Palmer,  his  son,  came  from  Kentucky  to 
Boone  c unty,  Ind.,  in  1836,  and  engaged  in 
rearing  thoroughbred  horses  at  Jamestown. 
He  married  Rachel  Lebo,  daughter  of  Noah 
and  Belle  (Smith)  Lebo,  and  to  this  union  were 
born  William  C.,  Emily  C.,  john  NoahJ., 
Josiah  E.,  Isaac  H.,  George  A.  and  David  T. 
John  J.  died  of  typhoid  fever  at  Jamestown, 
Md.,  and  was  buried  with  the  honors  of  war. 

Noah  J.  Palmer  enlisted  August  7,  1861,  in 
company  A,  Twenty-seventh  Indiana  volun- 
teer infantry,  which  regiment  lost  more  men 
than  any  other  from  this  state  during  the  late 
Civil  war.  The  regiment  was  assigned  to  the 
army  of  the  Potomac,  and  its  first  engagement 
was  at  Winchester,  Va.,  where  Mr.  Palmer 
was  captured  and  first  sent  to  Lynchburg,  and 
afterward  to  Belle  Isle,  his  im])risonment  last- 
ing from  May  25,  1862,  until  Sej)tember  12. 
On  his  i)arole  he  was  sent  to  Washington  and 
thence  to  h'ort  Delaware,  and  about  Christ- 
mas, 1862,  he  rejoined  his  regiment  on  the 
Rajipahannock  river,  and  went  into  winter 
(]uarters  at  Stafford  Court  House.  When 
spring  opened,  after  a four  days’  march  they 
reached  Chancellorsvillc,  and  had  a two  days’ 
fight  (May  2 3,  1863)  under  Gen.  Hooker, 


OF  BOONE  COUNTY. 


405 


who  was  forced  to  retreat.  Here,  also,  the 
Confederate  general,  “Stonewall”  Jackson, 
met  his  end,  being  accidently  shot  by  one  of 
his  own  men.  Mr.  Palmer  was  next  at  the 
battle  of  Gettysburg,  which  lasted  three  days 
— Jnl}’  1—3,  1863.  Here  the  Union  loss  was 
about  23,000  out  of  80,000  men  and  the  rebel 
loss  about  25,000  out  of  70,000,  but  it  was  a 
great  victory  for  the  Union  troops.  Mr.  Pal- 
mer was  next  sent  to  New  York  city  to  aid  in 
suppressing  the  draft  riots  in  July,  1863.  He 
was  next  sent  south  and  participated  in  the 
two  days’  battle  at  Resaca,  Ga. , capturing  an 
entire  regiment;  his  next  battle  was  at  Hickory  j 
Ridge,  and  the  next  at  Peach  Tree  Creek.  He 
then  went  into  the  Atlanta  campaign,  and  for 
twenty  days  was  skirmishing  and  fighting  con- 
stantly, and  was  at  last  shot  in  the  left  shoul- 
der; he  was  sent  to  the  general  field  hospital 
and  thence  to  Chattanooga,  where  he  was  mus- 
tered out  September  12,  1864.  He  then  re- 
turned home  and  rested  a few  weeks,  when  he 
volunteered  in  Hancock’s  veteran  corps  (or- 
ganized in  Washington  city),  in  company  A, 
Fourth  regiment.  He  was  ordered  to  Win- 
chester to  join  Hancock’s  main  army;  he  lay 
at  this  point  three  weeks,  and  was  then  sent 
back  to  Washington,  where  he  was  placed  as 
a guard  over  the  prisoners  implicated  in  the 
assassination  of  President  Lincoln.  He  was 
then  sent  to  Columbus,  Ohio,  and  thence  to 
Louisville,  Ky.,  then  back  to  Columbus,  where 
he  was  mustered  out  February  28,  1866,  after 
an  active  service  of  four  years,  one  month  and 
five  days.  For  all  this  severe  service  he  re- 
ceives a pension  of  eight  dollars  per  month. 

Mr.  Palmer  was  married  in  Garrard  county, 
Ky.,  to  Martha  PL  Johnson,  daughter  of  David 
and  Elizabeth  (Patterson)  Johnson,  and  there 
have  been  born  to  them  the  following  children: 
Ira  J.,  Viola,  Josiah,  Fannie,  Emma,  Minnie 
(deceased),  Arthur,  Jesse  and  George.  P"or 

nine  years  after  his  marriage  he  engaged  in 
20 


farming  in  Kentucky,  in  Garrard  county,  and 
then  came  to  Jackson  township,  Boone  county, 
Ind.,  where  he  owns  a well  cultivated  farm  of 
forty  acres.  Mrs.  Palmer  is  a devout  member 
of  the  Baptist  church,  while  Mr.  Palmer  is  a 
member  of  Antietam  post.  No.  162,  G.  A.  R. , 
in  which  he  has  held  the  offices  of  quartermas- 
ter and  senior  vice-commander.  Mr.  Palmer 
and  family  are  held  in  the  highest  esteem  by 
the  citizens  of  Jackson  township,  who  greatly 
admire  his  military  record. 


HO  MAS  JEFFERSON  PARR.— 
Among  the  successful  farmers  of 
Boone  county,  who  have  risen  to 
wealth  and  prominence  by  their  own 
labors,  stands  the  subject  of  this  sketch.  His 
grandfather  was  Mathias  Parr,  who  resided 
in  Tennessee  on  a farm.  He  was  a demo- 
crat, and  that  is  about  all  that  is  known  of 
him,  with  the  exception  that  he  was  the  father 
of  the  following  children:  David,  Jacob  (who 
was  in  the  battle  of  Horseshoe  Bend,  where 
the  death  blow  was  given  to  the  Creek  Indians 
by  Gen.  Jackson,  in  March,  1814),  Matthew, 
John,  Henry  (a  cripple,  who  remained  single). 
His  son,  John  Parr,  father  of  T.  J.,  was  born 
in  1807,  March  19,  in  eastern  Tennessee.  He 
married,  about  1869,  Martha  Green  Burrow, 
a neighbor  girl.  This  union  was  blessed  with 
six  children,  viz.,  William  P.,  Martha,  John 
N.,  Mary  J.  (died  when  two  years  old),  Ema- 
line  and  Thomas  J.  The  rest  of  the  family 
married  and  reared  families.  He  was  an  in- 
dustrious and  very  energetic  man.  He  was  an 
active  Methodist,  at  whose  cabin  the  itinerant 
pioneer  preacher,  astride  his  horse,  with  his 
leggins,  portmanteau  containing  his  clothes, 
hymn  book  and  Bible,  made  occasional  visits, 
when  the  neighbors  for  miles  around  congre- 
gated to  hear  the  word  of  God  expounded  by 
his  servant.  He  served  as  class  leader,  stew- 


1()() 


BIOGRAPHICAL  HISTORY 


ard,  vSiiiK lay-school  superintendent,  and  in  fact 
Idled  all  the  offices  of  the  church.  He  was 
one  of  the  earliest  settlers  and  entered  i6o 
acres  of  land  on  Eagle  creek,  Marion  township, 
which  he  cleared,  improved,  and  made  into  a 
choice  farm.  He  served  one  term  as  town- 
ship assessor,  aiul  was  an  unswerving  demo- 
crat. He  died  as  he  lived,  a Christian,  leav- 
ing a good  example  for  his  family.  The  life  of 
his  wife  was  linked  with  his  in  church  work, 
and  faithfully  she  labored  to  bring  up  the  fam- 
ily in  the  fear  and  admonition  of  the  Lord. 
His  age  was  nearly  eighty-four  years,  hers 
about  sixty.  They  were  buried  in  Sugar 
Grove  cemetery,  Washington  township. 

Thomas  Jefferson  Parr  was  born  March  2, 
1844,  at  the  home  farm  in  this  township.  He 
received  the  common  school  education  of  that 
day,  and  was  reared  as  a farmer’s  son.  When 
yet  under  age,  April  17,  1864,  he  married  Cor- 
delia Cash,  daughter  of  Benjamin  and  Eliza- 
beth (Burnett)  Cash.  This  union  has  been 
blessed  with  one  child — John  E.,  born  June 
15,  1882.  The  ancestors  of  the  Cash  family 
here  follow:  The  grandfather  was  |oel  Cash, 
born  in  Virginia,  an  extensive  farmer,  owning 
at  one  time  five  farms.  He  was  an  old-line 
whig.  His  wife's  given  name  was  Elizabeth. 
But  few  of  the  names  of  their  large  family  can 
be  given — Shadrach,  Joseph,  Benjamin,  Sarah, 
who  married  Jacob  Tipton.  His  family  and 
himself  moved  to  Tennessee,  where  he  lived 
till  a great  age.  Benjamin  Cash  was  born  in 
Virginia,  but  moved  to  Tennessee.  He  was  a 
farmer.  By  his  first  marriage  was  born  Shad- 
rach, who  lived  to  be  married.  His  second 
marriage  was  to  Elizabeth  (Burnett)  Cash. 
Their  family  comprised  the  following:  Will- 
iam, Mary  }.,  John,  DociaA.,  died  in  infancy. 
Tabitha,  Joel  J.,  Cordelia  and  Benjamin  I'. 
The  mother  died  when  Benjamin  was  born, 
aged  about  forty-two  years.  They  were  jieo- 
ple  highly  resiiected  and  took  first  rank  in  the 


community.  Benjamin  was  a born  trader  and 
rapidly  accumulated  property,  but  it  was  the 
old  saying  “come  easy,  go  easy.”  He  was  a 
man  of  great  nerve,  for,  at  the  age  of  forty- 
eight,  he  lost  his  good  right  arm.  His  arm 
was  broken  and  not  properly  cared  for,  and 
mortification  had  gone  so  far  that  it  had  to  be 
amputated.  He  held  his  arm  on  the  table 
while  three  surgeons  did  the  work,  and  he 
never  uttered  a groan  while  he  witnessed  the 
operation.  He  was  politically  an  old-time 
whig.  His  third  marriage  was  to  a maiden 
lady,  whose  given  name  was  Loiiiza.  He  lived 
to  be  sixty-fiv'e  years  of  age  and  was  buried  in 
Hammock  cemetery,  Hamilton  county,  Ind. 
Mrs.  Cordelia  Parr  was  left  an  orphan  at  the 
age  of  eleven  years. 

Thomas  J.  Parr  rented  his  father’s  farm  for 
several  years,  accumulating  and  loaning  his 
money  until,  in  the  year  1879,  he  purchased 
100  acres,  on  which  he  erected  good  substan- 
tial buildings.  He  met  with  a reverse  in  for- 
tune, as  his  dwelling,  which  had  been  erected 
hve  years,  was  burned  November  18,  1884, 
with  nearly  all  the  contents.  Eortunately  he 
had  $900  insurance  on  the  building  and  con- 
tents, which  did  not  cover  his  loss.  He  began 
rebuilding  a fine  residence,  costing  about  $1,- 
500,  which  is  elegantly  furnished,  and  they  use 
natural  gas,  Mr.  Parr  being  also  a stock-owner 
in  a natural  gas  company.  He  and  wife  are 
zealous  members  of  the  Methoilist  tlenomina- 
tion,  belonging  to  Lane’s  chapel.  Politically 
he  is  a democrat.  He  has  made  a success  of 
life  by  the  industry  of  himself  and  faithful  wife. 
H is  brother,  William  P. , attended  the  univer- 
sity at  DePauw,  then  the  Jefferson  Medical 
college,  at  Philadelphia,  I’a. , graduated,  return- 
ing and  ])racticing  in  his  home  neighborhood, 
but  movetl  to  tndianai)olis,  serving  on  vsrious 
occasions  during  the  Givil  war  as  a surgeon. 
He  moved  to  Wichita,  Kan.,  then  to  Okla- 
homa city,  where  he  with  other  professors  are 


OF  BOONE  COITNTY. 


407 


engaged  in  a medical  institute.  John  N.  also 
attended  DePauw  university  and  graduated  at 
the  Cincinnati  Medical  college,  but,  still  aspir- 
ing, he  went  to  Chicago,  where  he  also  received 
a diploma.  He  is  now  located  at  Jolietville, 
Hamilton  county,  Ind.  John  N.  has  a son 
that  is  now  taking  his  second  course  in  a medi- 
cal college,  while  another  son  is  a dentist. 


a APT.  JOSEPH  O.  PEDIGO,  the  popu- 
lar mayor  of  Lebanon,  springs  from 
French  lineage — the  name  being 
originally  spelt  Pergory,  by  the  older 
members  of  the  family.  The  founder  of  the 
family  came  to  America  at  a period  long  ante- 
dating the  war  of  the  Revolution.  Edward 
Pedigo,  a Virginia  soldier  in  the  Revolu- 
tionary war,  was  the  great-grandfather  of 
Capt.  Joseph  O.,  and  his  holster  and  pistols 
have  been  handed  down  to  the  present  genera- 
tion, showing  he  was  an  officer  and  rode  a 
horse.  He  moved  with  his  family  to  Kentucky 
and  settled  in  the  ilds  of  what  afterward  be- 
came Barren  county,  near  the  head  of  Beaver 
creek,  about  1790.  He  cleared  a farm  and 
became  a substantial  farmer  and  slave  owner, 
and  died  on  his  homestead,  aged  104  years,  a 
member  of  the  Baptist  church.  Joseph  Pedigo, 
Sen.,  son  of  the  above  and  grandfather  of  the 
captain,  was  born  in  Patrick  county,  Va. , and 
was  also  a soldier  in  the  Revolutionary  war. 
He  was  a man  of  family,  when  he  went  to 
Kentucky  with  his  father  and  other  Virginians, 
and  was  the  father  of  the  following  chil- 
dren; William,  Nancy,  Polly,  John,  Josejffi, 
Henry,  and  Edward.  Joseph  Pedigo,  Sen., 
cleared  up  a farm,  on  which  he  lived  until  he 
died  of  fever,  aged  si.xty-six  years,  a member 
of  the  Baptist  church  and  a substantial  farmer 
and  slave  owner. 

Maj.  John  Pedigo,  son  of  above,  and 
father  of  our  subject,  was  born  in  Patrick 


county,  Va.,  and  was  about  seven  years  of  age 
when  taken  to  Kentucky.  He  received  a com- 
mon school  education  and  was  reared  a farmer. 
He  was' a great  reader,  and  became  an  intelli- 
gent man,  and  was  a colonel  in  the  Kentuci^y 
state  militia.  He  married  Elizabeth  Oldham, 
and  to  them  were  born  five  children,  who 
lived  to  mature  years:  Edward,  Charles, 
Whlliam  F.,  Elizabeth  and  Mary.  Mrs. 
Pedigo  died,  and  he  married  Jane  Poison,  and 
to  them  were  born  two  children,  who  also 
lived  to  maturity:  Harriet  and  Willis.  This 
wife  also  di  d and  he  married  Jane  P.  Hobbs, 
daughter  of  John  and  Sarah  Obanion,  and 
widow  of  Dr.  Hobbs;  the  Obanions  were  of 
Irish  descent,  and  all  old  Kentucky  families. 
By  this  wife  nine  children  were  born:  Joseph, 
Robert,  Sarah,  Alford,  Sanford,  Elbert,  Madi- 
son T. , Josephine  (died  at  eight  years)  and 
John  W.  Col.  John  Pedigo  was  the  father  of 
eighteen  children;  one  died  an  infant,  one  at 
eight  years,  and  all  the  others  lived  to  be  men 
and  women,  and  all  are  living  now,  except 
Elizabeth  and  Sanford.  Col.  John  Pedigo 
lived  to  the  age  of  seventy-six  years  and  died 
in  Kentucky  in  1859.  In  politics  he  was  an 
old-li.-e  whig,  and  afterward  a republican  and 
a strong  Union  man.  He  had  four  sons  in  the 
Civil  war:  Joseph  O. , in  company  G,  Seventy- 
ninth  Indiana  volunteer  infantry;  James  A.,  in 
company  G,  Seventy-ninth,  Indiana  volunteer 
infantry;  Sanford  P. , company  A,  Seventieth 
Indiana  volunteeer  infantry,  and  Egbert  T. , 
company  H,  One  Hundred  and  Thirty-fifth 
Indiana  volunteer  infantry. 

Col.  John  Pedigo  was  a slave  owner,  his 
slaves  having  been  left  to  him,  but  was  an 
anti-slavery  man  in  politics.  He  was  a mem- 
ber, first  of  the  Baptist  and  then  of  the  Chris- 
tian church.  He  had  a high  character  and 
was  respected  by  all.  About  the  year  1842, 
Col.  John  Pedigo’s  slave  Aaron  married  a 
slave  woman  of  a neighbor’s  family,  by  whom 


408 


BIOGRAPHICAL  HISTORY 


he  had  live  children.  The  owner,  a Mr. 
Hainillon,  sold  his  farm  and  was  proposing  to 
move  to  Missonri.  Aaron  wanted  Col.  John 
Pedigo  to  buy  his  wife  and  children,  but  he 
was  opposed  to  the  buying  of  slaves,  and 
although  Aaron  was  valued  at  $2,000,  gave 
him  his  freedom  papers  and  Aaron  rode  away 
to  Missouri  on  his  own  horse. 

Capt.  Jos.  Pedigo  was  born  December  26, 
1835,  on  his  father’s  farm  in  Darren  county, 
Ky.  He  learned  to  work  on  the  farm,  attended 
college  at  Danville,  Ind.,  received  a good  edu- 
cation and  became  a school-teacher,  and  for 
two  years  followed  this  profession  in  Boone  and 
Hendricks  counties,  Ind.  He  married,  April 
5,  i860,  Mary  E.,  daughter  of  Zenos  and 
Agnes  (Bridges)  Darnall,  an  old  settler  of  In- 
diana from  Kentucky.  To  Capt.  and  Mrs. 
Pedigo  was  born  one  child,  CoraO.,  wife  of 
I'rank  P.  Byrum,  druggist  of  Lebanon.  At 
the  beginning  of  the  war,  Capt.  Pedigo  was  a 
farmer.  On  August  13,  1862,  he  enlisted  at 
Indianapolis,  in  company  G,  Seventy-ninth 
Indiana  volunteer  infantry,  and  was  made  a 
sergeant  on  the  organization  of  the  company. 
He  served  in  this  capacity  until  the  spring  of 
1864.  In  1862  he  was  in  the  following  bat- 
tles: Stone  River,  Chickamaugua,  Missionary 
Ridge  and  many  numerous  skirmishes  on  the 
route  to  and  at  Knoxville.  He  was  in  the  bat- 
tle of  White  House  Landing  in  June,  1864, 
and  guarded  a wagon  train  across  the  Chicka- 
hominy  river,  where  a severe  running  fight  was 
had.  He  was  also  in  the  battle  of  Perryville, 
and  was  later  in  the  pursuit  of  Gen.  Bragg. 
April  I,  1864,  he  went  before  the  military 
examining  board  at  Cincinnati,  Ohio,  and  was 
commissioned  as  captain  by  the  war  depart- 
ment and  assigned  to  the  Twenty-eighth  regi- 
ment, United  States  colored  troops,  ascajitain. 
July  30,  1864,  he  was  in  the  siege  of  Petersburg, 
and  was  in  the  assaulting  party  when  the  ex- 
jdosion  of  the  mine  occurred.  He  remained 


in  this  command  until  the  general  march  of 
Grant's  army  in  March,  1865,  on  to  Rich- 
mond. His  regiment  was  the  first  infantry 
regiment  to  enter  Richmond  on  April  3,  and 
was  reviewed  by  Abraham  Lincoln  on  the  next 
day.  In  June  the  command  was  sent  to  Indi- 
anola,  Texas;  from  there  they  went  to  Corpus 
Christ!  to  watch  the  Emperor  Maximillian. 
Capt.  Pedigo  was  honorably  discharged  at  In- 
dianapolis, January  7,  1866,  and  returned  to 
Lebanon  and  has  since  been  engaged  in  the 
practice  of  law  and  in  the  real  estate  business, 
having  read  law  after  the  war.  In  1892  he 
was  elected  mayor  of  Lebanon,  an  office  which 
he  still  holds. 

Lraternally,  he  is  a member  of  Ben  Adhem 
lodge.  No.  472,  I.  O.  O.  L.,  of  Lebanon,  and 
has  filled  all  the  offices;  also  is  a member  of 
the  Red  Men,  Winnebago  tribe,  No.  36,  and 
has  filled  all  the  offices  of  the  lodge;  also  a 
member  of  Magnolia  encampment,  I.  O.  O. 
L.,  No.  45,  and  has  here  also  filled  all  the 
offices.  He  is  a member  of  the  G.  A.  R.,  Rich 
Mountain  post.  No.  42,  and  has  held  all  the 
chairs,  and  a member  of  the  Loyal  legion;  he 
is  also  a member  of  the  Rebecca  degree,  I.  O. 
O.  L. , No.  2,  as  is  also  his  wife.  Both  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  Pedigo  are  members  of  the  Christian 
church,  and  in  politics  Mr.  Pedigo  is  a repub- 
lican. No  family  in  the  county  stands  higher 
in  the  esteem  of  their  neighbors. 


liNRY  M.  ITTTLNGLR  is  a typical 
Boone  county  farmer,  and  a native 
Indianian  who  served  his  country  as 
a soldier  in  the  ('ivil  war,  and  returned 
home  to  become  a respected  citizen,  and  rear 
an  excellent  family.  He  sjirings  from  good 
old  Holland-Diitch  stock,  who  first  settleil  in 
Pennsylvania,  and  were  soldiers  in  the  war  of 
the  Revolution.  Nicholas  Pittinger,  great- 
grandfather of  our  subject,  was  a Presbyterian 


OF  J500NE  COUNTY. 


109 


minister  in  Pennsylvania.  His  son,  Nicholas, 
was  the  grandfather  of  onr  subject,  went  to 
Ohio  at  an  early  day  and  settled  in  Darke 
county  as  a pioneer,  married  a Miss  Buntin, 
and  reared  a family  of  children.  She  had  one 
brother  in  the  Revolutionary  war.  Nicholas 
Pittinger  came  to  Indiana  and  settled  in  Mont- 
gomery county,  si.x  miles  northwest  of  Craw- 
fordsville,  and  became  a prosperous  farmer. 
His  children  were  : Caroline,  Hannah,  David, 
Mary,  Nicholas  and  Elizabeth.  Nicholas  Pit- 
tinger, son  of  above,  was  the  father  of  our 
subject  ; he  was  born  in  Darke  county,  Ohio, 
and  was  but  four  years  of  age  when  brought 
by  his  parents  to  Montgomery  county,  Ind. 
He  received  a common  education  and  attended 
one  term  at  Wabash  college.  He  was  reared 
a farmer  and  married  Emily,  daughter  of 
Henry  and  Annie  (White)  Hayes.  Henry 
Hayes  was  a substantial  farmer  of  Montgom- 
ery county,  and  an  old  settler  of  Madison 
county,  Ind. , on  the  Ohio  river,  where  he  fol- 
lowed boating  at  an  early  day.  To  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Pittinger  were  born  seven  children  : 
Henry  M.,  Mary  A.,  William,  Lovilla,  Amanda, 
Frank  and  Charles.  After  marriage,  Mr.  Pit- 
tinger settled  on  land  in  Montgomery  county, 
ten  miles  west  of  Crawfordsville,  where  he 
lived  for  many  years.  He  made  several  moves, 
but  finally  settled  on  a farm  near  the  old  home, 
where  he  died  aged  sixty-four  years.  He  was 
an  industrious,  honorable  farmer,  a good  citi- 
zen and  respected  by  all.  He  was  a republi- 
can in  politics. 

Henry  M.  Pittinger  was  born  in  Montgom- 
ery county,  Ind.,  June  12,  1843,  received  a 
common  education  and  was  reared  a farmer. 
At  nineteen  years  of  are  he  enlisted  at  Indian- 
apolis, July  14,  1863,  in  company  A,  Seven- 
teenth regiment,  Indiana  volunteer  infantry,  for 
six  months,  under  Capt.  Isaac  Wantland.  Our 
young  soldier  served  in  Tennessee,  Kentucky 
and  Virginia  in  the  army  of  the  Cumberland. 


He  was  in  the  battles  of  Blue  Springs,  Tenn., 
Walker’s  Ford,  Tenn.,  Beaa  Station,  Straw- 
berry Plains,  and  many  skirmishes.  He  suf- 
fered greatly  from  hardships,  especially  the 
cold  winter  of  1863-4,  and  that  New  Year’s 
day  at  Strawberry  Plains  when  Longstreet  was 
passing  the  brigade  and  had  captured  all  the 
ambulances,  camp  equipage,  and  much  of  the 
clothing  and  knapsacks.  They  had  a severe 
fight  here  and  suffered  greatly  from  the  cold 
that  night,  building  shelter  from  the  cedar 
trees  and  onl}'  kept  from  freezing  by  great  ex- 
ertion, not  having  proper  clothing,  and  many 
suffered  from  frost-bite.  Mr.  Pittinger  was 
sick  in  field  hospital  for  six  months  with 
chronic  diarrhea,  which  weakened  him,  and 
from  which  he  has  never  recovered.  He 
served  seven  months  and  fourteen  days,  and 
was  honorably  discharged  at  Indianapolis,  Feb- 
ruary 24,  1 864.  After  the  Vvar  he  resumed  farm- 
ing in  Montgomery  county,  Ind.,  and  December 
7,  1868,  he  was  united  in  marriage  to  Mary 
L.,  daughter  of  Samuel  and  Mary  (W^alker) 
Cunningham,  of  Boone  county,  and  settled  in 
Jackson  township  in  1847.  Mr.  Cunningham 
was  born  in  Virginia  and  went  from  there  to 
Ohio,  when  a lad  of  twelve  years  of  age,  with 
his  father,  who  afterward  settled  in  Union 
county,  Ind.  He  reared  ten  children,  viz — 
Mariah,  George,  Hannah,  John,  James,  William, 
Samuel,  Nancy,  Francis  M.  and  Mary  L.  Mr. 
Cunningham  died  in  1 886  in  Jackson  township, 
Boone  county,  at  the  advanced  age  of  eighty- 
four  years.  In  political  opinion  he  was  a 
stanch  democrat.  He  was  a prosperous  farmer 
and  gave  each  of  his  children  eighty  acres  of 
land.  He  was  well  known  and  highly  respect- 
ed lor  his  sterling  worth. 

After  marriage  Mr.  Pittinger  settled  on  his 
present  farm  of  eighty  acres,  to  which  he  has 
added  forty  acres  by  thrift  and  economy,  and 
now  owns  a fine  farm  which  he  cleared  up 
from  the  woods.  The  six  children  born  to  Mr. 


■no 


BTOGRAPIIICAT.  HISTORY 


and  Mrs.  Pittinger  are  named  as  follows: 
Emma  J.,  William  F.,  Carrie  A,,  Samuel  M., 
Claude  E.,  and  Elz  ra  E.  They  take  an 
active  part  in  the  education  of  their  children 
and  liave  one  of  the  most  respected  families 
of  Boone  county.  Mr.  Pittinger’s  political 
opinions  are,  like  his  father’s,  democratic,  and 
botn  he  and  his  wife  are  members  of  the 
church.  Fraternally,  Mr.  Pittinger  affiliates 
with  the  I.  O.  O.  P'.,  Euther  lodge.  No.  227, 
and  Jamestown  encampment.  No.  140,  also 
with  the  G.  A.  R. , Advance  post.  No.  524,  and 
has  filled  all  the  offices.  Mr.  Pittinger  has  a 
good  record  not  only  as  a soldier,  but  as  a 
citizen,  and  stands  deservedly  high.  He  has 
been  a very  hard-working,  industrious  man. 
He  receives  a pension  of  $12  per  month.  Mrs. 
Pittinger  had  one  brother,  James,  in  the  Civil 
war — P'ortieth  regiment  Indiana  volunteer 
infantry. 


EVIN  REES,  of  Sugar  Creek  town- 
ship, Boone  county,  Imk,  is  a native 
of  the  state,  having  been  born  in 
Parke  county,  Septeml)er  10,  1839. 
His  parents  were  William  and  Mary  (Hunni- 
cutt)  Rees,  the  former  of  whom  was  born  in 
Tennessee,  in  1805,  and  was  a son  of  James 
and  Jane  (Elmore)  Rees.  James  Rees,  also  a 
native  of  Tennessee,  was  of  Welsh  descent, 
was  a farmer,  and  the  father  of  six  children, 
viz:  Thomas,  William,  Joel,  James,  Nancy 
and  Charity.  The  grandmother  of  our  sub- 
ject was  a daughter  of  a Cherokee  chief  and 
one  of  seven  sisters,  all  of  whom  married  white 
men  of  the"Utmo't  respectability.  William 
Rees,  father  of  Eivin,  was  reared  in  Hamilton 
county,  Ohio,  and  in  Parke  county,  Ind.,  mar- 
ried Miss  Mary  Hunnicutt,  who  was  born  in 
Petersburg,  Va.  From  Parke  county  he  re- 
moved to  Montgomei'y  county,  Ind.,  in  1840, 
and  in  1844  came  to  Boone  county  and  bought 


a farm  of  220  acres,  a part  of  which  is  now 
the  home  of  Eivin  Reev  Here  William  died 
in  1858,  his  wife,  Mary,  surviving  him  until  1879, 
both  having  been,  like  their  forefathers,  mem- 
bers of  the  P'riends’  church. 

Eivin  Rees,  although  reared  a farmer,  early 
fitted  himself  for  an  educator,  but  ill  health 
prevented  his  following  the  profession.  He 
had  secured  a school  in  Iowa,  but  the  morning 
it  was  to  open  diphtheria  intervened  and  he 
was  obliged  to  abandon  the  calling  for  good. 
April  I,  1862,  he  married  Miss  Tacy  Cox,  a 
native  of  Boone  county,  Ind.,  born  in  1843, 
and  a daughter  of  Isaac  and  Rachael  (Menden- 
hall) Cox,  the  union  resulting  in  the  birth  of 
seven  children  named  as  follows:  Orpheus  E., 
deceased;  \Villiam ; Virgil,  of  Kentucky;  Della 
M.,  at  home;  Cassie  A.,  a graduate  of  Thorn- 
town  academy;  Howard  and  Olema.  Mr. 
Rees  has  a well-cultivated  farm  of  i r 2 acres 
in  this  township,  of  which  twelve  acres  are 
devoted  to  the  larger  fruits,  three  to  rasp- 
berries, and  one  to  strawberries,  etc.  He 
makes  a specialty  of  fine  corn,  and  gives  much 
attention  to  Chester  White  and  Berkshire  hogs. 
He  has  a fish  pond,  supplied  with  scale  and 
carp,  and  his  home  is  delightful  in  all  respects. 
Beside  this  property,  he  owns  in  Eeavenworth 
county,  Kans.,  a farm  of  160  acres  and  valu- 
able lots  in  several  towns.  In  politics  Mr. 
Rees  is  a republican,  and  his  religion,  like  that 
of  his  wife,  is  in  the  faith  of  the  I'riends’ 
church. 


OHN  RAY,  one  of  the  oldest  pioneers  of 
Boone  county  now  living,  is  a native  of 
Indiana,  born  in  Wkiyne  county.  May 
2,  1822.  His  i)arents,  Cheslcy  and 

Nancy  (Hoover)  Ray,  were  both  natives  of 
Randolph  county,  N.  (k,  and  of  Irish  and 
German  lineage  respectively.  Chesley  was 
the  son  of  John  and  Tabitha  (Pettit)  Ray, 


UBRARY 
Of  THE 
uhwersity  of. 


OF  ROOXE  COUNTY. 


415 


early  settlers  of  Randolph  county,  N.  C., 
where  they  reared  a family  of  nine  children, 
namely  : Elizabeth,  Presley,  Sarah,  Nancy, 
Mark,  Jordan,  Polly,  Cynthia  and  Chesley, 
the  last  named  being  the  second  in  order  of 
birth.  The  birth  of  Chesley  Kay  occurred  in 
the  above  county  and  state  January  20,  1798; 
he  married  in  1817,  and  about  four  years  later 
immigrated  to  Wayne  county,  Ind.,  where 
he  resided  for  a limited  period  and  then  moved 
to  Marion  county,  where  the  mother  died 
March  6,  1826.  The  following  year,  Mr. 

Kay  entered  into  the  marriage  relation  with 
Mrs.  J.  Mitchell,  widow  of  Robert  Mitchell, 
and  in  1846  the  family  moved  to  Hamilton 
county,  subsequently  to  Illinois,  in  Knox 
county  of  which  state  Chesley  Ray  departed 
this  life  on  the  sixth  day  of  March,  1869,  his 
wife  surviving  him  about  two  years.  The 
family  of  Chesley  Ray  consisted  of  seven  chil- 
dren : Netty,  Nancy,  John,  William  and 
Elizabeth,  by  his  first  wife,  and  by  his  second' 
wife,  Mark  and  Tabitha. 

John  Ray  .accompanied  his  parents  to 
Marion  county,  Ind.,  when  quite  young,  and  he 
spent  his  youthful  years  in  that  part  of  the 
state,  being  reared  to  a life  of  industry  on  the 
farm.  On  the  twenty-ninth  of  August,  1844, 
was  solemnized  his  marriage  with  Jane  Jen- 
nings of  Virginia,  whose  birth  occurred  May 
16,  1828.  She  is  the  daughter  of  Allen  and 
Eleanor  (Thornbrow)  Jennings,  and  has  borne 
her  husband  three  children  ; Chesley,  Allen 
and  Ella.  After  his  marriage  he  began  farm- 
ing on  the  old  homestead,  where  he  continued  to 
reside  until  1848,  in  January  of  which  year  he 
went  to  Indianapolis  and  there  remained  until 
October  following.  At  the  latter  date  he 
purchased  a farm  in  Hamilton  county,  w'here 
he  made  his  home  until  1852,  wdien  he  moved 
to  the  county  of  Boone,  locating  first  at  the 
town  of  Zionsville  and  later  purchasing  the 
farm  in  Eagle  Creek  township,  where  he  now 


resides.  R'inancially,  Mr.  Ray  has  met  w’ith 
well-earned  success,  owning  at  this  time  a 
valuable  farm  of  i 10  acres,  upon  which  are 
good  and  substantial  improvements,  the  entire 
property  representing  the  fruit  of  his  industry 
and  successful  business  management  He  is 
an  intelligent  and  progressive  citizen  and  a 
consistent  member  of  the  Christian  church, 
and  it  is  with  pleasure  that  this  brief  tribute  to 
his  worth  as  a man  is  given  in  this  connection. 


OOD  A.  PHILLIPS,  a leading 
farmer  of  southern  Harrison  town- 
ship, Boone  county,  Ind.,  and  ex- 
Union  soldier,  comes  of  an  old 
American  family  of  Scotch-Irish  descent.  His 
great-grandfather  came  from  Scotland  and  set- 
tled in  South  Carolina  in  years  long  gone  by, 
whence  he  went  to  Kentucky,  contemporane- 
ously with  Daniel  Boone.  Philemon  Phillips, 
son  of  the -.above-named  pioneer  and  grand- 
father of  Wood  A.  Phillips,  was  born  in  Ken- 
tucky, but  when  a young  man  came  to  Indi- 
ana and  entered  a farm  in  Jefferson  county, 
and  later,  in  his  old  age,  moved  to  Hendricks 
county,  Ind.,  where  he  bought  a good  farm  of 
809  acres.  He  was  twice  married,  the  second 
time  to  Nancy  Wilson.  The  children  by  his 
first  wife  were  named  Thomas,  Maidy,  Phile- 
mon and  Wash.  His  eldest  son,  Thomas, 
father  of  Wood  A.,  w'as  born  in  Kentucky, 
but  was  also  a young  man  when  he  came 
to  Indiana.  He  married,  Susan  Wilson,  and 
was  the  owner  cf  a good  farm  of  200 
acres;  in  politics  he  was  a republican,  and 
he  and  wife  were  members  of  the  Methodist 
church. 

Wood  A.  Phillips,  son  of  Thomas  and 
Susan,  was  born  in  Jefferson  county,  Ind., 
January  27,  1839,  was  reared  to  farming, 

and  October  12,  1890,  married  Alice,  daugh- 
ter of  James  Wright.  John  Wright,  grand- 


116 


BlOGRArillCAL  HISTORY 


father  of  Mrs.  Pliillips,  lived  and  died  iii 
the  state  of  Kentucky;  James  Wright,  father 
of  Mrs.  Phillips,  was  also  born  in  Ken- 
tucky, but  came  to  Indiana  when  a young 
married  man  and  entered  eighty  acres  of 
land  in  Hendricks  county.  The  family  of 
Mr.  Wright  consisted  of  the  following-named 
children:  Manda  \V.,  Carrie,  John,  Mattie, 
Sarah,  PZllen,  Emma,  Dora,  Alice,  James,  Will- 
iam and  Charles.  Mr.  Wright  gave  his  chil- 
dren all  a good  education,  was  a great  friend 
of  school  work,  was  a republican  in  politics, 
and  he  and  wife  were  members  of  the  Chris- 
tian church.  Mr.  Wright  was  almost  instantly 
killed  by  a cyclone  that  swept  over  his  farm  in 
1885.  This  storm  lasted  about  fifteen  min- 
utes and  carried  away  his  barn  and  all  out- 
buildings, which  were  never  again  seen,  and 
dishes  and  other  articles  were  afterward  found 
that  had  never  before  been  seen  on  the  ])rem- 
ises.  Mr.  Wright,  after  being  struck,  lived 
long  enough  to  inquire  if  any  other  member  of 
the  family  had  been  injured  or  killed,  and  then 
sank  in  death. 

After  marriage,  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Wood  A. 
Phillips  moved  upon  their  present  farm,  which 
he  has  highly  improved  and  cnltivated,  and 
where  they  are  passing  their  years  in  ease  and 
comfort.  They  are  the  parents  of  two  chil- 
dren: Julia  P'.,  and  Jesse  G.  The  family  are 
much  respected  by  their  neighbors,  and  Mrs. 
Phillips  is  an  ardent  member  of  the  Methodist 
church,  and  in  politics  Mr.  Phillips  is  a repub- 
lican. Mr.  Phillips  has  quite  a peculiar  war 
record.  He  enlisted,  at  the  first  call  Lincoln 
made,  at  North  Vernon,  Ind.,  A])ril  22,  1861, 
but  the  quota  was  full  and  he  was  placed  in  the 
twelve  months’  service,  in  company  K,  First 
Indiana  infantry,  and  sent  to  Harper’s  b'erry; 
after  that  skirmish,  went  to  Washington,  1). 
C.,  and  then  on  the  d(uible-(iuick  to  Pull  Run, 
but  was  too  late;  then  to  b'redcricksburg,  and 
back  through  the  P>ull  Run  field  to  Richmond, 


and  was  there  discharged.  In  October,  1862, 
he  enlisted  in  company  L,  Second  cavalry, 
Forty-second  Indiana  volunteers,  at  Indianapo- 
lis; they  were  sent  to  Louisville,  Ky. , mounted, 
and  dispatched  to  Nashville,  Tenn. ; went  to 
Murfreesboro;  then  were  in  the  first  fight  at 
Lookout  Mountain;  then  at  Chattanooga,  and 
would  have  been  captured  if  not  rescued  by 
the  Thirty-seventh  Indiana  infantry;  were  in 
front  of  Sherman,  fighting  more  or  less,  as  he 
marched  and  countermarched  two  or  three 
months  on  his  way  to  Atlanta;  went  with 
Thomas  back  to  Nashville,  and  in  the  fight 
were  dismounted,  and  for  one  day  served  wuth 
with  the  infantry;  went  with  Wilson  to  Selma, 
Ala,  and  had  his  horse  killed  under  him  and 
was  himself  shot  in  the  heel;  then  went  on  to 
Tallahassee,  Fla.,  where  he  was  honorably  dis- 
charged and  came  home.  In  the  fight  at 
Selma,  Mr.  Phillips’  horse  fell  on  that  gentle- 
man’s leg,  the  result  being  a developement  of 
varicose  veins.  On  his  return  home  he  neg- 
lected to  apply  for  a pension,  although  his 
health  was  very  poor  and  he  was  unable  to  do 
farm  labor — only  a few  chores — and  his  leg 
was  considerably  shrunk  by  the  injured  veins. 
Now  all  his  old  comrades  are  dead,  or  lost 
sight  of,  and  he  is  unable  to  substantiate  a 
claim  to  a pension,  yet  it  is  plainly  appar- 
ent that  he  is  entitled  to  cpiite  a large  one. 
Although  Mr.  Phillips  is  not  alone  in  this  un- 
fortunate predicament,  his  case  is  not  the  less 
to  be  deplored  on  that  acconnt. 


RS.  MARTHA  A.  RLICS,  of  Sugar 
Creek  township,  Poone  comity,  Ind., 
w'as  born  in  Union  county,  in  the 
same  state,  March  15,  1841,  and  is 
adaughtcrof  Hugh  and  Anna  (Talbert)  Max- 
well. Mr.  Maxwell  was  a native  of  Tennes- 
see, and  was  born  in  1801,  and  Mrs.  Anna 


OF  mE 


OF  BOONE  COUNTY. 


419 


Maxwell  had  her  nativity  in  North  Carolina  in 
1806;  they  were  united  in  matrimony  in  Union 
county,  Ind.,  in  1825,  and  there  lived  on  a 
farm  until  1874,  when  they  moved  to  Wayne 
county,  Ind.,  and  resided  in  Dublin  until  the 
death  of  Hugh  Maxwell  in  1884,  when  his 
widow  returned  to  Union  county,  where  her 
days  were  closed  in  1885.  They  were  the  par- 
ents of  ten  children,  as  follows:  Alphens,  now 
of  Kansas;  Calvin,  deceased;  Moses,  of  Jef- 
ferson township;  Aaron,  deceased;  Albert,  of  In- 
diana; Benjamin,  of  Missouri;  Sarah  T.,  wife 
of  A.  Williamson,  of  Kansas,  Mrs.  Martha  M. 
Rees,  whose  name  heads  this  biographical 
notice;  Louisa,  deceased;  and  Mary  A.,  now 
Mrs.  Nathan  Brown,  of  Kansas.  The  parents 
of  this  family  were  members  of  the  Society  of 
Friends.  Mr.  Maxwell  was  a republican,  and 
one  of  the  most  prominent  men  of  Union 
county. 

Martha  Maxwell,  the  lady  with  whom  this 
sketch  has  most  to  do,  received  her  prepara- 
tory education  at  the  common  schools,  and 
this  was  supplemented  by  an  attendance  of 
one  year  at  the  Earlham  college  in  Richmond, 
Wayne  county,  Ind..  September  24,  1864,  she 
was  united  in  marriage  to  Oliver  Rees,  who 
was  born  in  Parke  county,  Ind.,  September 
21,  1838,  a son  of  William  and  Mary  (Hunni- 
cutt)  Rees,  natives  respectively  of  Virginia 
and  Tennessee,  and,  like  '^he  Maxwell  family, 
members  of  the  Society  of  Friends.  Oliver 
Rees  w'as  reared  a farmer,  and  received  the 
ordinary  common  school  education,  improved 
by  an  attendance  at  the  Earlham  college.  He 
came  to  Boone  county  while  still  a yonngman, 
and  employed  himself  in  agriculture  until  his 
marriage,  when  he  entered  into  the  grocery 
business,  and  this  occupied  his  attention  for 
five  years,  when  he  sold  out  and  bought  an 
elevator  in  company  with  S.  Robinson,  and 
this  was  profitably  carried  on  for  five  years 
longer,  when  he  disposed  of  his  interest  in 


this  business,  and  purchased  a farm  of  103 
aci'es,  and  resumed  the  pursuit  of  his  earlier 
manhood,  which  he  continued  to  follow  until 
death  claimed  him  for  his  own,  January  29, 
1891.  His  remains  now  quietly  rest  in  the 
cemetery  of  Sugar  Plain.  He  had  increased 
his  acreage  to  180,  and  had  been  strictly  hon- 
orable in  all  his  dealings;  was  a prohibitionist, 
although  at  first  a republican  in  politics;  was 
a useful  citizen,  and  his  death  was  mourned 
not  only  by  his  afflicted  wife  and  children,  but 
by  the  community  at  large,  by  whom  he  had 
been  held  in  the  highest  esteem.  The  follow- 
ing obituary  notice  is  extracted  from  the  Chris- 
tian Worker  of  Chicago;  “Died,  in  the  tri- 
umph of  faith,  at  the  ‘Invalids’  Home,’  Ko- 
komo, Ind.,  1st  mo.,  29,  1891,  Oliver  Rees, 
son  of  William  and  Mary  Rees  (deceased),  a 
beloved  member  of  Sugar  Plain  Monthly  Meet- 
ing, Ind.,  born  in  Parke  county,  Ind.,  9th 
mo.,  19,  1837.  He  received  injuries  by  being 
thrown  from  a mowing  machine  last  summer, 
from  which  he  did  not  fully  recover,  although 
able  to  attend  meeting  and  to  superintend  his 
business.  He  was  present  at  monthly  meet- 
ing 1st  mo.,  3,  but  was  taken  sick  with  a chill 
that  evening,  and  grew  more  feeble  daily.  At 
the  end  of  two  weeks  he  went  to  the  Invalids’ 
Home  for  hygienic  treatment;  his  disease 
proved  to  be  a complicated  case  of  typhoid 
fever.  His  wife,  two  oldest  children  and  two 
brothers  were  with  him  at  the  close.” 

His  children  were  seven  in  number,  and 
named:  Anna  M.,  wife  of  Ludovic  E.  Ed- 
wards, now  a druggist  of  Denver,  Colo. ; Ros- 
coe  W.,  a dentist  of  the  same  city  ; Homer  L. , 
Arthur  H.,  Oris  J.,  Mary  A.  and  Ethel  C. , all 
five  living  with  their  mother.  At  his  death 
the  bereaved  widow  took  charge  of  the  farm, 
which  she  has  successfully  managed.  She  is  a 
member  of  the  W.  C.  T.  U.  and  of  the  mis- 
sionary society,  and  is  honored  by  all  who 
know  her  Christian  humility  and  the  modest 


P,IOGKAPIirCAL  HISTORY 


denieaiior  with  which  she  pursues  lier  way 
through  life. 


eorop:  brown  richardson.— 

Prouiiuent  among  the  representative 
men  of  Marion  township,  Boone 
county,  Ind.,  is  George  Brown  Rich- 
ardson, a leading  agriculturist  and  one  of  the 
honored  old  settlers.  His  grandfather  was 
William  Richardson,  a Virginian,  who  married 
Mrs.  Jane  (Bobbett)  Laws  and  became  the 
father  of  the  following  children — Lettice,  who 
married  a Mr.  Barnes;  Nancy,  whose  first  hus- 
band was  C'^arles  Rusk,  and  who  afterward 
married  a Mr.  Leach;  Joel,  Jonathan,  Caleb, 
Rebecca,  Mary  and  James  Richardson.  Mhl- 
liam  Richardson  was  a farmer  by  occupation 
and  a life-long  democrat.  The  following  inci- 
dent is  related  by  his  descendants:  At  one  time, 
in  company  with  a neighbor  by  the  name  of 
Stephens,  he  went  to  procure  a supply  of  salt 
from  the  salt  works  several  miles  from  his 
home,  and  while  on  the  way  fell  in  company 
with  a stranger  who  was  sick,  and  of  whom  he 
at  once  took  charge.  At  night  they  slept  with 
the  unknown  stranger,  and  ujion  their  return 
home  discovered  that  his  ailment  was  nothing 
less  than  the  small-pox,  of  which  dread  disease 
l\Ir.  Richardson  subseciuently  died,  but  not  until 
his  whole  family  had  been  exposed  and  become 
infected. 

Jonathan  Richardson,  brother  of  George 
B.  Richardson,  was  born  january  13,  1797,  in 
Virginia,  moved  with  his  i)arents,  when  five 
years  of  age,  to  Rentucky,  and  later,  about 
1815,  came  to  Indiana,  locating  in  the  county 
of  Decatur,  where  he  entered  and  purchased  a 
valuable  tract  of  real  estate.  He  married 
Anna  Wheeler,  who  was  born  in  1807,  which 
marriage  is  said  to  have  been  the  first  event  of 


the  kind  solemnized  in  Rush  county,  Ind., 
after  its  organization.  Their  children  were: 
John  W.,  Mrs.  Elizabeth  J.  Parr,  William, 
George  B.,  Mrs.  Mary  A.  Parr,  James  P. , Mrs. 
Nancy  E.  Parr,  Mrs.  Hannah  B.  Wheeler, 
Benjamin  M.,  Tillman  H.,  Mrs.  Rebecca  E. 
Hooper,  Jonathan,  Anna,  Sarah  O.,  and 
Rachel.  Mr.  Richardson  moved  to  Boone 
county  in  1837,  purchasing  240  acres  of  land, 
of  which  but  eight  acres  at  that  time  had  been 
partially  cleared.  He  was  an  honest  and  re- 
spected citizen,  died  at  the  age  of  fifty-nine 
years,  and  was  buried  on  his  farm  at  Big 
Springs.  His  wufe's  grandfather  served  in  the 
early  Indian  wars  and  participated  in  the  bat- 
tle of  Horse  Shoe  Bend  in  March,  1814,  under 
Gen.  Jackson.  He  had  a profound  regard  for 
that  general,  and  was  frequently  heard  to  say: 
“I  love  God  Almighty  first,  and  then  Gen. 
Jackson.  ” 

George  B.  Richardson  was  born  in  Decatur 
county,  Ind.,  August  24,  1828,  and  came  with 
his  parents  to  Boone  county  when  ten  years  of 
age.  Reared  a farmer,  his  early  life  was  with- 
out event  of  any  particular  note,  and  on  the 
seventh  day  of  March,  1850,  he  entered  into 
the  marriage  relation  with  Margaret  E.  Parr, 
who  was  born  in  1832  in  the  state  of  Tennee- 
see.  The  result  of  this  union  was  the  follow- 
ing children:  Sarah  E.,  wife  of  John  |.  Rich- 
ardson; Elizabeth  J.,  wife  of  Hopson  M.  Scott; 
john  f. ; William  ].;  Mrs.  Anna  G,  Maines; 
Mai-y,  wife  of  Jacob  Afaines;  Mrs.  Hannah 
ReynokE;  George  T.  ; Mrs.  Lucinda  Stahl; 
Thomas  H. ; Mrs.  Margaret  Mills  and  Glaude 
Richardson.  The  father  of  Mrs.  Richardson 
was  William  Parr,  one  of  the  early  settlers  of 
Boone  county,  where  he  lived  a number  of 
years  and  afterward  moved  to  Missouri,  where 
his  death  tjccurred,  about  the  age  of  sixty. 
His  wife  was  a native  of  Tennessee  and  died  at 
the  early  age  of  twenty-one  years;  Mr.  Parr 
afterward  married  Elizabeth  P'.  Richardson, 


OF  BOONE  COUNTY. 


421 


who  still  survives  him.  After  their  marriage 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Richardson  began  housekeeping 
on  his  present  farm,  consisting  originally  of 
eighty  acres,  to  which  he  has  made  additions 
from  time  to  time  until  he  is  now  the  possessor 
of  124  acres,  the  greater  part  of  which  is  well 
improved.  In  1888  he  suffered  a serious  loss 
in  the  destruction  of  two  large  barns  by  fire, 
aggregating  fully  $3,000,  but  a small  portion 
of  which  was  covered  by  insurance.  Later  he 
erected  a large  and  commodious  barn  and 
other  buildings,  and  has  fully  recovered  from 
the  loss,  which  might  have  discouraged  a less 
energetic  man.  For  nearly  a half  century  he 
lived  in  a log  dwelling,  which  has  since  been 
replaced  by  an  elegant  frame  residence,  which 
represents  the  value  of  over  $2,000.  His 
farm  is  one  of  the  best  in  Marion  township, 
thorougly  drained  by  a thousand  rods  of  tile- 
ing,  and  in  all  that  goes  to  make  a successful 
agriculturist  he  occupies  a front  rank.  He 
was  one  of  the  leading  promotors  of  the  pres- 
ent gravel  road  system  of  Boone  county  and 
was  a contractor  on  one  of  the  highways  which 
runs  near  his  residence.  He  lives  within  six 
miles  of  nine  railroad  stations,  thus  being  eas- 
ily accessible  to  good  markets — a striking  con- 
trast to  the  time  -when  he  was  compelled  to 
drive  his  hogs  and  haul  his  grain  to  Cincinnati 
in  order  to  find  a sale.  He  is  a stockholder  in 
the  Big  Springs  Natural  Gas  company  and 
uses  natural  gas  for  light  and  fuel  in  his  resi- 
dence. His  political  views  are  in  harmony 
with  the  democratic  party,  and  for  a period  of 
four  years  he  served  as  justice  of  the  peace  of 
his  township,  the  duties  of  which  position  he 
discharged  in  a manner  highly  creditable  to 
himself  and  satisfactory  to  all  concerned.  He 
is  held  in  the  highest  esteem  by  his  neighbors 
and  is  indeed  one  of  the  leading  citizens  of  the 
township  of  Marion.  Mrs.  Richardson  is  a 
consistent  member  of  the  Baptist  church  and  a 
lady  of  many  excellent  traits  of  character. 


ILLIAM  T.  RICKARDS  is  a native 
of  Ohio  and  dates  his  birth  from  the 
fifteenth  day  of  August,  1838.  He 
is  a descendant  of  Scotch-Irish  an- 
cestors, and  although  the  family  history  is  to  a 
considerable  extent  vague,  it  is  known  that  his 
grandparents,  John  and  Mary  (Hairis)  Rick- 
ards, were  natives  of  one  of  the  eastern  states 
and  that  his  mother’s  father  was  John  Harris, 
an  early  resident,  if  not  a native,  of  the  state 
of  Maryland.  Nathan  Rickards,  father  of  Will- 
iam T.,  was  born  February  23,  1813,  in  Dela- 
ware, and  by  his  marriage  with  Sarah  A.  Har- 
ris, which  took  place  in  the  spring  of  1834,  he 
had  a family  of  eleven  children,  whose  names 
are  as  follows:  John  H.,  Mary  H.,  William 
T. , Margaret  J.,  Emily,  Livia,  Sarah,  Nathan, 
Permelia,  Jemima  and  Elizabeth,  twins,  all 
but  two  of  whom  grew  to  years  of  maturity. 
About  the  year  1835  Nathan  Rickards  emi- 
grated to  Greene  county,  Ohio,  thence,  in  1841, 
to  Boone  county,  Ind.,  where  he  purchased  a 
farm  not  far  from  the  place  now  occupied  by 
William  T.  He  added  to  his  original  purchase 
from  time  to  time,  and,  though  never  becom- 
ing wealthy,  he  succeeded  in  accumulating  a 
sufficiency  of  this  world’s  goods  to  place  him- 
self and  family  in  very  comfortable  circum- 
sj:ances.  He  was  a man  of  great  industry  and 
determination,  and  during  a long  and  useful 
life  nothing  reflecting  on  his  business  integrity 
or  private  character  ever  gained  circulation. 
While  still  young  he  and  wife  united  with  the 
Methodist  church,  of  which  they  remained 
faithful  communicants  until  death,  thus  setting 
a godly  example  for  their  children,  which,  to 
their  credit  be  it  said,  they  all  tried  to  imi- 
tate. Nathan  Rickards  died  April  28,  1893, 
and  was  laid  to  rest  in  the  Spencer  cemetery 
by  the  side  of  his  faithful  companion,  who  pre- 
ceded him  to  the  grave  on  the  twenty-eighth 
day  of  January,  1879. 

Willliam  T.  Rickards  was  about  three  years 


422 


BIOGRAPHICAL  HISTORY 


of  age  wlieii  brought  to  Indiana  by  his  parents, 
since  which  time,  with  the  exception  of  the  pe- 
riod sjiont  in  the  army,  he  has  been  a well 
known  and  honored  citizen  of  Boone  county. 
His  early  educational  advantages  were  by  no 
means  of  a high  order,  but  he  obtained  a fair 
knowledge  of  books  in  such  schools  as  the 
country  afforded,  and,  by  coming  in  contact 
w'ith  the  world  in  after  life,  became  the  pos- 
sessor of  a practical  education,  such  as  schools 
fail  to  impart.  Bred  a farmer,  he  early  chose 
agriculture  as  a life-work,  and  he  followed  that 
calling  with  a fair  degree  of  success  until  sum- 
moned to  do  battle  in  defense  of  the  national 
honor  in  the  days  of  i86i.  In  September  of 
that  3'ear  he  was  sworn  into  the  United  States’ 
service,  entering  camp  first  at  La  Fayette, 
thence  to  Indianapolis,  from  which  city  he  ac- 
companied his  command  to  Louisville,  where 
his  first  active  duty  was  guarding  the  several 
lines  of  railroad  leading  from  that  point  to  the 
south.  Later  he  shared  the  vicissitudes  of 
war  in  Kentucky,  Tennessee,  Mississippi, 
Georgia,  Alabama  and  North  Carolina,  assisted 
in  caring  for  the  wounded  and  burying  the  dead 
at  Shiloh,  and  in  many  other  ways  proved 
himself  a true  and  gallant  defender  of  the 
national  Union.  While  with  his  command 
and  near  Corinth,  he  used  water  from  a jdan- 
tation  well  which  was  found  to  be  poisoned, 
the  result  of  which  was  a severe  attack  of  ty- 
phoid fever,  which  brought  him  near  death’s 
door,  and  left  him  but  an  insignificant  re- 
mainder of  his  former  health.  This  sickness 
necessitated  an  absence  from  his  command  of 
over  ten  months,  during  a part  of  which  time 
he  performed  light  duty  in  and  about  the  hos- 
pital where  he  was  being  treated;  but  he  after- 
wards rejoined  his  regiment,  and  participated 
in  some  active  camiuaigns  and  bloody  battles, 
in  one  of  which,  Cdnckamauga,  he  was  se- 
verely injunul  by  a gun-shot  wound  in  the  left 
hand.  Owing  to  disabilities  occasioned  by  sick- 


ness and  wounds,  Mr.  Rickards  left  the  army 
a confirmed  invalid,  and  since  his  discharge, 
September  19,  1864,  he  has  not  been  able  to 
perform  any  manual  labor.  The  fever  settling 
in  his  e3'es  caused  him  much  trouble,  and  for 
the  past  eleven  years  his  sight  has  become  so 
impaired  that  he  has  to  be  led  from  place  to 
place,  being  totally  blind  at  times,  \\dnle 
not  able  to  do  much  physical  labor,  he  suc- 
cessfully manages  his  farm,  and  is  remembered' 
by  a grateful  government  with  quite  a liberal 
pension. 

Mr.  Rickards  was  married  November  4, 
1858,  in  Hamilton  county,  Ind.,  to  Miss  Re- 
becca Emler,  daughter  of  William  and  Clar- 
issa (Zaring)  Emler,  a union  blessed  with  the 
birth  of  the  following  children  : Mary  E , 
born  September  12,  1859;  Leffel  H.,  born 
October  16,  1865,  died  Eebruary  20,  1874; 

George  E.,  born  Eebruary  13,  1868  ; Clarence 
E.,  born  June  12,  1871  ; Sarah  E.,  October 
22,  1874;  \Villie,  born  April  10,  1877,  died 
April  27,  1877;  Lee  O.  E.,  May  14,  1881, 
and  James  S. , whose  birth  occurred  July  26, 
1883.  The  following  are  the  names  of  the 
brothers  and  sisters  of  Mrs.  Rickards  : Mary 
Louis,  Rebecca,  Martha  and  Elizabeth. 


AMES  RILEY,  the  well  known  fancier 
and  live  stock  breeder  of  Sugar  Creek 
township,  Boone  county,  Ind.,  was  born 
in  Switzerland  county,  same  state,  De- 
cember 15,  1826,  a son  of  Elias  and  Lucinda 
(Jennings)  Riley.  Elias  Riley  was  born  in 
Washington  county.  Pa.,  in  1817,  and  was 
a son  of  james,  a farmer  of  that  state  and  the 
father  of  five  children,  viz:  b'lias,  father  of 

our  subject ; James,  Amy  and  Mary,  all  three 
deceased,  and  Ann.  He  and  wife  were  mem- 
bers of  the  Methodist  church,  and  in  jiolitics 
he  was  a whig.  lilias  Riley,  father  of  James, 
our  subject,  was  reared  a farmer,  but  wasedu- 


OF  HOONE  COUNTY. 


428 


cated  for  a teacher,  and  from  the  of 

twenty-one  followed  that  vocation  for  six 
years  during  the  winter  seasons.  He  was  mar- 
ried, in  1830,  to  Lucinda  Jennings,  who  was 
born  in  Switzerland  county,  Ind.,  in  1815,  a 
daughter  of  Joseph  and  Mary  Jennings,  natives 
of  Kentucky,  and  distant  relatives  of  Lord 
Jennings  of  England.  Elias  Riley  came  to 
Indiana  when  a boy  and  located  in  Switzerland 
county,  where  he  remained  until  1850,  when 
he  removed  to  Clinton  county,  Ind. , and  thence 
to  Montgomery  county,  Ind.,  where  he  died 
in  1880,  having  been  preceded  to  the  grave  by 
his  wife  in  1852.  This  couple  w^ere  the 
parents  of  six  children,  viz:  James;  whose 
name  heads  this  sketch;  Elizabeth,  deceased; 
Lavina,  wife  of  Philip  Miller,  of  Montgomery 
county,  Ind.;  Joseph,  deceased;  Anna,  also  of 
Montgomery  county,  and  Amy,  deceased. 
Mr.  Riley  was  a good  and  honorable  man  and 
was  one  of  the  organizers  of  the  republican 
party. 

James  Riley,  the  subject  proper  of  this 
sketch,  was  reared  on  the  Switzerland  county 
farm,  received  a good  education,  and  in  1853 
came  to  Boone  county.  Here  he  began  busi- 
ness for  himself  in  1855,  and  here,  also,  in 
April,  1855,  he  married  Eliza  Hysinger,  who 
was  born  in  Maryland  in  1840,  a daughter  of 
Christian  Hysinger,  aird  this  marriage  was 
blessed  by  the  birth  of  the  followdng  children: 
Mary,  wife  of  Perry  Rodgers,  of  Danville,  111. ; 
Lucinda,  deceased;  Rosa,  married  to  How'ard 
Meeks,  of  Montgomery  county,  Ind.;  W.  G., 
of  whom  notice  is  made  elsewhere;  Joseph, 
Howard  J.,  Walter  and  Marley,  all  farmers  of 
this  towmship.  The  mother  of  these  children 
died  in  1865,  and  for  his  second  wife  Mr.  Riley 
married,  November  28,  1888,  after  a lapse  of 
over  twenty-three  years,  Mary  E.  Baldwin, 
who  was  born  in  Benton  county,  Ind.,  Sep- 
tember 10,  1853,  a daughter  of  Ira  and  Phcebe 
(Atkinson)  Baldwin,  of  w'hom,  also,  further 


mention  wall  be  found  in  paragraph  following. 
Mr.  Riley  has  achieved  a widespread  reputation 
as  a poultry  fancier  and  breeder  of  sheep  and 
swine.  He  began  this  industry  in  1864,  with 
Chester  White  swine  and  Cotswold  sheep, 
which  he  successfully  bred  for  six  years,  when 
he  noticed  that  the  breeders  of  Berkshire 
swine  were  quite  limited  in  their  number,  and, 
attracted  by  the  many  fine  qualities  cf  this 
family,  began  breeding  them  in  connection 
with  the  Poland  China  family,  w'hich  he  most 
successfully  handled  until  1884,  when  he  dis- 
posed of  his  herd  of  Poland  China  and  substi- 
tuted a more  improved  Berkshire  breed,  in- 
cluding Baron  Lee,  a W'orld's  fair  prize  hog, 
and  many  other  thoroughbreds.  As  far  back 
as  1 860  he  had  begun  handling  fancy  fowds, 
such  as  the  Partridge  Cochin  and  Plymouth 
Rock  strains,  and  others,  which  he  exhibited 
at  fairs  in  many  of  the  states,  taking  many 
valuable  premiums,  though  he  now  breeds  only 
the  light  Bramah,  which  he  considers  the  best. 
His  horses  are  of  blooded  stock  and  his  cows 
are  Jerseys.  On  his  108  acres  of  land  he 
makes  a specialt}'  of  growing  a high  quality  of 
seeds,  and  at  the  World’s  fair  received  the 
highest  award  for  his  corn — (a  gold  medal) — 
showdng  ten  points  highest  on  yellow  and  eight 
points  highest  on  white  corn.  He  installed 
the  Indiana  agricultural  exhibit  at  the  fair  and 
had  entire  control  over  arranging  it.  Mr. 
Riley  is  vice-president  of  the  American  Berk- 
shire Breeding  association,  and  is  also  a faith- 
ful worker  in  the  Purdue  university  experimental 
station,  and  is  likewise  prominently  identified 
w'ith  the  work  of  the  Earmers’  institute  of  the 
state  of  Indiana.  Mr.  Riley  showed  his  patri- 
otism by  volunteering  in  the  late  Civil  war, 
and,  although  his  service  happened  to  be  but 
short,  it  was  willing.  In  1864  he  enlisted  in 
company  B,  One  Hundred  and  P'ifty-fourth  In- 
diana volunteer  infantry,  for  three  years,  but, 
the  war  coming  to  a close,  he  was  honorably 


BIOGRAPHICAL  HISTORY 


\-2\ 


(liscliar^ed  at  the  end  of  six  months.  He  is  a 
member  of  the  Society  of  Friends,  and  in  pol- 
itics is  a re])nl)lican. 

Ira  Baldwin,  father  of  Mrs.  Riley,  was 
born  in  Clarke  county,  Ohio,  in  1819;  his  wife 
was  born  in  Greene  county,  Ohio,  in  1828. 
They  were  married  in  the  latter  county  and 
came  to  Indiana  in  1848,  locating  in  Benton 
comity  on  land  entered  by  Thomas  Atkinson, 
father  of  Mrs.  Baldwin,  who  was  a pioneer 
and  one  of  the  leading  men  of  his  day.  He 
served  two  terms  in  the  Indiana  state  legisla- 
ture, was  a strong  abolitionist  and  whig,  and 
a leading  member  in  the  Society  of  Friends. 
He  and  wife  lived  for  sixty-six  years  in  con- 
nubial happiness,  reared  twelve  children,  and 
after  death  were  laid  to  rest  in  the  same  grave. 
Mrs.  Riley  was  educated  in  the  schools  of 
Oxford,  Benton  county,  Ind.,  and  at  the  age 
of  sixteen  was  granted  a license  for  two  years 
to  teach,  and  began  this  profession  in  the  pri- 
mary department  of  the  Oxford  academy.  She 
was  first  married,  December  25,  1871,  to 
Charles  B.  Conklin,  a farmer  of  Benton 
county,  by  whom  she  had  one  child — Maud. 
Mr.  Conklin  died  September  30,  1876,  and 

after  his  death  she  followed  dressmaking  at 
Fowler,  Benton  county,  until  her  marriage 
with  Mr.  Riley.  Mrs.  Riley  is  an  expert  but- 
ter-maker, and  at  the  World's  fair  received  the 
highest  score  and  two  premiums  for  her  prod- 
ucts of  August  and  September — the  score  for 
the  two  months  being  ninety-six  and  one-half 
percent.,  and  for  her  exhibit  for  October  was 
awarded  twenty-four  days  and  nights’  lodging 
at  the  ladies’  dormitory  and  a gold  medal. 
Mrs.  Riley  is  a lady  of  fine  social  as  well  as 
domestic  accom])lishments,  and  is  in  full  sym- 
l)athy  with  her  husband,  not  oidy  in  the 
science  of  making  choice  butter,  but  in  his 
raising  fine  seeds  and  in  jioidtry  raising,  and, 
in  fact,  is  a thorough  hcli)matc  in  all  branches 
(T  his  agricultural  interests. 


r^ILLIAM  GRANT  RILEY,  a native 
young  farmer  of  Sugar  Creek  town- 
ship, Boone  county,  Ind.,  and  son 
of  Mr.  James  Riley,  just  mention- 
ed, was  born  May  20,  1865,  and  was  reared 
on  the  home  farm,  attending  the  district  school 
until  seventeen  years  old.  September  23, 
1885,  he  married,  in  Sugar  Creek  township, 
Miss  Mollie  Morrison,  a daughter  of  Robert 
and  Percilla  (Lovess)  Morrison,  and  born  in 
the  same  township,  Seidember  30,  1864.  To 
this  union  have  been  born  four  children,  viz; 
Ethel  P. , deceased,  Flossie  May,  Elina  Maria, 
and  William  G.,  deceased.  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Riley  are  members  of  the  Methodist  church, 
and  in  politics  Mr.  Riley  is  a republican.  He 
is  the  owner  of  135  acres  of  fine  land,  and  is 
known  far  and  wide  as  a breeder  of  fine  Berk- 
shire swine.  In  1886  he  began  breeding 
Poland  China  stock,  but  after  five  years’  ex- 
perience with  this  breed,  gave  it  up  and  sub- 
stituted the  Berkshire.  He  has  owned  some 
very  valuable  animals,  among  which  were 
Columbus,  Dickens,  Maud  S.,  Lucy  No.  3, 
Topsy  No.  3 and  Victor,  paying  for  the  latter, 
in  1894,  the  sum  of  $250.  He  has  also  thir- 
teen high  grade  Holstein,  Devonshire  and  Jer- 
sey cattle,  and  also  raises  poultry  by  the  best 
strains;  his. crops  are  composed  chiefly  of  the 
small  grains.  Mr.  Riley  won  seven  prizes  at  the 
WYrkl's  fair,  in  all  getting  over  $500  for  his 
premiums.  The  attention  of  the  readers  is 
called  to  the  biography  of  Mr.  James  Riley, 
which  precedes  this  brief  sketch. 


V * AMES  Wk  ROARR,  is  a native  of  Boone 
M county,  Ind.,  and  is  a prosperous  farmer 
/ *^*1  Jeffcrsmi  townshi]).  He  served  his 

country  as  a soldier  in  the  war  that 
threatened  dishonor  to  the  Hag  of  the  Union 
and  the  disintegration  of  the  states.  He  was 
born  b'ebruary  1,  1844,  and  is  of  English  de- 


W.  G.  RILEY. 


0‘ 


OF  BOONE  COUNTY. 


427 


scent,  coming  in  a direct  line  from  the  family 
that  settled  in  Jamestown.  \'a.,  in  the  early 
colonial  days.  His  parents  were  William  and 
Sarah  (Hill)  Roark,  natives  of  Kentucky,  who 
came  to  Indiana  as  far  back  as  1827,  and  made 
their  first  home  here  in  Montgomery  county, 
whence  they  came,  in  1837,  to  Boone  county. 
Here  the  father  died  in  1883,  his  wife  having 
taken  her  departure  in  1870.  Of  the  nine 
children  born  to  these  parents,  the  following 
are  still  living;  Elizabeth  D.,  wife  of  Cornelius 
M.  Riggins;  John  L. , of  Thorntown,  James 
W. , memioned  above;  Sarah,  married  to  James 
Farlow;  and  Jackson  A.  The  deceased  were 
named  Eliza  J.,  Armilda,  Mary  and  Nancy  C. 

James  W.  Roark  w’as  reared  to  farming,  but 
at  the  early  age  of  eighteen,  fired  with  the 
same  spirit  of  patriotism  that  had  inspired  his 
progenitors,  he  enlisted,  June  i,  1862,  in  com- 
pany G,  Fifty-fifth  regiment  Indiana  volun- 
teers, under  Capt.  Henry  Hamilton.  His  first 
regular  action  was  at  Richmond,  Ky. , and 
after  taking  part  in  numerous  skirmishes  he 
was  mustered  out  in  September  of  the  same 
year,  his  term  of  enlistment  having  expired. 
But  he  immediately  re-enlisted,  this  time  in 
the  One  Hundred  and  Sixteenth  Indiana  volun- 
teer infantry,  and  bore  a gallant  part  in  the 
battles  of  Blue  Springs,  Tenn, ; Walker’s  Ford 
and  the  siege  of  Knoxville,  Tenn.,  beside  all 
the  other  engagements  and  skirmishes  in  which 
his  regiment  had  a share.  His  final  muster 
out  was  on  August  6,  1865,  when  he  returned 
to  his  home  and  resumed  his  vocation  of  farm- 
ing. December  7,  1865.  he  was  united  in 
matrimony  with  Amanda  M.  Hiestand,  daugh- 
ter of  Manuel  and  Mary  (Shreve)  Hiestand, 
natives  of  Ohio  and  of  German  descent.  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  Hiestand  were  the  parents  of  two 
other  children  beside  Mrs.  Roark,  viz:  Asa  F., 
and  Eliza,  the  wife  of  John  F.  Routh.  Mr. 
M.  Hiestand  died  November  3,  1888,  but  his 
wife  still  survives.  To  the  union  of  Mr.  and  Mrs. 


Roark  have  been  born  seven  children,  as  fol- 
lows; Mary  F.,  wife  of  William  Garner;  Sadie 
E.  ; Manuel  O.,  Jesse  F.,  Burchard  H.,  Ruth 
and  Clarence  E.,  all  of  whom,  of  proper  age, 
have  received  a collegiate  education.  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Roark  are  devout  members  of  the  United 
Brethren  church,  and  their  daily  deportment 
shows  the  sincerity  of  their  religious  profes- 
sions. As  a member  of  Advance  post.  No. 
524,  G.  A.  R. , Mr.  Roark  is  much  respected, 
as  he  is  in  his  social  affiliations.  His  political 
principles  are  those  of  the  republican  party. 


ARMADUKE  F.  ROBBINS  is  one  of 
the  most  prominent  stock  dealers 
and  farmers  of  Boone  county,  and 
owns  one  of  the  largest  and  finest 
farms  in  the  county,  excellently  improved,  up- 
on which  stands  a tasteful  and  substantial 
brick  residence.  The  Robbins  family  is  of 
good  old  stock,  and  descends  from  a colonial 
Virginia  family,  members  of  which  were  early 
settlers  of  North  and  South  Carolina.  William 
Robbins,  the  great-grandfather  of  our  subject, 
was  left  an  orphan  at  the  age  of  eighteen 
years,  with  one  younger  brother,  Absalom, 
and  two  sisters.  During  the  Revolutionary 
war  he  was  obliged  to  conceal  himself  on  ac- 
count of  the  tories,  who  were  a terror  to  the 
settlers.  At  one  time  they  made  a raid  upon 
the  house  and  seized  his  brother  Absalom  and 
spun  him  around  on  his  heels  on  a sharpened 
stake  and  otherwise  abused  him.  William  re- 
turned home  at  night  from  his  hiding  place  to 
obtain  food  and  shelter,  and  seeing  the  condi- 
tion of  his  brother,  wffio  had  been  thus  cruelly 
treated  to  make  him  divulge  the  hiding  place 
of  William,  he  made  a vow  that  he  would  join 
the  patriot  force  sunder  Gen.  Gates,  and  the 
next  day  he  was  in  the  battle  of  Cowpens, 
where  he  was  captured  by  the  British  and  con- 
fined in  Salisbury  jail.  His  sisters,  hearing  of 


BTOGR  APIIICAT.  HISTORY 


■m 


his  confinement,  mounted  liorseback  and  went 
to  see  him  after  he  had  been  confined  about 
four  weeks.  His  elder  sister  changed  clothes 
with  him,  and  he  went  out  with  his  younger 
sister  disguised  as  a woman.  The  elder  sis- 
ter was  released  as  soon  as  the  trick  and  her 
se.x  were  discovered.  She  soon  found  means 
to  join  her  sister  and  they  rode  home,  William 
walking  the  entire  distance,  being  three  days 
and  nights  on  the  way  and  nearly  perishing  for 
want  of  food  and  shelter.  He  died  in  De- 
catur county,  Ind.,  aged  eighty-one  years. 
Absalom  lived  to  be  104  years  of  age.  His 
children  were  Abel  and  Nathaniel,  the  latter  a 
physician  of  Decatur  county,  Ind.,  who  owned 
1,200  acres  of  land  and  was  a prominent  man. 
In  1852  he  went  with  his  family  to  Oregon 
and  they  suffered  greatly  from  want  of  water 
and  food  while  crossing  the  plains.  He  bur- 
ied two  daughters  in  one  grave  on  the  way, 
and  two  miles  further,  on  the  Dig  Sandy,  he 
buried  a son-in-law,  all  perishing  from  want 
and  the  terrible  e.xposnre.  He  was  a promi- 
nent pioneer  of  Oregon,  and  one  of  the 
framers  of  the  constitution  of  the  state.  The 
remaining  ♦children  of  Wm.  Robbins  were 
Marmaduke  and  Jacob,  twins,  John,  William, 
Charlotte,  Dosia  and  Elizabeth. 

Marmduke,  the  grandfather  of  our  subject, 
was  born  in  Kentucky,  w'here  his  father  had 
settled  at  an  early  day,  and  there  married 
Elizabeth  Kiser  and  emigrated  to  Bond  county, 
111.  After  which,  on  January  i,  1822,  he  set- 
tled in  Decatur  county,  Ind.,  on  wild  land. 
Here  he  prospered,  made  a fine  farm  on  Sand 
Creek,  south  of  Greensburg,  and  here  his 
brothers  settled  around  him.  His  children 
were  Jacob  E. , Jolm  I'.,  William  R.,  Eaban, 
I'ountain,  Pamelia,  Dosia  and  Pcdly  E.  Mar- 
maduke Robbins  passed  all  his  remaining  days 
on  his  farm  and  died  at  the  age  of  forty-eight 
years  from  the  effimts  of  the  severe  labor  of 
clearing  his  farm  and  frontier  life.  He  at  one 


time  served  against  the  Indians  in  the  Haw 
Patch  in  Bartholomew  county,  Ind. 

Jacob  E.  Robbins,  his  son,  was  the  father 
of  our  subject.  He  was  born  in  Henry  county, 
Ky. , in  May,  1817,  and  gained  but  a limited 
education.  He  married  Catherine,  daughter 
of  George  and  Margaret  (Harmin)  Myers. 
Mr.  Myers  was  an  old  settler  of  Decatur 
count3g  Ind. , a prosperous  farmer  and  lived  to 
he  eighty-nine  years  of  age.  Jacob  E.  Robbins 
was  the  father  of  thirteen  children — Marmaduke 
L. , George  H.,  Allen  P.,  Sarah  E.,  William 
R. , Merrit  O.  Robbins,  deceased  aged  thirty- 
four  years;  and  infant,  deceased  unnamed; 
Junietta,  Margaret,  Jeannette,  Sophia,  Arabella 
and  Adolphus.  After  marriage,  Mr.  Robbins 
settled  on  Sand  creek,  Decatur  county,  Ind., 
where  he  became  the  owner  of  400  acres  of 
good  land.  He  met  with  reverses  in  the  panic 
of  1873,  but  is  now  retired  and  resides  in 
Hartsvillc,  Bartholomew  county,  Ind.  He 
was  always  an  industrious  man  highly  respected 
in  his  neighborhood  and  of  honorable  character. 

Marmaduke  L.  Robbins,  our  subject,  was 
born  July  15,  1837,  'I'S  father’s  farm  in  De- 
catur county,  Ind.,  in  a log  cabin  at  the  forks 
of  Sand  creek.  He  received  the  limited  pio- 
neer education  of  his  day,  but,  by  experience, 
has  gained  a practical  business  education.  He 
married,  at  the  age  of  twenty-six  years,  Mary 
C.,  daughter  of  Dennis  and  Rebecca  (Benner) 
Marstella.  Mrs.  Robbins  was  born  in  Sharps- 
bnrg,  Md,,  and  was  reared  at  I Iari)er’s  Eerry,  Va. 
Her  father  died  in  Virginia,  and  she  was  left  an 
orphan  when  young  ami  came  to  Decatur 
county,  Ind.,  with  her  uncle,  John  Marstella, 
who  was  an  honored  ami  res|)ected  citizen. 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Robbins  are  the  ])arents  of  eight 
children;  Mary  A.,  Ibnma  J.,  John  E.,  Annie 
B.,  Norah  b'.,  Al|)ha  K.,  I'orest  G.  and  Ella 
E.  Mr.  Robbins  resided  in  Decatur  county, 
1ml.,  where  he  owiied  1 10  acres  of  good  land, 
until  b'ebruary  23,  1875,  when  he  came  to 


OF  BOONE  COUNTY. 


429 


Boone  county  and  engaged  in  fanning  and 
stock  raising.  Two  years  later  he  became  a 
partner  with  fl.  T.  Dodson,  the  well-known 
stock  dealer,  and  continued  in  partnershiji  for 
tifteen  years,  the  him  doing  a successful  busi- 
ness, and  being  the  most  extensive  dealers  in 
cattle  in  Boone  county.  Mr.  Dodson  has  now 
retired  from  the  hrm  on  account  of  his  health, 
and  Mr.  Robbins  conducts  the  business  alone. 
He  bought  his  present  beautiful  farm  in 
January,  1888,  and  now  carries  on  an  exten- 
sive farming  business.  Mrs.  Kofibins  is  a de- 
vout member  of  the  Methodist  church.  He 
votes  a straight  democratic  ticket  and  is  a 
non-afhliating  Odd  Fellow.  He  is  one  of  the 
best  known  men  in  Boone  county,  as  he  has 
bought  stock  in  every  neighborhood  to  the  ex- 
tent of  $100,000  per  annum.  He  is  a practi- 
cal and  successful  business  man  and  self-made, 
as  he  has  accumulated  his  property  by  his  own 
exertions,  and  is  known  for  his  integrity  and 
straightforward  methods  of  dealing. 


ILLIAM  K.  ROBERTS,  now  of  Jef- 
ferson township,  Boone  county, 
Ind.,  was  born  in  Nicholas  county, 
Ky. , March  13,  1825,  and  is  a son 
of  Reden  and  Isabella  (Harney)  Roberts,  na- 
tives of  the  same  state.  The  father  of  Reden 
was  Henly  Roberts,  a native  of  Virginia  and  a 
pioneer  of  Kentucky;  Reden  was  a tanner  by 
trade.  His  death  took  place  in  1826  and  that 
of  his  wife  in  1867,  and  of  the  three  children, 
one,  William  R. , is  still  living,  and  two,  Henly 
W.  and  Nancy,  are  deceased. 

William  R.  Roberts  came  to  Boone  county 
in  1855  and  here  lived  on  rented  land  until 
1861,  when  he  bought  his  present  fine  farm. 
He  has  been  very  successful,  and  although  his 
house  was  destroyed  by  tire  a few  years  ago, 
he  immediately  replaced  it  with  a much  finer 

one,  and  is  now  in  most  prosperous  circum- 
21 


stances.  His  marriage  took  place,  in  1846,  to 
Miss  Emcrinc  Miller,  daughter  of  James  and 
Mary  (Davidson)  Miller,  natives,  respectively, 
of  Kentucky  and  Pennsylvania.  The  marriage 
of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Roberts  has  been  blessed  by 
the  birth  of  seven  children,  of  whom  four 
are  living,  as  follows:  Robert  Mb,  a fire 
insurance  agent  of  Eebanon;  Millard  W. , 
a farmer;  Nannie,  wife  of  Andrew  B.  Huck- 
step,  and  Permelia  P".,  wife  of  Thomas  Mc- 
Kern. The  three  deceased  children  were  Bur- 
ton L. , James  R.  and  Andrew' D.  Politically, 
Mr.  Roberts  is  a democrat,  and  for  thirteen 
years  served  his  fellow-citizens  as  justice  of  the 
peace.  With  his  wife  he  is  a faithful  member 
of  the  Baptist  church,  and  is  much  respected 
for  his  steady-going  and  moral  deportment. 


YEVESTER  H.  ROBERTSON,  of 
New'  tirnnswick,  Boone  county  Ind  , 
is  one  of  the  old  settlers  and  ed- 
ucators of  Harrison  township,  and  is 
of  Puritan  descent.  His  forefathers  came  to 
America  in  the  early  history  of  the  seventeenth 
century  with  the  Pilgrim  fathers  and  settled  in 
Massachusetts.  Eater  the  family  name  again 
appears  in  Virginia.  His  great-great-grand- 
father, Beverly  Robertson,  was  speaker  of  the 
houses  of  burgesses  of  that  state,  and  David, 
great-grandfather  of  our  subject,  was  the  son 
of  Beverly;  Ezra,  grandfather,  son  of  David, 
was  born  in  Maryland,  on  his  father’s  farm, 
and  w'as  married  to  Elizabeth  Trotter,  and  to 
this  union  the  following  children  w'ere  born: 
Elizabeth,  David,  John  T.,  William,  Hannah, 
Benjamin  and  Delilah,  all  of  w'hom  lived  to 
rear  families  of  their  ow'n.  The  grandfather 
and  grandmother  were  members  of  the  Baptist 
church,  and  moved  to  Ohio  in  1794,  and  set- 
tled in  Warren  county,  where  they  owned  a 
large  farm,  especially  well  improved,  which 
was  their  homestead,  and  another  farm  of  less 


BIOCiRArillCAL  HISTORY 


•U50 


(liiiiensions.  Reside  fanninj^',  Ezra  was  eii- 
j^aj^cd  in  transporting'  merchandise  from  ('in- 
cinnati  for  the  nse  of  dealers.  He  died  sud- 
denly. While  at  a su<;ar  camp,  in  charge,  he 
simt  his  hoys  home,  and  when  they  returned 
to  camp  the}'  found  him  sitting  by  a tree,  with 
a bucket  in  his  hand.  He  bail  probably  died 
of  apoplexy.  He  was  a jeffersonian  democrat, 
took  great  interest  in  school  work,  and  was 
much  respected.  His  widow  survived  him 
several  years  and  died  at  the  ripe  age  of  eighty- 
five.  Benjamin  Robertson,  son  of  Ezra  and 
father  of  Sylvester  H.,  was  horn  in  W'arren 
count}',  Ohio,  December  lO,  1806,  on  his 
father’s  farm,  near  Fort  Ancient.  He  worked 
on  this  farm  until  his  father’s  death,  and  after 
that  for  his  mother.  He  married  Mary  Mas- 
terson,  a native  of  Kentucky,  born  December 
10,  i80(S,  and  of  English  parentage.  Two  of 
her  uncles  were  in  King  Oeorge’s  life  guards. 
Her  parents  were  named  Moses  and  K}’sander 
(Villersj  Masterson,  he  being  a planter,  hut 
not  a slaveholder.  The  children  of  Benjamin 
and  Mary  Robertson  were  l)orn  and  named  as 
follows:  Sylvester  H.,  September  26,  1830; 
John  T.,  December  13,  1832;  hdizaheth  .\., 
December  16,  1834;  Delilah  E. , December  30, 
1836;  William  j.,  Eehruai}'  2,  1839;  Dnncas 
G.,  March  28,  1841;  Susan  C.,  jul}'  5.  1843, 
and  Ara  B. , Se])tember  2,  1845. 

Sylvester  H Robertson  lived  on  his  grand- 
mother’s fartn  in  Ohio  mitil  he  came  to  In- 
diana, March  17,  1840,  where  he  lived  in 

Bartholomew  county  on  an  uncle’s  farm  until 
his  father  bought  fort}’  acn's  for  himself,  about 
1842,  in  the  sanu'  count}'.  March,  1847,  his 
mother  was  called  from  earth,  and  later  on  his 
father  married  Cathtn'ine  ('ritser,  of  German 
desccmt  atid  daughter  of  William  and  Hannah 
Gritser,  the  former  being  a we.all  by  farmer, 
miller  and  millwright,  and  to  Mr.  and  Mis. 
Robertson’s  union  wcu'c  horn  two  children  : 
Mary  I',  and  ICmma.  In  1866  Mr.  Kohertson 


and  family  moved  to  Ste.  Genevieve  county. 
Mo.,  bought  270  acres  of  farming  land, 
modestly  improved,'  and  on  this,  farm  both 
ended  their  days.  The  daughter  Emma  was 
burned  to  death  by  her  clothes  catching  on 
fire,  also  on  this  farm.  Mr.  Benjamin 
Robertson  was  first  a Jeffersonian  and  then  a 
Douglas  democrat;  was  a well-read  man, 
although  self-educated;  was  a plain  but  intelli- 
gent farmer  and  was  honored  and  respected 
by  all  his  neighbors  as  a man  of  worth  and  in- 
tegrity. 

Sylvester  H.  Robertson  never  attended 
school  until  he  was  ten  years  of  age,  and  was 
mostly  self-taught,  studying  by  chip-light  and 
hickory-bark  light  at  night,  and  working  by 
day  at  $8  jrer  month,  until  he  had  saved  suffi- 
cient money  to  go  to  high  school  to  (pialify  for 
teaching,  in  which  he  succeeded.  He  attend- 
ed the  high  school  for  two  }ears,  and  then, 
when  twenty  years  old,  taught  his  first  school 
and  received  $40  per  term  of  sixtx  -five  days; 
for  tlie  next  two  sessions  he  received  one 
dollar  per  clay;  he  then  engaged  in  mill-build- 
ing and  milling  for  two  years,  when  he  resumed 
teaching,  which  for  twenty-one  years  he  has 
followed  without  missing  a }’ear,  eleven  of 
them  in  New  Brunswick,  where  he  now  lives. 
Of  course  he  has  seen  much  difference  in  con- 
struction of  school  buildings  since  he  began. 
His  first  school  he  taught,  in  Bartholomew 
count}',  in  a log  cabin,  lOhy  20  feet,  with  a 
log  cut  out  of  the  side  to  admit  light  and  gkiss 
inserted,  ;ind  when  one  of  thc'se  was  broken 
greased  ptijicr  was  glued  in  as  a substitute;  for 
seats,  logs  were  split  open,  the  Ihit  side  turned 
u|)’.var<l  :md  |»ins  driven  into  auger-holes  on 
the  rounded  sides  for  the  legs;  for  writitig 
desks,  broad  poplar  inmcheons,  hewed  down 
and  smothed,  were  hiid  on  pins  dri\’en  into  the 
wall,  and  slightly  sloiiing.  Mr.  Robertson 
h:is  made  hundrc'ds  of  cpiill  pens  with  his  own 
hands,  and  still  uses  one  himself. 


OF  BOONE  COUNTY. 


431 


Mr.  Robertson  was  first  married  March  2 i, 
1852,  to  Elizabeth  Robertson,  a distant  rela- 
tive and  a daughter  of  Ezra  and  Mary  (Yeley) 
Robertson.  The  Yeleys  were  of  German  de- 
scent, came  from  Pennsylvania,  and  were  sub- 
stantial farmers  of  Bartholomew  county,  Ind. 
The  children  born  to  our  subject  by  this  mar- 
riage were  Addison  S.,  April  5,  1854;  Mary 
Delilah,  March  21,  1859,  and  died  April  22, 

1 860,  The  death  of  the  mother  of  these  took 
place  April  24,  1859.  She  was  a pious  mem- 
ber of  the  Christian  church,  was  a fine  musi- 
cian, both  vocal  and  instrumental,  taking  great 
delight  in  church  and  home  music,  and  was  be- 
loved by  all  who  knew  her.  Mr.  Robertson's 
second  marriage  took  place  P'ebruary  2 i , 1861, 
to  Mary  E.  Pierson,  daughter  of  Wesley  and 
Martha  (Galloway)  Pierson — the  former  a good 
farmer,  and  an  old-line  whig  in  politics  at 
first,  but  later  a republican;  both  parents  were 
leading  members  of  the  Methodist  church,  the 
father  being  a class  leader;  he  now  lives  in 
Winfield,  Rans.,  at  the  age  of  eighty-three. 
Mrs.  Robertson’s  grandfather  and  grand- 
mother were  Benjamin  and  Alsie  (Galloway) 
Pierson,  and  were  both  also  devout  members 
of  the  Methodist  church.  To  this  second 
marriage  children  were  born  as  follow's:  George 
J.,  September  4,  1 861  ; Martha  A. , October  3 i , 
1863;  Laura  A.,  November  1,  1865;  William 
(j.,  June  24,  1867;  Oliver  P.  M.,  November 
II,  1869;  LucyJ.,  April  22,  1871;  David  A., 
June  26,  1873;  Ira  H.,  March  26,  1878,  and 
Arthur  B.,  March  19,  1883.  Of  the  above, 
Laura  A.  died  September  12,  1866;  and  Lucy 
J.,  September  5,  1878.  The  children  that 
survived  were  all  well  educated;  David  A., 
however,  who  w'as  sent  to  the  Normal  college 
at  Danville,  Ind.,  could  not  stand  the  confine- 
ment on  account  of  ill  health. 

In  1862  Mr.  Robertson  bought  22,^  acres 
of  the  farm  on  which  he  now'  lives,  and  w hich, 
by  good  management,  he  has  increased  to  100 


acres.  He  has  it  w'ell  cultivated  and  fenced 
and  improved  with  a comfortable  dwelling  and 
substantial  farm  buildings,  and  has  shown  him- 
self to  be  a model  farmer.  In  politics  he  is  a 
republican  and  has  served  as  justice  of  the 
peace;  has  belonged  to  several  temperance  or- 
ganizations, and  has  always  been  an  active  tem- 
perance worker,  while  in  religion  both  he  and 
his  w’ife  are  ardent  members  of  the  church, 
which  they  aid  liberally  with  their  means  and 
influence,  and  socially  they  deservedly  hold  a 
very  high  position. 

He  has  kept  a diary  or  journal  from  No- 
vember, 1858,  up  to  the  present  date,  Septem- 
ber 26,  1894,  and  can  tell  the  days  that  rain, 
hail  and  snow  fell;  each  day  that  was  frosty; 
where  he  was,  and  the  business  he  was  each 
day  engaged  in,  and  other  important  events  of 
his  location. 


ANHvL  W.  RONK.  — The  ancestors 
of  the  subject  of  this  mention  w'ere 
Germans,  the  great-great-grandfather 
having  emigrated  from  the  old  country 
to  the  United  States  and  having  settled  in 
Pennsylvania  at  a period  ante-dating  the  Revo- 
lutionary war.  His  great-grandfather  was 
born,  reared  and  married  in  the  Reystone 
state,  and  later  emigrated  to  Virginia,  where 
his  death  occurred.  John  Ronk,  the  subject’s 
grandfather,  also  a native  of  Pennsylvania, 
moved  to  \drginia  a number  of  years  of  ago 
and  there  married  Elizabeth  Marcy,  a relative 
of  Gov.  Marcy  of  New'  York.  By  occupation 
John  Ronk  was  a farmer  and  follow'ed  his 
chosen  calling  in  Virginia,  in  which  state  both 
he  and  wife  died.  Samuel  Ronk,  son  of  the 
above,  and  father  of  Daniel  W. , was  born  in 
Botetourt  county,  Va.,  in  the  year  1803,  mar- 
ried Nancy  Leather,  daughter  of  Henry  P. 
Eeather,  of  Bedford  county,  Va.,  and  became 
the  father  of  the  follow'ing  children;  Daniel 


IMOGRAPinCAT.  HISTORY 


UV2 


)ose])h  1'.,  William  P. , jolm  T.,  [ames 
K.,  Jesse  1).,  Mary  M.,  and  Oeor^m  H.  Samuel 
Ronk  lelt  his  native  statt'  about  1H30  and 
immigrated  to  Indiana,  settling-  in  Putnam 
county,  where  he  purtdiased  a tract  of  go\'ern- 
ment  land.  He  sold  his  original  purchase  and 
hon<j;ht  other  real  estate,  to  which  he  made 
additions  from  time  to  time  until,  eventually, 
he  became  one  of  the  leading  farmers  of 
the  section  where  he  lived.  He  disposed 
of  his  interest  in  Putnam  county  in  1850  | 
and  purchased  a valuable  landecf  estate 
in  the  county  of  Mont, joinery,  where  his  ■ 
death  afterward  occurred.  He  became  one  of  j 
the  wealthy  farmers  of  the  above  county  and  j 
was  able  to  j^ive  to  each  of  his  children  a ^ood  j 
farm,  besides  otherwise  aiding  them  to  start  in  j 
life.  He  was  a leading  member  of  the  ('icrman 
Ifaptist  church,  a whig  in  his  political  belief, 
later  a republican,  and  is  remembered  as  a 
man  of  a high  sense  of  honor  and  amost  excel- 
lent citizen.  He  died  at  tlu'  age  of  eighty-one, 
and  his  wife  departed  this  life  at  the  age  of 
hfty-hve.  By  a second  marriage,  which  was 
solemnized  with  Hannah  (Ddell,  he  had  two 
children — Ellen  and  Nellie  Roid<. 

Daniel  W.  Ronk,  whose  name  introduces 
this  sketch,  was  born  March  7,  1830,  in  \’ir- 
ginia,and  was  but  six  months  ohl  when  his  par- 
ents moved  to  Indiana.  His  early  life  was  | 
comparatively  uneventful,  having  been  passed 
in  farm  labor,  and  his  educational  training,  by 
no  means  elaborate,  was  acipiired  in  the  old- 
fashioned  country  schools,  which  he  attended 
in  all  but  six  terms.  ( )n  the  twcdlth  day  of 
.\ugust,  I 852,  was  solemnized  his  marriage  with 
Nancy,  daughter  of  Patrick  and  .Martha  ( X’ories) 
Logan,  after  whi(di  he  settled  in  ( lark  town- 
ship, Montgomery  county,  and  cngagi'd  in  ag- 
ricultural pursuits.  ,'\  few  }'ears  later  he  pur- 
chased his  present  farm  in  [a(d<son  township, 
Boone  count\',  where  hi,'  has  since  residi'd. 
He  translormed  his  place  from  a wilderness 


state  to  its  present  fertile  condition,  and  now 
is  one  of  the  most  succe.ssful  farmers  of  his 
community,  owning  1 76  acres  of  valuable  land 
well  drained  andsuiiplied  with  comfortable  and 
substantial  buildings  and  other  improvements 
in  keeping.  Politically  Mr.  Ronk  is  a populist 
and  takes  an  active  interest  in  the  welfare  of 
his  party;  in  religion  he  belongs  to  the  Second 
Advent  church,  with  which  denomination  his 
wife  is  also  identified.  The  following  are  the 
names  of  the  children  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Ronk: 
Thomas  b'. , Sarah  E.,  Logan,  and  Samuel 
Ronk,  all  living;  of  these  Logan  and  Samuel 
attended  the  Ladoga  normal  college,  and  the 
latter  is  a teacher  in  the  schools  of  Boone 
county. 

The  following  is  a brief  outline  of  the 
family  history  of  Mrs.  Ronk.  Her  grand- 
father, John  Logan,  was  a native  of  Ohio  and 
later  moved  to  Rush  county,  Ind.,  where  he 
accumulated  a large  share  of  this  world’s 
goods  and  became  one  of  the  leading  farmers 
of  said  county.  He  was  a valuable  member 
of  the  Christian  church  and  a man  of  much 
intlnence  in  the  community.  His  son,  Patrick 
Logan,  father  of  Mrs.  Ronk,  was  a native  of 
Logan  county,  (dhio,  and  by  occupation  a 
farmer.  He  married  in  Rush  county,  Ind., 
Martha  Vories,  a daughter  of  Abraham  and 
Elizabeth  (l)owming)  \’ories,  and  at  once  began 
farming.  Subseiinently  he  moved  to  Marshall 
county,  where  he  accumulated  a valuable  prop- 
erty and  became  a leading  citizen,  filling,  at 
one  time,  the  office  of  sheriff,  to  which  he  was 
(dected  as  a democrat,  having  been  a discijdc 
of  that  jiolitical  school  from  his  twenty-first 
vear.  lie  later  became  a resident  of  the  county 
of  Montgomery,  where  his  death  occurred 
[anuary  26,  1862.  The  following  are  the 

names  of  his  children:  John,  deceased;  Eliza- 
beth, deceased;  (Catherine,  deceased;  Sarah, 
deceased;  Nancy,  and  Martha.  Abraham 
\'ories,  father  of  Mrs.  Martha  Logan,  was  a 


OF  BOONE  COUNTY. 


m 


minister  of  the  old  Christian  church  and  a 
noted  ])reacher  of  his  day. 


ADISON  H.  ROSE,  M.  I).,  one  of 
the  most  experienced  practitioners 
of  Thorntown,  Boone  count}',  Ind., 
was  born  in  Mercer  county,  Ky. , 
December  2,  1832.  His  parents  were  Charles 
K.  and  Barthena  fPerkins)  Rose,  the  former 
of  whom  was  also  born  in  the  same  county,  a 
son  of  Lewis  and  Mary  Rose,  native  Kentuc- 
kians and  parents  of  the  following  children: 
Lewis,  Charles  R.,  Jane,  Betsy,  Mary,  Cath- 
erine, and  Rebecca,  all  now  deceased.  Lewis 
Rose  was  a man  of  strong  convictions  and 
acted  on  them,  as  is  instanced  from  the  fact 
that,  when  convinced  that  he  had  been  doing 
wrong,  he  freed  his  slaves  and  destroyed  his 
barrel  of  whisky,  and  thereafter  became  a 
strong  advocate  of  temperance.  To  Charles 
R.  and  Barthena  Rose  were  born  the  follow- 
ing children:  Elizabeth  A..  Madison  H.,  Mary 
R. , Montgomery,  Dwight  and  Leslie.  The 
mother  of  this  family  died  in  1888  and  the 
father  in  1890.  The  latter  was  a republican 
in  politics  and  had  served  as  commissioner  of 
Hendricks  county,  Ind.,  for  several  years,  and 
died  an  elder  in  the  Presbyterian  church,  of 
which  his  wife  was  also  a member — his  death 
taking  place  in  Danville,  Hendricks  county, 
Ind.,  to  which  place  he  had  removed  in  1856. 

Madison  H.  Rose,  the  subject  proper  of 
this  biographical  notice,  was  reared  on  the 
home  farm  and  educated  in  the  parochial 
school  under  the  preceptorshiji  of  the  Rev.  R. 
Conover,  in  Latin,  Greek  and  the  classics,  and 
then  for  two  years  in  the  academy  at  Waverly, 
Ind.  ; he  next  passed  a year  in  the  sophomore 
and  junior  classes  at  South  Hanover,  and  then 
began  the  study  of  medicine,  teaching  school 
to  defray  his  expenses,  and  borrowing  books — 
first  from  Dr.  H.  Labaree,  of  Ladoga.  He 


attended  his  first  course  of  lectures  at  Ann 
Arbor  School  of  Medicine  in  the  winter  of 
1859-60  and  graduated  in  the  medical  depart- 
ment of  the  university  of  Buffalo,  N.  Y. , in 
the  spring  of  1861.  In  the  meantime,  how- 
ever, he  was  fired  with  the  patriotic  zeal  that 
filled  the  northern  heart  and  answered  the  first 
call  for  three  months’  men  to  defend  the 
national  flag. 

In  March,  1861,  he  entered  company  A, 
Seventh  Indiana  volunteer  infantry,  served  the 
full  time,  and  then,  February  2,  1862,  entered 
company  A,  Fifty-third  Indiana  volunteer  in- 
fantry, and  was  made  hospital  steward;  May 
15,  1862,  he  was  commissioned  assistant  sur- 
geon of  his  regiment,  then.  May  15,  1863, 

commissioned  surgeon.  April,  1865,  he  took 
a contract  as  acting  staff  surgeon,  with  the 
same  pay  as  regimental  surgeon,  and  thus  con- 
tinued until  the  grand  review  at  Washington, 
May  23-24,  1865.  He  then  returned  to  Dan- 
ville and  practiced  until  the  fall  of  1865,  when 
he  went  to  Bellevue  Hospital  Medical  college, 
at  New  York,  as  intimated  above,  and  took  a 
course  of  lectures  and  received  the  ad  eundem 
degree,  in  the  spring  of  i 866.  He  continued  his 
practice  at  Danville  until  1 869,  when  he  set- 
tled in  Thorntown  and  entered  into  partner- 
ship with  Dr.  J.  M.  Boyd,  with  whom  he 
practiced  six  years,  and  then  with  Dr.  Men- 
denhall for  eighteen  months,  and  with  Dr. 
Dunnington  four  years;  since  then  he  has  been 
in  practice  alone,  securing  a patronage  to 
which  his  exj)erience  and  ability  had  long  since 
entitled  him. 

Dr.  Rose  was  united  in  marriage  at  St. 
Cloud,  Minn.,  in  October,  1865,  to  Mary  B. 
Strong,  a native  of  Logansport,  Ind.,  but  lost 
his  bride  in  the  spring  of  1866.  In  1868,  on 
November  27,  he  took  for  his  second  wife  Miss 
J.  V'.  Hilts,  who  was  born  near  Springdale, 
Ohio.  This  union  has  been  blessed  by  the 
birth  of  the  following  children:  Edward  P. , 


484 


BIOGRAPHICAL  HISTORY 


Lawrence,  a student  of  medicine  in  Philadel- 
})liia,  Dwiglit,  Eugenia  \d,  Idelette,  deceased, 
and  C.  W'.  The  doctor  and  his  wife  are  con- 
sistent members  of  the  Presbyterian  church,  in 
which  he  is  an  elder.  Fraternally  he  is  an 
Odd  Fellow  and  a member  of  the  G.  A.  R., 
and  politically  a repul)lican.  Socially,  he 
mingles  with  the  best  society  of  Boone  county, 
in  which,  also,  his  amiable  lad\’  holds  a very 
high  position.  He  owns  200  acres  of  fine 
land  in  \\'ashington  township,  and  valuable 
real  estate  in  the  town,  and,  independently  of 
his  reputation  as  a professional  man,  is  re- 
garded as  one  of  the  most  substantial  citizens 
of  Thorntown. 


ILLIAM  M.  ROSS,  a well  known 
citizen  of  Center  township,  Boone 
county,  Ind.,  was  born  in  Rush 
county,  in  the  same  state,  October 
7,  I <832,  and  at  the  age  of  seven,  in  1839,  was 
brought  to  Boone  county  by  his  father,  and 
here  educated  and  brought  up  on  a farm.  In 
1856,  at  the  age  of  twenty-four  years,  he  went 
to  Kansas  and  located  on  land  he  entered  near 
Hiawatha,  in  Brown  county,  his  brother  James 
accompanying  him.  In  i860  he  and  his 
brother  crossed  the  plains  to  Denver,  and 
thence  went  to  the  mining  region  of  Pike's 
Peak;  here  they  engaged  in  trade  until  the  fall 
of  the  same  year,  when  they  returned  eastward 
to  Illinois,  where  William  M.  taught  school 
for  a time  and  then  came  to  Boone  county, 
Ind.;  August  17,  1861,  he  enlisted  at  l.ebanon 
in  company  A,  Tenth  regiment,  Indiana  volun- 
teer infantry,  and  saw  his  first  action  at  Mill 
Spring  or  Logan  Cross  Roads;  he  was  lu'xt 
marched  to  Louisville,  Ky. , and  thence  taken 
by  l)oat  to  Nashville,  and  from  there  marched 
to  the  battle  field  of  Shiloh;  he  next  took  part 
in  the  siege  of  Corinth,  where  lu'  did  valiant 
service,  but  was  taken  sick  from  exjiosure  and 


fatigue,  and  want  of  shelter,  and  was  sent  to 
Tuscumbia,  Ala.,  where  he  was  discharged  on 
I acc(junt  of  disability.  Thence  he  went  to 
! Illinois  and  engaged  in  stock  raising,  and  was 
1 married  in  Vermillion  county,  that  state,  to 
I Martha  Dale,  daughter  of  John  J.  Dale  and  his 
wife,  Elizabeth  fDavidsonj  Dale. 

; W.  M.  Ross  is  of  Scotch  descent.  His 
I grandfather,  johnson  Ross,  was  born  in  Vir- 
! ginia  and  moved  to  Kentucky  while  young, 
settled  near  Cynthiana,  Morrison  county,  and 
was  one  of  the  first  representatives  of  the 
family  in  America  to  whom  any  direct  trace 
leads.  He  was  a farmer  and  a Methodist 
minister,  was  married  to  Mrs.  Jennie  Dike,  and 
to  this  union  were  born  the  following  children : 
James  41.,  Nanc}-,  W.  M.,  John  M.,  Charles, 
Catherine,  N.  M.  and  James  Harvey.  He 
moved  to  W'arren  county,  Ohio,  in  1818,  and 
continued  to  reside  there  until  he  expired  in 
the  year  1836.  James  H.  Ross,  son  of  above 
and  the  father  of  W.  M.,  was  born  in  Ken- 
tucky in  1798,  was  reared  on  a farm,  became 
a Methodist  minister  and  belonged  to  the  Ken- 
tucky conference;  he  moved  to  Warren  county, 
Ind.,  in  1822.  From  there  he  moved  to  Kush 
county,  Ind.,  in  1824,  and  remained  until  the 
year  1839,  when  he  moved  to  Rosston,  Boone 
county,  Ind.,  and  here  ended  his  days  in  1876, 
sincerely  mourned  by  a wide  circle  of  devoted 
friends,  and  leaving  a wife  and  a family  of 
seven  children,  viz:  Thomas  M.,  |ane  M., 
Mary  H.,  )ames  |.,  W'.  M.,  Sarah  and  Charley 
A.  Three  of  the  sons  were  in  the  late  war. 
Thomas  M.  was  a member  of  t he  home  guards, 
|.  ).  was  a member  of  the  4'welfth  Indiana 
volunteer  infantry,  and  was  in  several  skir- 
mishes, and  William  M.  of  the  Tenth  Indiana 
has  had  his  war  record  already  mentioned. 

To  the  marriage  of  William  M.  Ross  and 
Martha  Dale  have  been  born  four  children  in 
the  following  older:  Katie  D.,  March  6, 
1866,  married  to  Ira  Hodgen,  a farmer  and 


OF  BOONE  COUNTY. 


435 


stock  f^rower  of  Hamilton  county,  Ind. ; Jennie, 
born  November  14,  1867,  died  December  6, 
1889;  Mary  E.,  born  April  12,  1869,  died 

February  19,  1872,  and  James  W. , born 

December  14,  1871,  died  May  22,  1893.  John 
J.  Dale,  the  father  of  Mrs.  Martha  Ross,  was 
born  in  Maryland,  and  paternally  is  of  En- 
glish, and  maternally  of  Scotch  descent.  At 
the  age  of  fourteen  JohnJ.  Dale  left  his  native 
state  and  went  to  Philadelphia,  where  he 
learned  the  tailor's  trade;  he  then  went  to 
Clarke  county,  Ohio,  where  he  carried  on  a 
clothing  store  for  many  years  and  was  there 
married,  the  result  being  the  birth  of  ten 
children,  viz  : Sarah,  Jacob,  Martha,  Daniel, 
John,  Isaac,  Mary  E.,  Margaret  A.,  Emma 
and  Ernestine.  Mr.  Dale  later  became  a 
farmer.  In  1855  or  1856,  he  moved  to  War- 
ren county,  Ind.,  and  in  1859  to  Vermillion 
county,  111.,  where  he  bought  a tract  of  land 
of  400  acres  and  was  a very  successful  and 
systematic  farmer.  In  politics  he  was  a re- 
publican. Both  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Dale  were  mem- 
bers of  the  Methodist  church,  in  which  Mr. 
Dale  was  a class  leader,  steward  and  trustee. 
He  had  two  sons  in  the  late  w'ar,  viz  : Daniel, 
who  was  a member  of  the  Twenty-fifth  Illi- 
nois volunteer  regiment,  and  was  killed  at  the 
battle  of  Franklin,  Tenn.,  and  John  W.,  of 
the  same  regiment,  who  lost  an  arm  at  the 
battle  of  Chickamauga. 

\\’.  M.  Ross  resided  in  Rossville,  Vermill- 
ion county.  Ilk,  twelve  years  and  was  engaged 
in  milling  and  dealing  in  grain.  In  1882  he 
returned  to  Rosston,  Ind.,  and  remained  about 
si.x  years,  and  then  returned  to  his  farm. 
Martha  D.  Ross  is  a member  of  the  Methodist 
church.  Mr.  Ross  is  a republican,  and  fratern- 
ally is  a member  of  the  Masonic  lodge.  No. 
527,  at  Rosston.  He  is  a gentleman  in  every 
respect,  has  had  much  experience  in  life,  and 
has  now  the  respect  of  all  with  whom  he  has 
come  in  contact,  in  Boone  county  or  elsewhere. 


OLOMON  RUNION,  one  of  the  old- 
est settlers  now  living  in  Boone 
county,  is  a native  of  West  Virginia, 
and  was  born  in  Rockingham  county, 
June  7,  1812.  His  father  was  one  of  ten  chil- 
dren born  to  John  Runion,  who  settled  in  West 
\’irginia  in  a very  early  day,  and  served  his 
country  in  the  Revolutionary  war.  Daniel 
Runion,  the  father  of  Solomon  Runion,  w'as 
born  and  reared  in  West  Virginia,  where  he 
remained  for  a number  of  years,  and  thence 
I'emoved  to  Montgomery  county,  Ohio,  where 
he  afterward  resided  until  death.  He  was 
twice  married,  and  was  the  father  of  eighteen 
children.  Solomon  Runion  was  reared  in 
Rockingham  county,  and  in  1831  drove  a team 
to  Dayton,  Ohio,  which  trip  took  him  twenty- 
six  days  and  nights  to  make.  He  remained  in 
Ohio  some  time,  and  chopped  cord-wood  for 
twenty-five  cents  a cord,  also  worked  part  of 
the  time  for  fifty  cents  per  day.  In  about 
1834  he  drove  a team,  consisting  of  three 
horses  and  two  oxen,  with  goods  for  Mr.  Lind- 
sey McConnell,  to  Thorntown,  Ind.  Having 
ing  saved  up  $100,  he  entered  eighty  acres  of 
land  in  Washington  township,  Boone  county. 
He  then  returned  to  Ohio,  and  was  married  in 
Montgomery  county  to  Mary  A.  Yonkey,  and 
about  1836  returned  to  Boone  county,  Ind., 
and  settled  on  his  land,  his  present  home, 
where  he  has  resided  since.  He  and  wife  are 
members  of  the  Christian  church,  and  are  re- 
vered not  only  as  neighbors  but  as  pioneers 
who  have  witnessed  the  many  changes  that  have 
taken  place  in  the  township  the  last  sixty 
years.  He  is  a republican.  He  now  owns 
240  acres  of  valuable  land,  well  improved.  In 
1832  he  was  mustered  in,  in  Montgomery 
county,  Ohio,  to  go  to  Northern  Indiana,  near 
Elkhart  to  quell  the  Indians,  who  had  been 
killing  the  whites,  and  his  company  marched 
there,  but  did  no  fighting,  the  Indians  having 
already  been  dispersed. 


BIOGRAPHICAL  HISTORY 


m 


OI’.LRT  W.  SANFORD,  a promi- 
nent farmer  of  Boone  comity,  Ind., 
and  a man  of  state  reputation  as  a 
breeder  of  Poland  China  hof^s,  is  a 
native  of  Indiana,  born  March  3,  1856,  in  the 
county  of  Montf;;omery.  He  is  descended  from 
an  old  Virf^inia  family,  his  grandfather,  W. 
R.  Sanford,  having  been  a native  of  the  Old 
Dominion,  who  moved  thence  to  Henry  county, 
Ky. , when  a young  man.  In  that  state  he 
married  Lizzie  Threlkeld,  and  shortly  there- 
after came  to  Indiana  and  settled  in  Boone 
county,  when  the  country  was  an  almost  un- 
broken wilderness.  Mr.  Sanford  was  a true 
type  of  the  pioneer  of  sixty  years  ago,  a man 
skilled  in  woodcraft,  and  he  became  known 
among  the  sparse  settlements  as  a skillful 
hunter  and  unerring  marksman.  He  was  a 
democrat,  and  among  the  pioneers  became 
quite  popular  as  a speaker  in  their  meetings, 
both  religious  and  political.  He  and  wife 
were  both  devout  members  of  the  regular  Bap- 
tist church,  and  they  each  died  at  the  remark- 
able age  of  ninety  years.  Eleven  children 
were  born  to  them,  namely:  Nancy  E. , 
Patty,  George,  John,  Thom.as,  Hiram,  Samuel, 
Jane,  Sallie,  Henry,  and  one  that  died  un- 
named. George  Sanford,  son  of  W.  R. , 
and  father  of  the  subject  of  this  mention, 
was  born  in  Henry  county,  Ky. , and  when  a 
small  child  was  brought  to  Boone  county,  Ind., 
where  his  youthful  years  and  early  manhood 
were  passed.  He  married  Martha  M.,  daugh- 
ter fd  Solomon  and  Lizzie  ( Peelerj  Beck,  old 
settlers  of  Boone,  and  became  the  father  of 
seven  children,  whose  names  are  as  follows: 
MaryE.,  Sarah  J.,  Martha  IL , Robert  W., 
Pdiza  M.,  Nancy  E.,  and  William  J.  Mr. 
Sanford  has  spent  the  gre-ater  part  of  his  life 
within  the  limits  of  Boone  county,  but  is  now 
living  in  retirement  in  the  county  of  Mont- 
gomery, where  he  is  engaged  to  some  extemt 
in  loaning  money,  buying  and  selling  notes. 


^ etc.  He  has  always  borne  the  reputation  of 
an  honorable,  straightforward  business  man 
and  citizen,  and  exemplifies  in  his  daily  life 
the  teachings  of  the  church  with  which  he  has 
long  been  identified,  the  Christian  church.  In 
politics  he  is  a democrat,  and  although  seventy- 
j two  years  old,  bears  his  age  remarkably  well, 

! still  possessing  unimpaired  the  greater  part  of 
] his  former  vitality. 

Robert  W.  Sanford  was  reared  on  his 
father's  tarm,  received  a good  common  educa- 
tion, and  has  since  acquired  an  extensive  and 
practical  kno^\■ledge  by  wide  reading  of  good 
books,  being  well  informed  on  general  topics, 

I particularly  agriculture,  which  he  has  made  a 
j special  study.  He  is  a clear,  lucid  writer,  and 
frequently  contributes  articles  to  the  leading 
agricultural  papers,  and  senne  of  his  contribu- 
tions have  brought  him  into  favorable  notice 
in  several  states  of  the  Union.  His  history  of 
swine  breeding  has  been  largely  reported  and 
widely  read,  and  his  article  on  potato  culture 
in  The  Practical  Farmer  of  Philadelphia,  a 
I scientific  and  very  exhaustive  treatise  well 
j classified  and  divided  into  topics,  was  awarded 
' the  first  prize  among  hundreds  of  competitive 
j papers.  Mr.  Sanford  has  been  selected'to  at- 
tend the  farmers’  institute  meetings  throughout 
j the  state,  the  appointments  being  made  by 
I Prof.  C.  Wh  Latta,  of  Purdue  university.  He 
is  an  authority  on  all  matters  pertaining  to 
I potato  culture,  and  the  large  seedsmen  of  sev- 
I cral  states  rely  upon  him  for  their  supi)ly  of 
I that  \ aluabl('  tuber.  As  stated  in  the  begin- 
i ning  of  this  sketch,  Mr.  Sanford  gives  much 
I attention  to  the  brec'ding  of  fine  Poland  China 
! hogs  and  has  recei\'ed  a mmdHU'  of  prizes  in 
[ Indiana  and  elsew  heix'.  Inn  ing,  with  his  jiart- 
ner,  I..  Sinirs,  bred  hogs  that  took  i)rizes  at 
! the  Wh)rld’s  fair  in  Chicago.  Under  his  aus- 
j |)ires  have  been  held  for  six  years  the  annual 
sale  of  Poland  China  hogs  at  Lebanon,  Ind., 

1 and  to  him  as  much  as  to  any  other  man  is 


OF  BOONE  COUNTY 


487 


due  the  credit  of  introducing  a superior  class 
of  livestock  among  the  fanners  of  Boone  coun- 
t}’.  Religiously  he  is  a member  of  the  Chris- 
tian church,  and  also  belongs  to  Lebanon 
lodge,  No.  45,  K.  of  P.  In  politics  he  is  a 
democrat,  and  as  such  entertains  decided  opin- 
ions upon  leading  questions  of  the  day,  which 
he  is  not  at  all  backward  in  expressing.  Mr. 
Sanford  was  tendered  the  office  of  sheriff  of 
Boone  county  by  his  party  but  refused. 
Though  still  a young  man,  he  has  already  at- 
tained a high  standard  for  integrity,  and  has 
before  him  a future  of  still  greater  promise. 
Mr.  Sanford  and  Mary  E.,  daughter  of  Abra- 
ham and  Sarah  J.  Creque,  were  united  in  mar- 
riage November  27,  1884,  and  their  union  has 
been  blessed  with  three  children — Mary  J., 
Noble  G.,  and  Lorenzo  S.  In  the  fall  of  1893 
Mr.  Sanford  was  present  at  the  opening  of  the 
Cherokee  strip  and  rode  from  Orlando  on  the 
Oklahomo  line,  making  the  first  six  miles  in 
almost  as  many  minutes,  riding  a Texas  cow 
horse,  which  went  through  without  feed  or 
water.  He  saw  the  City  of  Perry  settled  with 
seventy-five  thousand  people  within  three 
hours  after  the  signal  gun  sounded  for  the  ad- 
vance, and  was  an  eye  witness  of  the  many 
stirring  incidents  of  that  exciting  race  for 
homes. 


AMES  A.  SANDY,  one  of  ti  e leading 
farmers  and  stock  raisers  of  Jackson 
township,  son  of  William  H.  and  Lu- 
cinda Sandy,  was  born  September  i , 
1836,  in  Montgomery  county,  Ind.  He  re- 
ceived his  educational  training  in  the  pioneer 
log  school-house  so  common  in  Indiana  during 
the  earlv  history  of  the  state,  and  passed  his 
youthful  years  amid  the  routine  of  farm  labor. 
In  1852,  in  company  with  his  parents,  he  re- 
moved to  Morgan  county,  and  on  the  eighteenth 
day  of  August,  1861,  was  united  in  marriage 


to  Mary  J.  Mosier  of  that  county,  daughter  of 
Tobias  and  Eliza  (Sechrist)  Mosier.  Tobias 
Mosier  was  an  influential  citizen  of  Morgan 
county  and  a man  of  large  means,  owming  at 
one  time  over  500  acres  of  valuable  land.  His 
death  occurred  January,  1874;  Mrs.  Mosier  is 
still  living  on  the  old  homestead.  After  his 
marriage  Mr.  Sandy  settled  on  a farm  of  too 
acres  in  IMorgan  county,  where  he  remained 
two  years  and  then  became  a resident  of  the 
county  of  Boone,  locating  upon  his  present 
place,  consisting  originally  of  340  acres  in 
Jackson  township.  At  that  time  the  land  was 
in  a primitive  state,  a large  portion  consisting 
of  quagmire,  and  no  improvements  of  any  kind 
had  been  attempted  before  his  arrival.  Through 
his  efforts  the  place  has  undei'gone  an  almost 
magical  change,  being,  at  this  time,  one  of  the 
model  farms  of  Boone  comity,  and  containing 
over  3,000  rods  of  tiling,  two  large  barns,  an 
elegant  residence,  and  other  improvements, 
w'hile  all  the  modern  appliances  of  farming  are 
to  be  found.  The  handsome  competence 
which  Mr.  Sandy  has  accumulated  is  the  result 
of  his  thrift  and  successful  management,  and 
he  is  entitled  to  much  credit  for  the  manner  in 
w'hich  he  has  succeeded  in  overcoming  the 
many  obstacles  by  which  his  life  was  formerly 
beset.  Both  Mr,  and  Mrs.  Sandy  are  devout 
members  of  the  Christian  church,  to  wdiich  he 
has  contributed  liberally  of  his  means,  and  in 
w'hich  he  holds  an  official  position.  He  has 
been  superintendent  and  teacher  in  the  Sunday 
school  and  never  fails  to'encourage  any  and  all 
movements  having  for  their  object  the  moral 
well-being  of  the  community.  To  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Sandy  have  been  born  two  children — 
John  and  Allen — both  marriedjand  enterprising 
citizeTis  of  jackson  towmship.  John  attended 
the  Ladoga  Normal  college  for  a period  of 
three  yeai's,  w hen  by  reason  of  declining  health 
he  was  compelled  toabandon  his  studies  before 
completing  the  prescribed  course;  Allen  was 


BIOGRAPHICAL  HISTORY 


ins 


for  two  years  a student  at  Danville,  where  he 
took  a hif^h  grade  in  his  studies. 

The  great-grandfather  of  Mr.  Sandy  was 
Jared  Sandy,  who  emigrated  from  England  a 
great  many  years  ago  and  settled  in  North 
Carolina,  where  he  became  a f)lanter  of  large 
means.  He  became  a man  of  prominence  in 
that  state,  and  at  the  breaking  out  of  the 
Revolutionary  war  entered  the  American  army 
and  did  yeoman  service  in  freeing  the  conntrv 
from  the  bonds  of  Hritish  oppression.  He 
})articipated  in  a number  of  the  battles  of  that 
struggle,  in  one  of  which  he  was  captured  b\-  the 
Indians  and  sold  into  slavery;  he  was  after- 
ward released  ami  returned  to  the  United 
States  but  was  never  again  reunited  to  his 
family.  In  the  war  of  1812  he  again  fought 
for  his  adopted  country  and  died  a number  of 
years  ago  in  Washington  county,  Ind.  Jeremiah 
Sandy,  son  of  the  above  and  grandfather  (M 
the  subject  of  this  sketch,  was  born  in  North 
Carolina,  married  Catherine  IR'ck  and  reared 
the  following  children;  Carrie,  Jeremiah, 
Thomas,  Mary,  Elizabeth,  Lucy,  Katherine 
and  William  H. — the  last  named  the  father  of 
James  A. 

W'illiam  H.  Sandy  emigrated  to  Tennessee 
in  1809,  later  entered  a large  tract  of  land 
upon  which  ho  resided  for  a period  of  fifteen 
years,  and  then  came  to  Indiana,  settling  in 
Washington  count)',  thence,  later,  mo\'ed  to 
the  county  of  Owen,  where  he  engaged  iu 
agricultural  pursuits;  still  later  he  became  a 
resident  of  Montgomery  count)',  where  he 
resided  for  the  succeeding  twenty-one  )'ears. 
He  Ijecarne  a large  landed  proprietor,  held  the 
office  of  trustee,  and  was  a man  of  local  ]U‘omi- 
nence.  Al)Out  the  year  1852  he  again  ( hanged 
his  rcsicUmce,  moving  to  Morgan  comity, 
where  he  purchased  a large  tract  of  real  estate, 
consisting  of  over  700  acres,  whicdi  was  highly 
im|)roved,  and  where  for  a numbc'r  of  years  he 
held  the  office  of  justice  oi  tlu'  peace.  He  was 


a man  of  strong,  vigorous  intellect,  a fine 
mathematician,  and  jiroved  a vabuable  addi- 
ti(m  to  the  community  on  account  of  his  legal 
knowledge,  which  was  freely  given  for  the 
benefit  of  his  neighbors  and  fellow-citizens. 
He  married  Lucinda  Thompson,  daughter  of 
James  and  Ann  (Curry)  Thompson,  and  de- 
parted this  life  in  January,  1874.  Mrs. 
Lucina  Sandy  still  survives  him.  James 
Thompson,  father  of  Mrs.  Sandy,  was  a large 
land  owner  and  a leading  farmer  of  Owen 
county,  Ind.,  of  which  part  of  the  state  he  was 
one  of  the  early  ])ioneers.  He  was  a native 
of  Kentucky,  a devout  member  of  the  Mission- 
ar)'  Baptist  church  and  died  at  the  advanced 
age  of  ninety  years.  To  Wdlliam  H.  and 
Lucinda  Sandy,  parents  of  our  subject,  there 
were  born  the  following  children,  viz;  Louisa, 
Sarah,  Susan,  James  A.,  Keller,  Jane,  Rebecca, 
John,  Newton,  America  and  \'irgitna,  deceased. 
James  A.  Sandy  is  a democrat,  and  has  given 
each  of  his  sons  farms  of  89.1  and  92  acres 
each.  Mrs.  Sandy  has  one  of  the  finest 
collections  of  flowers  and  flowering  shrubs  in 
the  county  and  her  chief  delight  is  in  showing 
them. 


OSEPH  M.  AND  JOHN  R.  SAUN- 
DERS - These  brothers  are  two  of 
the  best  kiunvn  educators  and  have 
probably  the  longest  record  oi  any 
teachers  in  Boone  county.  The  first  certificate 
of  Joseph  M.  is  dated  in  1858.  That  of  John 
R.  iu  1863.  The  brothers  have  been  cflicient 
and  able  instructors  all  these  many  years  and 
have  doubtle.ss  educated  more  of  the  youth  of 
Boone  county,  than  am'  other  two  teachers 
within  the  same  si)ace  of  time.  James  Saun- 
ders, their  grandfather,  was  born  in  county 
Antrim,  Ireland,  and  went  away  fiaim  home, 
at  seventeen  years  of  age,  to  become  a sailor, 
and  for  seven  years  sailed  to  the  lour  (juarters 


OF  BOONE  COUNTY. 


4B9 


of  the  globe,  making  several  voyages  around 
the  world.  He  hnally  came  to  the  United 
States,  and,  in  1792,  settled  in  Nicholas  coun- 
tv, Kv. , where  he  was  one  of  the  pioneers. 
There  he  married  Snsan  Hughes,  a native  of 
Fleming  county,  and  they  were  the  parents  of 
six  children,  viz;  James,  John,  Ann,  Eliza- 
beth, Sarah  and  Mary.  James,  the  eldest  son, 
left  home  at  an  early  age,  and  the  manage- 
ment of  the  farm  was  consequently  left  to 
john,  the  father  of  the  subjects  of  our  sketch, 
who  was  born  in  Nicholas  county,  Ky., 
November  i,  1800,  as  soon  as  he  became  old 
enough  to  perform  manual  labor,  he  ap- 
plied himself  to  his  duties  with  such  energy, 
that  his  naturally  vigorous  constitution  was 
permanently  injured  and  in  later  years  he  be- 
came an  invalid.  On  the  twenty-eighth  of 
December,  1820,  he  married  Sarah  B.  Howe, 
who  descended  from  the  famous  family  of 
Lord  Howe  of  England;  Elias  Howe,  and 
other  celebrated  men  were  members  of  the 
same  family. 

Although  born  and  reared  in  a slave  state, 
he  abhorred  the  institution,  and  in  1846  re- 
moved to  Indiana  that  he  might  rear  his  family 
amid  a purer  atmosphere  of  a free  state.  He 
settled  on  the  land,  part  of  w’hich  is  now  owned 
and  occupied  by  his  sons,  our  subjects,  buy- 
ing 220  acres,  on  section  33,  township  19, 
Center  township.  He  died,  a member  of  the 
Christian  church,  September  30,  1854. 

Mr.  Saunders  was  a man  of  high  moral 
character.  His  wife  survived  him  to  the  ad- 
vanced age  of  eighty-two  years.  She  was  horn 
in  Nicholas  county,  Ky.,  February  5,  1801. 
She  had  seven  brothers  and  three  sisters,  none 
of  whom  are  now  living.  Although  Mrs.  Saun- 
ders did  not  possess  a very  robust  constitution 
she  reared  a family  of  eleven  children — Ed- 
wartl  H.,  James  H.,  Caroline  T. , Mary  S. 
Susan  E.,  Cynthia  L.,  Joshua  N.,  Joseph  M., 
Samuel  T.,  Harriet  and  John  K.  Edward  H. 


attended  M'ahash  college  for  a brief  period  and 
chose  the  medical  profession  for  his  vocation, 
studying  under  Dr.  Furnace,  of  Danville,  Ind., 
and  later,  at  the  Botanical  medical  school,  of 
Cincinnati,  Ohio.  He  practiced  successfully 
for  a number  of  years  in  the  counties  of  Ver- 
million, Hendricks  and  Boone,  and  died  in 
1863.  He  was  married  twice  and  was  the 
father  of  four  children. 

Joseph  M.  Saunders  was  born  April  25, 
1835,  on  his  father’s  farm,  near  Carlisle,  Nich- 
olas county,  Ky.,  and  was  eleven  years  of  age 
when  he  came  with  his  parents  to  Boone 
county,  Ind.  The  scenes  and  incidents  are  well 
impressed  upon  his  mind.  They  were  nine 
days  on  the  road  and  had  one  four-horse  and 
one  two-horse  wagon.  His  education  began 
with  a subscription  school  in  Kentucky,  and 
the  common  schools  of  Boone  county,  Ind. 
He  afterward  attended  the  Presbyterian  acad- 
emy of  Lebanon,  taking  a four  years'  course 
and  graduating  in  1864.  He  began  his  life  as 
an  educator  on  April  5,  1858,  teaching  a sub- 
scription school  in  Jefferson  township,  district 
No.  6.  He  received  his  first  certificate  as  a 
teacher  August  26,  1858,  and  in  the  fall  taught 
the  school  in  his  own  district,  since  which  time 
he  has  been  teaching  constantly  in  Boone 
county,  except  one  winter,  when  he  taught  in 
Wayne  county  in  the  Centerville  Collegiate  in- 
stitute. He  was  appointed  county  superin- 
tendent of  schools  of  Boone  county  for  1868, 
and  held  this  office  with  credit  to  himself  and 
satisfaction  to  the  people  for  three  years.  He 
was  present  at  the  first  county  institute,  held 
at  Lebanon,  and  has  attended  every  county  in- 
stitute since.  He  has  always  held  a first-class 
certificate  and  has,  without  doubt,  taught  more 
terms  of  school  in  Boone  county  than  any 
other  teacher.  He  was  the  first  man  who  pub- 
licly advocated  the  grading  of  the  county 
schools. 

John  K.  Saunders  was  born  in  Nicholas 


no 


biographical  history 


county,  Ky.,  December  13,  1842,  and  was  in 
his  fourth  year  when  brought  by  his  parents  to 
Indiana,  and  although  so  young,  renienibers 
the  old  Kentucky  home  and  many  incidents  on 
the  journey.  He  received  a common  school 
education  and  attended  the  Lebanon  Presby- 
terian academy.  He  enlisted  at  Lebanon  on 
July  4,  1862,  as  a private  for  three  months  in 
company  G,  Fifty-fifth  Indiana  volunteer 
infantry,  Capt.  James  Hamilton.  His  service 
was  in  Kentucky  and  he  was  in  the  battle  of 
Kichmond,  Ky.  He  was  honorably  discharged 
at  Indianapolis  in  1861  and  returned  home, 
remaining  at  home  one  and  one-half  years, 
attending  to  the  farm,  and,  receiving  his  first 
school  certificate  in  1863,  he  taught  until  the 
holidays  in  Clinton  township,  and  re-enlisted 
at  Lebanon,  January  4,  1864,  as  a private  in 
company  H,  Eleventh  Indiana  cavalry,  under 
Cap.  Mason  Hamilton.  This  service  was 
principally  in  Alabama,  Mississippi,  Tennessee 
and  on  the  great  plains,  where  his  regiment 
was  engaged  in  guarding  emigrant  trains  from 
hostile  Indians  tor  three  months,  serving  as 
bugler  and  musician  He  was  in  the  battle 
at  Franklin,  two  days’  battle  at  Nashville, 
Tenn.,  and  in  the  campaign  following  in  which 
Hood’s  army  was  destroyed,  and  many  hard 
skirmishes  were  fought,  among  them  one  at 
Pulaski.  He  was  mustered  out  at  I't.  Leaven- 
worth, Kan.,  and  honorably  discharged  Sep- 
tember 18,  1855,  and  returned  home  He 

was  never  wounded  nor  taken  judsoner,  but 
served  actively  during  his  entire  enlistment. 
After  his  return  home,  he  entered  the  Com- 
mercial college  at  “Bryant  & Stratton's,”  Indi- 
anapolis, taking  a full  course,  after  which  he 
resumed  teaching.  In  the  spring  of  1887  he 
taught  one  term  in  Minnesota,  and  was  in 
l\enlucky  and  Geoi'gia  in  the  insurance  busi- 
lU'ss  si.\  months.  His  wife,  Cynthia,  to  whom 
he  was  married  in  1857,  was  the  daughter  of 
Ale.\ander  B.  and  Ke/iah  (Samjile)  Clark. 


Alexander  Clark  was  born  in  Chdlicothe,  Ohio, 
December  5,  1800,  was  from  Nicholas  county, 
Ky.,  of  Scotch  descent,  and  settled  in  Boone 
ccunty,  Ind.,  with  his  famil\'  in  1831,  in  Clin- 
ton township,  where  he  was  one  of  the  original 
pioneers,  entering  400  acres  of  land.  He  had 
but  three  neighbors,  all  of  whem  w'ere  thirteen 
miles  away.  The  country  was  an  entire  wild- 
erness. Mr.  Clark  became  a prominent  man 
and  was  county  commissioner.  His  ten  chil- 
dren were  as  follows:  Mary  H.,  Robert  and 
Elizabeth,  twins;  John,  Zerrilda,  James  C., 
Keziah,  Nancy,  Alexander  C.  and  Cynthia  M. 
Mr.  Clark  lived  to  the  age  of  eighty-seven 
years,  and  died  March  23,  1887,  in  Indian- 

apolis, with  his  daughter.  He  was  an  old- 
time  whig,  an  abolitionist,  and  afterward  a 
republican,  and  assisted  in  the  Under  Ground 
railroad,  his  home  being  a station,  and  Mrs. 
Saunders  remembers  slaves  who  were  pro- 
tected at  her  father's  residence.  He  was  an 
elder  in  the  Presbyterian  church  many  years. 
His  son,  AlexanderC.,  served  two  years  in  the 
Civil  war.  Tenth  regiment  Indiana  volunteer 
infantry,  and  was  in  the  battle  of  Somerset, 
Ky.,  and  was  shot  through  the  clothing.  He 
was  also  in  the  siege  of  Corinth,  and  became 
exhausted  from  hard  marching  and  was  dis- 
charged on  account  of  disability.  James  C., 
the  eldest  son,  was  disabled,  and  sickened  in 
camp  at  La  I'ayelte  from  exposure.  He  was 
sent  home  and  died  two  weeks  later. 

At  Mr.  ('lark's  pioneer  log  house  in  C'linton 
township,  the  first  sermon  ever  preached  in 
that  township  was  delivered  by  a traveling 
minister,  January  13,  1825.  Mr.  Clark  was 
always  a friend  of  the  church  and  school,  was 
widely  known  for  his  hospitalit}-  and  his  latch 
string  was  always  out.  He  was  a strong  tem- 
perance  man  and  an  early  advocate  of  the 
abolition  of  the  licpior  traffic.  The  Clarks 
earl\'  movc'd  from  \’irginia  to  Pennsylvania, 
and  were'  a prominent  race  of  i)eople.  Gen. 


UBRARy 
OF  THE 

J/NIVERSITY  of  ILLINOIS 


W.  H.  SCHULTZ,  M.  D. 


OF  BOONE  COUNTY. 


George  Robert  Clark  was  a famous  officer,  and 
William  Clark  was  one  of  the  explorers  in  the 
Lewis  and  Clark  expedition.  Myra  Gaines 
Clark,  the  celebrated  New  Orleans  litigant, 
was  of  the  same  stock.  The  Clarks  were  sol- 
diers in  the  war  of  the  Kev'olution  and  in  1812. 
John  Clark,  grandfather  of  Mrs.  Saunders, 
came  from  Pennsylvania,  married  near  Chilli- 
cothe,  Ohio,  where  he  was  a pioneer,  and  died 
at  Clarksburg,  Ohio,  on  his  farni.  William 
Clark,  uncle  of  Mrs.  Saunders,  served  through- 
out the  war  of  1812,  w'ithont  mishap,  to  return 
home  to  be  killed  the  next  day  by  being  thrown 
from  a horse. 

After  marriage,  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Saunders 
settled  on  the  Saunders  homestead,  where  they 
still  reside.  They  are  the  parents  of  five  chil- 
dren— Fred  Clark,  Lou  Mayme,  Harry  Sum- 
ner, Joseph  Morton,  and  Fannie  Lane.  IMr. 
and  Mrs.  Saunders  are  members  of  the  Chris- 
tian church.  He  is  much  respected,  has  filled 
the  office  of  township  assessor,  and  has  given 
all  his  children  good  educations.  His  daughter 
Lou  M.,  graduated  at  Lebanon  High  school, 
class  of  1893,  and  began  teaching  in  Jefferson 
towmship  in  the  same  district  that  her  uncle 
Joseph  M.  taught  his  first  school  thirty-five 
years  since.  Mr.  Saunders  takes  an  active 
interest  in  the  cause  of  education,  has  served 
as  school  director,  has  taught  eleven  terms  in 
his  own  district  and  many  terms  in  other  dis- 
tricts. He  is  a practical  farmer,  to  which  he 
now  devotes  the  most  of  his  attention.  He  is 
stanch  republican,  noted  for  his  morality  and 
temperance,  and  has  one  of  the  most  intelligent 
families  in  Boone  county.  The  Saunders 
brothers  have  erected  a tasteful  and  substan- 
tial residence,  and  their  farm  is  one  of  the  best 
improved  in  Center  township.  It  will  thus  be 
seen  that  both  the  Saunders  and  Clark  fam- 
ilies are  descendants  of  highly  respectable  an- 
cestry, that  have  done  much  toward  the  eleva- 
tion of  our  common  country. 


148 


R.  WM.  H.  SCHULTZ  is  not  only 
one  of  the  leading  ])hysicians  of 
Boone  count}’,  Ind.,  but  served  his 
country  as  a gallant  soldier  in  the 
late  war.  He  is  an  honored  son  of  the  great 
Hoosier  state,  w’ho  sent  so  many  of  her  best 
men  to  put  down  the  southern  rebellion.  He 
descends  from  sturdy  German  stock,  his  re- 
mote ancestors  having  been  citizens  of  \\hir- 
temburg,  Germany.  Mark  C.  Schultz,  the 
founder  of  tee  family  in  America,  was  the 
third  son  of  James  Schultz,  who  was  professor 
of  a college  in  Wurtemburg.  Mark  C.  re- 
ceived a liberal  education,  and  became  a cap- 
tain in  the  Hessian  army,  and  came  to  Amer- 
ica w'ith  the  Hessian  troops  during  the  war  of 
the  Revolution.  He  served  with  the  First  di- 
vision under  Lord  Cornw’allis,  in  North  Caro- 
lina. The  Hessians  were  taught  by  the  Brit- 
ish that  the  Americans  w’ere  cannibals,  and 
that  if  captured  they  w^ould  be  burned  alive, 
and  eaten.  At  the  battle  of  Cowpens,  N.  C., 
250  of  Capt.  Shultz’s  command  w’ere  taken 
prisoners,  with  a supply  and  foraging  train. 
These  Hessian  prisoners  were  held  in  North 
Carolina,  and  many  of  them  refused  to  be  ex- 
exchanged,  and,  seeing  the  kindly  disposition 
of  the  Americans,  took  the  “continental  oath” 
not  to  fight  against  the  patriot  army,  and  were 
released  on  parole  of  honor.  Capt.  Schultz 
was  one  of  the  number,  and  finally  settled  near 
Lynchburg,  A’a. , and  married  Elizabeth, 
daughter  of  Susannah  (Dale)  Earley.  The 
Earleys  were  of  German  descent  and  the  Dales 
W’ere  of  Scotch  ancestry.  Capt.  and  Mrs. 
Schultz  W’ere  the  parents  of  nine  sons,  John  C., 
W’ho  settled  in  Pennsylvania;  James,  who 
settled  near  Knoxville,  Tenn. ; Peter,  the 
grandfather  of  our  subject,  w’ho  located  near 
Sharpsburg,  Ky. ; Samuel,  w’ho  settled  near 
Stafford,  Ky. , and  died  near  Mt.  Sterling,  Ky. , 
a bachelor  farmer  aged  102  years;  Mark  C., 
who  first  settled  near  Sharpsburg,  Ky.,  and 


444 


BIOCJRAPHICAL  HISTORY 


afterward  moved  to  Ralls  comity,  Mo  , Abra- 
ham settled  in  Rath  county,  Ky.  ; George  \V., 
located  near  Ilarrishnrg,  Pa.,  and  Henry  died 
}'onng. 

Capt.  Mark  C'.  Schultz  became  a promi- 
nent planter  and  slave  owner  and  also  owned  a 
distillery.  He  lived  to  the  patriarchal  age  of 
102  years,  and  died  June  2,  1830.  Fie  was  a 
member  of  the  t'hristian  chui'ch  as  founded  by 
Ale.xander  Campbell.  lYter,  the  third  son  of 
Capt.  Mark  C.,  was  the  grandfather  of  our 
subject.  He  was  born  near  I.ynchburg,  Va., 
in  1 786,  and  died  June  2 I , i 829,  of  pneumonia. 
He  married,  in  Virginia,  a Miss  Wetly,  and 
moved  at  an  early  day  to  Nicholas  county,  Kv., 
as  a pioneer.  He  became  a farmer  and  slave 
owner,  but  was  not  in  favor  of  slavery  as  an 
institution.  He  and  wife  were  members  of  the 
Dunkard,  or  German  LCiptist  church,  and  were 
the  parents  of  five  children  -Henry  C. , Alira- 
ham,  Mark  C.,  Polly  and  Isarbara.  This  wife 
died  and  he  married  Susanah  Johnson,  in  Ken- 
tucky, of  the  distinguished  Virginia  family  of 
that  name;  they  had  six  children — John  C., 
Cathi'i'ine,  George,  Elizabeth,  I'elicitv  and 
lYter  N.,  all  born  in  Kentucky. 

john  C. , the  eldest  child  by  the  second 
wife,  was  the  father  of  our  subject,  and  was 
born  in  Nicholas  county,  Ky. , February  14, 
1803,  received  the  j)i(meer  education  of  the 
day,  and  was  a farmer.  He  became  person- 
ally acquainted  with  the  famous  theologian,  Al- 
exander Cani[)bell,  ami  was  converted  to  the 
doctrines  of  the  Christian  church,  and  preached 
for  many  years.  Elder  Schultz  married  bdiza- 
beth  (Dalej  Hisel,  She  was  born  July  10, 
1806,  and  died  October  i,  1894,  in  her  eighty- 
eighth  year.  4'o  Jrlder  and  Mrs.  Schultz  w-ere 
born  eleven  children,  five  of  whom  died  in  in- 
fancy— Monroe,  Henry  A.,  [ohn  M.,  Susanah, 
4'homasJ.  and  William  H.,  all  lived  to  grow 
t(j  man  and  womanhood.  In  1832  I'dder 
Schultz  moved  to  Kails  county.  Mo.,  and  in 


1835  moved  to  Boone  county,  Ind,,  settled  on 
320  acres  of  land  in  Center  township,  and  be- 
came a jn'osperous  farmer.  Fie  became  well 
known  far  and  wide  among  tlie  old  settlers,  as 
he  preached  among  them.  He  was  decidedly 
an  American,  and  a Jeffersonian  democrat,  and 
became  one  of  the  original  republicans  of  Boone 
county,  voting  for  F'remont.  He  died  in  Leb- 
anon January  23,  1859,  aged  fifty-five  years. 
He  was  very  highly  respected  by  the  people 
as  a devout  Christian,  and  as  an  out-spoken 
man  of  high  character. 

Dr.  W'illiam  H Schultz,  our  suFrject,  was 
born  October  ii,  1840,  in  Center  township, 
on  his  father's  farm.  FFe  first  attended  the 
district  school,  and  as  his  father  moved  to 
Labanon  when  he  was  thirteen  years  of  age, 
he  attended  the  old  Lebanon  Presbyterian 
academy  until  the  war  broke  out.  He  was 
prevented  from  enlisting  in  1861  by  a severe 
attack  of  typhoid  fever,  but  in  August  of  that 
year  he  enlisted,  at  F^abanon,  in  company  A, 
I'enth  regiment  Indiana  vtihmteer  infantry, 
served  three  years,  and  was  honoralily  dis- 
charged at  Indianapolis,  Ind  , October  16, 
1864,  his  time  having  expired  two  months  pre- 
x iously.  He  was  in  the  battles  of  Mill  Sjiring, 
Shiloh,  Booneville,  Perryville,  Stone  I\iver, 
Tullahoma  and  Chickamauga,  where  a ball 
grazed  his  wrist;  he  vvas  also  in  the  battles  of 
Rolling  F'ork,  Ky.,  where  he  was  shot  through 
the  clothing  four  times;  he  was  at  Missionar}' 
Ridge,  Lookout  Mountain,  Buzzard  Roost, 

( la. , Resaca,  Kingston,  ( la. , Kenesaw  Mountain, 
Peach  Trc'c  Creek,  and  three  battles  (luring 
the  siege  of  .Atlanta  aud  Jonesboro.  He  was 
first  jiromoted  to  corporal,  and  after  the  battle 
of  Missionary  Ridge,  to  sergeant.  His  hos- 
l)ital  record  is  but  twelve  days,  when  he  was 
in  field  hos|)ital  He  was  not  wounded,  al- 
though his  clothing  was  shot  through  thirteen 
times,  and  he  was  lu'ver  taken  juisoner. 
Sergeant  Schultz  was  always  an  active,  eflici- 


OF  BOONE  COUNTY. 


445 


ent  and  gallant  soldier.  His  left  leg  was  se- 
riously injured  by  being  struck  by  a caisson  on 
a night  inarch,  after  which  he  was  exposed  by 
wading  in  the  creek,  and  suffered  much  from 
intiammatory  rheumatism,  and  is  lame  to  this 
day.  After  the  war  he  finished  his  education 
at  a university  at  Indianapolis,  and  stndie  I 
medicine  under  Ur.  T.  H.  Harrison,  and  Dr. 

— now  Gen. — Abraham  O.  Miller,  and  one 
year  wuth  Ur.  C.  A.  Gaston,  as  preceptors. 
Ur.  Schultz  graduated  from  the  Indiana  Medi- 
cal college  in  1870,  and  the  Chicago  Medical 
college  in  1880,  where  he  took  a special 
course.  In  1869,  when  yet  a student,  he  be- 
gan the  practice  of  medicine  at  the  Marion 
county  infirmary,  and  city  hospital  in  1870.  In 
March,  1861,  he  located  at  Colfax,  Ind.,  j 
where  he  practiced  for  three  years,  and  in  | 
November,  1874,  came  to  Lebanon.  In  1887 
he  moved  to  Nashville,  Tenn.,  but  returned  to 
Lebanon,  Ind.,  in  1890.  While  at  Nashville, 
he  received  an  honorary  degree  from  the  medi- 
cal department  of  the  Vanderbilt  university. 
Ur.  Schultz  has  a large  and  lucrative  practice, 
and  has  a valuable  medical  library.  He  is  a 
member  of  the  G.  A.  R. , Rich  Mountain  jiost, 
and  has  held  the  responsible  office  of  second  vice  1 
commander.  He  married,  January  i,  1871, 
Mary,  daughter  of  Henry  and  Elizabeth  (Moh- 
ler)  Mohler.  Elizabeth  Mohler  was  no  rela- 
tion to  Henry  Mohler,  who  came  from  another  1 
state.  To  Ur.  and  Mrs.  Schultz  have  been 
born  two  children,  Guy  A.  and  Lannes  N.  He  i 
is  a patron  of  the  leading  medical  periodicals 
of  the  day,  and  is  a member  of  the  Boone 
county  Medical  society,  Ind. , State  Medical 
society,  American  Medical  association  and  ex- 
member of  the  Tennessee  Medical  society.  Ur. 
Schultz  is  president  of  the  Boone  county  Med- 
ical society  and  vice-president  of  the  Indiana 
Medical  society,  and  vice-president  of  the  Mis- 
sissippi V'alley  Medical  association.  Mrs. 
Schultz  is  a member  of  the  Presbyterian 


church.  In  politics  the  doctor  is  a straight 
republican,  and  socially  he  has  been  a Mason 
since  1864,  a member  of  P>oone  lodge.  No.  9; 
Council  Royal  Arch  chapter.  Royal  and  Select 
Masters,  and  has  filled  all  the  offices  in  Boone 
lodge,  and  is  now  captain  of  the  host  in  the 
chapter,  and  dejiuty  illustrious  of  the  council. 
The  doctor  is  also  a K.  of  P. , Boone  lodge. 
No.  45,  and  has  passed  all  the  chairs.  Ur. 
Schultz  is  one  of  one  those  men  who  succeed 
by  their  own  efforts  and  abilities.  He  was  a 
good  soUlier,  and  by  perseverance  after  the 
war,  he  gained  a valuable  profession,  in  which 
he  ranks  among  the  first.  He  is  a man  of 
broad  and  liberal  views  on  all  subjects,  and  as 
a citizen  he  is  without  reproach. 


EORGE  W.  SCOTT,  one  of  the  old- 
est and  most  experienced  farmers  and 
a leading  citizen  of  Harrison  town- 
ship, Boone  county,  Ind.,  descends 
from  one  of  the  old  colonial  families  of  Vir- 
ginia. His  great-grandfather,  John  Scott, 
came  from  Scotland  and  settled  in  the  Old 
Dominion,  where  his  son,  Samuel  Scott,  grand- 
father of  the  subject  of  this  sketch,  was  born 
on  a farm  near  Staunton,  and  grew  up  a true 
patriot,  becoming  a soldier  under  Gen.  George 
Washington  in  the  Revolutionary  war.  Samuel 
married  Alice  Muncie,  was  much  respected  as 
a model  Christian,  being  a devout  member  of 
the  Presbyterian  church,  which  he  aided  liber- 
ally with  his  means  and  influence,  and  in  the 
faith  of  which  he  died,  in  Lee  county,  Va.,  at 
the  ripe  age  of  eighty-three  years. 

Nathaniel  M.  Scott,  son  of  Samuel,  was 
born  in  Giles  county,  Va.,  July  14,  1796,  was 
reared  on  the  home  farm,  and  in  1824  married 
Miss  Sarah  E.  Caldwell,  daughter  of  William 
and  Sarah  Caldwell,  and  in  1831  brought  his 
young  family  to  Indiana;  he  first  located  in 
Morgan  county,  whence  he  moved  to  Hendricks 


inOCiRAPHICAL  HISTORY 


IK) 


county,  where  he  entered  eighty  acres  of  land, 
on  which  he  resided  six  years,  and  then  settled 
in  Rooiu' county,  where  he  entered  1 6o  acres, 
on  which  his  son,  Georj^e  \\'.,  now  resides. 
Nathaniel,  like  his  father,  was  a patriotic  sol- 
dier, and  assisted  in  re})ellin^  the  vicious  in- 
vasion ol  the  states  hv  the  overhearing  Ifritish 
in  I Si  2,  young  as  he  was  at  the  time.  Return-  | 
ing  to  the  pursuit  of  agriculture  with  the  re- 
turn of  a time  of  peace,  he  accumulated  240 
acres  of  land,  and  followed  farming  until  the  j 
day  of  his  death,  October  22,  187S.  Me  had  | 
led  a viituous  life  and  did  all  in  his  power  to 
advance  the  educational  interests  of  his  sec- 
tion and  in  building  up  the  splendid  school 
system  of  the  present  day.  His  charity  was 
illimitable.  At  heart  a Presbyterian,  he  ad- 
hered to  the  tenets  of  the  church,  but  stdl  was 
not  a member,  for  the  simple  reason  that  there 
was  no  regularly  organized  society  of  that  faith 
in  his  neighborhood.  In  the  exercise  of  his 
practical  acts  of  charity,  hcwKnld  often  kill  a 
hog,  divide  it  into  portions  suited  to  the  occa- 
sion, and  bear  them  off  to  the  poor  who  re- 
sided near  him — give  them  bushels  of  apples, 
potatoes,  and  other  provisions,  with  which  to 
eke  out  an  existence.  No  better  man  ever 
lived.  His  exemplary  widow  survived  until 
April  I,  1SS3,  when  passing  from  earth  to 
a higher  sphere,  she  left  behind  her  a name 
endowed  with  the  memory  of  charitable  deeds. 
Her  religious  faith  was  within  the  jiale  of  the 
Methodist  church,  and  her  every  step  through 
life  gave  evidence  of  the  purity  of  her  belief 
in  its  teachings.  Her  five  cliildren,  whom  she 
reareil  in  the  way  they  shotdd  go,  were  named 
Morinng  K.,  Rachel  S.,  George  \\’.,  Reuben 
M.  and  John  M. 

Gsorge  W.  Scott,  whose  name  heads  this 
biographical  notice,  was  born  in  Lee  county, 
Va.,  january  2,  1826;  be  received  a fair  edu- 
cation for  his  early  day  and  grew  up  a iiracti- 
cal  farmer,  improving  his  literary  knowledge 


by  self-study  as  the  years  passed  away.  He 
early  manifested  a tendency  toward  religion 
and  became  a member  of  the  Methodist 
church,  of  which  he  has  since  been  a faithful 
adherent  and  is  now  a class  leader.  To  this 
church  he  is  a liberal  contributor  of  his  means 
and  is  one  of  its  most  substantial  pillars.  In 
politics  he  is  a substantial  democrat,  with  a 
lingering  affection  for  the  Jackson  school,  but 
following  the  party  and  aiding  it  in  its  modern 
progre.ss.  Socially,  he  has  been  an  Odd  Fel- 
low since  1 870. 

October  6,  1865,  Mr.  Scott  was  married  to 
Sarah  Jane  Lower,  daughter  of  Andrew  1.  and 
IHizabeth  (P>rown)  Lower.  This  lady's  grand- 
father, John  Lower,  was  a German  by  birth, 
and  on  coming  to  the  United  States  with  his 
own  father,  settled  in  Claiborne  county, 
Tenn.  John  Lower  soon  absorbed  the  Ameri- 
can view  of  the  rights  of  Americans  and  will- 
ingly lent  his  aid  in  their  support  at  the  battle 
of  New  Orleans,  under  Jackson.  He  married 
Ollie  DeHart,  a lady  of  French  extraction, 
and  both  lived  to  be  aged  in  years  and  honored 
by  all  who  knew  them;  they  were  leading 
members  of  the  United  Brethern  church,  and 
in  the  Masonic  order  Mr.  Lower  held  a very 
high  rank.  He  served  his  fellow-citizens  as 
county  commissioner  for  several  years,  and 
was  never  behindhaiul  in  yeilding  up  his  serv- 
ices when  the  public  good  recpiired  them.  An- 
drevv  T.  Lower,  son  of  John  and  father  of  Mrs. 
Scott,  was  born  in  Claiborne  county,  Tenn. , 
and  after  a married  life  of  fifty  years  died 
February  22,  1876,  at  the  age  of  sixty-eight 
years — his  widow,  lUizabeth,  dying  in  1878, 
at  the  age  of  sixty-inne  years.  Sarah  Jane 
(Lower)  Scott  was  born  in  Hendricks  county, 
Ind.,  january  12,  1848,  was  reared  to  the 
wholesome  life  of  the  farm,  and  bore  her  hus- 
band the  following  children:  Morning  A., 
John  11.,  Nathaniel  T.,  Adelia  A.,  Liltie  L. , 
Minnie  O.,  Charles  R.,  George  W'.,  Guy  B., 


UBRARY 
OF  THE 

UWVERSITY  OF^  IWNOIT 


OF  BOONE  COUNTY. 


449 


Eddie  B.  and  Roy  Clevelanc],  These  children 
have  been  carefnlly  educated,  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Scott  being  strong  advocates  of  mental  prog- 
ress and  hearty  supporters  of  the  educational 
system  of  Harrison  township.  Mr.  Scott  has 
done  faithful  service  as  school  trustee  time 
and  time  again,  and  never  tires  in  his  efforts  to 
promote  educational  interests.  He  is  a model 
farmer  and  has  acquired  a fine  reputation 
throughout  his  township  for  his  agricultural 
skill  and  thrift,  and  of  his  farm  of  240  acres  he 
has  earned  200  acres  by  his  own  labor. 


aHARLES  W.  SCOTT,  clerk  of  Boone 
circuit  court,  Indiana,  and  an  enter- 
prising merchant  of  Lebanon,  is  of 
Scotch-Irish  descent,  was  born  in 
Bellefontaine,  Ohio,  January  25,  1847,  and 
was  about  five  years  of  age  when  brought  by 
his  parents  to  Lebanon,  Boone  county,  Ind., 
where  he  attended  the  public  schools  until  he 
reached  the  age  of  seventeen  years,  when, 
filled  with  patriotic  ardor,  he  enlisted,  to  assist 
in  the  preservation  of  the  integrity  of  his  be- 
loved country,  in  company  F,  One  Hundred 
and  Thirty-fifth  Indiana  volunteer  infantry,  for 
100  days,  under  Capt.  R.  A.  Williamson.  He 
was  seized  with  chronic  diarrhoea,  however, 
and  for  a time  was  confined  in  the  hospital  at 
Nashville,  Tenn.,  but  served  out  the  full  time 
of  his  enlistment,  nevertheless,  and  on  his  re- 
turn home,  enlisted  April  1,  1865,  in  company 
G,  One  Hundred  and  Fifty-fourth  Indiana  in- 
fantry, for  one  year.  He  was  assigned  to  duty 
in  the  Shenandoah  valley,  but  was  again  at-  j 
tacked  by  his  old  disorder,  and  was  confined 
in  the  Federal  hospital  at  Stephenson,  Va., 
and  then,  again,  at  Cumberland,  Md.,  and  was 
sent  thence  to  the  general  hospital  at  Clary- 
ville,  Md.,  whence  he  went  to  Wheeling,  W. 
Va.,  where  he  was  discharged  under  general 

orders  in  the  fall  of  1865.  He  returned  home 
22 


a constitutional  wreck,  and  for  several  months 
was  unable  to  attend  to  business,  and  even  to 
this  day  his  health  is  in  a shattered  condition. 
When  he  had  sufficiently  recuperated,  he  joined 
his  father  in  the  mercantile  business,  but  in 
1875  sold  out  his  interest  and  engaged  for  one 
year  in  the  jewelry  trade,  when  he  again  sold 
out;  for  four  years  afterward  he  clerked  for 
Wilson  & Baker,  merchants  of  Lebanon,  and 
then  for  five  years  was  in  the  grocery  business 
on  the  north  side.  In  the  fall  of  1890,  he  was 
elected,  on  the  democratic  ticket,  clerk  of  the 
Boone  county  circuit  court,  and  being  a very 
popular  man,  received  a very  large  majority 
and  succeeded  a republican  in  the  office. 

Mr.  Scott  was  married  June  30,  1871,  at 
Lima,  Ohio,  to  Miss  Lizzie  Kiplinger,  daughter 
of  William  S.  and  Mary  (Thatcher)  Kiplinger. 
This  lady’s  father  was  a contractor  and  builder 
and  constructed  many  of  the  best  edifices  in 
Lima.  Four  children  have  been  born  to  the 
union  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Scott,  and  were  named 
John  William,  Mary  Lula,  Wallace  A.  and  May 
Queen,  all  of  whom  were  born  in  Lebanon, 
Ind.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Scott  were  members  of 
the  Methodist  church,  and  their  daily  walk 
through  life  shows  the  sincerity  of  their  religi- 
ous faith.  Mr.  Scott  is  serving  his  second 
term  as  commander  of  Rich  Mountain  post. 
No.  42,  G.  A.  R.,  and  has  held  all  the  chairs 
in  Ben  Adhem  lodge.  No.  472,  I.  O.  O.  F.  ; 
was  also  a member  of  the  grand  lodge,  and 
grand  senior  warden  of  the  grand  encampment 
of  the  same  order;  he  is  a member  of  the  I.  O. 
R.  M.,  Winnebago  tribe.  No.  36,  and  has 
filled  all  the  offices  in  his  tribe;  likewise  is  a 
member  of  the  grand  council;  as  a K.  of  P.  he 
is  a member  of  Lebanon  lodge.  No.  45,  and 
is,  moreover,  past  chancellor  of  this  order,  and 
a member  of  the  grand  lodge. 

The  remote  ancestors  of  Charles  W.  Scott 
came  to  America  in  the  colonial  days  and  set- 
tled in  Pennsylvania.  Hisgrandfather,  Samuel 


450 


B I O G R A PII I C A I.  H r ST(4  R Y 


Scott,  moved  in  his  yoiin^'  days  to  Licking- 
county,  Ohio.  He  had  married  in  Pennsylvania 
Sarah  Moore,  who  hore  him  five  children:  | 
Elizaheth  [..Joseph,  [ohn  M.,  James  M and 
Sarah  C.  4'he  third  child  in  the  above  family, 
john  M.,  was  born  in  Licking  county,  Ohio, 
in  1S24,  and  married  in  Hardin,  Ohio,  A])ril 
19,  1846,  Mary  A.  IMue,  daughter  of  Barna- 
bas and  Mary  (Hilliardj  Blue,  the  result  of 
which  union  was  seven  children,  viz:  Charles 
\V.,  whose  name  opens  this  sketch;  Edward  | 
L.  ; Flora  G. ; Amanda;  Harry  B.,  who  died  at  j 
the  age  of  fourteen  years;  Hattie,  and  Lizzie,  j 
who  died  in  infancy;  of  this  family  the  three  | 
first  named  were  born  in  Ohio,  and  the  remain- 
ing four  in  Lebanon,  Ind.  His  great  grand- 
father, Joseph  Scott,  was  horn  in  Ireland,  j 
coming  to  this  country  when  a young  man.  j 

His  great  grandmother,  (Curry)  Scott, 

was  horn  in  Scotland  and  also  came  to 
America  in  an  early  day  and  settled  with  her 
parents  m Pennsylvaina,  near  her  to-be  future  | 
husband.  His  grandfather,  Samuel  Scott,  ' 
moved  in  his  young  days  to  Licking  comity,  | 
Ohio,  having  previously  been  married  to  J 
Sarah  Moore  in  Pennsylvania.  His  grand-  | 
father,  Barnabas  Blue,  was  born  near  Harper's 
Ferry,  Va.,  and  moved  when  a boy  with  his 
father  to  Miami  county,  Ohio,  and  settled 
near  the  present  city  of  Piqua.  Mary  (Hill- 
iard) Blue  was  horn  and  reared  in  and  near 
Cincinnati,  Ohio,  until  fifteen  years  of  age, 
when  her  father  removed  to  what  is  the  city  of 
Pifjua,  Ohio,  but  at  that  time  the  jiresent 
thriving  city  consisted  of  one  log  cabin,  which 
was  occupied  by  a French  family. 

James  M.  Scott  was  ajiprenticed  when  fif- 
teen years  of  age  to  Mr.  Knajip,  of  Bellefon- 
tain,  Ohio,  to  learn  the  tailoring  trade — his 
father's  contract  with  Mr.  Knapp  being  that 
he  was  to  serve  until  twenty-one  years  of  age 
and  then  he  was  to  receive  one  good  suit  of 
jeans  clothes  and  a Bible.  After  jiassing  four 


or  five  years  in  Logan  and  Shelby  counties, 
Ohio,  he  came  to  Lebanon,  Ind.,  in  1852,  and 
opened  a dry  goods  store-,  which  he  conducted 
for  many  y^ars  and  became  one  of  the  best 
known  business  men  of  Boone  county.  Be- 
tween 1854  and  1856  he  was  postmaster  of 
the  city,  an  office  he  filled  to  the  entire  satis- 
faction of  the  public.  He  took  a leading  part 
in  the  building  of  the  Missionary  Baptist 
church  in  the  city,  his  wife  being  an  ardent 
member  of  this  denomination.  In  politics  he 
was  a Jacksonian  democrat;  but  was  a stanch 
supported  of  the  Union  cause  during  the  late 
Civd  war,  giving  his  only  son  old  enough  to 
enlist,  Charles  W. , to  the  service  of  the  Union 
cause.  Mr.  Scott  was  always  active  in  the 
promotion  of  the  best  interests  of  the  city  of 
Lebanon,  and  erected  some  of  its  finest  busi- 
ness blocks,  among  them,  in  company  with  G. 
W.  Baird,  the  marble  front  on  the  corner  of 
Lebanon  and  Main  streets.  He  took  an  active 
interest  in  educational  matters  and  in  every- 
thing else  that  led  to  the  juiblic  welfare.  The 
business  firms  with  which  he  was  connected 
w’ere  Scott  A McLaughlin,  Scott  c\:  Baird, 
Scott  (S:  Daily  and  Scott  lS;  Son.  His  death 
took  jilace  Angnst  31,  1877,  but  his  widow 
survived  until  August  2,  1887,  and  in  their  de- 
mise Lebanon  sustained  a severe  loss. 


ELSON  SHAW,  a prominent  farmer 
I a and  stock  raiser  of  Eagle  township, 

B I Boone  county,  Ind.,  is  a native  of 

Livingston  county,  N.  Y.,  and  a son 
ol  john  and  Clarissa  Shaw,  who  were  born  re- 
specti\-(dy  in  the  states  of  New  \’ork  and  \’er- 
mont.  'Phe  birth  ol  john  Shaw  occurred  Sep- 
femher  17,  1792,  and  he  was  married  in  New 
York,  in  the  year  1815,  to  Clarissa  Stearns, 
who  was  horn  on  the  eighteenth  day  of  Octo- 
ber, 1792.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Shaw  resided  in 
New  5'ork  until  1825,  when  they  emigrated  to 


OF  BOONE  COUNTY. 


451 


Clinton  count}’,  Ohio;  tlience,  five  years  later, 
to  Boone  county,  Ind.,  where  they  settled  on 
a tract  of  land  in  Eagle  township,  which  Mr. 
Shaw  purchased  from  the  government.  John 
Shaw  was  a man  of  local  prominence,  and  his 
death,  which  occurred  August  ii,  1883,  at  an 
advanced  age,  was  an  event  greatly  deplored 
by  a large  circle  of  friends  in  Eagle  and  other 
townships.  Mrs.  Shaw  preceded  her  husband 
to  the  silent  land,  departing  this  life  in  the 
month  of  May,  1863.  The  names  of  the  four 
children  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Shaw  are  John  S., 
Nelson,  Laura  J.  and  Amanda. 

Nelson  Shaw  was  born  July  ii,  1817,  and 
came  with  his  parents  to  Indiana  in  1830,  since 
which  time  he  has  made  his  home  in  Boone 
county.  During  the  period  intervening  be- 
tween his  arrival  and  the  present  time  he  has 
witnessed  a scene  of  transformation  such  as  is 
possible  only  in  this  western  country,  namely, 
the  redemption  of  the  county  from  a compara- 
tively primitive  state  to  its  present  position  of 
enlightenment  among  the  most  favored  sec- 
tions of  Indiana.  Mr.  Shaw  was  married  in 
Marion  county  November  7,  1839,  to  Sarah 
Hartman,  who  was  born  in  Stokes  county,  N. 
C.,  April  24,  1818,  the  daughter  of  John  and 
Nancy  (Markland)  Hartman.  These  parents 
moved  to  Boone  county,  Ind.,  as  early  as  the 
year  1830,  and  had  a family  of  eleven  children, 
namely:  Temperance,  Polly,  .A.nnie,  Sarah, 
JohnW.,  Matthew  E.,  Daniel,  Harvey  (h, 
Nancy  G.,  James  T.  and  Silas Mk  Mr.  Shaw, 
after  his  marritige,  began  life  for  himself  on 
the  farm  where  he  now  lives,  in  Eagle  town- 
ship, and  has  become  one  of  the  most  success- 
ful agriculturists  in  his  part  of  the  county.  He 
has  succeeded  in  accumulating  a handsome 
competence,  including  a valuable  farm  of  210 
acres,  and  to  him,  as  much  as  to  anyone  man, 
is  Eagle  township  indebted  for  its  material  and 
moral  development.  Mr.  Shaw  is  public  spir- 
ited and  enterprising,  and  occupies  a prominent 


place  in  the  confidence  of  his  fellow-citi;^ens, 
who  have  learned  to  esteem  him  for  his  many 
sterling  (jualities  of  manhood.  Eor  many 
years  he  has  been  a consistent  member  of  the 
Methodist  church,  to  which  his  wife  also  be- 
longs. Mr.  Shaw  and  wife  have  had  ten  chil- 
dren, namely;  John  W.,  James,  Louisa, 
David  N.,  William  M..  Thomas  M.,  Sarah  E., 
Annie,  Albert  M. , and  one  that  died  in  infancy 
unnamed. 


HNDREW  J.  SHELBY  is  one  of  the 
leading  lawyers  of  Boone  county, 
Ind.  Although  he  has  numbered  but 
a few  years  in  the  practice  of  his  pro- 
fession, he  has  established  a repatation  as  a 
successful  and  reliable  attorney,  having  in  so 
short  a time  built  up  a lucrative  and  e.xtensive 
practice.  He  springs  from  sterling  Irish  an- 
cestry, and  from  an  old  pioneer  Kentucky  fam- 
ily, one  of  his  great  uncles  having  been  a com- 
panion of  the  famous  Daniel  Boone.  His 
great-grandfather  was  born  and  reared  in  Ire- 
land, having  come  from  the  old  country  in  the 
year  1753,  and  settled  in  New  York,  whence 
he  moved  to  and  settled  in  the  state  of  Ken- 
tucky,- where  he  died  in  the  year  1790. 
Joseph  Shelby,  grandfather  of  onr  subject,  was 
born  in  Kentucky  in  the  year  1789,  in  Mason 
county,  where  he  lived  until  the  year  1812, 
when  he  moved  to  Union  county,  Ind.  He 
served  two  years  in  the  war  of  1812.  In  the 
year  1829,  he  moved  to  Hancock  county,  Ind., 
and  settled  upon  a farm,  where  he  spent  the 
remainder  of  his  days.  He  became  a promi- 
nent and  successful  farmer  and  died  at  the  age 
of  sixty-nine  years.  His  son,  Benjamin  E. 
Shelby,  the  father  of  our  subject,  was  born  in 
Union  county,  Ind.,  in  1829,  and  with  his  par- 
ents and  seven  other  children  moved  to  Han- 
cock county,  Ind.,  in  1829.  He  received  his 
education  in  the  district  school,  worked  on 


B I O G R A P 1 1 1 C A L 1 1 1 S T O R Y 


45L> 


his  fatlier's  farm  until  of  age,  and  upon  the 
death  of  his  father,  he,  with  Ins  mother,  took 
charge  of  the  farm.  At  the  age  of  twenty-si.x 
years  he  was  married  to  Albertine,  daughter  j 
of  John  and  Elizabeth  (King)  Parker.  John 
Parker  was  born  in  the  state  of  Ohio,  and 
moved  to  Hancock  comity,  Ind.,  and  was  one 
of  the  early  settlers  of  that  county.  He  was 
of  Welsh  descent,  Elizabeth  (King)  Parker  [ 
was  born  in  Ohio,  and  with  her  husliand  moved  i 
to  Hancock  county.  She  was  of  frish  descent.  ] 
Mr.  Parker  was  an  honest,  Christian  gen- 
tleman, and  became  a successful  farmer. 
After  his  marriage,  Benjamin  E.  Shelby  re- 
mained upon  the  home  farm,  having  purchased 
the  interest  of  his  brothers  and  sisters,  and 
largely  engaged  in  farming  and  stock  dealing, 
and  is  now  one  of  the  prominent  and  prosper- 
ous farmers  of  Hancock  county.  To  himself 
and  wife  were  born  twelve  children;  we  give 
their  nannes  in  proper  order  of  birth:  Joshua 
\\'.,  Clara  L.,  Josiah  H.,  Mary  J.,  Cicorge 
W.,  Selodeous  M.,  Andrew  J.,  Minnie  M., 
Benjamin  E.,  John  15.,  Angie  B. , and  Noble 
W.  Mr.  Shelby  gave  all  his  children  the  bene- 
fit of  the  district  schools,  some  receiving  a 
collegiate  education.  The  children  are  all  j 
well  settled  in  life  and  have  become  successful  | 
men  and  women,  depending  entirely  on  their 
own  efforts  and  not  receiving  aid  from  home. 
Mr.  Shelby  is  a stanch  democrat,  and  socially 
stands  decidedly  high  for  his  sterling  worth. 

Andrew  |.  Shell)y,  our  subject,  was  born  ! 
on  his  father's  farm  in  Hanco(d<  countw  Ind.,  | 
on  the  I/th  day  oi  .Sei)tend)er,  i Sbb,  and  re-  ; 
mained  with  his  father,  working  on  the  i.arm  j 
until  he  was  eighteen  years  old,  and  received  j 
the  benefit  of  the  district  school.  At  this  time  ! 
he  decidt'd  to  secure  for  himsell  an  education;  I 
he  attended  a business  college  at  Eadoga,  Ind., 
and  next  entered  the  State  Normal  at  'I'l'rre  ^ 
Ilaute,  Ind.,  and  next  attended  the  Central  ! 
Normal  c'ollege  at  I)anvilU‘,  Ind.  He  was  | 

a 


then  a member  of  the  Depauw  university  (law 
department)  at  Creencastle,  Ind.  While  gain- 
ing his  education  he  acquired  accuracy  and 
thoroughness,  besides  assisting  himself  finan- 
cially by  teaching  two  terms  of  school.  He 
pursued  his  legal  studies  under  Hon.  James  L. 
Mason,  a prominent  and  wealthy  attorney  of 
Greenfield,  Ind.,  who  was  widely  known  for 
his  legal  attainments,  and  under  whom  a great 
number  of  young  men  gained  their  legal  ac- 
(luirements.  In  1891,  at  the  age  of  twenty- 
four,  Mr.  Shelby  began  the  practice  of  his 
chosen  profession  at  Lebanon,  and  from  the 
first  he  was  successful  and  gained  a good 
standing,  and  soon  possessed  the  largest  prac- 
tice of  any  of  the  younger  members  of  the 
Boone  county  bar,  and  now,  by  his  industry, 
skill  and  ability,  he  has  a lucrative  practice, 
having  the  same  self-reliance  in  his  profession 
as  he  possessed  in  accpiiring  his  education, 
and  keeping  in  view  his  favorite  maxim,  of 
doing  unto  others  as  he  would  have  others  do 
unto  him,  he  has  made  himself  to  be  what  he 
is — an  able  and  proficient  lawyer.  Eraternally 
he  is  a member  of  the  Independent  Order  of 
Odd  Eellows,  Ben  Adhem  lodge.  No.  472, 
and  of  the  Improved  Order  of  Red  Men,  Win- 
nebago tribe,  No.  36.  In  political  opinion,  he 
is  a stanch  democrat.  Mr.  Shelby,  soon  after 
entering  upon  the  practice  of  law,  was  married 
to  Pearl,  daughter  of  Gyrus  W.  aud  Sarah 
( W'ilson)  Ball,  of  Kush  county,  Ind  Mr.  Ball 
is  a promiiunt  and  wealthy  retired  farmer. 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Shelby  have  two  daughters,  Joy 
and  Madge;  and  both  jiarents  are  devout 
members  of  the  M.  E.  church.  The  legal  pro- 
fession is  ])erhaps  the  most  difficult  of  any  in 
which  to  gain  a standing  that  will  provide  a 
lucrative  practice;  most  lawyers  think  them- 
s(dves  fortunate  that,  after  years  of  diligent 
effort,  tlu'y  have  attained  this  |)ositi(m.  That 
Mr.  Shelby  should  have  immediately  become 
successful  demonstrates  his  natural  ability  for 


OF  BOONE  COUNTY. 


458 


his  [)rofessi()n  and  the  confidence  of  the  people 
in  his  intej^rity  and  ability.  ffe  is  a yonnj,>^ 
man  of  quick  and  active  mentality,  accurate  in 
his  judginent,  and  as  a speaker  is  versatile  and 
pleasant. 


ENRY  Z.  SHERRILL, an  enterprising^ 
young  farmer  of  Jackson  township, 
Boone  county,  Ind.,  was  born  in  Ire- 
dell county,  N.  C.,  November  6,  1854, 
and  is  of  French  extraction.  His  great-grand- 
father, Alford  Sherrill,  was  a planter  and  slave- 
holder of  considerable  prominence  in  Alexan- 
der county,  N.  C.,  and  his  son  Alford  held  a 
similar  position,  later  on,  in  the  same  county. 
The  younger  Alford  married  Miss  Moore,  of  an 
equally  prominent  family,  which  union  re- 
sulted in  the  birth  of  the  following  children: 
Franklin,  John,  Hiram,  James,  Leander, 
Rufus,  Phebe  and  Lou.  Alford  the  younger 
was  also  the  owner  of  a large  plantation  and  a 
number  of  slaves,  and  was  a gentleman  of 
considerable  consequence  in  his  county. 
Franklin  Sherrill,  mentioned  above  and  the 
father  of  Henry  Z.,  our  subject,  was  born  in 
Alexander  county,  N.  C.,  September  10,  1821, 
was  married  in  his  native  state  to  Miss  Eliza- 
beth Tucker,  the  accomplished  daughter  of 
Zacharich  Tucker.  This  lady  is  a leading 
member  of  the  Baptist  chnrch  and  is  active  in 
church  work.  She  and  her  husband  now  live 
in  retirement  on  their  estate  in  Iredell  county, 
N.  C.,  and  are  reverenced  by  a large  circle  of 
devoted  friends. 

Henry  Z.  Sherrill  remained  on  the  lu)me 
place  in  Iredell  countv,  N.  C.,  until  seventeen 
years  of  age,  when  he  came  to  Indiana  and  for 
one  year  stayed  with  some  friends  in  Hamilton 
county:  he  then  went  to  Augusta,  Marion 
county,  Ind.,  and  passed  two  years  with  friends. 
In  the  spring  of  1875  he  came  to  Boone 
county,  where  he  learned  tile  making,  and  for 


six  years  followed  this  for  an  occupation,  and 
having  become  an  expert,  made  money.  He 
now  married  Miss  Emma  J.  Armstrong,  daugh- 
ter of  David  and  Esther  (Vail)  Armstrong,  of 
Jefferson  township,  both  members  of  the 
United  Brethren  church.  Mr.  Armstrong 
owns  a large  farm,  improved  with  modern, 
ornamental  buildings,  and  well  ditched,  fenced 
and  cultivated,  and  on  this  farm  Mrs.  Arm- 
strong still  resides — a hale  and  healthy  lady, 
with  the  promise  of  many  years  of  usefulness 
still  before  her.  For  a year  after  marriage, 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Sherrill  lived  on  the  farm  of  the 
latter's  grandfather  in  Montgomery  county, 
and  then  Mr.  Sherrill  resumed  the  manufacture 
of  tile  at  Bower’s  Station,  Montgomery 
county,  for  a year,  after  which  he  came  to 
Boone  county  and  built  a tile  factory  in  Max, 
which  he  operated  five  years,  then  sold  and 
purchased  his  present  farm  of  i 12  acres  of  as 
fertile  land  as  there  is  in  the  county,  and 
drained  with  over  1,000  rods  of  tile.  He  has 
erected  modern,  substantial,  farm  buildings, 
including  a handsome  residence  and  barn.  The 
money  to  purchase  this  property  and  make 
these  improvements  has  been  earned  through 
Mr.  Sherrill’s  energy  and  industry  within  the 
past  twenty  years,  and  his  good  management 
cannot  be  too  highly  commended. 

Mr.  Sherrill  had  the  misfortune  to  lose  his 
wife  January  27,  1889,  through  a sudden  at- 
tack of  acute  pneumonia.  She  died  in  the 
United  Brethren  church,  of  which  she  was  an 
active  member,  and  her  loss  was  mourned  by 
a large  circle  of  friends,  but  was  most  sadly 
felt  in  the  home  vvhich  she  had  presided  over 
with  so  much  grace  aud  affection.  She  was 
the  mother  cf  the  following  children:  Mary  A., 
Anna  E.,  Lou.  E.,  Grover  and  Jesse  L.  Of 
these  Lou.  E.  was  taken  ill  and  died  while  Mr. 
Sherrill  was  absent  at  his  old  home  in  North 
Carolina,  and  through  the  negligence  of  the 
telegraph  company  to  deliver  a message  on 


451 


BIOGRAPIIICAT.  HISTORY 


time',  he  \v;is  (leprive'd  of  the  melancholy  pleas- 
ure of  being  in  her  company  during  her  last 
hours  on  earth.  Mr.  Sherrill  is  a member  of 
the  Christian  church  and  is  very  liberal  in  his 
contributions  to  its  support.  He  is  also  a 
member  of  the  Thorntown  lodge,  No.  i i 3,  F. 
(N  A.  M.,  and  of  Advance  lodge.  No.  141,  I. 
O.  I'l.  M.'  In  jiolitics  he  is  a democrat.  His 
social  standing  is  very  high  as  a citizen,  a 
farmer  and  Christian  gentleman. 


ISAAC  SHELLEY,  a leading  farmer 
and  old  citizen  of  Jackson  township, 
Hoone  county,  Ind.,  was  born  August 
27,  1836,  in  Union  county,  Ind.,  and 
since  his  fifth  year  has  been  a resident  of  Looiu' 
county.  His  paternal  grandfather  was  Adam 
Shelley,  a native  of  Pennsylvania,  and  later  a 
farmer  (d'  large  means  in  the  state  of  Yirginia. 
The  w’ife  of  Adam  Shelley  was  Malinda  I^in- 
dermude,  who  lived  and  died  in  Virginia;  after 
her  death  her  husband  married  Eve  Slagle,  of 
that  state.  Adam  Shelley  is  remembered  as  a 
man  of  character  in  his  community,  was  a 
free  soiler  in  his  political  belief,  a leading 
member  of  the  Lutheran  church,  and  his  death 
(jccurred  in  the  year  1861.  Abraham  Shel- 
ley, son  of  the  above,  and  father  of 

the  subject  of  this  mention,  w'as  horn  No- 
vember 14,  1811,  in  Pennsylvania,  went  to 
Virginia  when  a boy  and  wuis  there  married  to 
Delilah  Fleener,  whose  birth  occurred  on  the 
twenty-second  day  of  May,  1810.  Mrs.  Shel- 
ley was  a daughter  of  D.  and  Mary  fHun- 
sneker)  Fleener,  and  became  the  mother  of  the 
follow'ing  children;  Darhara,  Adam,  Isaac, 
Elizabeth,  Martha,  James  K.,  Harriet,  John, 
Noah,  Millie,  Mar_\'  and  Cc.'orge.  Abraham 
Shelley  follow'ed  the  pursuit  of  agriculture  in 
Virginia  for  sonu-  years,  and  then  emigrated 
westw'ard  to  Indiana,  settling  in  Union  eouidy; 
thence,  in  1841,  he;  moved  to  the  county  of 


Hoone,  and  entered  apart  of  the  present  farm 
in  Jackson  township,  consisting  at  that  time  of 
160  acres.  Additions  w'ere  made  to  this  place 
at  different  times,  untd  it  amounted  to  240 
acres,  and  became  one  of  the  best  improved 
faruis  of  the  community.  Mr.  Shelley  was  a 
man  of  much  more  than  ordinary  energy, 
served  as  trustee  of  his  township  under  the  old 
law,  and  lived  a sincere  Christian  life  as  a 
member  of  the  old  Christian  church.  He  died 
August  3,  1872;  his  w'ife  preceded  him  to  the 
grave  in  August,  1853.  An  incident  in  the 
family  history  of  Mrs.  Delilah  Shelley  is  worthy 
of  note  in  this  connection.  In  the  early  colo- 
nial history  of  the  United  States,  during  an 
Indian  outbreak,  a battle  was  fought  not  far 
from  a village  b\'  the  name  of  Hunsucker,  in 
w'hich  the  savages  were  defeated.  In  their 
haste  to  escape  they  left  behind  them  their 
camp  and  belongings,  and  the  victors,  coming 
up,  found  there  a small  white  boy,  wdro  had 
been  taken  prisoner.  They  cared  for  the  little 
stranger,  and  not  being  able  to  ascertain  his 
name  or  the  whereabouts  of  his  people,  called 
him  Hunsucker  from  the  village  near  by,  hence 
the  origin  of  the  family  name;  this  ladwasthe 
great-great-grandfather  of  Mrs.  Shelley.  Sev- 
eral of  his  descendants  served  with  distinction 
in  the  war  of  1812,  and  became  prominent 
residents  of  a number  of  the  western  states. 

Isaac  Shelley,  as  already  stated,  became  a 
resident  of  hfoone  county  at  a very  early  age 
and  received  the  rudiments  of  an  education  in 
the  |uimitive  log  school-house,  a brief  descrip- 
tion of  which  is  here  given:  The  building 
pro|)er,  constructed  of  rough  logs  and  covered 
with  clapboards  held  to  tlu'ir  places  by  weight 
poles,  was  about  si.xteen  by  twenty  Iet;t  in 
area,  su|)idied  with  split  pole  benches  without 
hacks,  a writing-desk  made  ol  a hoard  resting 
on  iH'gs  driven  into  tlu'  wall,  while  a large  fire- 
place occupied  nearly  an  entire  end  of  the 
building,  the  whole  lighted  by  a window  made 


OF  BOONE  COUNTY. 


455 


l)y  removing  a log,  into  the  opening  of  which 
greased  paper  was  used  in  lieu  of  glass.  When 
the  family  moved  to  Boone  county,  the  coun- 
try was  new  and  abounded  in  all  kinds  of 
game — deer,  wild  turkey  and  bear  being  especi- 
ally plentiful  and  serving  the  early  settlers  their 
chief  supply  of  meat.  Amid  such  scenes  and 
surroundings  were  the  early  years  of  the  sub- 
ject passed,  and  he  grew  up  a strong  vigorous 
boy,  able,  while  still  quite  young,  to  do  a 
man’s  work  with  the  a.\  or  plough.  On 
December  19,  1858,  was  solemnized  his  mar- 
riage to  Malinda  Booker,  who  was  born  Janu- 
ary 2,  1841,  daughter  of  James  and  Jane 

(King)  Booker,  early  settlers  of  Putnam  coun- 
ty, Ind.  To  the  marriage  of  Mr  and  Mrs. 
Shelley  have  been  born  the  following  children; 
James  F , Delila  J.,  and  John  A.,  all  married 
and  doing  well  for  themselves.  Mr.  Shelley 
has  a good  farm,  well  improved  and  drained 
and  supplied  with  buildings,  which  in  their 
various  appointments  will  compare  favorably 
with  improvements  of  the  kind  in  the  com- 
munity w'here  he  resides.  He  has  been  a man 
of  wonderful  vitality  and  preserved  his  physi- 
cal health  until  recently,  when  he  sustained  a 
serious  injury  while  pulling  up  a heavy  load  of 
hay  in  the  barn,  the  rope  breaking,  letting  the 
pulley  fall  upon  him.  Politically  .Mr.  Shelley 
is  a supporter  of  the  populist  partv,  the  princi- 
ples of  which  he  believes  to  be  for  the  best  in- 
terests of  the  country.  Fraternally  he  belongs 
to  the  F.  & A.  M.  and  the  Independent  Order 
of  Odd  Fellows,  in  both  of  which  he  is  a valued 
member.  The  family  of  Mrs.  Shelley  were 
originally  from  Virginia,  but  came  to  Indiana 
from  Kentucky,  in  which  state  her  grandfather, 
John  Booker,  lived  and  died;  he  was  a soldier 
in  the  war  of  1812.  The  following  are  the 
names  of  the  children  born  to  James  and  Jane 
Booker,  parents  of  Mrs.  Shelley — Catherine, 
Elizabeth,  P'rank,  Malinda,  Louise,  and 
Samuel.  By  a subsequent  marriage  with 


Margaret  Howard,  James  Booker  had  five  chil- 
dren, namely:  Melissa,  Howard,  Sarah  A., 
Erasmus  P.  and  Mary  E. 


HOMAS  H.  SHEPHERD,  of  Perry 
township,  Boone  county,  Ind.,  was 
born  in  Patrick  county,  Va.,  Decem- 
ber 20,  1849,  and  is  a son  of  Huel  J. 
and  Leonea  (Howell)  Shepherd.  The  father 
was  born  in  Bedford  county,  Va. , in  1822,  and 
the  mother  in  Floyd  county,  Va. , in  1823. 
They  were  married  in  Floyd  county,  located 
first  in  Patrick  county,  then,  two  years  later, 
moved  to  the  Blue  Ridge  mountains,  where 
they  lived  ten  years,  and  finally  settled  in  Car- 
roll  county,  A’a. , where  the  father  still  resides, 
the  mother  having  died  January  5,  1894. 
There  were  born  to  them  twelve  children,  viz: 
John  W.  (deceased),  James  I).,  Joseph  L., 
(deceased),  Thomas  H.,  Caleb  A.,  Elizabeth 
(deceased),  Artemissa,  Mary  (deceased), 
Robert  H.,  P'rank  I.,  Lenileoti  (deceased). 
Huel  J.  is  a Baptist  in  religion,  a democrat  in 
politics,  and  was  a soldier  in  the  Confederate 
army.  He  is  a successful  farmer  and  owns 
180  acres  of  good  land. 

Thomas  H.  Shepherd  remained  with  his 
parents  in  Carroll  county,  Va. , until  1872, 
when  he  came  to  Indiana  and  settled  in  Ploone 
county,  where  he  followed  general  labor  for  a 
year,  then  learned  carpentering;  in  1875  he 
bought  his  present  farm,  which  he  runs  in  con- 
nection with  his  trade.  December  4,  1879, 
he  married  Mary  A.  Schenck,  a native  of 
Boone  county,  born  October  7,  1858,  and  a 
daughter  of  Daniel  Schenck  of  Perry  township, 
Boone  county,  Ind.,  a pioneer  and  wealthy 
land  owner.  To  this  unioiYfive  children  have 
been  born,  viz:  Zelma  V.,  Leonea  (de- 
ceased), Naomi  (deceased),  Homer  and  Daniel. 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Shepherd  are  members  of  the 
Baptist  church,  and  in  politics  he  is  a people’s 


456 


BIOGRAPHICAL  HISTORY 


party  man.  He  is  also  a Freemason,  and  a 
member  of  lodge  No.  9,  at  Lebanon.  His 
farm  comprises  eighty  and  one-half  acres,  and 
is  in  a high  state  of  cultivation. 


AMES  SHERA,  a leading  farmer  of  Jack- 
son  township,  Boone  county,  Ind.,  is 
of  Irish-German  descent,  but  of  Indiana 
birth.  His  father,  Caleb  Shera,  was 
born  in  Rosscommon  county,  Ireland,  Novem- 
ber 20,  1 808,  and  at  the  age  of  twenty-four  came 
alone  to  America.  He  passed  a short  time  in 
O.xford,  Ohio,  and  then  came  to  Indiana.  In 
Franklin  county,  this  state,  December  21, 
1837,  hs  married  Elizabeth,  daughter  of  john 
Shafer;  Mr.  Shera  was  a leading  farmer  of 
Decatur  county,  where  he  entered  160  acres 
of  land  near  Sardinia.  Here  were  born  his 
family,  who  were  named  Catherine,  William 
(who  died  in  the  army),  Janies,  Thomas  M., 
Isaac,  Wilson,  Martha  A.,  Sylvester  C.,  and 
John,  who  is  deceased.  Caleb  Shera  passed 
the  greater  part  of  his  life  in  Decatur  county, 
was  a pious  Methodist,  a noble  man  in  all  his 
impulses,  and  died  near  Sardinia,  Decatur 
county,  Ind.,  October  30,  1779.  His  widow 

is  now  a resident  of  Sardinia  and  is  respected 
by  all  who  know  her. 

James  Shera,  the  principal  figure  in  this 
biography,  was  born  in  Decatur  county,  Ind., 
July  16,  1844,  on  his  father's  farm.  He  mar- 
ried in  November,  1868,  Sophia  Small,  a 
daughter  of  John  Small,  and  of  English  de- 
scent. The  children  born  to  this  union  were 
named  Charles  E.,  who  died  in  fancy,  and  Effie 
I.,  who  died  when  twenty  years  old.  In  1867 
Mr.  Shera  came  to  Boone  county,  and  settled 
on  a forest  farm,  and  here  he  lost  his  wife 
August,  1870.  She  was  a member  of  the 
Baptist  church,  and  was  mourned  by  a large 
circle  of  sincere  friends.  The  second  marriage 
of  Mr.  Shera  was  to  Margaret  C.  Heath, 


daughter  of  James  and  Elizabeth  (Neal)  Heath, 
both  of  Boone  county  and  both  now  deceased, 
Mrs.  Heath  having  died  at  the  age  of  fifty-two 
years  and  Mr.  Heath  at  sixty-nine,  and  both 
were  leading  members  of  the  Methodist  church. 
They  were  the  parents  of  the  following-named 
children;  Whlliam  P. , Margaret  C.,  Sarah  J., 
Louisa  A.,  Samuel  S.,  Emma  E.,  Rosanna, 
Basshie  M.,  and  James  M.,  all  living.  The 
children  born  to  James  and  Margaret  C.  Shera 
are  named;  Lizzie  M.,  Samuel  M.,  James  B., 
Arthur  M.,  Benjamin  and  Hazel  M. 

About  August  12,  1862,  James  Shera  enlist- 
ed in  Decatur  county,  in  company  I,  Sixty-eighth 
Indiana  volunteer  infantry,  was  mustered  in 
August  19,  equipped  with  Sj)ringfield  rifles  and 
sent  to  the  front;  September  15,  the  regiment 
went  to  Mumfordsville,  where  it  surrendered 
on  the  seventeenth,  and  was  exchanged 
December  26;  January  8,  1863,  he  assisted  in 
guarding  a fleet  from  Louisville  down  the 
Ohio  river  and  up  the  Cumberland  river  to 
Nashville;  two  steamers  were  burnt  by  the 
rebel  cavalry  below  Nashville;  Apri  1 2d,  his 
regiment  joined  the  main  army  under  Rosecrans 
at  Murfreesboro,  and  was  assigned  to  the 
Second  brigade.  Fourth  division.  Fourteenth 
army  corps,  under  General  Thomas;  April 
17th,  the  regiment  and  a force  of  6,000 
infantry  and  cavalry  went  on  a reconnaissance 
and  destroyed  the  railroad  between  Manchester 
and  McMinnville,  captured  a large  (juantity  of 
supplies,  with  200  prisoners,  horses,  mules, 
etc.;  June  24,  the  regiment  started  on  the 
camj)aign  for  Chattanooga,  was  engaged  at 
Hoover’s  Gap,  where  it  lost  one  man  killed, 
and  six  wouiuU'tl,  and  was  then  continually  on 
the  march  until  Jul\'  29,  when  it  went  into 
camp  at  llni\ersity  Heights;  /Xugust  17,  broke 
camp,  and  September  i 1 crossed  Lookout 
Mountain;  September  19  and  20  they  were 
in  the  battle  of  C'hickamauga,  in  which  battle 
Mr.  Shera's  company  went  in  with  thirty-four 


OF  BOONE  COUNTY 


457 


men  and  came  our  with  twelve — the  balance 
being  killed,  wounded  or  missing — the  regiment 
losing  one-third  of  its  members;  October  ii. 
the  regiment  was  assigned  to  the  Fourth  army 
corjis;  while  camped  at  Chattanooga,  rations 
ran  very  low,  and  the  men  were  glad  to  get  a 
fat  dog  or  mnle  to  eat;  November  23,  they 
moved  on  Missionary  Ridge;  on  the  night  of 
the  twenty-fourth  they  witnessed  the  fight 
above  the  clouds  with  Hooker  on  Lookout 
Mountain,  five  miles  distant;  November  25, 
they  engaged  in  assault  on  Missionary  Ridge, 
losing  five  officers  and  seventy-seven  men, 
killed  and  wounded;  on  the  same  night  the 
corps  was  ordered  on  a forced  march  to  Knox- 
ville, one  hundred  miles  distant,  to  take  part 
in  the  pursuit  of  Longstreet — marching  day 
and  night,  getting  such  rest  and  sleep  as  they 
could  by  the  roadside;  they  remained  near 
Knoxville  until  April,  1864,  when  they  return- 
ed to  Chattanooga  and  did  post  duty  the  sum- 
mer of  that  year;  August  14,  they  were  ordered 
to  Dalton,  Ga.,  where  the  rebel  Gen.  Wheeler’s 
cavalry  had  driven  the  Union  garrison  into  the 
fortifications  and  taken  the  town;  August  15, 
at  daylight,  under  Gen.  Steedman,  they 
charged  the  rebels,  driving  them  through  the 
place  on  the  double-quick;  from  that  time  on, 
the  regiment  was  on  similar  raids  almost  every 
week  during  the  remainder  of  the  summer; 
they  were  at  Decatur,  Ala.,  during  Hood’s  at- 
tack on  that  city,  and  on  the  15th  and  i6th  of 
December  were  engaged  at  Nashville,  where 
Hood’s  army  was  so  disastrously  defeated. 
On  the  twentieth  of  June,  1865,  with  his  regi- 
ment, Mr.  Shera  was  honorably  discharged 
and  returned  home.  It  was  not,  however, 
until  1893,  that  he  was  allowed  a pension,  and 
that  was  for  only  twelve  dollars  per  month. 
On  his  return,  Mr.  Shera  settled  down  to 
farming  and  has  one  of  the  finest  places  in 
Jackson  township,  adorned  with  a large  brick 
dwelling  and  farm  buildings  of  all  descriptions. 


His  farm  is  well  ditched  and  under  a state 
of  high  cidtivation,  and  ranks  favorably  with 
any  in  the  county.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Shera  are 
leading  members  of  the  Methodist  church,  of 
which  he  is  a trustee,  steward  and  recording 
steward.  He  is  also  a member  of  Advance 
post.  No.  524,  G.  A.  R. , and  in  politics  is 
a stanch  republican.  Socially  the  family 
stand  very  high,  and  Mr.  Shera  is  regarded 
as  one  of  the  most  reliable  and  useful  citi 
zens  of  Jackson  township  and  is  justly  honored 
for  his  war  record. 


AMES  SHIRLEY,  of  Perry  township, 
Boone  county,  Ind.,  was  born  in  Scott 
county,  Ky. , Eebruary  25,  1819,  a son 
of  Ezekiel  and  Della  (Shirley)  Shirley, 
both  parents  having  been  born  in  North  Caro- 
lina, where  they  were  married;  thence  they 
migrated  to  Scott  county,  Ky. , where  Ezekiel 
engaged  in  farming  fintil  1831,  when  he  brought 
his  family  to  Hendricks  county,  Ind.,  and 
rented  land  until  1838;  then  moved  to  Perry 
township,  Boone  county,  where  his  son  James, 
our  subject,  had  entered  land,  on  which  he 
resided  until  his  death  in  1864,  his  wife  surviv- 
ing him  until  the  next  year.  They  were  the 
parents  of  six  children,  viz. : Dickerson,  Elias, 
Benjamin,  Maria,  Amelia  and  James,  all  de- 
ceased with  the  exception  of  our  subject.  The 
remains  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Shirley  were  interred 
in  Mount  Tabor  cemetery,  both  having  died  in 
the  Baptist  faith. 

James  Shirley  worked  on  the  home  farm  in 
Hendricks  county,  Ind.,  from  1831  until  1838, 
when  he  launched  out  on  his  own  account, 
worked  hard  and  earned  the  money  to  buy  the 
fortv  acres  in  Perry  township  on  which  his 
parents  ended  their  days.  He  later  sold  this 
farm  and  bought  the  eighty  acres  on  which  he 
now  lives.  The  first  marriage  of  Mr.  Shirley 
took  place  in  Boone  county,  Ind.,  in  1839,  to 


BIOGRAPHICAL  HISTORY 


.ir,8 


Poiiier,  ;i  native  of  Putnam  county, 
Ind.,  and  daiiyditcu'  of  [osepfi  Poiner,  of  North 
Carolina.  Tliree  childnui  were  born  to  this 
union,  vi/.  : Henry  and  Parmelia,  deceased, 
and  Edward.  Mrs.  Shirley  died  in  1866,  and 
the  second  niarria^m  of  Mr.  Shirley  took  j)lace 
March  25,  1867,  to  Mrs.  Leaner  Smith,  who 
was  b()rn  in  Owen  county,  Ky.,  January  9, 
1830,  a dauf^'hter  of  John  and  Betsey  ( Roberts) 
Smith,  natives  of  North  Carolina,  who  both  [ 
died  when  Leaner  was  a child.  The  first  mar- 
ria,c(e  of  Leaner  was  with  Daniel  Smith,  to 
wh(nn  she  bore  nine  children;  Louisa  (de- 
ceased), Albert,  Henrietta,  Hugh,  Willis, 
George,  Charles,  Mary  and  Alice.  Daniel  Smith 
died  in  1865,  and  bv  her  marriage  with  Mr. 
Shirley  she  is  the  mother  of  one  child,  Peter, 
who  was  born  August  17,  1S68,  and  was  mar- 
ried in  Perry  township,  December  29,  1890,  to 
Miss  Lydia  Stanfield,  who  was  born  in  Jackson 
comity,  Ind.,  and  is  a daughter  of  Samuel  and 
Janie  (Smith)  Stanfield;  one  child.  Pearly, 
blesses  this  union. 


AMLS  W.  SHIRI.EY.— Change  is  con- 
stant and  general.  Generations  rise 
and  ]iass  unmarked  away,  and  it  is  a 
duty  to  posterity,  as  well  as  a jiresent 
gratification,  to  place  upon  the  printed  ])age  a 
true  record  of  the  lives  of  those  sterling  men 
who  have  done  so  nm(di  toward  establishing 
and  making  ])ermanent  the  ])resent  advanced 
state  of  rivili/ation  enjoycnl  by  the  great  com- 
monwealth ot  Indiana.  The  name  of  Shirley  I 
has  been  i)re-emincnt ly  identified  with  the  his- 
tory of  Boone  county  for  years,  and  it  is  with 
much  satisfaction  that  the  leading  fads  in  the  j 
lib'  ol  one  of  the  most  worthy  members  of  the 
family  are  herewith  pi'esi-nted  to  the  readers  of 
this  N'ohnne. 

)ames  W.  Shiiley  is  descended,  paternally,  j 
from  h'nglish  ancestry,  and  traci's  his  ancestry  I 


liack  to  his  great-great-grandfather,  James 
Shirley,  who  came  to  the  United  States  in 
ante-revolutionary  times,  and  settled  in  Vir- 
ginia, where  he  reared  a family  and  became  a 
jilanter  of  large  means  and  a man  of  much 
more  than  local  prominence.  He  died  in  the 
state  of  his  adoption,  and  subsequently  his  son 
Ezekiel,  great-grandfather  of  the  subject  of 
this  sketch,  with  other  members  of  the  family 
emigrated  to  Scott  county,  Ky.,  locating  not 
tar  from  Georgetown.  Ezekiel  Shirley,  at  the 
early  age  of  seventeen  }ears,  married  Dulcina 
Shirley,  a distant  relative  of  about  the  same 
age,  and  reared  a familv  of  seven  children, 
nearly  all  of  whom  lived  to  the  age  of  maturity 
and  became  the  heads  of  families;  but  all  of 
whom,  excepting  James,  have  long  since  passed 
from  the  scenes  of  their  earthly  labors.  . 

A son  of  the  foregoing,  Dickinson  Shirley, 
married  Elizabeth  Hamrick  and  reared  a fam- 
ily of  children,  among  whom  was  Caleb  Shir- 
ley, father  of  the  immediate  subject  of  this 
mention,  whose  birth  occurred  in  Scott  county, 
Ky. , on  the  seventeenth  day  of  July,  1817. 
Caleb,  when  a lad,  moved  with  his  parents  to 
Hendricks  county,  Ind.,  where  he  grew  to 
manhood;  subsequently  he  moved  to  Boone 
county,  Ind.,  married  Mary  (Dale)  McRey- 
nolds  jnly  '7-  '<‘^37,  and  located  in  Perry 

townshijy  where  he  resided  until  his  removal, 
in  1840,  to  the  township  of  Harrison.  Like 
his  ancestors  before  bim,  Caleb  Shirley  was  a 
tiller  of  the  soil,  and  on  coming  to  Indiana 
piirchascal  land  in  Harrison  to\\nship,  making 
a fiiK'  farm,  consisting  of  160  acres,  where  he 
passed  the  remaining  years  of  his  life,  dyingon 
the  twenty-second  day  of  March,  1876.  His 
wif(',  who  had  been  a lailhinl  com]>anion  and 
true  lu'lpmatc'  lor  a numbi'r  or  years,  preceded 
her  husband  to  the  silent  laud,  having  departed 
this  life  March  13,  1859.  'I'o  Caleb  and  Mary 
Shirk;y  were  born  tcm  cdiildren,  whose  names 
are  as  follows:  Janu'S  \V.,  whose  name  intro- 


OF  BOONE  COUNTY. 


459 


duces  tliis  sketcli;  Matthew  E.,  Henry  S.,  Jar- 
rett  S.,  Emily  E.,  wife  of  W.  F".  Proctor,  now 
deceased;  Eliza  and  Malinda,  twins,  the  latter 
deceased;  \\hlliain  S.,  deceased;  Jessie  B., 
and  Mary,  wife  of  B.  T.  Bell.  For  genera- 
tions the  Shirleys  were  Baptists,  aiul  of  that 
church  Caleb  and  his  good  wife  were  devout 
members.  Mr.  Shirley  was  a man  of  exem- 
plary habits,  a model  citizen,  and  ineveiT  walk 
of  life  endeavored  to  adorn  his  Christian  pro- 
fession by  living  up  to  the  pure  teachings  of 
his  church.  Mrs.  Mary  Shirley  was  a native 
of  Tennessee  and  daughter  of  Squire  and  Eliz- 
abeth Dale,  who  were  born  in  the  same  state, 
the  desendants  of  old  and  eminently  respected 
pioneer  families,  ^^'hen  eighteen  years  of  age, 
Mary  was  united  in  marriage  to  Samuel  McRey- 
nolds,  a farmer  of  Putnam  county,  Ind.,  by 
whom  she  had  two  children:  Marion,  deceased, 
and  Samuel,  who  resides  at  this  time  in  the 
state  of  Kansas.  Her  marriage  to  Caleb  Shir- 
ley was  solemnized  on  the  sixteenth  day  of 
July,  1837.  Squire  Dale  was  one  of  twelve 
children  that  grew  to  years  of  maturity,  and 
he  served,  with  distinction, in  the  last  war  with 
Great  Britain.  He  was  a man  of  many  noble 
traits  of  character,  and  died  at  the  age  of  fifty- 
five,  leaving,  as  a precious  heritage  to  his  chil- 
dren, a name  singularly  free  from  the  slightest 
taint  of  anything  questionable  or  dishonorable. 
Hiw  wife,  a most  excellent  woman,  bright  and 
intelligent  beyond  the  ordinary,  remained  true 
to  her  husband's  memory,  and  died  after  a 
widowhood  of  over  thirty  years. 

J.  W.  Shirley,  whose  name  opens  this 
biography,  is  a native  son  of  Boone  county, 
and  dates  his  birth  from  the  eighteenth  day  of 
April,  1838.  His  educaticmal  training,  like  that 
of  the  majority  of  country  lads,  was  obtained 
in  the  old-fashioned  log  school-house  common 
to  the  pioneer  period  of  Indiana;  and  until  his 
eighteenth  year  he  assisted  his  father  on  the 
farm,  thereby  learning  lessons  of  industry  that 


proved  so  valuable  to  him  in  subsequent  life. 
Having  selected  agriculture  as  his  vocation,  he 
began  the  same  upon  his  own  responsbility,  at 
an  early  age,  on  the  home  farm,  and  in  1855 
took  unto  himself  a helpmate  in  the  person  of 
Sarah  Bright,  to  whom  he  was  united  in  mar- 
riage on  March  25,  of  that  year.  In  the  mean 
time,  he  left  the  family  homestead  and  bought 
a part  of  the  place  he  now  owns,  in  Harrison 
township,  his  first  purchase  consisting  of  forty 
acres,  to  which  additions  were  made  at  inter- 
vals, until  eventually  he  became  the  possessor 
120  acres,  a fine  farm  upon  which  he  now  re- 
sides. Mrs.  Shirley  was  born  March  22,  1830, 
the  daughter  of  William  R.  and  Annis  (Hen- 
derson) Bright,  and  has  borne  her  husband  the 
following  children;  Jasper  N.,  William  H. 
(deceased),  Rosella  (deceased),  Caleb  E., 
John  L.  (deceased),  James  M.,  Theodosia  E. 
and  an  infant  son  (deceased). 

Mr.  Shirley  has  ever  been  noted  as  a 
warm-hearted,  broad-minded  man,  upright  in 
all  his  dealings,  and  a true  lover  of  humanity, 
to  the  interests  of  which  the  best  energies  of 
his  life  have  been  nobly  devoted.  Reared  a 
Baptist,  he  has  never  departed  from  the  faith, 
and  his  religious  experience  dates  from  his 
fourteenth  year,  at  which  time  he  was  convert- 
ed and  became  a member  of  the  old  Mt.  Tabor 
church.  Later  he  took  membership  with  the 
Mt.  Union  church,  with  which  he  has  been 
identified  since  1862,  and  in  1864  yielded  to 
an  inclination  of  long  standing,  by  entering 
upon  the  active  work  of  the  ministry.  He 
was  formally  ordained  to  the  sacred  calling  in 
that  year,  and  at  once  became  pastor  of  the 
Mt.  Union  church,  the  duties  of  which  rela- 
tion, with  the  exception  of  one  year,  he  nobly 
discharged  until  1893;  his  pastorate  covering  a 
period  of  twenty-eight  years  of  active  service. 
He  still  preaches  for  neighboring  churches,  and 
with  a spirit  of  true  consecration,  expects  to 
devote  the  remaining  years  of  his  life  to  the 


UIOGRAPMICAL  HISTORY 


ino 


nol)le  work,  whicli  in  his  hands  has  been  so 
greatly  blessed  in  leading  nian\’  to  abandon  tlie 
ways  of  sin,  and  seek  the  true  way  leading  to 
peace  and  happiness  here  and  j)ointing  to  a 
more  blessed  inheritance  hereafter.  He  has 
also  preached  in  the  states  of  Illinois,  Missouri, 
Kansas,  Iowa  and  Ohio.  He  has  (he  believes) 
traveled  more  miles  and  preached  more  ser- 
mons, than  any  minister  in  Boone  county, 
living  or  dead.  His  politics,  like  his  religions 
belief,  Mr.  Shirley  has  never  changed,  and  in 
the  former  he  has  been  and  remains  a life-long 
democrat.  At  one  time  he  held  the  office  of 
justice  of  the  peace  of  his  township,  aside  from 
which  he  has  never  been  called  to  till  official 
positon. 

Thus,  briefly,  is  epitomized  the  life  work 
of  one  of  Boone  county’s  most  reputable  citi- 
zens, and  it  is  the  wish  of  his  many  friends 
that  many  years  may  yet  be  spared  him  in 
which  to  accomplish  still  more  good  in  the 
cause  to  which  his  life  has  been  consecrated. 


>Y'ARRETT  S.  SHIRLEY.— Among  the 
M substantial  farmers  of  Boone  county 
^ J is  the  subject  of  this  sketch,  his  farm 
being  pleasantly  situated  within  two 
miles  of  the  court  house.  He  was  born 
on  his  father’s  farm  in  Harrison  town- 
ship, Boone  county,  June  2i,  1845,  tle- 
scends  from  the  pioneer  Baptist  family  of  that 
name.  (See  sketch  of  Rev.  James  \V. 
Shirley.)  Jarrett  S.  Shirley  received  a com- 
mon education,  became  a farmer,  and  married, 
at  the  age  of  twenty-three  years,  March  21, 
1866,  Harriet  J.,  daughter  of  David  and  Ka- 
turah  (I’roctor;  Hedge.  Katnrah  Hedge  was 
the  daughter  of  fames  B.  and  Elizabeth  Proc- 
tor, and  was  born  near  Ee.xington,  Ky.  Mr. 
Hedge;  was  from  an  old  Virgiina  family  of 
Irish  descent,  and  came  with  his  parents  to 
Hendricks  county,  Ind.,  when  ahoy,  settling 


near  North  Salem.  He  finally  became  a sub- 
stantial farmer,  and,  passing  most  of  his  life 
in  Hendricks  county,  he  came  to  Boone  count}' 
about  1865,  and  settled  on  the  farm  now  occu- 
pied by  our  subject.  He  cleared  up  this  farm 
from  the  virgin  forest,  it  being  co\'ered  origi- 
nally with  very  heavy  timber. 

To  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Hedge  were  born  thirteen 
children — George  \V.,  James  H.,  Harriet  J., 
Paulina  F.,  fohn  H.,  Sarah  E.,  William  G., 
Samuel  C.,  Davitl  A.,  Oliver  P.,  Charles  E., 
Leroy  E.  (deceased  young)  and  Cora  E.  (de- 
ceased 3'oung).  Eight  of  these  children  are 
now  living.  They  were  all  born  in  Hendricks 
county,  except  the  youngest  two,  who  were 
born  in  Boone  county.  Four  of  the  sons  be- 
came school-teachers — John  H.,  Oliver  P. , 
Charles  E.  and  George  \\k  Mr.  Hadge  lived 
to  be  sixty-eight  '(•ears  of  age,  and  died  in 

1879.  In  his  younger  days  he  was  a tanner, 
but  followed  the  pursuit  of  agriculture  for 
many  years,  in  which  he  was  successful.  He 
was  a man  of  great  industry,  and  possessed 
those  virtues  which  are  esteemed  among  our 
best  citizens.  In  political  opinions  he  affili- 
ated with  the  democratic  party.  After  mar- 
riage Jarrett  S.  Shirley  settled  in  Hendricks 
county  on  a farm,  remained  there  one  year, 
and  since  that  time  has  been  a resident  of 
Boone  county.  In  1870  he  bought  a farm  in 
Center  township,  this  county,  on  which  he 
lived  for  ten  years.  He  then  bought  seventy- 
two  acres  of  land  in  Harrison  townsnip,  in 

1880,  on  which  he  lived  until  1886,  when  he 
sohl  this  property  and  bought  the  Hedge 
homestead,  on  which  he  now  resides.  This 
fine  farm  consists  of  iio  acres  of  fertile  land, 
which  is  in  a high  state  of  cultivation  and  is 
wc'll  drained  and  improved.  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Shirley  are  the  parents  of  three  children — 
Ettie  V.  (deceased  an  infant),  Lora  T.  (^de- 
ceased) and  Claude  V,  d'he  death  ol  Lora 
T.  Shirley  was  as  sad  as  it  was  tragic:  he  had 


OF  BOONE  COUNTY. 


4(51 


been  fishing  off  the  coast  of  Oregon,  on  the 
Pacific  Ocean,  about  six  miles  south  of  Nas- 
tncca  bay,  in  company  with  his  uncle,  C.  E. 
Hedge,  on  the  seventh  of  August,  1894,  and 
while  driving  homeward  they  were  overtaken 
by  the  incoming  tide,  and  so  Lora  T.  lost  his 
young  life.  The  corpse  was  embalmed  and 
brought  to  Lebanon,  where  it  was  interred  in 
the  “Old  Union”  cemetery,  Wednesday,  Aug- 
ust 22.  He  left  a wife,  Etta,  daughter  of  Amos 
Huston,  and  a child,  Mortimer  six  months 
old.  He  was  a cousin  of  Ora  E.  Randall,  who 
was  drowned  while  bathing  in  the  Wabash  river, 
at  Terre  Haute,  about  tw'o  years  ago.  Ora 
was  a promising  young  man,  who  had  taught 
two  terms  of  school  and  was  attending  his 
second  term  in  the  state  Normal.  Lora  T. 
attended  the  high  school  at  Lebanon,  and  the 
normal  school  at  Valparaiso,  Ind.,  from  which 
he  graduated  in  1891,  and  later  taught  school 
in  this  county,  and  afterwards  became  a mer- 
chant in  Oregon.  The  Shirley  family  are  noted 
for  industry,  for  their  excellent  moral  habits 
and  strong  religious  principles.  Jarrett  S., 
our  subject,  is  no  exception  to  the  rule.  He 
is  a self-made  man,  and,  assisted  by  his  faith- 
ful wife,  has  accumulated  a competency.  He 
and  w'ife  are  members  of  the  Christian  church, 
and  in  politics  he  is  a democrat. 


OLE  SHOE,  of  Marion  township,  Boone 
county,  Ind.,  is  a native  of  North  Car- 
olina and  is  descended  from  sturdy 
Gerrnan-Irish  ancestry.  His  grand- 
father, John  Shoe,  was  born  in  North  Carolina, 
as  was  also  his  father,  John  William  Shoe, 
whose  birth  occurred  in  the  month  of  March, 
1813.  John  Mhlliam  Shoe  married,  in  his 
native  state.  Miss  Leah  Ingold,  who  bore  the 
follow’ing  children:  Rebecca,  wife  of  William 
Shapley;  Sarah,  deceased;  Catherine,  deceased; 
Joel,  Mrs.  Mary  Woodsworth,  and  Barbara, 


wife  of  William  Omen.  Mr.  Shoe  was  by 
occujiation  a distiller,  which  business  he  car- 
ried on  the  state  of  his  nativity  for  some  years. 
His  death,  at  the  early  age  of  thirty-nine,  threw 
his  widow  and  children  upon  their  owm  resour- 
ces, and  Mrs.  Shoe  came  to  Indiana  in  1854, 
locating  on  a farm  in  Marion  county,  where, 
with  the  assistance  of  her  children,  she  man- 
aged to  rear  her  family  respectably  and  place 
them  in  situations  to  make  their  own  way  in 
life.  She  is  still  living  at  the  ripe  old  age  of 
eighty  years  and  makes  her  home  with  her 
son,  Joel. 

Joel  Shoe  was  born  January  2,  1844,  and 
was  but  six  years  of  age  when  his  father  died, 
in  consequence  of  which  he  was  early  obliged 
to  contribute  his  full  share  toward  the  support 
of  his  mother  and  sisters.  In  consequence  of 
being  compelled  to  rely  upon  his  own  resources 
at  such  a tender  age,  he  was  deprived  of  the 
privileges  of  obtaining  an  education,  and  his 
schooling  included  but  a few  mcnths’  attend- 
ance, each  year,  in  the  indifferent  log  school- 
houses,  at  that  time  so  common  in  various 
parts  of  Indiana.  Posse.ssing  a naturally  bright 
mind,  he  was  not  altogether  disheartened  by 
unfavorable  surroundings,  but  devoted  every 
spare  moment  to  his  books,  and  in  time  became 
the  possessor  of  a valuable  fund  of  knowledge. 
When  only  ten  years  of  age  he  began  working 
away  from  home  for  the  snrn  of  $6  per  month, 
but  at  the  age  of  nineteen  took  chai'ge  of  a 
stationary  engine,  which  he  operated  for  some 
time  at  fairly  remunerative  wages.  On  the 
twenty-second  of  February,  1867,  he  entered 
into  the  marriage  relation  with  Julia  A.  Kling- 
ensmith,  who  was  born  January  9,  1847 — 

daughter  of  Samuel  and  Priscilla  Klingensmith, 
natives  of  Pennsylvania,  whose  ancestors  came 
to  the  United  States  from  Holland  at  an  early 
period  in  the  history  of  the  country. 

After  his  marriage,  Mr.  Shoe  began  farm- 
ing on  220  acres  of  land  for  a part  of  the  pro- 


BIOGRAPHICAL  HISTORY 


W2 


coeds,  and  was  thus  enj^aged  for  four  years, 
when  lie  juirchased  a place  of  his  own  consist- 
ing of  eighty  acres  in  Marion  townshij),  Boone 
county,  the  land  at  that  time  being  covered 
with  a tlense  forest  growth,  and  on  which  no 
imiirovernents  of  any  kind  had  been  made. 
Whth  an  energy  born  of  determination  to  suc- 
ceed, Mr.  Shoe  at  once  went  to  work  removing 
the  forest,  and,  in  due  time,  succeeded  in  put- 
ting a goodly  jiortion  of  his  land  in  cultivation. 
As  the  years  went  by  the  area  of  his  farm  con- 
stantly increased,  and  with  the  assistance  of 
his  good  wife,  who  never  knew  what  it  was  to 
eat  the  bread  of  idleness,  he  tinally  had  a 
home  of  which  any  one  might  well  feel  proud. 
The  original  buildings  having  served  their  pur- 
pose were,  in  due  season,  replaced  by  more 
comfortable  and  substantial  structures  of 
modern  pattern,  and  his  improvements  in  this 
line  now  comjiare  favorably  with  any  in  the 
township,  his  residence  costing  the  sum  of  $i,- 
800.  In  March,  1892,  his  barn  was  totally 
destroyed  by  hre,  entailing  ujion  him  a heavy 
loss,  but  he  has  since  replaced  it  by  another 
building  of  larger  dimensions  and  more  con- 
venient in  its  appointments. 

On  the  first  day  of  May,  1892,  .\[r.  Shoe’s 
faithful  wife,  who  had  been  his  devoted  com- 
panion through  many  years  of  trial  ami  suc- 
cess, was  called  from  the  scene  of  her  earthly 
labor,  after  which  time  his  home  was  looked 
after  by  his  son,  Marion,  and  wife,  who  did  all 
in  their  power  to  render  his  years  comfortable 
until  his  second  marriage.  Mr.  Shoe  is  a 
member  of  the  F.  A A.  M.,  in  which  fraternity 
he  has  filled  important  official  positions,  in- 
cluding that  of  reiiresentive  to  the  grand  lodge 
of  the  state;  he  is  also  identified  with  the  1.  O. 
K.  M.,  and  politically  e.xercises  the  elective 
franchise  for  the  democratic  jiarty.  Heisiiro- 
gressive,  imblic  spirited,  and  his  life  has  beem 
characteri/:ed  by  strict  adherence  to  the  prin- 
ciples of  probity,  which  have  made  him  a most 


valuable  factor  in  the  community.  The  beau- 
tiful home  where  he  lives,  together  with  other 
property  which  he  owns  elsewhere,  re])resents 
the  fruit  of  his  industry;  and  his  life,  measured 
by  the  usual  standard,  has  been  a most  gratify- 
ing success.  The  following  are  the  names  of 
his  children — John  W'illiam,  Samuel  Harvey, 
James  Marion,  and  Rebecca  Alice,  wife  of 
james  Abbot. 

Mr.  Shoe  was  again  married  August  30, 
1894,  selecting,  for  his  second  wife,  Mrs.  Wil- 
liam Jones,  //ir  Flla  Fitzsimmons,  daughter  of 
William  and  Sarah  (McManey)  Fitzsimmons, 
born  June  1 6,  1861. 


EVI  P.  SHOEMAKER,  one  of  the 
most  prosperous  farmers  of  Union 
township,  Boone  county,  was  born  in 
Union  county,  Ind.,  .August  18,  1835, 
the  son  of  George  and  .Martha  M.  (Harvey) 
Shoemaker  -the  father  a native  of  Cfuilford 
county,  N.  C.,  of  German  descent,  and  the 
mother  a native  of  Union  county,  Ind.,  of  Irish 
e.xtraction.  George  Shoemaker  came  to  Indi- 
ana in  1832,  and  for  three  years  worked  in  a 
distillery  in  I’nion  county,  then  came  to  Boone 
county  and  entered  eighty  acres  in  Genter 
township,  which  land  he  afterward  sold,  and 
entered  another  farm  of  eighty  acres  in  Union 
township,  where  he  died  in  1888.  He  was 
twice  married,  and  by  his  first  wife,  Martha 
M.  Harvey,  he  was  the  father  of  seven  chil- 
dren, viz.  ; I.eviP.,  Betsey,  Isaac  M.,  Michael 
H.,  Malinda  ).,  Eliza  E.,  and  Mary  M.  .Mrs. 
Martha  .Shoemaker  died  December  24,  1848, 
and  the  second  marriage  was  to  Elizabeth 
Allen,  daughter  of  John  Allen.  'To  this  union 
wen'  born  the  following  childnui;  John  G.  ; 
biaucc'S  H.,  wife  of  Sauuud  N.  Good;  James 
B.  ; and  Laura  B.,  the  wife  of  I'raucis  Hutton. 
Mrs.  Elizabeth  Shoemaker  still  survives. 

Levi  P.  Shoemaker  was  reared  to  the  life 


LIBRARY 
OF  THE 

UNIVERSITY  OF  ILUNOIS 


h.n  nhii’.Mi^h-K  sih.  fSo.f. 


OF  HOONE  COUNTY. 


465 


of  a fanner  and  was  educated  in  the  subscrip- 
tion schools.  On  starting  in  life  for  himself, 
at  the  age  of  twenty-one,  he  bought  a farm  of 
eighty  acres  in  Union  township,  Boone  county, 
which  he  afterward  increased  to  270  acres,  the 
greater  part  of  which  he  has  himself  improved. 
He  has  also  rendered  efficient  aid  in  the  build- 
ing of  the  gravel  roads  of  Boone  county,  and 
is  universally  recognized  as  one  of  the  most 
enterprising  and  industrious  men  of  his  part  of 
the  country.  His  farm  is  considered  to  be  one 
of  the  finest  in  Union  township,  and  his  resi- 
dence is  une.xcelled  for  comfort  and  convenience. 
Mr.  Shoemaker  was  married  October  16,  1856, 
to  Mary  A.  Dulin,  who  was  born  in  Boone 
county,  January  31,  1838.  Her  parents,  John 
and  Priscilla  (Boswell)  Dulin,  were  horn  in 
Virginia  and  Kentucky  respectively,  came  to 
Boone  county,  fnd  , in  an  early  day,  and  were 
the  parents  of  ten  children,  of  whom  seven  are 
still  living.  To  the  union  of  Levi  P.  and  Mary 
A.  Shoemaker  have  been  born  six  children, 
viz.:  Erasmus  T. , of  Union  township;  Carval- 
laceW.,  a druggist  of  Whitestown;  Clarinda 
R.,  who  died  May  30,  1864;  Elizabeth  E.,  who 
died  May  26,  1877;  Rhoda  M.,  wife  of  Arme- 
nious  E.  Hine;  and  Willard  P. , at  home.  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  Shoemaker  ai'e  consistent  members 
of  the  Baptist  church  and  they  and  their  fam- 
ily are  looked  upon  as  being  among  the  most 
respectable  residents  of  the  township.  In  poli- 
tics Mr.  Shoemaker  is  a democrat,  and  has 
been  entrusted  by  his  fellow-townsmen  with 
the  responsible  position  of  township  trustee. 


APT.  FELIX  SHUMATE,  now  one 
of  the  most  respected  citizens  of 
Lebanon,  Boone  county,  fnd.,  was 
one  of  those  patriots  who  were 
among  the  first  to  offer  tlieir  services  to  the 
country  at  the  breaking  out  of  the  Civil  war. 
He  was  the  second  man  in  Boone  county  to 


enroll  his  name  at  the  call  to  arms,  the 
Ifrst  being  Elisha  Rise,  son  of  Col.  Rise. 
Capt.  Shumate  springs,  on  his  paternal  side, 
from  an  old  Virgiina  family  of  Cerman 
descent,  and  on  the  maternal  side  from  an 
English  family  that  settled  in  Maryland — both 
families  coming  to  America  before  the  Revo- 
lutionary period.  William  Shumate,  the  earli- 
est ancestor  of  Felix  of  whom  he  have  any 
authentic  record,  was  a wealthy  planter  and 
slave-holder  in  I'auquier  county,  Va.  He 
there  married  Mary  Miller,  wdio  bore  him 
eight  children,  named  John,  Isaac,  Peyton, 
William,  Newton,  James,  Ruth  and  Adaline. 
Of  these,  John  Shumate  was  born  in  Fauquier 
county,  V'a.,  on  his  father’s  farm,  in  1808. 
He  learned  the  trade  of  cotton  and  wool  card- 
ing, which  he  followed  both  in  Maryland  and 
Kentucky.  Eventually  he  settled  in  Jefferson 
county,  Ky.,  and  there  married  Mary  Yates, 
daughter  of  Isaac  and  Lucy  Yates,  pioneers  of 
Jefferson,  and  descendants  of  most  excellent 
English  families.  Richard  Yates,  of  Illinois,  was 
a nephew  of  the  said  Isaac  Yates.  To  Mr.  and 
Mrs  John  Shumate  were  born  nine  children, 
named  as  follows:  .Amanda,  Wdlliam,  Isaac, 
Eydia,  P'elix,  Lucy,  John,  Thomas  and 
Columbus,  all  born  in  Shelby  county,  Ry., 
where  the  father,  John,  resided  for  many  years 
and  ran  a cotton  and  woolen  mill.  In  1855 
he  came  to  Indiana  and  settled  in  Boone 
county  on  a farm,  and  in  1863,  although  fifty- 
six  years  of  age,  enlisted  at  Lebanon  in  the 
Eleventh  Indiana  volunteer  cavalry,  and  in 
1 8C4,  was  appointed  from  the  ranks  in  the 
field  to  be  hospital  steward.  He  was  in  the 
battle  at  Nashville,  and  took  part  in  a gallant 
charge  on  the  rebel  works,  and  was  also  in 
many  skirmishes,  serving  continually  until  the 
close  of  the  war.  In  1866  he  moved  to 
Minnesota  and  opened  up  a new  farm  at 
Litchfield,  in  Meeker  county,  of  which  he 
was  one  of  the  earliest  settlers.  There  he 


BIOGRAPHICAL  HISTORY 


■RT. 


(lied  laniiary  7,  1887,  at  tlie  age  of  seventy- 
niiu'  years — a stanch  republican,  though  at 
first  a democrat.  h'our  oi  his  sons  were  in 
the  Civil  war,  viz;  William,  as  orderly  ser- 
geant in  company  I,  Tenth  Indiana  volunteer 
infantry,  having  enlisted  at  Lebanon  in  April, 
1861,  and  then  re-enlisted  in  the  Ninth 
volunteer  regiment  of  United  States  troojrs; 
Isaac  enlisted  at  Peoria,  111.,  in  1822,  in  com- 
pany H,  Twenty-seventh  Illinois,  and  died  of 
wounds  received  in  the  battle  of  Resaca;  Felix 
enlisted  at  Lebanon  April  1 5,  1861,  comjiany  I, 
Tenth  Indiana  volunteer  infantry,  for  the  thiAe 
months’  service,  and  again  enlisted,  on  the  re- 
organization of  the  regiment,  in  the  same  com- 
pany, reaching  the  captaincy;  Thomas  also  en- 
listed in  company  H,  Eleventh  regiment,  in  the 
fall  of  1 862,  and  served  until  the  close  of  the  war. 

Capt.  Felix  Shumate  was  born  February 
-5>  1839,  on  his  father’s  farm  in  Shelby  coun- 
ty, Ky.,  and  was  fourteen  years  of  age  when 
he  came  with  his  father  to  Indiana.  He  was 
reared  a farmer,  but  also  learned  the  brick- 
making trade  at  Lebanon.  When  the  war 
broke  out,  he,  with  Elisha  K.  Rise,  David  H., 
Oliver  and  George  W.  Smith,  drew  straws  in 
order  to  decide  which  should  have  the  honor 
of  being  the  first  t(;  enroll,  and  the  honor  fell 
to  Rise;  the  second  place  to  Shumate.  The 
company  was  placed  under  the  command  of 
Capt.  William  C.  Rise,  formerly  a lieutenant 
in  the  Mexican  war,  and  the  enlistment  was 
for  three  months.  J.  W.  Perkins  was  elected 
first  lieutenant,  R.  C.  Rise  second  lieutenant, 
|ohn  H.  Dooley  orderly  sergeant,  and  Eelix 
Shumate  second  corporal.  All  these  men 
served  in  re-organizations  nearly  throughout 
the  war,  and  with  higher  rank.  Capt.  |.  W. 
Perkins,  however,  was  killed  at  the  battle  of 
Chattanooga;  Capt.  ]ohn  H.  Dooley  lost  an 
arm  at  Mission  Ridge,  and  of  an  enrollment 
of  sixty-one,  forty  per  cent,  died  on  the  fudd 
of  battle.  d'he  company  fought  at  Rich 


Mountain,  and  was  complimented  for  its  vic- 
tory, and  there  Mr.  Shumate  served  as  corpor- 
al. He  was  commissioned  first  lieutenant  on 
re-organization,  September  2,  1861,  and  as 

such  took  part  at  Mill  Spring,  Ry.  ; was  at 
Shiloh,  siege  of  Corinth  (where  he  was  wound- 
ed); was  at  Perryville,  Ry.,  Boston,  Hoover’s 
Gap,  Tullahoma,  Chickamauga,  Chattanooga 
(where  he  was  commissioned  captain  on  the 
death  of  Capt.  Perkins),  Missionary  Ridge, 
Winchester,  Ringgold,  Tunnel  Hill,  Resaca, 
in  Sherman’s  campaign;  in  all  the  battles  under 
Gen.  Thomas,  except  Lovejoy  Station;  was  at 
Pendleton  (ihurch,  Renesaw  Mountain,  Lost 
Mountain,  New  Hope  Church,  Ringston, 
Adairsville,  Atlanta,  Chattahoochee  Bridge, 
Peach  Tree  Creek  and  many  others  too  nu- 
merous to  make  mention  of.  On  his  return  to 
Lebanon,  the  captain  engaged  in  the  manufac- 
ture of  brick,  and  erected  some  of  the  best 
buildings  in  the  city,  including,  also,  all  of  the 
block  on  the  south  end,  except  Zion’s  corner; 
Iniilt  the  Cason  block,  and  the  marble  front 
block;  also  many  on  Lebanon  street;  also  the 
Methodist  church,  the  Pi’esbyterian  church, 
and  the  South-side  school-house. 

Capt.  Shumate  was  married,  November  17, 
1867,  ter  Amanda  L.  Perkins,  daughter  of 
jacob  Perkins  and  Eliza  (McLewain)  Perkins. 
One  son,  ).  \\k  Shumate,  has  been  born  to 
this  union.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Shumate  are  mem- 
bers of  the  Methodist  church,  and  in  politics 
he  is  a rei)ublican.  He  has  served  as  deputy 
county  treasiircu'  eight  years,  and  has  also  filled 
several  local  offices,  including  that  of  common 
councilman  lor  three  terms,  and  for  four  years 
was  jiost-master  under  Ben  Harrison.  He  is  a 
Mason,  a numiber  of  the  G.  A.  R.,  and  has 
had  command  of  a militia  com])anv  organized 
b\'  himself  after  llu'  close'  ol  the  war.  He  has 
a commission  from  Bhu'  [cans  Williams,  while 
he  was  governor,  as  captain  of  the  first  militia 
organization  the  county  ever  had. 


OF  BOONE  COUNTY. 


407 


UIX'.E  STEPHEN  NEAL  is  one  of 
tlie  most  prominent  men  of  Lebanon, 
Ind.,  is  a member  of  the  legislature 
and  is  judge  of  Boone  comity  circuit 
court,  Twentieth  judicial  circuit  of  the  state. 
He  springs  from  sterling  English  stock.  His 
remote  ancestors  were  an  old  colonial  Virgin- 
ian family  and  substantial  farmers  and  slave 
owners.  Their  children  were;  William,  Sam- 
uel, Stephen,  John  and  Poll}',  and  others  not 
remembered.  John  Neal,  father  of  the  judge, 
was  born  in  Halifa.x  county,  Va. , was  reared  a 
farmer  and  received  a good  education.  He 
first  married,  in  Halifax  county,  Va. , Priscilla 
Craddock,  and  to  them  were  born  ten  chil- 
dren: Polly,  Henry,  Cicely,  John,  Nanc}', 
Maha,  Stephen,  Susan,  Wellington  and  Orm- 
stead.  After  his  marriage,  Mr  Neal  moved  to 
Pittsylvania  county,  Va.,  and  there  the  first 
seven  children  were  born.  Having  lost  his 
first  wife,  John  Neal  married  Eliza  Fletcher, 
and  to  this  union  were  born  two  sons;  James 
and  Thomas,  both  living  in  Missouri.  In 
1819,  in  the  autumn,  John  Neal  moved  to  the 
wilds  of  Kentucky  and  settled  in  Bath  county, 
making  this  long  journev  with  jiack  horses. 
He  cleared  up  a farm,  then  moved  to  Nicholas 
county,  where  he  spent  some  years,  and  then 
returned  to  Bath  county,  where  he  died,  aged 
73.  He  was  a devout  member  of  the  Baptist 
church,  and  in  politics  an  old-line  whig. 

Stephen  Neal,  our  subject,  was  born  June 
II,  1817,  in  Pittsylvania  county,  \'a.,  and  was 
but  two  or  three  years  old  when  he  was  taken 
to  Kentucky.  He  was  reared  among  the  pio- 
neers and  attended  the  old  subscription  school 
and  then  an  academy  at  Mooretield,  Ky.,  un- 
der a famous  teacher,  Henry  T.  Trimble,  a 
graduate  of  Transylvania  university,  Ky.  Soon 
after  this,  Stephen  began  reading  law  at  the 
age  of  twenty  years.  His  mother  died  when 
he  was  but  fifteen  years  of  age,  and  his  father 

married,  as  stated  above,  about  one  year  after, 
23 


giving  young  Stephen  his  time.  The  latter 
worked  at  farm  work  during  the  summer,  and 
in  winter  devoted  his  time  to  studying  various 
branches.  He  was  a great  lover  of  books  and 
devoured  greedily  all  that  came  his  w^ay,  hav- 
ing access  to  the  extensive  library  of  Thomas 
Nelson,  an  accomplished  linguist  and  teacher, 
who  took  pains  to  direct  his  studies,  and 
gave  him  a start  in  Latin  and  Greek,  and 
young  Neal  became  so  perfect  that  he  could 
and  did  teach  them.  Young  Neal,  indeed,  at 
the  age  of  twenty,  became  a teacher  of  a coun- 
try school  and  continued  the  work  three  win- 
ters, and  also  continued  his  legal  studies  in 
the  office  of  the  Hon.  Joseph  G.  Marshall  of 
Madison,  Ind.  He  was  admitted  to  the  bar  at 
Garlisle,  Ky. , in  1841,  and  immediately  began 
to  practice.  In  1843  he  went  to  Lebanon, 
Ind.  In  1839  he  was  married,  in  Nicholas 
county,  Ky. , to  Frances  A.  Atkinson,  daughter 
of  William  and  Elizabeth  (Goshoe)  Atkinson. 
Mr.  Atkinson  was  from  an  old  American  family 
of  Scotch  and  English  stock,  and  he  was  a 
well-to-do  farmer.  His  children  were  I'rances 
A.,  Elizabeth,  Emily,  Thomas,  John,  William 
and  Mary  Mr.  Atkinson  lived  to  be  seventy- 
six  years  of  age  and  died  on  his  farm  in  Ken- 
tucky. To  Judge  and  Mrs.  Neal  were  born 
four  children — Annette,  Elizabeth,  Mary  P. 
and  Daniel  O’Gonnell,  all  born  at  Lebanon, 
Ind,  In  1846-7  he  was  a member  of  the  state 
legislature,  elected  as  a Jeffersonian  democrat, 
and  continued  with  the  party  until  he  became 
one  of  the  founders  of  the  republican  party  in 
Boone  county. 

Mr.  Neal  was  a strong  Union  man  during 
the  war  and  took  an  active  part  in  Boone 
county  in  sujiporting  the  Union  cause.  His 
son,  Daniel  O’Connell,  enlisted  in  Lebanon  in 
1861,  in  company  A,  Tenth  regiment  of  Indi- 
ana infantry,  and  was  promoted  to  corporal. 
He  was  in  the  battle  of  Mills  Springs,  was 
taken  sick  there  with  typhoid  fever  and  died  at 


BIOGRAPHICAL  HISTORY 


i()8 


Soim'rset,  Ky.,  in  1862.  On  ccnnin^  to  lk)one 
county,  in  1843,  judge  Neal  practiced  law  and 
resided  on  his  farm,  one  mile  east  (d  Lebanon, 
where  he  owned  100  acres.  He  was  connected 
with  many  prominent  cases,  but  in  1883, 
moved  to  Iowa  and  practiced  two  years  at 
Washington;  in  1885  returned  to  Lebanon 
and  resumed  his  practice,  in  which  he  was  very 
successful.  In  1890  he  was  elected  judge  and 
took  the  office  November  10,  1890,  and  is  now 
filling  that  important  position.  judge  Neal 
has  always  been  a jniblic-spirited  man,  has 
bought  many  dwellings  and  improved  them, 
has  been  an  active  real  estate  dealer  and  has 
taken  an  active  part  in  the  improvement  of  the 
roads.  His  first  wife  died  in  1851,  and  he 
married  Clara,  daughter  of  Charles  Davis.  Mr. 
Davis  was  an  old  pioneer  of  Boone  connt\’  and 
a merchant  of  Thorntown.  He  died,  aged 
ninety-seven  years,  at  Lebanon,  a respected 
and  honorable  citizen.  To  Judge  Neal  and 
his  second  wife  were  born  five  chtldren— 
Charles  V'on  Humboldt,  .-Mbert,  Frank,  Jen- 
nie and  Richard  F.,  all  born  in  Lebanon, 
Boonecounty.  This  wife  died  in  March,  1879, 
and  Judge  Neal  married  I.anra  A.  Kernodle 
[nre  Carson),  daughter  (^f  R(')bert  Carson,  an  j 
old  settler.  Of  this  marriage  were  born  two  | 
children,  Gertrude  and  Theodore.  The  judge  j 
is  politically  a democrat.  His  religion  is  that  | 
of  the  church  of  Christ,  in  which  he  has  been  1 
elder  for  many  years.  His  reputation  in  office  j 
is  unsullied  and  his  moral  life  has  won  for  him 
the  respect  of  every  man  and  woman  of  Boone. 


HARLES  b'.  S.  NEAL  is  one  of  the 
most  enterprising  and  successful  bus- 
iness men  of  Lebanon,  and  the  head 
and  founder  of  the  real-estate  firm  of 
Neal  A Co.,  and  a i)rogressive,  public-spirited 
citizen.  'I'here  is  ])robably  no  man  in  Boone 
county  wlio,  in  the  last  fifteen  yc.-ars,  has  been 


a more  decided  benefit  to  it.  He  was  one  of 
the  chief  promoters  of  the  gravel  road  system, 
which,  in  point  of  utility,  snr})asses  all  other 
improvements  in  the  country  except,  [)erhaps, 
its  large  drainage  system,  with  which  Mr. 
Neal  has  also  been  identified.  He  was  the 
prime  mover  in  the  erection  of  Castle  Hall, 
the  magnificent  new  home  of  the  Rnights  of 
Pythias,  which  is  not  only  an  addition  to  the 
business  blocks  of  Lebanon  but  is  an  ornament 
to  the  town.  Charles  F.  S.  Neal  is  the  son 
of  Stejdien  and  Clara  (Davis)  Neal.  Mrs.  Clara 
Neal  was  a daughter  of  Charles  Davis,  an  early 
pioneer  of  Boone  county,  and  was  born  near 
Troy,  Ohio,  in  January,  1835;  her  death  took 
place  near  Lebanon,  Ind.,  March  4,  1879 — a 
pious  member  of  the  Baptist  church.  Charles 
F.  S.  Neal  was  born  in  Lebanon,  Ind., 
Aug.  24,  1858.  His  education  was  acquired 
in  the  public  schools  .of  the  city,  he  being  a 
graduate  of  the  high  school.  When  quite 
Aaim^'lie  had  charge  of  his  father’s  farm  near 
I^ebanon  and  engaged  in  school-teaching  in  the 
public  schools  of  Boone  county,  Lebanon. 
In  1880  he  was  elected  county  surveyor  of 
Boone  county  by  a good  majority,  the  election 
being  hotly  contested.  He  held  this  office  for 
two  years.  From  1882  to  1887  he  was  super- 
intendent of  construction  of  gravel  roads  in 
Boone  county,  during  wdiich  time  he  super- 
vised the  construction  of  about  200  miles  of 
solid  gravel  roadway.  The  gravel  was  diffi- 
cult to  obtain,  on  account  of  being  of  consitl- 
I erable  depth  in  the  earth  and  frequently 
covered  with  water.  These  roads  are  a great 
credit  to  Boone  countv,  the  system  being  one 
of  the  best  in  the  state,  more  miles  of  gravel 
roads  having  been  built  in  this  county  than  in 
anv  other,  viz  : Over  six  hundred  miles. 
'Idle  roads  are  good  examples  of  civil  engineer- 
ing, are  built  high,  and  the  streams  are  crossed 
by  substantial  bridges,  and  are  all  free. 

From  1884  to  1886  Mr.  Neal  was  ileputy 


■UBRARY 
OF  THE 

'JfHVERSlTY  OF  MAfm 


C.  F.  S.  NEAL. 


MRS.  C.  F.  S.  NEAL. 


UB^A^ 

OF  THE  ^ 
URIVERSITY  OF 


OF  BOONE  COUNTY 


478 


county  surveyor,  and  while  liolding  this  (jfhce 
was  on  every  section  of  land  in  this  count}'  — 
and  this  before  he  was  thirty  }ears  of  age,  and 
is  well  known  throughout  the  country.  While 
in  this  capacity,  he  surveyed  171  miles  of  open 
ditches  in  two  \'ears,  he  being  ex-ofhcio  ditch 
connnissiouer.  Me  is  well  informed  on  these 
subjects.  The  cost  of  constructiem  of  these 
ditches  was  about  $300,000.  fu  1887  he  built 
the  Neal  block,  a substantial  brick  building, 
two  stories  and  basement,  in  which  he  opened 
an  office  in  1887  in  the  real  estate  and  loan 
business.  He  is  also  interested  in  five  build- 
ing and  loan  associations.  In  1891  he  went 
into  partnership  with  H.  T.  Thompscni  in  the 
same  business.  The  firm  conducts  a large 
real  estate  and  loan  business  and  are  e.xten- 
sively  interested  in  insurance,  representing  five 
of  the  best  companies — among  which  are  the 
London,  Liverpool,  and  Globe,  Commercial 
Union,  National,  of  Hartford,  Fire  Associa- k, 
tion,  of  Philadelphia,  and  Firemen's  Fund, 
California.  Mr.  Neal  is  a public-spirited  man 
and  improves  his  properties.  The  firm  handles 
about  $80,000  yearly  in  building  and  loan 
money.  They  deal  e.xtensively  in  farms  and 
loan  money  on  realty  at  reasonable  rates.  Po- 
litically Mr.  Neal  is  a stanch  democrat ; frater- 
nally he  is  a member  of  the  K.  P.,  and  has 
held  all  the  offices  in  his  local  lodge,  is  now 
treasurer,  aud  was  treasurer  of  the  grand  lodge 
of  Indiana  in  1889-90,  was  eight  years  chair- 
man of  the  finance  committee  of  the  grand 
lodge,  and  in  1892  was  elected  grand  master- 
at-arms;  in  1893  he  was  elected  grand  prelate; 
1894,  was  elected  grand  vice-chancellor.  He 
is  also  a member  ol  Ben  Adhem  lodge.  No, 
472,  I.  O.  O.  F.,  and  also  a Mason  of  Boone 
lodge.  No.  9,  and  was  secretary  two  years. 
He  is  also  a member  of  the  chapter,  royal 
arch,  and  a member  of  the  Knights  of  Macca- 
bees, No.  24,  Lebanon  lodge,  and  has  passed 
all  the  chairs. 


In  Septemberof  1881,  Mr.  Neal  was  united 
in  marriage  to  Mary  E.,  youngest  daughter  of 
Martin  Henry,  of  Boone  county,  and  two 
children  have  been  born  to  this  union — Gracie 
¥.  and  Thomas.  Mrs.  Mary  E.  Neal  was 
born  October  10,  1856,  and  her  father  was 
one  of  the  earliest  settlers  of  Boone  county, 
having  entered  tracts  of  land  on  EaP'ayette 
road  two  miles  from  Lebanon.  Her  mother 
bore  the  maiden  name  of  IMary  Stephens,  and 
was  a native  of  Kentucky,  of  Scotch-Irish  de- 
scent. Mrs.  Neal  was  the  youngest  in  a family 
of  eleven  children,  and  her  father  was  a native 
of  Maryland,  of  German  descent.  It  was  on 
the  farm  of  Mr.  Henry  that  commissioners 
to  locate  the  county  seat  for  Boone  county 
first  selected  the  site,  but  Mrs.  Henry  re- 
fused her  consent.  Mr.  Henry  died  in  1866, 
and  Mrs.  Henry  died  in  1884.  Mr.  Neal  is 
one  of  the  most  enterprising  and  able  business 
iijiefl  o,f_  Lebanon,  and,  although  a young  man, 
ranks  among'  thfe^leaders.  He  was  one  of  the 
projectors  of  Castle  Hall,  the  home  of  the 
Knights  of  Phythias,  and  was  largely  instru- 
mental in  its  erection  and  is  secretary  of  the 
building  committee.  The  capital  stock  is 
$25,000,  and  is  handled  by  a stock  company. 
The  front  of  the  building  is  of  Bedford  stone 
and  is  of  graceful  and  imposing  architecture. 
The  main  body  is  of  substantial  brick,  of  three 
stories  and  basement.  This  is  the  handsomest 
and  most  ornamental  business  block  in  the 
county.  The  Knights  of  Pythias  occupy  a 
Sjdendid  hall  50  x 100  feet,  and  the  remain- 
der of  the  building  is  used  as  business  rooms  and 
offices.  In  1893,  Mr.  Neal,  in  company  with 
John  H.  Perkins,  purchased  the  electric  light 
plant  at  Lebanon  and  organized  a company  with 
acapital  stock  of  $30,000.  This  company  also 
manufactures  ice.  Mr.  Neal’s  character  as  an 
honorable  man  and  citizen  is  too  well  known 
to  need  any  comment.  He  descends  from  an 
old  colonial  family. 


474 


BIOGRAPHICAL  HISTORY 


IlOMAS  O.  SICKS  is  one  of  the  de- 
scendants of  an  original  and  honored 
])ioneer  of  Boone  comity,  Ind.,  and 
is  one  of  the  prominent  farmers  of 
Center  townshi|).  jacob  Sicks,  tlie  grand- 
father of  our  subject,  as  well  as  his  wife,  de- 
scended from  good  old  Pennsylvania  Dutch 
ancestry.  He  became  one  of  the  pioneers  of 
Kentucky,  settling  at  a very  early  date,  jirob- 
ahly,  in  Nicholas  county.  Philip  Sicks,  son  of 
above  and  father  of  our  subject,  was  born  in 
Kentucky  and  there  married  Nancy  Slaine, 
and  they  became  the  parents  of  nine  children; 
Sarah  }.,  Mary  A.,  Mahala,  Francis  M., 
Thomas  O.,  Jacob,  Lucinda,  Amanda  and 
John  M.,  the  hrst  four  born  in  Kentucky,  and 
the  remainder  in  Indiana.  In  1834,  Mr.  Sicks 
moved  to  Decatur  county,  Ind.,  and  settled 
near  Greensburg.  In  1836  he  came  to  Boone 
county  and  settled  in  the  wilderness,  and  en- 
tered between  400  and  500  acres  of  land, 
which  was  covered  with  timber  of  the  heaviest 
kind.  By  hard  labor  and  }ierseverance  he 
cleared  up  a good  farm.  He  became  a promi- 
nent man  in  his  township,  and  held  the  office 
of  township  trustee  and  other  offices  of  trust. 
He  was  a member  of  the  C'hristian  (dmrch  and 
a jacksonian  democrai.  His  first  wife  died 
and  he  married  again,  of  which  union  there 
were  no  children.  .Mr.  Sicks  lived  to  the 
patriarchal  age  of  eighty-three  years,  being  a 
man  of  iron  constitution.  He  was  a substan- 
tial and  honored  citi/en,  aiul  in  his  last  days 
retired  from  active  work  and  lived  in  Lebanon, 
where  he  died.  He  was  known  far  and  wide 
among  the  pioneers.  When  he  first  came  to 
'the  county  it  was  almost  an  entire  wilderness 
and  wild  game  of  various  kinds  abounded.  He 
went  to  Lawrenceburg  and  Ginciimat  i to  trade, 
freijuently  taking  with  him  the  |)roduce  ac- 
cumulated by  the  country  store  keepers  and 
e.xchanging  it  for  goods,  which  he  returiu'd 
to  the  merchants. 


Thomas  O.  Sicks,  our  subject,  was  born  in 
Decatur  county,  Ind.,  September  26,  1835, 
and  was  but  six  months  of  age  when  he  was 
brought  by  his  j)arents  to  Boone  county,  Ind., 
in  the  spring  of  1836.  He  attended  the  old 
pioneer  school  in  an  old  log  cabin  two  miles 
from  his  father's  house,  passing  through  the 
woods  by  a hla.zed  trail.  This  was  a subscrip- 
tion school  and  he  attended  it  two  or  three 
months  during  the  winter  until  he  was  twenty- 
one  years  of  age.  He  then  went  to  school 
one  winter  at  Milledgeville  in  a frame  school- 
house.  Having  been  reared  a farmer,  he  nat- 
urally followed  the  pursuit  of  agriculture,  and 
when  young  assisted  in  clearing  many  an  acre 
of  land.  Huge  black  walnut  and  oak  trees 
that  would  be  very  valuable  were  mercilessly 
hewed  down  by  the  backwoodsmen,  rolled 
into  heaps  and  burned,  simply  to  clear  the 
land.  The  lundrer  on  many  of  their  farms 
would  now  he  more  valuable  than  the  land. 
He  married,  at  the  age  of  twenty-one  years, 
Susan  A.,  daughter  of  Samuel  and  Sarah  Ann 
(McDaniel)  Elder.  Mr.  Elder  was  an  old  set- 
tler of  Boone  countx',  member  ol  the  Method- 
ist church,  and  died  at  the  residence  of  our 
subject  at  the  great  age  of  over  ninety  years. 
After  marriage,  Mr.  Sicks  settled  on  his  father’s 
farm,  and  in  1865  he  bought  eighty  acres  of 
this  farm,  which  was  nearly-  all  in  timber  and 
which  he  has  cleared  and  improved,  and  added 
to  until  he  now  own  238  acres  of  fine  farming 
land.  Mr.  Sicks  is  a well-to-do  citizen,  and 
beside  his  farm  owns  valuable  real  estate  and 
improved  property  in  Lebanon.  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Sicks  are  the  parents  of  nine  children — 
sevtm  of  w hom  are  men  and  v\'omen — as  Icrl- 
low's:  .Mary  C.,  Vcrnelia  |.,  Philiii  H.,  John 
M.,  Maggie,  Delly  and  Thomas  S.  He  and 
wife  are  members  of  the  Methodist  Protest- 
ant church,  of  which  he  is  a trustee.  Ho  is 
also  a member  of  the  Masonic  Iratcrnity,  Boone 
lodge.  No.  9,  Lebanon.  Mr.  Sicks  is  a he- 


OF  BOONE  COUNTY. 


475 


liever  in  schools  and  his  children  received  good 
coniinon  educations.  His  son,  Philip  H.,  at- 
tended the  state  university  at  P)looinington, 
Ind.,  and  is  now  a successful  school-teacher 
and  fanner  of  Center  township.  Mr.  Sicks 
is  a public-spirited  man  and  was  one  of  the 
promoters  of  the  first  gravel  road  through 
his  part  of  Center  Township.  He  is  a 
practical  farmer  and  stands  deservedly  high 
for  his  correct  and  manly  course  through  life. 
From  1888  to  1891  he  resided  in  f^ebanon, 
where  he  erected  three  houses,  two  of  which 
he  still  owns.  There  is  no  family  in  Boone 
county  whose  record  for  industry,  integrity  of 
character  and  real  worth  ranks  higher. 


ILl.lAM  A.  SIMS,  an  influential 
citizen  of  Marion  township,  Boone 
county,  Ind.,  and  brave  e.x-soldier, 
is  a native  of  the  Hoosier  state,  born 
December  15,  1844,  'n  the  county  of  Fayette. 
His  early  educational  advantages  embraced  the 
branches  usually  taught  in  the  common  schools, 
and,  like  the  majority  of  country  boys,  his 
youthful  years  were  passed  amid  the  peaceful 
scenes  of  the  farm.  In  April,  1854,  he  accom- 
panied his  parents  to  Hamilton  county,  Ind., 
where  his  father  purchased  440  acres  of  land, 
on  which  he  resided  for  some  time,  subsequently 
moving  to  Boone  county,  locating  in  Marion 
township,  where  he  was  living  at  the  breaking 
out  of  the  great  rebellion.  In  1863,  with  a 
spirit  that  animated  the  patriotic  heart  of  the 
north,  he  exchanged  the  quiet  of  the  farm  for 
a military  life,  enlisting  August  7 of  that  year 
in  company  H,  Fifty-seventh  Indiana  in- 
fantry, with  which  he  served  until  honor- 
ably discharged  June  2,  1865.  The  mil- 

itary experience  of  Mr.  Sims  was  exceedingly 
varied  and  embraced  campaigns  in  Kentucky, 
Tennessee,  Georgia  and  other  southern  states. 
During  the  battle  of  Chickamauga  he  was  en- 


gaged in  provost  guard  duty,  and  at  Mission 
Ridge  was  refused  permission,  by  his  captain, 
to  take  part  in  the  engagement  on  account  of 
a severe  sickness  from  which  he  was  at  that 
time  suffering.  After  a short  time  spent  at 
home  on  furlough,  he  rejoined  his  command  at 
Chattanooga,  Tenn.,  in  season  to  take  part 
with  General  Sherman  in  the  Atlanta  cam- 
paign, during  which  he  participated  in  the 
bloody  battles  of  Buzzard’s  Roost,  Resaca, 
New  Hope  Church,  and  other  engagements, 
and,  on  the  twenty-seventh  of  May,  1864, 
while  on  the  skirmish  line  within  a few  rods  of 
the  enemv,  was  struck  by  a musket  ball  which 
entered  the  point  of  the  left  shoulder  and  came 
out  at  his  belt  on  the  right  side,  making  a dan- 
gerous wound  over*  sixteen  inches  in  length. 
In  this  condition  he  walked  to  the  rear,  where 
the  surgeon  cut  off  his  clothes  and  dressed  the 
wound  by  filling  it  with  cotton.  After  this,  on 
his  way  to  the  field  hospital,  the  cotton  worked 
itself  out  of  the  wound,  and  it  was  with  diffi- 
culty that  his  life  was  saved  on  account  of  pro- 
fuse bleeding.  He  was  in  Marietta,  Chatta- 
nooga and  Nashville  until  July  of  the  above 
vear,  and  while  in  the  hospital  suffered  untold 
agonies  from  his  wound,  which  was  of  such  a 
nature  as  to  necessitate  the  removal  of  his 
shoulder  blade  in  order  to  save  his  life.  When 
sufficiently  recovered  he  was  removed  to  Louis- 
ville, in  which  city  he  remained  in  the  hospi- 
tal, suffering  intensely  until  his  discharge  from 
the  service  at  the  date  above  mentioned.  Ow- 
ing to  his  disability  he  was  unable  to  do  any- 
thing but  the  lightest  kind  of  farm  work  after 
his  return  from  the  army,  and  later  he  assisted 
his  father  for  about  two  years  in  a saw-mill, 
which  the  latter  was  at  that  time  operating. 
Not  being  able  to  perform  much  manual  labor, 
he  began  buying  timber  and  was  thus  engaged 
for  some  time,  when,  owing  to  too  much  phys- 
ical exertion,  he  was  compelled  to  secure  some 
kind  of  lighter  work,  and  in  1881,  in  partner- 


470 


BIOGRAPHICAL  HISTORY 


ship  with  his  brother  and  father,  lie  engaged 
in  the  mercantile  trade  at  the  town  of  Terhiine, 
when'  he  did  a successful  business  for  a period 
of  two  years.  In  June,  i8<So,  he  was  unitetl 
in  marriage  with  Miss  Mary  L.  Shannon,  daugh- 
ter of  Thomas  and  Polly  f McDonald)  Shannon, 
whose  parents  were  natives  of  Nicholas  county, 
Ky. , which  union  resulted  in  the  birth  of  three 
children,  namely:  Vorhees,  Viorn  April  ii, 
1882,  died  August  26,  1894;  Grover,  born  Oc- 
tober 20,  1884,  and  Shannon,  born  September 
12,  1890,  died  November  21,  1892.  Finan- 
cially, Mr.  Sims  has  met  with  very  gratifying 
success,  notwithstanding  his  physical  disability, 
and  at  this  time  is  the  possessor  of  a comfort- 
able competence,  including  120  acres  of  land, 
the  greater  part  of  which  is  in  a high  state  of 
cultivation.  Mr.  Sims  still  suffers  from  his 
grievous  wound,  and  never  e.xpects  to  recover 
his  former  health.  He  points  with  pride  to 
his  military  record  and  consoles  himself  with 
the  reflection  that  his  life,  innv  broken  and 
shattered,  was  freely  sacrificed  for  the  good  of 
his  country.  Politically  he  has  alwavs  been  a 
democrat  and  as  such  served  as  postmaster  du- 
ring the  administrations  of  Presidents  Hayes 
and  Cleveland,  succeeding  his  father,  and  be- 
ing the  present  incumbent  of  the  office.  He  is 
a member  of  the  Christian  church,  while  his 
wife  subscribes  to  the  Presbyterian  creed. 


FOKGF  \V.  SIMS,  a prominent  farm- 
er and  stock  raiser  of  Marion  town- 
ship, and  gallant  e.\-soldier,  is  a na- 
tive of  Rush  county,  Ind.,  and  a d('- 
scendant  of  Scotch-Fnglish  ancestors  who 
came  to  the  United  States  at  an  early  perical 
and  settled  in  South  Carolina.  His  grand- 
father, George  \V.  Sims,  was  a native  of 
South  Carolina,  a fartner  ami  shoemaker  by 
occupation,  and  for  many  years  plied  both 
vocations  in  tlu-  above  state.  He  married 


Nancy  .Angle  and  became  the  father  of  the 
folhnving  children  ; Elizabeth  C.,  John  A.  J., 
William  W.,  Mary  A.,  Christopher  C. , Karan 
and  Happal,  all  of  whom,  with  the  e.xception 
of  the  last  two  named,  who  died  in  infancy, 
lived  to  maturity  and  became  heads  of  fami- 
lies. John  A.  J.  Sims,  father  of  the  imme- 
diate subject  of  chis  notice,  was  born  in  South 
Carolina,  December  23,  1822.  When  a lad 
of  ten  years  his  father  died,  after  which  sad 
event  he  w'as  brought  by  relations  to  Indiana 
and  grew  to  manhood  in  the  county  of  Fav- 
ette,  where,  until  his  twenty-first  year,  he 
was  the  chief  support  of  his  widowed  mother, 
and  the  rest  of  the  family.  He  attended  the 
common  schools  when  he  could  spare  the 
time,  which  was  indeed  seldom,  and  being  of 
a nature  to  adajrt  himself  to  his  surroundings, 
worked  for  some  time  at  the  blacksmith 
trade  and  afterward  utilized  his  mechanical 
skill  as  a manufacturer  of  pumps.  On  the 
thirteenth  day  of  January,  1842,  he  entered 
into  the  marriage  relation  with  Hannah  J. 
Groves  of  Rush  county,  Ind.,  daughter  of 
Donovan  and  Sarah  (Hicks)  Groves,  and 
reared  a family  of  children  whose  names  in  the 
ortler  of  birth  are  as  follows:  George  W., 
William  .A.,  Buena  \hsta,  Nancy  E.,  Judson, 
Elizabeth  J.  and  Mary,  all  of  whom  reached 
the  state  of  manhood  and  womanhood  and 
married.  In  the  year  1854  John  A.  J.  Sims 
with  his  family  moved  to  Hamilton  county, 
Ind.,  and  six  years  later  he  changed  his  resi- 
dence to  the  county  of  Boone,  where  he  pur- 
chased a farm  of  160  acres  and  turned  his  at- 
tention wholly  to  the  agriculturist’s  vocation. 
In  1865,  after  the  return  of  his  boys  Irom  the 
army,  Mr.  Sims  erected  a saw-mill,  which  he 
o])eratcd  for  a period  of  nineteen  years,  the 
greater  part  of  the  time  in  ])artnership  with 
his  sons,  George  W,  and  William,  the  venture 
])roviuga  most  gratifying  success  financially. 
In  many  rcsjjccts  |ohn  Sims  has  been  much 


OF  BOONE  COUNTY. 


477 


more  than  an  ordinary  man,  his  energy  and  j 
determination,  aided  and  controlled  by  most  I 
excellent  judgment,  having  enabled  him  to 
overcome  nnmerous  vicissitudes  and  turn  into 
victory  what  to  many  would  have  been  defeat. 
He  has  led  a life  of  temperance  and  sobriety, 
which,  measured  hy  the  usual  worldly  stand- 
ard, has  been  most  certainly  a gratifying  suc- 
cess, and  when  compared  to  the  highest  ideal  j 
of  manhood  as  portrayed  in  the  teachings  of 
the  Nazarene,  which  he  has  alwavs  endeavored 
to  exemplify  in  his  daily  walk  and  conversa- 
tion, it  has  by  no  means  been  a failure.  By 
the  exercise  of  wise  forethought,  and  good 
business  management,  he  has  succeeded  in  ac- 
cumulating an  estate  of  over  500  aci'es  of  val- 
uable land,  beside  other  property,  which  has 
enabled  him  to  retire  from  the  active  duties  of 
life  and  spend  his  declining  years  in  comfort 
and  quietude.  Politically  he  is  a democrat, 
and  for  a number  of  years  has  been  a deacon 
of  the  Christian  church.  To  the  assistance  of 
his  wife,  also,  no  small  meed  of  praise  is  due 
for  the  prosperity  of  the  family.  . 

George  W.  Sims,  w'hose  name  forms  the 
head  of  this  notice,  was  born  on  the  twenty- 
sixth  day  of  March,  1848,  and  spent  the  years 
of  his  youth  and  early  manhood  on  the  home 
farm,  assisting  his  father  and  attending  school 
at  intervals  in  the  interim.  On  the  tw'ent}- 
ninth  of  August,  1862,  he  entered  the  army  as 
a private  in  company  H,  P'ifty-seventh  regi- 
ment Indiana  infantry,  and  took  part  in  a 
number  of  campaigns  and  bloody  battles, 
among  which  were  Stone  River,  Missionary 
Ridge,  the  operations  around  Atlanta,  includ- 
ing the  engagements  of  Buzzard’s  Roost,  New 
Hope  Church,  Resaca,  Kenesaw  Mountain  and 
Peach  Tree  Creek,  in  the  last  of  which,  on  the 
tw'entieth  day  of  July,  1864,  he  was  captured 
and  sent  to  the  infamous  prison  pen  at  Ander- 
sonville.  His  captors  proved  to  be  bush- 
whackers, who  were  for  shooting  him  forth- 


with, and  his  life  was  only  saved  by  a chance 
inquiry  by  one  of  the  rebels,  who  appeared  to 
have  lived  on  a plantation  in  South  Carolina 
I adjoining  the  home  of  Mr.  Sims’  aunt.  Fur- 
ther conversation  between  the  two  revealed 
I the  fact  that  they  were  distant  relations,  and 
I the  cook,  to  whom  the  prisoner  was  afterward 
turned  over  for  safe-keeping,  was  found  to  be 
a former  enqdoye  of  Mr.  Sims'  father  while 
the  latter  was  engaged  in  the  manufacture  of 
jnimps.  These  two  fortunate  discoveries  in- 
duced the  bushwhackers  to  deal  leniently  with 
their  captive,  and  through  their  interposition 
the  Confederate  General  \\"alker  endeavored 
to  save  the  prisoner  from  the  horrors  of  An- 
dersonville  by  offering  him  the  position  of 
groom,  which,  to  the  credit  of  Mr.  Sims,  he 
patriotically  refused  to  accept.  After  an  in- 
carceration of  a few  months  in  Andersonville, 
Mr.  Sims  was  exchanged,  and  at  once  rejoined 
his  command,  with  which  he  afterward  parti- 
cipated in  the  battle  of  Franklin,  Tenn.,  where 
he  received  a gunshot  wound  in  his  right  arm, 
which  necessitated  his  retirement  from  the 
ranks.  After  spending  some  time  in  the  Joe 
Holt  hospital  at  Jeffersonville,  l\rr.  Sims  was 
honorably  discharged  from  the  service,  and  re- 
turning home  engaged  in  the  manufacture  of 
lumber,  which  he  followed,  in  connection  with 
agricultural  pursuits,  until  embarking  in  the 
general  mercantile  trade  at  the  town  of  Ter- 
hune,  in  the  year  1882.  Mr.  Sims  sold  goods 
with  very  satisfactory  results  for  a period  of 
ten  years,  at  the  end  of  which  time  he  retired 
to  his  farm  of  100  acres  in  Marion  township, 
where  he  has  since  resided.  Politically,  Mr. 
Sims  is  a democrat,  and  as  such  made  the  race 
in  1888  for  county  treasurer,  but  with  the  rest 
of  the  ticket  suffered  defeat  in  the  general  re- 
publican ‘ ‘land  slide”  of  that  year.  While  in  the 
goods  business  he  acted  as  agent  for  the  L. , N. 
A.  & C.  railroad  for  a period  of  six  years,  and 
discharged  the  duties  of  the  position  in  a man- 


178 


BIOGRAPHICAL  HISTORY 


iier  hi^lily  creilitable  to  himself  and  to  the  sat- 
isfaction of  the  coin[)any  and  the  })nl)lic  f^en- 
erally.  Edith  Fcrj^uson,  wife  of  Mr.  Sims  and 
daughter  of  William  ).  and  Hannah  (Knssell) 
h'ergnson,  was  born  jnne  3(S,  1853,  in  Clinton 
comity,  of  which  the  parents  were  early  ])io- 
neers.  She  became  the  wife  of  the  subject  on 
the  tenth  day  of  October,  1872,  and  has  borne 
him  six  children,  whose  names  and  dates  of 
birth  are  as  follows;  Ida,  September  2,  1873; 
Annie,  August  5,  1875;  Sarah,  November  7, 
1877;  Estella,  November  8,  1880;  John  W. , 
May  21,  1883;  and  Effie,  September  1 i,  1886, 
all  living  except  Effie,  who  died  at  the  age  of 
five  years.  Mr.  Sims’  great  aim,  so  far  as  his 
relations  with  his  fellow-men  are  concerned, 
has  been  to  be  guided  and  controlled  by  the 
Ciolden  Rule,  and  in  all  his  daily  affairs  he  has 
ever  manifested  a generous  regard  for  others, 
and  a strict  allegiance  to  the  principles  of  hon- 
est\’  and  honor.  He  is  a man  of  positive  temp- 
erance, firm  in  his  convictions,  fearless  in  his 
adhesion  to  principles,  and  is  esteemed  hy  al] 
who  know  him  as  an  honorable  man  and  model 
citizen. 


AMES  W.  SLAGLE,  a progressive  farm- 
er of  Perry  township,  Boone  county, 
Ind.,  was  born  in  Highland  county, 
Ohio,  March  17,  1847,  a son  of  Isaac 
and  Anna  f Marsh)  Slagle,  natives  of  Virginia. 
From  Virginia  the  parents  removed,  a year  or 
so  after  their  marriage,  to  Ohio,  and  thence, 
in  1851,  to  Indiana,  where  they  settled  on  the 
farm  now  owned  hy  James  W.  They  were 
the  parents  of  six  children,  viz;  John,  deceased, 
Sarah,  wife  of  Mr.  Montgomery;  Mary  A., 
marrit.'d  to  G.  b'nnkhonser;  Ben  jamin  b'. , 
Jac(d)  W.,  and  James  W. 

James  W.  Slagle  was  reared,  from  the  age 
(T  four  years,  to  manhood,  in  Boone  county, 
and  inured  to  the  liardshijis  of  farm  life.  Oc- 


tober 6,  1863,  he  enlisted  in  battery  I,  b'onrlh 
Indiana  light  artillery,  and  took  part  in  the 
battles  at  Lookout  Mountain,  Missionary 
Ridge,  and  at  other  places;  in  September, 

1864,  he  went  to  Atlanta,  and  in  January, 

1865,  went  to  Chattanooga  for  the  second 

time,  and  then  again  to  Nashville,  then  back 
to  Stone  River,  and  was  finally  discharged  at 
Indianapolis  in  August,  1865.  his  return 

home  he  engaged  in  farm  labor  seven  years; 
then,  in  1873,  he  bought  forty  acres  of  good 
land,  engaged  in  agriculture  on  his  own  ac- 
count, and  in  1880,  ]nirchased  forty  acres 
more,  and  Octolrer  i,  1884,  purchased  forty 
acres  in  addition,  all  of  which,  added  to  forty 
acres  inherited,  constitutes  a home  of  160. 
His  marriage  took  place  in  this  county,  March 
24,  1874,  to  Miss  Elizabeth  C.  Holmes,  who 
was  born  in  Boone  county,  November  27, 
1848,  a daughter  of  Jones  and  H and  Eliza- 
beth C.  (Sallee)  Holmes,  and  to  this  union 
have  been  born  six  children,  viz;  Jessie  L. , 
Leonidas  L. , Dollie  F. , Leslie  A.,  Leroy  I... , 
and  Ross.  Mr.  Slagle  is  a republican  in  poli- 
tics, and  has  served  as  delegate  to  the  state 
convention  from  Perry  township,  and  was 
elected  trustee  of  Perry  township  November 
6,  1894,  on  the  republican  ticket  by  a majority 
of  forty. 


EIZABblTH  J.  SEAYBACK.  The 
hiographer  is  always  jdeased  to  record 
anything  relating  to  the  success  of 
womankind  in  any  field  of  action,  hut 
is  especially  so  in  giving  an  account  of  the 
subject  of  this  sketch,  who  is  a practical 
woman  of  Boone  cnunl\',  and  a succ.’ssful 
farnu'r.  She  is  a daughter  ol  |ames  Thorn- 
berry,  one  of  the  original  I'ioneers  of  the 
(;onnt\’,  and  widow  ol  \Villi:im  E.  Slayback, 
who  w;is  a ])romin('nt  farmer  of  Genter  town- 
ship. He  was  born  in  Boone  county,  .\pril 


OF  BOONE  COUNTY. 


470 


23,  ICS36,  the  soil  of  William  and  Anna  (Belles) 
Slayback.  The  elder  Slayback  was  one  of  the 
earliest  jiioneers  of  Boone  county,  and  was  of 
Pennsylvania  Dutch  stock,  coming  from  Hamil- 
ton county,  Ohio,  in  1832,  and  settling  in  Wash- 
ington township.  His  wife,  Anna  Belles,  was 
born  December  10,  1802,  near  Trenton,  N.  J., 
and  removed  to  Hamilton  county,  Ohio,  with 
her  parents,  in  early  childhood,  where  she 
married  William  Slayback  about  1821.  They 
settled  on  a farm  in  the  wilderness,  where  she 
lived  until  the  time  of  her  death.  To  them 
were  born  eight  children — Lucinda,  Milieu, 
David,  Mary,  William,  Eliza,  Jane  and  Levi. 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Slavback  were  early  members  of 
the  Baptist  church,  but  later  in  life  became 
members  of  the  Christian  church.  Mr.  Slay- 
back became  a wealthy  and  prominent  farmer. 
He  inherited  the  characteristics  of  his  Dutch 
ancestry  and  was  a man  much  respected  and 
beloved  by  all  who  knew  him.  He  had  a dis- 
tinguished demeanor  and  tine  appearance,  and 
reached  the  great  age  of  eighty  years  and 
died.  His  wife  died  January  14,  1894,  at  the 
still  more  advanced  age  of  ninety-two  years. 

W.  E.  Slayback,  a son  of  the  above,  and 
the  husband  of  our  subject,  was  born  April 
23,  1826,  on  the  old  homestead  in  Washing- 
ton township,  six  miles  east  of  Thorntown. 
He  received  the  limited  education  of  the  pio- 
neers, and  followed  through  life  the  vocation 
to  which  he  was  reared — that  of  a farmer.  He 
married,  at  the  age  of  twenty-four  years,  Eliz- 
abeth J.,  daughter  of  James  and  Jane  (An- 
drews) Thornberry.  Mr.  Thornberry  was  born 
in  Kentucky  in  1801.  His  father,  John,  was 
one  of  the  original  pioneers  of  that  state,  and 
was  from  an  old  colonial  American  family. 
James  Thornberry  married  in  Ohio,  and  set- 
tled in  Boone  county,  Ind.,  1831-2,  in  the 
woods  in  Washington  township.  He  entered 
160  acres  of  land,  which  he  improved  from  the 
virgin  forest  and  increased,  by  good  manage- 


ment and  industry,  until  he  owned  210  acres 
of  fertile  land.  He  and  wife  were  the  parents 
of  twelve  children.  One  died  an  infant,  and 
elev'en  grew  to  manhood  and  womanhood — 
Christina,  Mary,  William,  John,  Nancy, 
Abigail,  David,  Ira,  James,  Elizabeth  and 
Levi.  In  1866  Mr.  Thornberry  moved  to 
Thorntown  and  retired  from  active  life.  He 
and  wife  were  members  of  the  Baptist  church, 
of  which  he  was  a deacon  for  many  years. 
Prior  to  the  organization  of  the  republican 
piarty  he  was  a democrat,  but  afterward  he 
affiliated  with  the  former.  He  had  two  sons 
in  the  Civil  war — William  and  Levi.  William 
sickened  and  died  in  hospital  after  six  months’ 
service.  He  was  in  a Missouri  infantry  regi- 
ment. Levi  was  in  the  One  Hundred  and 
Forty-third  regiment  Indiana  volunteer  infan- 
try and  served  four  years,  and  was  in  many 
battles.  He  was  wounded  and  a prisoner  at 
Andersonville  nine  months.  Mr.  Thornberry 
lived  to  be  an  aged  man,  and  died  in  1878. 
He  was  one  of  the  prosperous  farmers  of 
Boone  county,  a man  of  high  character,  and 
brought  up  an  excellent  family  of  children. 
On  the  maternal  grandfather’s  side,  Mrs. 
Slayback  descends  from  Arthur  Andrews,  who 
was  a soldier  in  the  Revolutionary  war.  His 
parents  were  Irish,  and  he  was  born  six  weeks 
after  his  parents  came  to  this  country.  His 
wife,  Christina,  was  English.  Mr.  Slayback 
worked  with  such  steadfast  determination  to 
improve  his  farm  that  he  shattered  his  consti- 
tution, and  died  at  the  comparatively  early  age 
of  forty-three  years,  in  1879  He  is  well  re- 
membered by  many  of  our  citizens  for  his 
many  good  (jualities,  his  unflagging  industry, 
and  high  sense  of  honor.  To  Mr.  Slayback 
and  wife  five  children  were  born:  Lew  W. , 
Millroy  L. , Dora  A.,  Charles  G.  and  Mary  A. 
They  all  received  good  common  educations. 
Dora  A.  married  Lewis  W.  Copeland,  a farmer 
of  Boone  county;  they  hav'e  two  children. 


480 


bio(;rapiiical  history 


After  tlie  death  of  her  husband  Mrs.  Slayback 
assinned  the  inaiiaf^einent  of  her  farm,  her 
eUlest  son  hein^;'  l)nt  sixteen  years  of  a<,m.  By 
careful  management,  juaidence  and  thrift,  she 
l)roughl  up  her  family  and  improved  the  farm 
by  having  it  thoroughly  drained,  and  has  now 
one  <jf  the  finest  farms  in  Center  township,  the 
home  bearing  all  the  evidences  of  taste  and 
refinement.  Mrs.  Slayback  is  a devout  mem- 
ber of  the  Missionar}’  Baptist  church,  and  is  a 
lady  of  great  force  of  character  and  good  busi- 
ness ability.  Her  patience  and  faithfulness  in 
managing  the  farm'  and  raising  the  children 
since  the  death  of  her  husband,  cannot  be 
spoken  of  in  terms  of  too  much  praise. 

OBERT  SLOCIAI,  one  of  the  earl\- 
j)ioneers  of  Boone  county,  is  a native 
of  West  \'irginia  and  was  born  in 
Harrison  county,  March  15,  1827. 

His  parents  were  John  and  Sarah  (McCann) 
Slocum,  also  natives  of  W'est  \hrginia.  John 
Slocum  was  a son  of  |ohn,  Sr.,  and  Nancy 
(Martin)  Slocnm,  who  were  among  the  early 
pioneers  of  W'est  \hrginia.  His  father  was 
Rolrert  Slocum,  a native  of  Chatworthw  Eng., 
who  emigrated  thence  to  the  Cnited  States  in 
1867,  landing  in  Philadelphia  in  August  of  that 
year.  In  June,  1768,  he  married  Abigail 
niiinn  and  setthal  in  Bucks  county.  Pa.,  ami 
later  removed  to  Virginia,  where  he  afterward 
resided  until  his  death  at  the  age  of  eighty 
years.  He  was  the  fatlu-r  of  four  children; 
John  .Sloc'urn,  the  grandfather  of  our  subject 
being  the  eldest.  John  was  the  fatlu'r  of  ten 
children,  of  whom  John  Slocum,  | r. , was  the 
fourth.  He  was  born  in  Harrison  county,  Wh 
\'a.,  May  21,  1803.  He  was  married.  May  18, 
1826,  to  Sarah  McCann,  a native  of  Harrison 
county,  \V.  Va.,  born  January  27,  1805.  Ih'r 
parents  wtu'e  Thomas  and  Martha  McCann, 
natives  <4  Ireland,  who  emigrated  to  the 


United  States  in  a very  early  day.  In  the 
S])ring  of  1830  John  Slocum  moved  to  Boone 
county,  Ind.,  entering  and  settling  on  the 
same  land  on  which  our  subject  now  resides, 
where  he  remained  until  death.  His  wife 
died  Septend)er  28,  1863,  and  he  died  July  3, 
t866.  They  were  the  parents  of  nine  chil- 
dren, viz;  Sarah,  deceased;  Thennas;  John, 
deceased;  Margaret,  deceased;  Rebecca,  de- 
ceased; Jane,  deceased;  Harriet,  deceased; 
Ann  deceased,  and  Robert,  our  subject,  the 
eldest.  Robert  came  with  his  parents  to 
Boone  county  in  1830,  and  was  united  in  mar- 
riage .\pril  7,  1851,  to  Nancy  J.,  daughter  of 
Robert  and  Rebecca  J.  Snodgrass.  She  was 
a native  of  Indiana  and  was  born  January  17, 
1830.  After  Mr.  Slocum’s  marriage  he  settled 
in  WAishington  township  and  in  1853  removed 
to  Clinton  townshi]r,  where  he  remained  until 
the  spring  of  i860;  then  removed  to  Whishing- 
ton  township  and  here  has  since  resided.  His 
wife  died  June  4,  1889,  and  on  November  25, 
1889,  he  married  Margaret,  daughter  of  Wul- 
liam  S.  and  Lucinda  (Stuart)  Buchanan.  She 
was  born  in  Ohio  county,  Ind.,  September  28, 
1856.  Mr.  Slocum  is  a highly  esteemed  gen- 
tleman and  is  loved  by  all  who  know  him.  He 
held  the  office  of  townshiji  trustee  of  Washing- 
ton townshi))  from  1869  to  1873  and  filled  the 
offic('  to  the  entire  satisfaction  of  his  towns- 
men and  with  much  credit  to  himself. 


INCIiNT  E.  SMI  TH,  a ])roniincnt  citi- 
zen and  old  settler  of  Jackson  township, 
is  of  binghsh-Oerman  lineage  and  was 
horn  in  T'ayette  county,  Ind.,  Sep- 
temhi'r  2,  i 823 ; his  father,  John  P.  Smith,  was 
a native  of  the  ICastern  statc;s  and  the  son  of  a 
Revolutionary  soldier  whose  ancestors  settled 
iK'ar  Chesapeake  bay  in  the  time  oi  the 
colonies.  John  P.  .Smith  emigrated  to  Ohio 
in  1818,  and  two  years  later  pushed  further 


OF  BOONE  COUNTY. 


481 


westward  to  I'ayette  county,  Iiid.,  where  his 
death  subsequently  occurred.  His  wife,  Sallie 
(Eskev)  Smith,  bore  him  the  following  chil- 
dren: Morgan,  Sarah,  John,  Samuel,  Vincent 
E.,  Joseph  E.,  Betsy,  Nancy,  Catherine, 
Perry  and  James  H. 

\’incent  E.  Smith  left  the  parental  roof 
while  (piite  }'oung  and  for  a number  of  years  i 
was  engaged  in  steam-boating  on  the  Ohio 
and  Mississippi  rivers;  during  the  time  he  was  [ 
thus  employed  he  served  in  nearly  every 
capacity,  and  picked  up  a fund  of  practical 
knowledge  by  coming  in  contact  with  all  class- 
es of  men.  A strong  friend  of  the  Union,  he 
served  his  country  in  the  late  war  in  company 
K,  Eleventh  Indiana  volunteer  infantry,  which 
formed  a part  of  the  command  of  Gen.  Lewis 
W'allace.  Within  a short  time  after  entering 
the  army  his  regiment  was  transferred  to 
Baltimore,  Md.,  and  assigned  to  guard  and 
camp  duty,  and  it  was  in  that  city  that  he  was 
thoroughly  drilled  and  prepared  for  active 
participation  in  the  field.  Owing  to  sickness 
he  did  not  go  to  the  front,  and  by  reason  of 
his  physical  disability  was  subsequently  dis- 
charged from  the  service.  After  the  war  he 
returned  to  Indiana  and  was  united  in  mar- 
riage to  Jane,  daughter  of  James  and  Telita 
(Baxter)  Williamson.  Mrs.  Smith  is  a native 
of  Decatur  county,  Ind.,  and  the  mother  of 
the  following  children,  whose  names  are  given 
in  the  order  of  birth: — Sarah  T.,  MaryJ., 
Cereldia  C.,  James  M.,  Ambrose  L , Carrie 
E.  and  Ola  Dell,  the  last  named  deceased. 
Mr.  Smith  located  on  his  present  place  in 
Jackson  township  in  the  year  1871;  his  place, 
though  small,  is  well  supplied  with  many  of 
the  conveniences  of  life,  and  he  is  justly  es- 
teemed as  one  of  the  valuable  citizens  of  the 
community.  Fraternally  he  belongs  to  the 
G.  A.  R.  post,  No.  524,  in  which  he  has  served 
as  commander  and  chaplain,  and  for  a number 
of  years  he  has  been  prominently  identified  with 


the  Methodist  church,  to  which  his  wife  also 
belongs.  He  has  held  different  official  posi- 
tions in  his  denomination,  including  that  of 
steward,  and  for  a period  of  twelve  years  a 
local  minister. 


ERG’T  NICHOLAS  BENNETT,  the 
genial  and  popular  landlord  of  the 
“Rose  House,”  and  a veteran  soldier, 
who  served  his  country  faithfully 
throughout  the  late  Civil  war,  is  a typical 
American  soldier  of  the  western  type,  tall, 
erect  and  manly  looking,  content  to  serve  his 
country  for  his  country’s  good.  He  springs 
from  sturdy  Pennsylvania  Dutch  stock.  Nich- 
olas Bennett,  the  grandfather  of  our  subject, 
was  born  in  Pennsylvania,  and  settled  in  War- 
ren county,  Ohio,  as  a pioneer  when  a young 
man.  He  married  and  reared  a large  family, 
cleared  up  and  made  a fine  farm,  and  became 
a prominent  and  leading  man  in  his  county. 
He  lived  to  the  age  of  eighty  years,  and  died 
on  his  farm  in  Warren  county,  Ohio.  He  was 
the  father  of  four  children  by  his  first  wife — 
William,  Mary,  Abraham  and  Henry  I.  By 
his  second  wife  he  was  the  father  of  five  chil- 
dren. Mr.  Bennett  was  an  old-fashioned  pio- 
neer American  farmer,  of  sterling  character, 
honorable,  industrious,  and  respected  by  all. 

William  Bennett,  the  oldest  son  of  above, 
was  the  father  of  our  subject.  He  was  born 
in  Warren  county,  Ohio,  on  his  father’s  farm, 
March  17,  1818,  was  reared  a farmer,  and 
married  in  Warren  county,  Ohio,  Emeline, 
daughter  of  John  Cuddy,  a farmer  of  Baltimore 
county,  Md.  To  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Bennett  were 
born  thirteen  children — Sarah,  Nicholas  (our 
subject),  Robert,  Jane,  Isaac  N.,  Alderson, 
Henry,  Mahala,  Rachael,  Dora  Martha,  and 
three  who  died  in  infancy.  Directly  after 
marriage  Mr.  Bennett  moved  to  Boone  county, 
Ind.,  in  the  fall  of  1838,  and  settled,  in  Clinton 


m 


J5I()(JRAP]IICAL  III  STORY 


townshi]!,  in  the  woods,  on  land  which  his 
father  had  entered  for  liitn.  William  Bennett 
and  wife  were  inemt)ersof  the  Methodist  church 
for  sixty  years.  Politically  he  was  a democrat, 
until  the  formation  of  the  republican  party, 
when  he  became  one  of  the  original  republicans 
of  Boone  county.  He  was  a strong  Union 
man,  and  had  two  sons  in  the  Civil  war — 
Ndcholas  (see  sketch  below),  and  Alderson, 
who  was  in  company  H,  Eleventh  regiment 
Indiana  cavalry,  as  a private  and  served  two 
years.  He  was  in  several  battles,  among  them 
Nashville,  Tenn.  He  died  at  Eastport,  Miss., 
from  the  effects  of  army  life.  William  Ben- 
nett is  still  living  on  his  farm,  aged  seventy- 
six  years,  still  active  and  able  to  work.  He 
has  always  been  a strong,  robust  man,  and  a 
hard  laborer  throughout  life.  He  has  always 
stood  high  for  true  moral  character,  and  integ- 
rity. His  first  wife  died,  and  he  married  Mary 
M.  Richardson,  /u'c  Graham,  the  widow  of  a 
soldier  ^f  the  Civil  war. 

Nicholas  Bennett,  our  subject,  was  born  in 
Boone  county,  Ind.,  Clinton,  township,  on 
his  father’s  farm,  November  29,  1840,  and 
was  reared  amo.rg  the  {)ioneer  scenes  of  this 
county.  He  received  a limited  common 
school  education,  and  learned  to  work  on  the 
farm.  At  the  age  of  twenty  years,  he  enlisted 
in  company  G,  Eleventh  regiment,  Indiana 
volunteer  infantry.  Col.  Lew  Wallace  and 
Capt.  Gum  Carr  were  his  immediate  officers. 
He  enlisted  for  three  years,  or  during  the  war, 
on  July  23,  1861,  at  Thorntown,  Ind.  He 
served  out  this  enlistment  and  re-eidisted  as  a 
veteran,  at  Madisonville,  Ala.,  for  three  years 
or  during  the  war,  and  served  until  [uly  26, 
1865,  when  he  was  honorably  discharged  at 
b'ort  .McHenry,  ILdtimore,  Md.  Ib^  was  in 
the  battle  of  Fort  Henry,  Tenn.,  I'orl  Donel- 
son,  Shiloh,  C<rriidh,  Miss.,  Champion  Hills, 
.Miss.,  Big  Black,  Miss.,  siege  of  Vicksburg — 
lasting  forty-seven  days.  He  was  also  in  the 


battles  of  Jackson,  Miss.,  Winchester,  Fisher’s 
Hill,  Cedar  Creek,  and  many  hard  skirmishes. 
He  was  wounded  at  the  battle  of  Cedar  Creek, 
by  a shell  bursting  in  the  air  over  his  head,  a 
piece  of  which  struck  him  on  both  shoulders, 
making  a slight  wound. 

Mr.  Bennett  was  in  all  the  battles,  skir- 
mishes, and  marches  of  his  regiment.  At  the 
battle  of  Champion  Hills,  company  G lost 
twenty-live  killed  or  wounded,  and  at  Cedar 
Creek  they  also  lost  heavily.  The  sergeant 
w'as  one  of  the  first  to  respond  to  Abraham 
Lincoln’s  first  call  for  300,000  men,  and  serv- 
ed until  his  services  were  no  longer  needed  by 
his  country.  After  this  important  service  he 
returned  home,  and  engaged  in  farming.  He 
married,  February  9,  1864,  Mary,  daughter  of 
Caleb  and  Mariah  ( Roseyboom)  Beach 

Mr.  Beach  is  an  old  settler  of  Boone 
county,  coming  in  1852,  and  settling  in  Wash- 
ington township;  he  is  a substantial  farmer, 
owning  200  acres  of  good  land.  He  and  wife 
are  the  parents  of  eight  children — Joseph, 
Mary,  Sarah,  Emma,  Clarkson,  }ohn,  Addie 
(deceased),  and  Anaidas.  Mr. and  Mrs.  Beach 
were  members  of  the  United  Brethern  church. 
He  is  a republican  in  politics,  and  was  a strong 
Union  man,  having  one  son  in  the  war — 
Joseph.  Mr.  Beach  was  is  well  known  for  his 
honorable  traits  of  character,  and  is  an  excel- 
lent citizen. 

After  marriage  Mr.  Bennett  lived  on  a 
farm  in  Clinton  townslri])  for  one  year,  and 
then  was  engaged  in  the  mercantile  business  in 
Mechanicsburg  four  years.  He  was  also  in 
the  saw  mill  business  in  Kirklin  five  years,  and 
came  to  Lebanon  in  1886  and  engaged  in  the 
hotel  business,  and  is  now  landlord  of  the  Rose 
House,  which  he  conducts  in  an  orderly  and 
liberal  manner,  supplying  a bountiful  table, 
and  kee])ing  ck'an  rooms.  h'ratcrnally,  Mr. 
Bennett  is  a member  of  I.  ().  ().  1'.,  at  Kirk- 
lin, Ind.,  the  Red  Men,  Winnebago  tribe, 


OF  BOONE  COUNTY, 


48B 


Lebanon,  the  (F  A.  K.,  Rich  Mountain  post,  i 
No.  42,  and  has  hehl  all  the  offices  in  his  post, 
inclnding  commander.  Politically  he  is  a 
stanch  repnblican.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Bennett 
have  bronght  np  two  children — Alice  Larkin 
and  Alonzo  Hoover.  Mrs.  Bennett  is  a mem- 
her  of  the  Presbyterian  church.  Sergeant 
Bennett  was  assessor  of  Clinton  township,  and 
also  marshal  of  Kirklin  for  four  years.  He 
was  one  of  the  delegates  to  the  county  con- 
vention of  1894. 


AMES  SMITH,  farmer  of  Perry  town- 
ship, Boone  county,  Ind.,  was  born  in 
Center  township,  of  the  same  county, 
Sejrtember  20,  1834.  His  parents, 

James  and  Catherine  ('Birchfieldj  Smith,  were 
natives,  respectively,  of  North  Carolina  and 
Kentucky,  and  in  the  latter  state  their  marriage 
took  place,  after  which  event  they  came  to 
Indiana  and  lived  in  Ripley  county  until  1830, 
when  they  bought  the  land  on  which  the  Boone 
county  farm  is  situate.  James  Smith,  Sr., 
built  the  first  jail  in  the  county,  which  jail  was 
constructed  of  logs.  From  that  point  he  re- 
moved to  the  south  part  of  Center  townshi]), 
thence  to  Harrison  township,  where  he  died  in 
1876  and  his  wife  in  1879.  They  were  the 
parents  of  twelve  children,  named  as  follows: 
Elizabeth,  Malinda,  MaryJ.,  Whlliarn,  all  de- 
ceased; John  J.  of  Indianapolis;  Minerva,  Isaac 
H.  and  Amanda,  dead;  James,  our  subject; 
Robert  and  Jackson,  both  deceased,  and  Lu- 
cinda, wife  of  N.  Williams,  of  Kokomo,  Ind. 

James  Smith,  the  subject  proper  of  this 
biography,  made  his  home  on  the  home  farm 
until  twenty-three  years  of  age,  when  he  bought 
forty  acres  of  land  in  Harrison  townshiji, 
which  he  cultivated  and  resided  on  until  1873, 
when  he  came  to  Perry  township  and  bought 
the  eighty  acres  on  which  he  has  his  present 
home.  The  marriage  of  James  Smith  took 


place  in  Harrison  township,  March  4,  1858,  to 
Susanna  McGowens,  who  was  born  in  Ken- 
tucky, January  31,  1840,  to  James  and  Anna 
McGowens.  To  this  union  were  born  nine 
children,  viz:  Sanford  W.,  Daniel  J.,  Cather- 
ine (deceased),  Robert  H.,  Jackson,  Isaac, 
Lewis,  Perry  and  an  infant  that  died  unnamed. 
Mr.  Smith  and  wife  are  Baptists  in  religion, 
and  in  politics  he  is  a democrat. 


lEUT.  GEORGE  W.  SMITH,  one 
of  the  soldiers  of  the  Civil  war  and  a 
respected  citizen  of  Eebanon,  de- 
scends from  an  old  New  York  state 
family  of  English  descent.  Whlliam  Smith, 
his  grandfather,  was  a soldier  in  the  war  of 
the  Revolution.  He  married  in  New  York 
state  Martha  Johnson  of  a Revolutionary 
family,  and  they  were  parents  of  a large  family 
of  children.  Mr.  Smith  first  settled  in  Ken- 
tucky and  then  in  P'ayette  county,  Ind.,  among 
the  pioneers.  He  lived  to  be  eighty  years  of 
age,  and  died  near  Cumberland,  Ind.,  a pros- 
perous farmer.  Abner  Smith,  son  of  the 
above  and  father  of  our  subject,  was  born  De- 
cember 16,  1809,  was  a soldier  in  the  Mexican 
war  and  w'as  in  the  battles  of  Cerro  Gordo, 
Monterey  and  Palo  Alto — marchingunder  Gen. 
Drake  of  Indianapolis.  He  married  Maria, 
daughter  of  John  DeMoss  of  I'ayette  county, 
Ind.,  who  W'as  a pioneer  there  and  died  an 
aged  man.  He  w'as  of  French  stock.  Abner 
and  Maria  Smith  w'ere  the  parents  of  eleven 
children.  The  first  four  died  young;  the  re- 
mainder lived  to  be  grow'n.  The  latter  were 
x\bner  \V.,  Justin  C.,  New'ton,  Erastus,  George 
W. , Maria  E.  and  Martha  R.  Mr.  Smith  set- 
tled in  Delaware  county,  Ind.,  when  the  Indi- 
ans W'ere  still  there  and  w'ould  frequently  visit 
the  family.  About  1834  Mr.  Smith  moved  to 
Indianapolis,  where  he  lived  until  1854  follow- 
ing his  trade,  that  of  a painter  and  cabinet 


484 


BT( )G R A PII I C AL  1 11  STORY 


maker,  then  moved  to  Boone  comity  and  set- 
tled in  Marion  township,  where  he  died  at 
liity-Hvc  years  of  age.  He  was  a democrat 
and  he  and  wife  were  members  pf  the  Mission 
ary  Baptist  chnrch.  He  was  an  industrious, 
res[)ected  man  and  had  three  sons  in  the  Civil 
war:  Lieut.  Abner  W. , who  served  three  years 
and  was  in  the  following  battles — Rich  Moun- 
tain, Mills  Springs,  Shiloh,  Boonville,  Stone 
River,  Perrysville,  Tullahoma,  Chickamuga, 
Big  P'ork,  Missionary  Ridge,  Lookout  Moun- 
tain, Buzzard’s  Roost,  Resaca,  Kingston,  Ga. , 
Renesaw  Mountain,  Peach  Tree  Creek,  three 
battles  at  the  siege  of  Atlanta,  and  jonesboro. 
He  was  in  all  the  battles  and  skirmishes  of 
his  regiment  and  was  on  the  staff  of  “Pap 
Thomas”  as  acting  brigade  inspector.  He  was 
also  provost  marshal  of  Chattanooga  in  1 863. 
Newton  J.  Smith  was  in  company  C,  One 
Hundred  and  Thirty-ninth  regiment  Indiana 
volunteer  infantry,  and  served  as  drum  major  in 
the  one-hundred  day  service.  The  family  were 
very  loyal,  and  Justin  C.,  being  afflicted  with 
a nervous  disease  which  disabled  him  for  ac- 
tive service,  took  the  place  of  Oscar  Shanklin 
in  a grocery  store  in  Washington  townsliip, 
that  Mr.  Shanklin  might  enlist.  He  received 
the  pay  of  a soldier  only,  although  earning 
much  more,  as  he  managed  the  store. 

George  W.  Smith  was  born  in  Indianapolis, 
Ind.,  December  9,  1837,  received  a common 
education  and  came  to  P>oone  county  with  his 
father  when  a young  man.  He  had  been  a 
fireman  and  engineer  on  the  I.  P.  cC  C.  R.  R., 
for  more  than  three  years,  beginning  his  work 
as  a fireman  when  but  fourteen  jauirs  of  age. 
He  worked  on  the  farm  with  his  father  and 
clerked  in  his  store  until  he  enlisted  at  Leb- 
anon, August  12,  1862,  for  three  years  or  dur- 
ing the  war,  and  was  immediately  promoted  to 
orderly  sergeant,  under  Cai)t.  Aaron  h'razec' 
and  Col.  ().  S.  Hamilton.  He  served  until 
honorably  discharge  at  Gallatin,  Tenm,  on  ac- 


count of  sickness  and  disability.  He  was  in 
the  battles  of  Perryville,  Crab  Orchard,  Ky., 
Wild  Cat  Mountain,  Glasgow,  Ky. , Laurel 
Hill,  Tenm,  Levern  and  many  skirmishes. 
After  his  return  home  he  remained  working  on 
the  farm  until  P”ebruary  i,  1865,  when  he  re- 
enlisted at  Lebanon  in  company  I,  One  Hun- 
dred and  I'iftieth  Indiana  volunteer  infantry, 
and  was  promoted  on  the  organization  of  the 
company  to  orderly  sergeant  and  served  until 
the  close  of  the  war.  He  was  in  the  battles  of 
Luray  Cove,  Berryville,  Opequon  Creek,  Win- 
chester and  many  skirmishes,  all  in  Virginia.  He 
served  in  Hancock's  veteran  reserve  corps, 
army  of  the  Potomac.  On  June  i,  1865,  Ser- 
geant Smith  was  promoted  to  second  lieuten- 
ant of  company  I.  He  was  mustered  out 
and  honorably  discharged  at  Stevenson  Sta- 
tion, Va.,  August  12,  1865.  Lieut.  Smith  was 
never  sick,  wounded  nor  in  hosp)ital,  nor  taken 
prisoner,  and  was  in  all  the  battles  and  skir-- 
niishes  of  his  regiment  when  he  was  with  them. 
He  was  ruptured  by  an  accident  early  in  his 
enlistment,  but  it  did  not  prevent  him  doing 
duty,  yet  his  service  and  the  e.xposure  of  army 
life  completely  disabled  him,  rendering  him 
unable  to  work,  for  which  he  receives  a pen- 
sion of  thirty  dollars  per  month.  Lieut.  Smith 
met  his  wife  at  Gallatin,  Tenm,  in  1862, 
while  serving  there  as  a soldier,  and  they  were 
married  at  Le.xington,  August  30,  1865.  She 
was  Mar\'  daughter  of  James  W.  and 

Georgie  T.  (Cooper)  Cryer.  Mr.  C'ryer  was  a 
pros))erons  and  lu'ominenl  farmer  and  slave 
owner  in  Sumner  county,  4'enn.,  and  father 
of  a large  family  of  children  -Mary  1C,  \4r- 
ginia  C.,  Silencer  C.,  james  R.,  Mary  \C, 
Sallie  C.,  David  IC,  Llewellyn  .S.,  Louisa  C., 
AimaC'.  and  Martha  H.  Mr,  Cryer  had  two  sons 
in  the  Confe<lerate  service  --S|)encer  C. , in  the 
first  d'ennessee  infantry  regiment  and  in  many 
battles;  [antes  R.  was  in  .a  Tennessee  infantry 
regiment  also,  and  in  many  fiattles.  Mr. 


OF  ROONIC  COUNTY. 


485 


Crycr  died  July,  1866,  at  Silver  Sprinj^s,  Wil- 
son county,  Tenn.  He  was  an  upright  and 
honorable  citizen  and  lost  heavdy  during  the 
war.  He  and  wife  were  members  of  the 
Methodist  church.  After  marriage,  Lieut. 
Smith  and  wife  settled  in  their  ijresent  home. 
The  children  born  to  Lieut.  Smith  and  wife 
were  named  Maggie  O.  (deceased),  Jasper  W. 
(deceased),  Wdlliam  and  Jessie  C.  (both  at 
home).  Mr.  Smith  was  in  the  railroad  mail 
service  seven  years  on  the  “Big  Four”  and 
other  roads.  Since  that  time  he  has  been 
broken  down  from  his  army  service  and  is  re- 
tired from  from  active  work.  He  was  one  of 
the  original  republicans  of  Boone  county,  is  a 
member  of  the  G.  A.  R , Rich  Mountain  po.st, 
was  officer  of  the  day  four  years  and  sergeant- 
major  two  years  Lieut.  Smith  comes  from  a 
patriotic  family,  descending  from  Revolutionary 
stock;  his  father  fought  in  the  Mexican  war 
and  three  of  his  brothers  in  the  Civil  war. 
His  mother  was  one  of  those  American  women 
who  instilled  patriotism.  When  Col.  O.  S. 
Hamilton  came  to  her  home,  for  volunteers, 
he  said  “Mother  Smith,  how  many  boys  have 
you  that  you  can  spare  me  to  go  to  the  army.?” 
She  replied,  “I  have  five  sons — one  is  already 
in  the  war  and  I wish  f had  twenty-five  more 
to  send.” 

In  1793  tw'o  brothers,  John  and  Henry 
Johnson,  brothers  of  the  grandmother  of  our 
subject,  were  captured  by  the  Indians  and  kept 
until  night,  wheii  they  succeeded  in  killing  one 
of  the  Indians  and  wounding  the  other  and 
making  their  escape  to  the  fort.  These  boys 
were  only  eleven  and  thirteen  years  of  age,  and 
were  afterwards  known  as  very  brave  men  and 
soldiers. 

It  will  thus  be  seen  that  Lieut.  George  W. 
Smith  descends  from  a family  whose  blood 
was  early  impregnated  with  the  germs  of  pa- 
triotism, and  that  he  has  proven  to  be  no  un- 
worthy scion  of  such  a race. 


HARON  hartley  smith,  a prom- 
inent farmer  and  stock  raiser  of 
Marion  township,  Boone  county,  Ind., 
is  a son  of  Solomon  and  Catherine 
Smith,  and  dates  his  birth  from  the  19th  day 
oL  April,  1842.  On  his  father’s  side  Mr. 
Smith  is  of  English  lineage,  and  maternally  is 
descended  from  Irish  ancestry.  His  father’s 
family  was  noted  for  longevity,  his  grand- 
mother, one  of  the  earliest  settlers  of  Logan 
county,  ( )hio,  where  the  subject  of  this  sketch 
first  saw  the  light  of  day,  living  to  the  advanced 
age  of  104  years.  Solomon  Smith  was  a 
native  of  \hrginia,  but  early  emigrated  to 
Logan  county,  Ohio,  where  he  purchased  320 
acres  of  government  land,  upon  which  one  of  the 
first  settlements  in  that  county  was  made. 
The  maiden  name  of  Solomon  Smith’s  wdfe 
was  Catherine  Swan,  who  was  born  in  1796 
near  Harper’s  Ferry,  \’a.,  and  who  bore  her 
husband  the  following  children:  Mary,  Eliza- 
beth, Robert  M.,  Charlotte,  John,  Margaret, 
Benjamin  B.,  Aaron  H.,  Amos,  Frank, 
Amanda  and  Jane,  all  of  whotn  grew  to  years 
of  maturity  and  became  the  heads  of  families. 
Of  the  above,  six  sons  served  in  the  late  war 
and  did  valiant  service  in  defense  of  the 
national  Union.  Solomon  Smith  was  a soldier 
of  the  war  of  1812,  and  departed  this  life  at 
his  home  near  Lewiston,  Ohio,  at  the  age  of 
ninety-six;  his  widow  has  reached  a green  old 
age,  and  is  the  recipient  of  a pension  for  serv- 
ices rendered  by  her  husband  in  the  war 
above  mentioned. 

Aaron  Hartley  Smith  was  reared  on  a farm 
in  his  native  state  and  assisted  his  father  until 
seventeen  years  of  age,  at  which  time,  think- 
ing that  the  west  afforded  better  opportunities 
for  a start  in  life,  he  came  to  Indiana,  where 
for  a period  of  six  yeurs  he  worked  by  the 
month  as  a farm  laborer.  He  was  thus  en- 
gaged at  different  places  until  1862,  in  October 
of  which  year  he  responded  to  the  country’s 


480 


RIOGRAPIIICAL  HISTORY 


call  for  v(jltinteers,  joining  company  B,  Fifty- 
fonrth  regiment  Indiana  infantry,  under  Ool. 
I'iclding  Manslkdd.  On  November  9,  of  the 
alxjve  year,  he  accom])anied  his  command 
from  the  city  of  Indianapolis  to  Memphis, 
4'enn.,  where  the  regiment  became  a part  of 
Oen.  Sherman’s  division.  Mr.  Smith  shared 
the  vicissitudes  of  war  in  a number  of  cam- 
paigns and  battles,  among  which  may  be 
enumerated  Chickasaw  Bluff,  Arkansas  Post, 
Champion  Hill,  siege  of  Vicksburg,  and  num- 
erous minor  engagements,  the  mere  mention  of 
which  would  far  transcend  the  scope  of  this 
sketch.  He  was  honorably  discharged  from 
the  service  on  the  eleventh  day  of  December, 
1863,  immediatel}-  after  w’hicb  he  returned  to 
Boone  county,  wdrere  he  invested  his  savings 
of  several  years  in  a small  tract  of  land,  from 
which  he  cleared  and  developed  a home.  For 
some  after  leaving  the  armv  Mr.  Smith  w'as 


following  children  : Amanda,  Khoda  (died  at 
the  age  of  eleven),  Ulysses,  Norah  and  Wil- 
liam C.  Mrs,  Smith  has  been,  in  the  true 
sense  of  the  word,  a helpmate,  and  to  her 
wise  council,  untiring  industry,  and  hearty  co- 
operation, is  her  husband  largely  indebted  for 
much  of  his  success  in  life. 


KESTON  SMITH,  ex-county  treas- 
urer, was  born  in  Perry  township, 
Boone  county,  Ind.,  September  24, 
1847,  and  here  he  still  resides,  engaged 
in  farming,  the  vocation  to  which  he  was 
reared.  His  parents  w^ere  John  and  Ziphora 
(Kincartj  Smith,  the  former  of  whom  was  born 
in  Kentucky,  June  18,  1812.  The  family  came 
to  Indiana  from  Kentucky,  and  until  1840 
lived  in  Rijdey  county,  when  they  moved  to 
Boone  county  and  bought  land  in  Center  town- 


principally  engaged  in  clearihgf^aild  for  differ^-:  ij-iship,  but  a year  later  moved  to  Perry  township, 


ent  j)arties,  and  he  points  with  pride  to  the 
fact  that  he  has  removed  the  forest  growth 
from,  and  fitted  for  cultivation,  over  200  acres 
of  land  in  Boone  county.  His  first  purchase 
of  real  estate  consisted  of  twenty-two  and  one- 
half  acres;  to  which  he  subse<piently  added 
thirty  acres;  this  he  cleared  and  sold,  and, 
from,  the  proceeds,  purchased  160  acres  of 
timber  and  sw’amp  land  in  1 883,  since  which 
time  he  has  devoted  his  energies  toward  its 
development.  Mr.  Smith's  life  has  been  one 
of  great  activity,  and  he  has  worked  almost 
constantly  at  clearing,  ditching,  and  other 
hard  labor  neccessary  to  bring  his  place  in  a 
state  of  cultivation.  At  this  time  he  is  the 
possessor  of  240  acres,  containting  good  build- 
ings and  other  improvements,  and  he  is  now  in 
a ])osition  to  pass  the  remainder  of  his  days  in 
comparative  eas(.'  and  cointoi't.  Mrs.  Smith, 
whose  maiden  name  was  Indiana  Abbot, 
daughter  of  John  W.  and  America  Abbot,  was 
born  July  26,  1848,  and  is  the  mother  of  the 


and  after  living  three  years  on  the  farm  of 
their  first  choice  bought  a part  of  the  farm  on 
which  Preston  now  lives,  and  here  John  Smith, 
the  father,  died  in  1874.  His  wife,  Ziphora, 
had  borne  him  six  children,  and  died  in  1849; 
he  next  married  Lucinda  ('.reen,  to  which  union 
two  children  were  born.  He  was  successful  in 
life,  was  ipu'ight,  and  a conscientious  member 
of  the  Ihiited  Brethren  church.  In  ])olitics, 
he  was  a democrat,  and  at  the  time  of  his 
death  owned  over  a 100  acres  of  fine  land. 

Preston  Smith  remaiiu'd  on  the  old  farm 
until  nineteen  years  old,  and  then  lived  on 
rented  land  until  1868,  when  he  bought  forty 
acrc!S  of  the  farm  on  whi(  h he  at  present  re- 
sides, and  which,  by  industry  and  good  man- 
agement, he  has  increased  to  227  acres,  and 
im(»rov(‘d  with  a si)acions  brick  dwelling,  com- 
modious barn  and  all  ot her  necessary  outbuild- 
ings. 'Idle  marriage  of  Mr.  Smith  took  place 


in  Perry  township,  March 
).  Moore,  who  was  born  i 


17,  1 867,  to  .Vmanda 
1 lendricks  countv. 


LIBRARY 
OF  THE 

UNIVERSITY  OF  ItUNOIS 


WARREN  J.  SMITH. 


OF  BOONE  COUNTY. 


480 


Ind.,  January  2 1,  i 849,  the  daughter  of  George 
and  leiniina  (Roy)  Moore,  natives  of  Kentucky, 
but  residents  of  Hendricks  county,  Ind.,  at  the 
time  of  the  marriage.  To  this  happy  union 
have  been  born  eight  children,  viz. ; Stephen, 
deceased;  Cora  E.,  wife  of  F.  Herdrick,  a 
brick  manufacturer  of  Lebanon,  Ind  ; Luza  A., 
wife  of  Charles  Kay,  of  Arcadia,  Ind.  ; David 
and  Estella,  deceased;  Roy  C.,  Frank  H.  and 
Claude.  The  parents  in  religion  are  Baptists. 
In  politics  Mr.  Smith  is  a sound  democrat. 
He  was  elected  trustee  of  Perry  township  in 
1878,  and  held  the  office  four  years.  In  1890 
he  was  elected  treasurer  of  Boone  county  by  a 
majority  of  186  democratic  votes,  and  at  the 
end  of  his  term  of  two  years  retired  to  his  farm, 
honored  by  all  who  knew  him,  to  pass  the  re- 
mainder of  his  days  in  peaceful  retirement, 
provided  he  can  quell  his  insatiate  desire  for 
useful  work. 


ARREN  J.  SMITH.  Sr  . was  born 
in  Perry  township,  Boone  county, 
Ind.,  October  17,  1849,  and  is  a 
son  of  William  W.  and  Catherina 
(Weaver)  Smith.  M'illiam  W.  was  born  in 
Maryland,  November  25,  1814,  a son  of  John 
and  Margaret  (Hall)  Smith,  also  natives  of 
Maryland,  who,  in  1832,  moved  to  what  is 
now  West  Virginia,  where  they  ended  their 
days.  In  1840  William  W.  Smith  moved  to 
Franklin  county,  Ohio,  and  January  17,  mar- 
ried Cathe^'ine  Weaver  This  lady  was  born 
in  Shenandoah  county,  \’a  , November  30, 
1809,  and  was  a daughter  of  David  and  Eliza- 
beth (Funkhauser)  Weaver.  David  and 
Elizabeth  were  natives  of  Pennsylvania  and 
Virginia  respectively,  and  in  1810  settled  in 
Franklin  county,  Ohio.  William  W.  and 
Catherine  Smith  had  born  to  them  seven  chil- 
dren, viz:  An  infant,  deceased;  Margaret,  de- 
ceased; David  W.,  now  of  Perry  towmship; 

24 


Basil  H.,  deceased;  Warren  J.,  subject  of 
this  sketch;  Rachel  E.,  wdfe  of  George  Low,  of 
Hamilton  county,  Ind.;  and  Martha  C.,  de- 
ceased. William  W.  Smith  and  wife  remained 
in  Franklin  county,  Ohio,  until  1843,  when 
they  came  to  Boone  county,  Ind.,  and  here 
William  W.  entered  land  in  Perry  township, 
and  also  secured  forty  acres  across  the  line 
in  Hamilton  connty,  and  most  successfully 
carried  on  farming  until  his  death  in  Perry 
township,  which  occurred  Januaiy  31,  1884. 
His  widow  now'  makes  her  residence  with  their 
son  Warren  J.  Mr.  Smith  was,  as  his  w'idow 
still  is,  a member  of  the  Baptist  church;  he 
w'as  a democrat  in  })olitics,  and  for  three  years 
was  a justice  of  the  peace  in  Perry  towmship. 
Besides  being  a successful  farmer,  he  was 
noted  as  a breeder  of  fine  stock,  and  a useful 
citizen,  whose  loss  was  much  deplored. 

Warren  J.  Smith  has  passed  his  entire  life 
on  the  home  farm,  w’here  he  was  thoroughly 
educated  in  farming  and  stock  breeding  and 
early  underwent  the  physical  training  which 
has  sustained  him  so  well  until  the  present 
day.  His  literary  education  was  acquired  in 
the  common  school,  but  was  adequate  for  all 
the  practical  affairs  of  life — he  being  quick  to 
learn  his  school  lessons  as  well  as  his  lessons 
in  agriculture.  F'ebruary  14,  1872,  he  married 
Henrietta  Smith,  a native  of  Boone  county, 
born  October  31,  1851,  and  a daughter  of 
Daniel  and  Leanner  (Smith)  Smith,  wdio  were 
old  neighbors  in  Kentucky,  but  not  connected 
by  consanguinity.  This  happy  union  has  re- 
sulted in  the  birth  of  eight  children,  viz:  Albert 
A.,  Cora  A.,  Thomas  J.,  George  O.,  Bertha 
E. , Leanner,  Artie  N.  and  Allen.  Mrs.  Hen- 
rietta Smith  W'as  called  to  her  last  resting  place 
October  11,  1892,  a devout  believer  in  the 
Baptist  church,  and  her  remains  were  interred 
by  her  mourning  family  and  sorrowing  friends 
in  Mount  Tabor  cemetery.  Perry  township. 
Her  surviving  husband  is  also  a member  of  the 


400 


HT()(;RAPIIICAL  history 


l-)aj)tist  cliurc'li,  and  in  politics  is  a democrat. 
He  has  a handsome  farm  of  lOO  acres,  on 
which  he  still  keeps  his  cherished  home,  honor- 
ed l)y  all  who  know  liim.  On  Angnst  I2,  1894, 
he  married  Mrs.  Laura  F.  (Smith)  Fennington, 
widow  of  |anies  Pennington,  and  an  own 
cousin  of  onr  subject’s  deceased  wife.  She 
had  fonr  children  hy  Mr.  Pennington,  viz; 
Roscoe,  Aaron  Scott,  Willie  and  Flora,  de- 
ceased. Mrs.  Pennington  Smith  was  born  in 
f-foone  county.  Perry  township,  Se})tember  19, 
1855,  and  daughter  of  Eh  and  Martha  N. 
(Kemper)  Smith,  and  married  James  Penning- 
ton Xt)vember  5,  1874,  who  was  a prosperous 
farmer  of  Perry  township,  and  accnmnlated 
some  pro}ierty.  He  died  July  8,  1891.  His 
widow  remained  on  the  farm  until  she  married 
our  subject.  She  is  a member  of  the  P>apti.st 
church  Warren  J.  Smith,  onr  subject,  was 
nominated  liy  the  democracy  fcrr  township 
trustee  in  the  fall  of  1 894. 


HLI'RED  SRITE,  a respected  citizen 
of  Marion  township,  Hoone  county, 
Ind.,  and  a brave  e.x-so'dier,  \\'as 
born  Felnuary  2,  1827,  at  Abbing- 
don,  Va.,  the  son  of  Isaac  and  Susan  (Car- 
mack) Srite.  Isaac  Srite  was  born  in  1800  in 
I.ouisiana,  moved  from  there  to  Virginia, 
thence  about  1852,  to  Missouri,  where  he 
owned  a large  plantation  and  a number  of 
slaves  which  were  set  free  liy  the  emancijia- 
tion  proclamation  of  President  Lincoln. 
Previous  to  his  removal  to  Missouri,  he  came 
to  Indiana  and  entered  a tract  of  land  where 
his  son  Alfred  now  livc's  in  Marion  township, 
Boone  county,  hut  afterward  dis])osed  ol  the 
same  and  |)urchased  400  acres  lying  in  the 
northern  part  of  the  township.  'I'he  following 
are  the  names  of  the'  children  born  to  Isaac 
and  Susan  Srite:  Alfred,  Marshall,  Calvin, 
Emanuel,  I'irmen,  Marion,  Nelson,  Caswell, 


Lilbern  and  Annina.  The  father  of  these 
children  was  a man  of  more  than  ordinary 
[)owers  of  mind,  a Presbyterian  in  his  religious 
belief,  and  an  old-line  whig  in  politics,  and 
died  in  i 862. 

Alfred  Srite  lived  on  the  farm  until  his 
seventeenth  year,  when  he  was  bound  an  ap- 
prentice to  learn  the  tanner’s  trade,  which  he 
followed  until  attaining  his  majority.  Not 
fancying  the  business,  he  abandoned  it  and 
engaged  in  carpentering,  which,  with  little  ex- 
ception, he  has  since  continued.  In  1852  he 
married  Permelia  McKinzie,  daughter  of  John 
and  Permelia  McKinzie,  the  offspring  of  which 
union  were  James,  Melissa,  Idlbern,  deceased, 
aiul  Permelia.  Mrs.  Srite  died  |anuary  3, 
1859,  and  in  April,  i860,  Mr.  Srite  was  united 
in  marriage  at  Northheld,  Boone  county,  to 
Miss  Euphemia  Clark,  who  was  born  October 
2,  1840,  a daughter  of  James  V,’.  and  Rachel 
(Warren  ) Clark,  natives,  respectively,  of  Ohio 
and  New  jersev.  The  following  children  were 
born  to  james  W.  and  Rachel  Clark:  James 
N.,  john,  Sarah  J.,  who  died  in  infancy,  Eliza, 
joseph,  Euphemia,  Thomas,  Henry  who  died 
in  infancy,  and  Whlliam.  Mrs.  Srite’s  father 
was  a good  financier  and  li\'ed  to  an  advanced 
age;  the  mother  died  at  the  age  of  sixty-three 
ami  was  laid  to  rest  in  the  Rosstown  cemetery, 
Boone  county.  To  the  marriage  of  Mr.  Srite 
and  Euphemia  Clark  was  born  one  cliild,  Alza, 
whose  birth  occurred  July  29,  1862,  and  who 
died  P'ebruary  29,  1884. 

Mr.  Srite  hdt  home  at  his  country's  call 
to  enter  the  arm\',  enlisting  December  21, 
1863,  in  company  H,  Eleventh  Indiana  cav- 
alr\’,  under  ("apt.  |ohn  N.  Atkinson.  This 
company  went  into  cam|)  at  La  Fayette,  Ind., 
thence  went  to  Indianaiiolis,  where  the  men 
wc're  drilled  prejiaratory  to  active  ser\'ice  in 
the  field.  b'rom  the  last-named  city,  Mr. 
Srite  accompanied  his  command  to  Nashville, 
renm,  thence  to  Huntsville,  Ala.,  from  which 


OF  BOONE  COUNTY. 


491 


place  they  scouted  to  \’i('ksbur«'.  Further  act-  j 
ive  service  was  seen  thr(ui”h  the  country  from  ! 
Raleigh  to  Atlanta,  and  November  30,  1864, 
Mr.  Srite  took  part  in  the  bloody  battle  of  | 
Franklin,  Teim,  the  only  regular  battle  of  note  j 
in  which  he  participated.  He  received  a severe  i 
injnrv  hv  the  falling  of  his  horse,  which  was 
shot  under  him,  necessitating  his  remaining  in 
the  hospital  for  some  weeks,  and,  upon  re- 
joining his  command,  was  sent  to  Fort  Leav- 
enworth, Kans. , where  he  was  honorably  dis- 
charged September  19,  1865.  Mr.  Srite  en- 

tered the  army  a stro.  g and  vigorous  man,  but 
returned  broken  in  health,  and  is  destined  to 
he  a sufferer  the  rem„inder  of  his  life.  Polit- 
ically, Mr.  Srite  is  a republican.  He  is  a 
stockholder  in  the  Big  Springs  Natural  Gas 
company  and  uses  natural  gas  in  his  c /y 
home,  which  is  located  on  the  farm  that  be- 
longed to  his  father.  He  receives  a pension 
of  $12  per  month,  which  is  but  a small  return 
for  the  much  suffering  he  was  compelled  to 
endure  while  fighting  for  the  Union.  May  a 
grateful  nation  ever  hold  dear  the  memory  of 
all  brave  defenders  of  the  flag  and  strive  to 
smooth  the  rough  places  of  their  lives. 


ENRY  clay  steed,  farmer  of 
Marion  township,  Boone  county,  Ind., 
^ was  born  in  North  Carolina,  January 
25,  1842,  and  was  reared  on  a farm. 
On  the  first  day  of  Nfarch,  1 862,  he  entered 
company  L,  Twenty-second  North  Carolina 
volunteer  infantry,  • Confederate  army,  and 
fought  at  Seven  Pines,  Chancellorsville,  the 
Seven  Days'  fight  in  front  of  Richmond,  the 
Wilderness,  Frederickburg,  and  at  Petersburg. 
Leaving  at  the  last  named  place  he  went  to 
Washington  and  took  the  oath  of  allegiance. 
After  the  close  of  the  war,  Mr.  Steed  worked 
on  a farm  and  in  a brick-yard  in  Illinois  eight- 
een months.  In  1867  he  returned  to  North 


i 


Carolina,  and  was  emjdoyed  in  farming  until 
1870,  when  he  came  to  Indiana  and  located  at 
Carmel,  where  he  married  Lydia  (Carey) 
Davis.  Later,  he  went  to  Noblesville,  Ind., 
where  he  accumulated  a considerable  snm  of 
money  in  stock-dealing  and  farming,  and  then 
came  to  Boone  county  and  purchased  his 
present  farm  of  seventy  acres,  the  most  of 
which  is  in  a good  state  of  cultivation.  He 
has  a good  house  with  a slate  roof,  and  luxu- 
riously furnished.  His  farm  buildings  are  sub- 
stantial and  commodious,  and  everything 
about  the  premises  indicates  the  presence  of  a 
careful,  industrious  and  thrifty  owner.  Prior 
to  the  war  of  the  rebellion,  Benjamin  P'rankhn 
Steed,  who  married  Nancy  Lasiter,  and  became 
the  father  of  Henry  Clay  Steed  and  seven 
other  children,  was  a strong  Union  man. 
This  love  of  country  was  imbibed  by  the  son, 
who,  in  order  to  avoid  the  Confederate  draft, 
enlisted,  as  related  above,  in  a regiment  in 
which  he  had  relatives,  but  which  he  deserted 
at  the  first  favorable  opportunity,  and  fled  to 
the  headcpiarters  of  Gen.  U.  S.  Grant,  as  the 
following  will  attest: 

“Headcpiarters  Army  of  the  Potomac,  Office 
Provost-Marshal  General,  March  2,  1862. — 
Received  of  Private  H.  C.  Steed,  company  L, 
Twenty-second  North  Carolina  volunteers,  de- 
serter from  the  enemy,  one  musket.  — H.  P. 
Clinton,  Captain  and  A.  A.  Qr.  M.” 

Another  document  in  the  possession  of  Mr. 
Steed  reads  as  follows: 

“Headquarters  Department  of  Washing- 
ton, Office  of  Provost- Marshal  General,  De- 
fenses, Mai'ch  6,  1865,  Washington,  D.  C. — 
This  is  to  certify  that  H C.  Steed,  in  the 
Twenty-second  North  Carolina,  having  deserted 
and  come  within  our  lines,  and  having  this 
day  been  examined  by  me,  and  it  appearing 
that  his  intentions  are  honest  in  forever  desert- 
ing the  rebel  cause,  and  having  taken  the  am- 
nesty oath  under  the  president’s  proclamation 


R lOG  R A PII I CAL  1 1 LSTOR  Y 


1<)2 


of  December  <S,  i<S63,  is,  by  terms  of  the  aii- 
lu'xed  order,  exempt  from  conscription  or 
military  ser\’ice  in  the  armies  of  the  United 
States  serving;,  ayainst  the  rebels,  and  has  per- 
mission to  go  to  Springfield,  111.  \\b  H.  Mer- 

ritt, Lieutenant  and  (Jr.  M.” 

Mr.  Steed  married  August  15,  1872,  Mrs. 
I.x'dia  Davis,  who  was  born  in  Westfield,  Ham- 
ilton county,  fnd.,  Octol)er  29,  1842,  a daugh- 
ter of  Zenas  and  Lydia  (Haines)  Carey.  Zenas 
Carey  was  a native  of  \drgiiua,  though  his 
parents  came  directly  from  England,  located 
in  Virginia  and  later  came  to  Indiana  and  set- 
tled in  Hamilton  county,  where  both  ended 
their  earthly  career,  the  father  on  January  24, 
1876,  and  the  mother  on  November  19,  1842 — 
in  the  Quaker  faith.  They  had  born  to  them 
a family  of  eleven  children,  of  whom  nine  sur- 
vive. Mr.  Carey  was  reared  a farmer,  came 
to  Indiana  in  1835,  and  settled  on  a farm  in 
the  woods  of  Hamilton  county,  where  he  passed 
the  remainder  of  his  days.  He  had  married, 
in  \'irginia,  Lydia  Haines,  who  was  born  in 
that  state  November  27,  1804,  and  was  a 
daughter  of  Enos  and  Marv  Evans  Haines,  both 
natives  of  the  (did  Dominion,  and  of  Welsh 
descent.  To  the  parents  of  Mrs.  Steed  were 
born  the  following  children:  Eli,  Mary,  Cyrus, 
Jonathan,  Huldah  an  infant  that  died  un- 
Jiamed,  Hannah,  Ahneda,  Deborah  ("deceased), 
Margaret,  I^ydia  and  Richard.  Their  daugh- 
ter Lydia  was  first  married,  August  8,  i860, 
t()  David  Hammer,  who  died  November  3,  of 
the  same  year;  her  next  marriage  was  on  Eeb- 
ruary  6,  1862,  to  Josiah  Davis,  by  whom  she 
had  four  children — Monroe,  Carrie,  Aletlia  and 
Harry.  Mr.  Davis  died  Se])tember  3,  1869, 
and  Mrs.  Davis  was  next  married,  as  stated 
above,  at  C.'armel,  Hamilton  count}',  to  Mr. 
Steed,  by  whom  she  has  also  had  four  children, 
vi/.  ; Rhoda,  Elmer  (deccasc'd ),  h'rank  (de- 
ceased), and  Henrietta.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Steed 
are  in  their  religious  faith  (Juakers;  in  politics. 


Mr.  Steed  is  a republican,  and  the  family  is 
one  of  the  most  highly  respected  in  Marion 
township. 


EOKGE  STEVENSON,  one  of  the 
very  intelligent  agriculturists  of  Union 
township,  Roone  county,  Ind.,  was 
born  in  Warren  county,  Ohio,  (Octo- 
ber 10,  1824,  the  son  of  Henry  and  Pheebe 
(Foote)  Stevenson,  the  former  a native  of 
Scotland  and  the  latter  of  Vurginia.  Henry 
Stevenson  came  to  America  in  1810  and  first 
located  in  Warren  countv,  Ohio,  where  he  was 
engaged  in  farming  until  1832,  when  he  came 
to  Boone  county,  Ind.,  where  his  death  oc- 
curred in  1843,  and  that  of  his  wife  in  1882. 
They  were  the  parents  of  nine  children,  of 
whom  seven  are  still  living,  viz;  Leonidas, 
George,  John,  Thomas,  Eliza,  William  and 
Amos;  the  deceased  were  named  Isabelle  and 
Mary. 

George  Stevenson,  whose  father  was  a 
well-to-do  farmer,  naturally  chose  that  voca- 
tion, to  which  he  had  been  carefully  trained, 
as  his  life  jnirsuit,  and  he  has  developed  into 
one  of  the  most  successful  in  Union  townshiji. 
Although  his  early  school  advantages  were 
somewhat  limited,  he  has  improved  himself  by 
a wide  range  of  study  and  by  extensive  travel, 
supplemented  by  a close  observation  of  men 
and  things.  In  1867  he  visited  Europe  and 
made  a tour  of  Germany,  Italy,  France  and 
Switzerland  - including  a prolonged  stay  at 
Rome,  as  well  as  at  the  exposition  at  Paris  in 
1867.  In  1872  be  made  the  tour  of  England, 
Ireland  and  Scotland,  taking  in  all  the  leading 
cities.  He  he  has  long  been  considered  one 
of  the  leading  farmers  and  stock-raisers  of 
Union  townshii),  and  he  has  also  an  extensive 
cxperiimce  as  a traveling  salesman,  handling 
cverv  kind  of  farming  implement  and  and  ma- 
chinery for  a large  manufacturing  concern. 


OF  BOONE  COUNTY 


In  iiolitics  Mr.  Stevenson  is  a democrat,  and 
has  served  as  assessor  of  Union  townshij) 
for  eight  years,  as  trustee  for  four  years, 
and  in  1891  was  elected  county  commis- 
sioner of  Boone  county.  He  is  a member 
of  the  Masonic  fraternity  in  good  standing, 
but  is  now  non-afBliating  on  account  of  his  ad- 
vancing years.  Mr.  Stevenson  was  first  mar- 
ried September  5,  1843,  to  Sarah  Johns, 

daughter  of  Jacob  and  Harriet  Johns,  and  to 
this  union  were  born  tlie  following  children: 
Harriet,  wife  of  H.  W.  Nicholas;  Nancy  E. , 
deceased;  Ora;  Sada,  deceased;  and  Frank- 
lin, deceased.  The  mother  of  this  family 
died  March  3,  i860,  and  Mr.  Stevenson’s 

second  marriage  was  in  September,  1862, 
to  Jane  Gregory,  daughter  of  Peter  and 
Phoebe  (Carroll)  Gregory,  natives  respectively 
of  New  Brunswick  and  New  York,  and  this 
union  was  blessed  with  eight  children,  of 
whom  three  died  in  infancy,  and  two — Eva 
and  Genoa — died  after  reaching  maturity;  and 
three — Albert  P.,  Charley  A.  and  George  E. — 
are  still  living.  Mr.  Stevenson,  being  one  of 
the  oldest  residents  of  the  township,  is  greatly 
revered,  and  his  family  are  all  highly  esteemed 
throughout  the  neighborhood. 


AMUEE  M.  STORM.— The  foremost 
merchant  in  the  village  of  Elizaville, 
Boone  county,  Ind.,  is  Samuel  M. 
Storm.  His  father’s  mother  was 
Lovina  Hopper,  who  was  born  in  Kentucky, 
and  who  was  brought  to  Indiana  when  about 
ten  years  of  age.  She  lived  to  the  ripe  age  of 
eighty-four  years,  dying  in  1892.  The  father 
was  Conrad  Storm,  who  was  born  in  Jefferson 
county,  Ind.,  and  was  married,  about  1853,  to 
Miss  Leah  Woodfill.  This  union  was  blessed 
with  the  following  children;  Mary,  Annie, 
Catherine,  Ida,  Samuel  M.  and  James.  He 
received  a common  school  education,  and  most 


4<)8 

of  his  life  was  engaged  in  the  lumbering  busi- 
ness. He  died  in  1868.  Mrs.  Leah  (Wood- 
fill)  Storm  was  next  married,  in  the  year  1871, 
to  Janies  Epperson,  and  the  names  of  their 
children  are  as  follows;  Jennie,  Willie,  and  an 
infant  (deceased).  They  moved  to  Hamilton 
county,  Ind.,  in  the  fall  of  1886,  and  are  mem- 
bers of  the  Methodist  church. 

Samuel  M.  Storm  was  born  December  9, 
1864,  in  Decatur  county,  Ind.  When  Samuel 
was  only  three  years  of  age  his  father  died, 
but  he  lived  with  his  mother  till  he  was  ten 
years  old,  when  he  left  home  and  went  to  Jef- 
ferson county,  Ind.  His  time  was  occupied  on 
a farm,  at  $3  per  month,  until  he  was  twelve 
years  of  age,  and  his  opportunity  for  receiving 
an  education  was  very  limited,  still  he  im- 
proved every  day  when  he  had  a chance  to  at- 
tend school;  being  considered  a good  hand  for 
his  age,  he  thereafter  received  $10  per  month 
for  farm  labor,  but  he  became  dissatisfied  on 
the  farm,  and  came  to  Boone  county,  and 
learned  the  trade  of  a carpenter.  He  was 
married  March  30,  1886,  to  Mrs.  Nancy  A. 
Underwood,  whose  maiden  name  was  Griffin. 
Her  first  husband  was  killed  while  blowing  out 
stumps  by  dynamite.  Mrs.  Nancy  (Under- 
wood) Storm  was  born  March  15,  1862,  is  a 
most  estimable  lady  and  a member  of  the  de- 
nomination of  Bap^'ists.  Mr.  Storm  worked  at 
the  carpenter  business,  then  milling,  and  was 
clerking  in  a grocery  for  two  winters,  where  he 
learned  the  business  thoroughly  until  he  had  it 
i well  in  hand.  Being  of  an  inventive  turn  of 
mind,  he  succeeded  in  getting  a patent  Septem- 
ber 6,  1892,  on  a fence,  and  then  engaged  in 
selling  territory  for  the  use  of  the  same.  He 
succeeded  in  trading  $2,500  of  territory  for  a 
general  stock  of  goods  at  Dover,  and  in  Sep- 
tember 23,  1893,  he  moved  his  stock  to  Eliza- 
ville, Ind.  He  has  a good  commodious  busi- 
ness room,  centrally  located,  and  from  the  first 
has  done  a good  business,  with  better  pros- 


491 


RIOGKAPHICAI.  HISTORY 


pects  ahead.  Politically  he  is  a stanch  repub- 
lican, an  inlluential  member  in  the  Ikiptist 
church,  a member  of  the  K.  of  P. , and  belongs 
to  lodge  No.  45,  Lebanon,  Inch  He  is  also  a 
worthy  member  of  Hoone  lodge.  No.  9,  h'  and 
A.  Masons.  He  is  a young  man,  full  of  push 
and  energy,  has  jclaced  his  aim  high,  and  al- 
ready ranks  among  the  most  valued  of  the  in- 
fluential citizens  of  Clinton  township.  He  is 
really  in  every  sense  of  the  word  a self-made 
man. 


OHN  W'ALTER  STOKER,  of  Marion 
township.  Boone  county,  Ind.,  is  de- 
scended from  revolutionary  stock,  his 
great-grandfather  on  the  mother’s  side 
having  served  with  distinction  in  that  struggle; 
he  also  took  part  in  the  disastrous  expedition 
which  resulted  in  the  defeat  of  Gen.  Braddock. 
Tyre  Stoker,  the  father  of  JohiP-W.',-' was  hoFu' 
February  26,  1818,  near  the  city  of  Lexington, 
Ky.,  and  when  six  years  of  age  was  brought  by 
his  mother,  then  a widcjw,  to  Boone  county. 
Inch,  where  he  grew  to  manhood.  He  was  a 
true  type  c)f  the  skillful  western  hunter  of  the 
early  times,  and  relied  largely  upon  his  trusty 
rifle  for  much  of  the  provision  with  which  his 
table  wassupplied.  He  married,  July  23,  1840, 
Sinia  Leatherman,  and  began  farming  for  him- 
self upon  a tract  of  twenty  acres,  which  he 
cleared  and  which  was  his  hcmie  for  a period 
of  eighteen  years.  Previous  to  his  marriage  he 
learned  the  gunsmithing  trade,  in  which  he  ac- 
quired great  skill  and  proficiency,  but  did  not 
work  at  it  for  any  great  length  of  time.  His 
first  .start  in  life  was  when  he  [curchased  a two- 
wlieeled  cart  and  yoke  (d  oxen,  which  small 
bc.'ginning  |)roved  the'  foundation  ol  his  subse- 
(|uent  success.  He  purchased  real  estate  in 
Hendricks  county,  and  later  bought  land  in 
Boone,  and  at  the  time;  of  his  death  was  the 
possessor  of  a very  comfortable  competence. 


He  died  at  the  age  of  seventy-five,  and  his 
wife  was  called  to  her  reward  at  the  age  of 
fifty-six;  both  were  laid  to  rest  in  the  old 
Mount  Tabor  cemetery.  Mrs.  Sinia  Stoker 
was  born  April  20,  1825,  in  Indiana,  was  early 
left  an  orphan,  and  until  her  fifteenth  year 
made  her  home  in  the  family  of  Enoch  and 
Nanev  Davis.  The  following  are  the  names 
of  her  children  and  dates  of  birth;  John  W., 
December  11,  1841;  William  J.,  July  14,  1843; 
Mary,  August  20,  1845,  died  August  26.  1847; 
Sarah  j.,  February  29,  1848;  James  N.,  Octo- 
ber 12,  1849;  Nancy,  April  7,  1851;  Benja- 
min L , January  22,  1853;  Asenath,  January 
15,  1855;  Christine,  June  I2,  1857;  Frederick, 
April  14,  1861,  died  February  2 5,  1862;  Nellie, 
November  5,  1864,  and  Narcissus,  October  5, 
1866. 

James  W,  Stoker  was  born  December  ii, 
1841,  in  Boone  county  on  the  banks  of  Eel 
river,  and  until  his  twentieth  year  remained 
under  the  parental  roof.  He  was  educated  in 
the  common  schools,  and  in  November,  1862, 
entered  the  army  as  a member  of  company  F, 
Fifty-fourth  Indiana  infantry,  with  which  he 
served  until  1864,  his  military  ex{)erience,  in 
the  meantime,  embracing  considerable  active 
service  in  the  southwestern  campaign,  includ- 
ing the  battle  of  Ball's  Bluff,  the  operations 
around  \'icksburg,  and  minor  engagements. 
He  suffered  severely  from  a sun  stroke,  but 
w'as  not  otherwise  injured  during  his  ])eriod  of 
enlistment.  August  2,  1866,  Mr.  Stoker  and 
Rebecca  A.  Trotter  were  made  man  anti  wife, 
the  latter  born  October  4,  1845,  daughter  ot 

fames  1).  and  Sarah  |.  (Harden)  Trotter. 
The  marriage  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Stoker  has  been 
blesst'd  w'ith  thirteen  children,  namely  : 
Sarah  A.,  born  October  27,  1867;  Sinia  ]., 
born  A|)ril  12,  1869;  Iva  IC , July  2,  1870; 
Rebecca  IF,  November  29,  1871,  died  July 
25,  1876;  John  T..  Jidy  3,  1873;  Mary  A., 

May  3 1 , 1875  ; James  h'. , October  31,  1877; 


\mw 

OF  THE 
»f(^ERS^TY  OF 


t^BR.^RY 
Of  THE 

MEssrTv  OF  umm 


OF  BOONE  COUNTY. 


499 


Charles  B.,  January  15,  1S79;  William  B., 
January  14,  1880;  Thomas  A.,  March  8,  1881, 
died  August  8,  1882;  Emily  C. , October  27, 
1885;  Ollie  C.,  December  5,  1886,  and 
Martha  A.,  March  5,  1888,  died  February  5, 
1889.  At  the  time  of  his  marriage  Mr. 
Stoker's  hnancial  condition  was  not  the  most 
promising,  and,  for  sometime  thereafter,  he 
farmed  for  a part  of  the  proceeds.  From  his 
wife's  father  he  inherited  a small  piece  of  land, 
which  he  sold  to  advantage  and  invested  the 
proceeds  in  the  eighty-acre  farm  where  he  is 
now  living  and  of  which  he  has  made  a well 
cultivated  and  valuable  place.  He  has  met 
with  some  discouragments  in  life,  all  of  which 
he  has  succeeded  in  overcoming,  and  is  now  in 
very  comfortable  circumstances,  financially 
being  one  of  the  well-to-do  farmers  of  this 
community.  He  was  one  of  the  promoters  of 
the  present  excellent  gravel  road  system  of 
Boone  county,  is  a consistent  church  member 
and  a democrat  in  politics. 


ACOB  C.  STUCKEY,  one  of  Boone 
county's  commissioners,  serving  on  his 
second  term,  is  a native  of  Ohio  and 
was  born  in  Fayette  county,  April  18, 
1834.  His  parents  were  John  and  Mary  J. 
(Coyner)  Stnckey,  natives  of  Pennsylvania  and 
Ohio  respectively  and  of  German  descent. 
They  were  among  the  early  pioneers  of  Fay- 
ette connty,  Ohio.  The  father  was  three 
times  married  and  was  the  father  of  seven 
children,  viz:  Eliza  J.,  and  Jacob  C. , our  sub- 
ject, by  the  first  marriage,  and  Elizabeth, 
Samuel  W.,  John  D.,  Matthew  F.,  and 
Isabelle  by  the  second  marriage. 

J.  C.  Stuckey  was  reared  on  the  farm  and 
educated  in  the  district  schools  of  the  vicinity 
until  about  nineteen  years  old,  when  he  at- 
tended the  Ohio  Wesleyan  university  for  some 
time,  and  then  engaged  in  teaching  school  for 


several  years.  In  1858  he  went  to  Fouisa 
county,  Iowa,  and  taught  school  four  months 
the  following  winter,  then  retnrned  to  Ohio 
and  in  the  fall  of  1859  came  to  Boone  county, 
Ind.,  and  settled  on  the  same  farm  on  which 
he  now  lives,  which  farm  his  father  had  pre- 
viously purchased.  On  August  21,  1862,  he 
married  Elizabeth  E.,  daughter  of  'Squire  and 
Mary  (Piper)  Fong.  Mrs.  Stuckey  was  born 
in  Boone  connty,  Ind.,  August  17,  1838,  and 
is  one  of  six  children,  viz:  Samuel  S.,  deceased; 
James  C.  ; Joseph  R.,  died  in  infancy;  Joseph 
R.  ; Elizabeth  E.  ; and  Squire  G.,  deceased. 
Six  children  also  were  born  to  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Stuckey,  viz:  Mary  B.,  born  July  2,  1863 
married  William  A.  Smith  and  died  May  28, 
1887,  Ella  J.,  born  September  27,  1865,  mar- 
ried Perry  H.  Binford  and  lives  in  Boone 
county;  John  R.,  born  June  16,  1867;  Myrtle 
A.,  Ivorti  January  26,  1870;  Emma  E.,  born 
and  died  April  13,  1888; 
Samuel  L. , born  June  30,  1879.  The  Stuckey 
family  are  old  residents  of  Washington  town- 
ship, if  not  altogether  pioneers,  and  each  year 
added  to  their  residence  here,  adds  to  the  re- 
spect in  which  they  are  held  by  the  com- 
munity. 


OSEPH  MARION  SWOPE,  a repre- 
sentative farmer  and  popular  citizen  of 
Boone  county,  Ind.,  of  which  he  is  a 
native,  was  born  on  the  tenth  day  of 
October,  1842.  His  father,  Ebenezer  H. 
Swope,  was  born  in  Estill  county,  Ky. , in  the 
year  1812,  and  there  married,  in  1830,  Lucinda 
Robertson,  whose  birth  occurred  in  1810. 
Mrs.  Swope  was  the  daughter  of  Jesse  Robert- 
son, who  lived  to  the  advanced  age  of  ninety- 
six  years,  and  Sarah  Robertson,  whose  maiden 
name  was  White.  These  parents  moved  to 
Indiana  in  1836,  locating  in  Putnam  county, 
and  in  the  spring  of  1840  changed  their  resi- 


r){ )() 


I^IOGKAPIIICAL  HISTORY 


(lence  to  the  county  of  Boone,  settlin^^  a short 
distance  soutli  of  the  town  of  Elizaville.  Eb- 
enzer  Swo])e  was  a fanner  and  l)ecaine  a suc- 
cessful man,  accnmulating  a handsome  compe- 
tence, includinj^-  a well-cultivated  place  of  220 
acres,  beside  valuable  personal  property.  He 
dealt  very  extensively  in  live  .stock  in  connec- 
tion with  farming,  and  was  a man  of  strict  pro- 
bity, his  word  always  beinf^  considered  as  good 
as  his  bond  in  the  community  where  he  resided. 
He  was  an  ardent  republican  in  his  political 
faith,  and  his  death,  which  occurred  on  the 
second  day  of  September,  1881,  was  an  event 
greatly  deplored  by  the  people  of  Clinton 
township.  Mrs.  Swope  departetl  this  life 
March  20,  1893,  and  like  husband  was  greatly 
missed  in  the  community  where  she  resided  so 
many  years.  The  following  are  the  names  of 
the  children  of  Ebenezer  and  Lucinda  Swope: 
Lewis,  born  Eebruary  7,  1833,  died  in  i860; 
Elizabeth,  born  x^ugnst  21,  i 835 ; Sarah  A. , 
born  October  13,  1837,  died  in  i 860;  Jonathan, 
born  August  i 1,  1840,  and  Joseph  the  subject 
of  this  sketch,  the  date  of  whose  birth  is 
given  above;  Jesse,  born  November  10,  1844; 
Mary  ( Brenton)  Swope,  born  January  7,  1847; 
Serrilda  A.  (Perkins)  Swope,  born  Sei)tember 
6,  1851,  died  in  1879.  The  father  of  Eben- 
zer  Swojie  was  Joseph  Swope,  who  was  bcrn  in 
Virginia  in  1784,  and  whose  death  occurred 
May  26,  1877,  at  the  advanced  age  of  ninety- 
three  years.  He  served  as  an  officer  in  the 
war  of  1812;  married,  in  his  native  state,  Mary 
Hines,  who  was  born  on  the  fifteenth  day  of 
July,  1782,  in  the  Old  Dominion.  Joseph 
Swope  and  family  moved  to  Kentucky  about 
the  year  1810,  and  the  death  of  his  wife  occur- 
red in  that  state.  The  following  are  the 
names  of  their  children:  Andn'w,  William, 

I'fliza  A.,  IHienezer  11.,  Hehma  1).  and  Cath- 
erine S.  The  mother  ilying,  [oseph  Swope 
afterward  married  julia  A.  Ivobm  tson,  who  was 
horn  july  27,  1801,  in  Kentuck\’,  and  whose 


detail  occurred  at  the  age  of  eighty-three  years. 
Joseph  M.  Swope,  whose  name  appears  at 
the  head  of  this  mention,  was  reared  to  agri- 
cultural pursuits  in  his  native  county  and  re- 
mained under  the  parental  roof  until  the  break- 
ing out  of  the  great  rebellion,  when  he  aban- 
doned the  peaceful  work  of  the  farm  and  went 
forth  to  do  battle  for  the  national  honor.  The 
story  of  his  military  experience,  briefly  epito- 
mized, and  his  character  as  a soldier,  is  best  set 
forth  by  the  pen  of  his  captain,  Felix  Shumate, 
in  the  following  article,  which  is  certainly  a 
most  honorable  tribute  to  a most  worthy  de- 
fender of  the  Hag: 

“Joseph  M.  Swope  was  a citizen  of  Eliza- 
ville,  or  near  there,  wdien  the  war  of  the  re- 
bellion broke  out,  of  good  family,  with  only  a 
common  school  education,  and  only  eighteen 
years  of  age.  He  was  more  than  the  average 
in  intellect,  and  a true  type  of  the  western  sol- 
dier. Boy  as  he  was,  he  enlisted  in  my  com- 
pany-— I,  Tenth  regiment  Indiana  volunteers — ■ 
September  18,  1861,  at  Lebanon,  Ind.,  and  in 
three  days  was  in  front  of  the  rebel  army  in 
Kentucky.  He  held  the  position  of  private 
soldier,  preferring  that  to  any  jn'otnotions, 
which  were  offered  him  on  several  occasions. 
|o,  as  thebovs  learnetl  to  call  him,  was  honest 
and  conscientious,  and  made  a true  soldier  in 
every  sense  of  the  word;  was  never  under  ar- 
rest, never  in  the  hospital,  and  never  attended 
sick  call  while  in  the  ser\'ice;  made  every 
march  his  cinnpany  made,  was  in  every  skir- 
mish and  battle  his  company  was  in,  including 
Mill  Springs,  Ky.,  PerryvilU' and  Rolling  I'ork, 
Hartsville,  Tenm,  Hoover’s  Dai),  Dorinth, 
Miss.,  Dhickamauga,  Da.,  Ringgold,  'runnel 
Hill,  Buzzard's  Roost,  Resaca,  Adairsville, 
Kingston,  N('W  Hope',  Dhatt ahochce  Reach 
'I'ree  Drc'ek,  Kenesaw  Mountain,  Lost  Moun- 
tain, .Atlanta,  Utah  Creek,  and  all  the  skir- 
mishes on  Sherman’s  ci'lebrated  campaign  in 
I 864. 


OF  BOONE  COUNTY. 


501 


“ I want  to  mention  a few  acts  of  bravery 
performed  by  Mr.  Swope.  Early  in  1862,  at 
the  battle  of  Mill  Springs,  his  first  baptism  in 
battle,  I discovered  that  he  had  the  peculiar 
qualities  for  a good  soldier.  At  Tulahorna, 
Tenn.,  in  June,  1862,  Jo,  with  one  or  two 
other  members  of  his  company,  distinguished 
himself,  in  the  heat  of  battle,  by  giving  me 
some  valuable  information  as  to  a flank  move- 
ment of  the  enemy.  Also  at  Perryville,  Ky., 
1863,  while  my  company  was  making  a night 
attack,  he,  in  company  with  his  comrades,  per- 
formed a deed  which  gave  the  brigade  com- 
mander very  valuable  information  as  to  the  po- 
sition of  the  enemy.  At  Chickamauga,  Ga. , 
Jo  behaved  himself  most  gallantly,  and  on  Sun- 
day, the  twentieth,  he  performed  services  that 
were  scarcely  equaled  in  the  annals  of  the  war. 
He  was  detailed,  with  Wiley  Howard,  to  assist 
the  wounded  back  to  the  surgeon  in  the  rear, 
and  so  well  did  they  do  that  duty  that  all  the 
wounded  of  my  company  were  saved  and  got 
back  to  Chattanooga,  and  notwithstanding  the 
fact  that  the  army  was  much  broken  and  scat- 
tered and  many  changes  made  in  the  lines,  he 
came  off  the  field  that  night  with  the  remnant 
of  his  company. 

“ At  Kenesaw  Mountain,  he  distinguished 
himself  by  standing  out  in  a storm  of  shot  and 
shell,  and  greatly  encouraged  his  comrades  who 
were  feeling  blue.  At  Utah  Creek,  to  the 
right  of  Atlanta,  when  we  had  charged  up  close 
to  the  rebel  works,  and  were  short  of  ammu- 
nation,  and  it  looked  to  be  just  as  hazardous 
to  go  backward  as  forward,  there  came  an 
order  to  send  a man  after  ammunation.  Well, 
the  orderly  sergeant  raised  up,  and  said  to  the 
boys  ‘I  don’t  feel  like  detailing  a man  to  go  to 
death;  will  any  one  volunteer  to  go.^'  After  a 
brief  pause  the  answer  came  from  Joe  ‘I  will 
go,’  and  go  he  did,  and  although  his  comrade 
that  was  helping  him  was  knocked  senseless  by 
a shell  in  front  of  him,  Joe  returned  to  the 


company  with  the  box  of  cartridges.  I could 
write  more,  but  my  health  forbids.” 

After  the  war  Mr.  Swope  attended  school 
for  some  time,  and  then  began  farming  on 
rented  land,  teaching  for  several  years  during 
the  winter  seasons.  His  first  purchase  of  real 
estate  consisted  of  twenty  acres,  to  which  he 
made  additions  from  time  to  time  until  eventu- 
ally he  became  the  possessor  of  384  acres, 
which,  under  his  successful  labors  and  manage- 
ment, have  been  brought  to  a high  state  of 
cultivation.  In  addition  to  general  farming 
Mr.  Swope  is  one  of  the  most  successful  herd- 
ers of  short-horned  cattle  and  fine  hogs  in 
Boone  county,  and  in  every  department  of 
agriculture  he  is  an  authority.  For  five  years 
he  was  engaged  in  the  hardware  trade  in  Leb- 
anon, and  at  this  time  he  is  a stock-holder  in 
the  Natural  Gas  company  and  uses  that  match- 
less fuel  in  his  present  home.  He  is  an  active 
member  of  the  G.  A.  R.  and  the  Masonic 
fraternities,  affiliates  with  the  republican  party, 
is  an  ardent  friend  and  liberal  patron  of  all 
public  enterprises  having  for  their  object  the 
moral  and  material  well  being  of  Boone  coun- 
ty, and  to  him,  as  much  as  to  any  one  man,  is 
the  county  indebted  for  its  present  excellent 
system  of  gravel  roads.  Mr.  Swope’s  home  is 
a model  in  its  various  appointments,  his  build- 
ings being  of  modern  architecture,  well  supplied 
with  all  that  can  make  life  pleasant,  and  the 
general  appearance  of  his  place  bespeaks  the 
wide-awake,  intelligent  and  tasty  farmer  and 
broad-minded  man  of  affairs.  Mr.  Swope  was 
united  in  marriage  September  17,  1871,  to 

Miss  Patsy  Garrett,  who  was  born  in  Mont- 
gomery county,  Ky.,  May  25,  1854,  the  daugh- 
ter of  Benjamin  F.  Garrett.  Mr.  Garrett, 
also  a native  of  Kentucky,  was  born  in  the  year 
1838  and  there  married  Sarah  Gillmore,  whose 
bir^h  occurred  in  Nicholas  county  of  the  same 
state  in  1828.  To  the  union  of  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Swope  have  been  born  four  children,  as  fol- 


502 


BIOGRAPHICAL  HISTORY 


lows:  Ora,  March  i , i<S73;  Alva  I).,  born  ! 
May  28,  1875,  (lied  October  14,  1880;  Edith, 
born  February  1,  1877;  and  Harlan,  born  April 
20,  1879,  died  August  12,  1881. 


ATHAN  SWAILS,  fanner  of  Perry 
township,  Boone  county,  Ind.,  was 
born  in  Decatur  county,  in  the  same 
state,  March  17,  1829.  His  ])arents  ' 
were  Nathan  and  Catherine  fBarns)  Swails,  j 
natives  respectively  of  Kentucky  and  Mary-  I 
land,  who  had  a fainil}-  of  ten  children,  named 
Robert  A.,  William  A.,  lohn  F.,  Nathan, 
James  H.,  Josiah,  Marshall,  Marion,  and  two  ! 
infants  that  died  unnamed.  Of  the  others,  | 
Nathan  and  Josiah  only  survive.  Nathan 
Swails  worked  on  the  home  farm  until  he 
reached  his  majority,  and  then  farmed  on  his 
own  account  until  his  enlistment,  in  1861,  in 
company  E,  Seventh  Indiana  volunteer  infan- 
try, for  three  years.  He  served,  however,  for 
eleven  months  oidy,  when  he  was  discharged 
on  account  of  disability.  In  1863  he  again 
tried  the  fortunes  of  war  and  enlisted  in  com- 
])any  A,  One  Hundred  and  Twenty-third  Indi- 
ana volunteer  infantr}-,  again  for  three  years. 
After  doing  gcjod  and  faithful  service  until  the 
close  of  the  conflict,  he  was  honorably  dis- 
charged at  Indianajiolis  in  September,  1865, 
when  he  returned  home  and  resumed  farming. 
As  a reward  for  his  gallantry  while  in  the  serv- 
ice, he  now  receives  a pension  of  $10  per 
month.  In  1877  he  came  to  Boone  county 
and  settled  on  the  sixty-acre  farm  his  father 
had  given  him,  and  here  he  has  ever  since  re- 
sided. He  was  married,  in  1850,  to  Eliza 
Eawrence,  who  bore  him  two  children,  viz: 
Anna  B.,  wife  of  A.  Clingenpecl,  and  Ander- 
ville  E. , (.leceased.  His  wife  died  in  1856, 
and  in  1858  he  married  itlizabeth  Burns;  to 
this  union  there  were  als(j  born  two  children  - 
William  IE,  .of  Decatur  county,  and  Mary 


Frances.  The  second  Mrs.  Swails  died  in 
[860.  In  1867  Mr.  Swails  renew'ed  his  matri- 
monial obligations  by  marrying  Mary  E.  Rob- 
ertson, who  was  born  in  Bartholomew  county, 
Ind..  and  is  a daughter  of  James  and  Minerva 
(Davis)  Robertson,  and  this  marriage  has  been 
blessed  by  the  birth  of  five  children,  viz: 
James  W.,  John  B.,  Eulu  M.,  Oscar  B.  and 
Effie  M.  The  fifot-born  of  this  union  was  early 
called  away.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Swails  are  Bap- 
tists in  their  religious  faith,  and  in  his  politics 
Mr.  Swails  is  a rejniblican.  He  has  a neat  and 
well  cultivated  farm  of  forty  acres,  is  indus- 
trious and  progressive,  and  has  won  the  esteem 
of  the  citizens  of  Perry  township  through  his 
close  attention  to  his  own  affairs  and  his  non- 
interference with  the  affairs  of  his  neighbors. 


ENNIS  M.  THREEKEED,  now  one 
of  the  most  thriving  farmers  of  Jeffer- 
son township,  in  the  county  of 
Boone,  Ind.,  was  born  in  Shelby 
I county,  Ky.,  November  20,  1831.  He  is  the 
I son  of  George  and  Sarah,  descended  remotely 
I from  Scotch  ancestors.  George  Threlkeld 
was  also  a native  of  Shelby  county,  Ky.,  and 
was  a son  of  John  Threlkeld,  a native  of  (iul- 
peper  ccjunty,  Va.,  and  a son  of  John,  also  a 
native  of  the  same  county  of  the  “Old  Domin- 
ion.” The  elder  John  Tlirelkeld  was  a son 
of  Christopher,  who  came  from  Scotland  to 
America  in  the  colonial  days  and  settled  in 
Virginia.  George  Threlkeld  was  born  in  1806, 
came  from  Kentucky  to  Indiana  in  1833,  and 
located  in  Boone  county,  entering  160  acres  of 
wild  land  during  the  administration  of  Andrew 
jackson.  He  survived  until  1890,  when  he 
passed  away,  venerated  and  honored  by  all 
who  knew  him.  His  children  were  ten  in 
number  and  were  named:  Dennis  M.  ; Eliza- 
beth, wife  of  Thomas  Riner;  Mary  M.,  wife  of 
Charles  Custard;  Patsy  A.,  married  to  Jacob 


OF  BOONE  COUNTY. 


508 


Bowman;  Nancy  P. , now  Mrs.  Gregg  Swazey; 
Sarah,  wife  of  Joseph  Beck;  John  H.  ; George 
S. ; Rhoda,  now  the  wife  of  Cnrtis  Hardy,  and 
Joseph  A. 

Dennis  M.  Threlkeld  was  brought  up  to 
the  stern  realities  of  farm  life,  and  the  lessons 
learned  on  the  home  farm  have  not  been  un- 
availing, as  the  thrifty  condition  of  his  present 
farm  fully  indicates.  April  12,  1866,  he  mar- 
ried Parmelia  J.  Higgs,  daughter  of  James  and 
Paulina  (Ransdell)  Higgs,  natives  of  Indiana 
but  of  Turkish  descent.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Dennis 
Threlkeld  have  not  had  born  to  their  union 
any  children,  but  have  reared  three  orphans, 
who  have  filled  the  household  with  the  sunny 
joy  of  their  youth  and  also  filled  the  paternal 
and  maternal  void.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Threlkeld 
are  strict  Baptists  in  their  religion,  and  gladly 
assist  in  the  support  of  their  church  and  Sun- 
day-school, and  the  cause  of  education  when- 
ever called  upon.  In  politics  Mr.  Threlkeld 
is  a democrat. 


W.  TROUTMAN,  of  Jackson  township, 
Boone  county,  Ind.,  was  born  in  Som- 
erset county.  Pa.,  August  6,  1817, 

and  is  the  son  of  Benjamin  and  Raty 
Troutman.  His  paternal  ancestors  came  orig- 
inally from  Germany,  in  which  country  his 
great-great-grandfather,  William  Troutman, 
was  born.  The  latter  came  from  his  native 
country  many  years  ago  and  settled  in  Berks 
county.  Pa.,  where  his  death  afterward  oc- 
curred. Peter  Troutman,  son  of  the  above 
William  and  the  grandfather  of  J.  W. , was 
born  in  the  province  of  Baden,  Germany,  and 
came  with  his  father  to  the  new  world  before 
the  war  of  independence,  in  which  struggle  he 
took  an  active  part  in  the  army  of  Gen.  Wash- 
ington. He  married  and  reared  the  following 
children:  Benjamin,  Jacob,  John,  Elizabeth, 
Rachel,  and  Phoenie.  Peter  Troutman  was  by 


occupation  a carpenter  and  afterward  became 
a successful  farmer  ; he  died  in  the  above 
county  and  state  at  the  age  of  ninety-six  years. 
Benjamin  Troutman,  son  of  Peter  and  father 
of  the  subject  of  this  biography,  was  born  in 
Berks  county.  Pa.,  and  there  married  Sarah 
Wolgamott,  a native  of  Martinsburg,  Va., 
daughter  of  Solomon  Wolgamott,  which  union 
resulted  in  the  birth  of  the  following  children: 
Rachel,  Elizabeth,  George,  Joseph,  John, 
Mary,  Tenie,  Isaac,  Nancy,  Daniel,  Emanuel, 
Adam,  Sarah  and  Harriet.  Benjamin  1 rout- 
man  was  a mechanic  and  worked  for  a num- 
ber of  years  at  the  gunsmiths’  trade.  He  was 
popular  in  the  community  where  he  lived,  sub- 
scribed liberally  to  church  and  other  moral  and 
religious  purposes,  took  an  active  part  in  poli- 
tics as  an  old-line  whig,  and  departed  this  life 
in  his  native  county  and  state  at  the  age  of 
eighty  years;  his  wife  lived  to  be  seventy-eight 
years  old. 

J.  W.  Troutman,  while  cpiite  young,  learned 
to  work  on  the  farm  and  later  turned  his  nat- 
urally fine  mechanical  skill  to  good  account  as 
a carpenter  and  blacksmith.  He  married,  in 
Bedford  county.  Pa.,  December  31,  1837,  Eliz- 
abeth Miller,  daughter  of  John  and  Catharine 
(Wilhelm)  Miller,  a union  which  was  termi- 
nated by  the  death  of  Mrs.  Troutman  on  the 
seventh  of  December,  1893.  Mrs.  Troutman 
was  a lady  of  deep  religious  convictions,  an 
earnest  church  worker,  and  her  whole  life  was 
fraught  with  good  deeds  and  charitable  acts, 
and  she  died  lamented  by  all  who  knew  her. 
In  1861,  October  15,  Mr.  Troutman  responded 
to  the  country’s  call  for  volunteers  and  enlisted 
in  company  E,  Fortieth  Indiana  infantry,  with 
which  he  served  until  July  of  the  following 
year.  He  was  with  his  command  in  the  bloody 
battle  of  Shiloh  and  other  engagements,  and 
saw  much  active  service  during  the  brief  period 
of  his  enlistment.  He  was  promoted  corporal 
of  his  company  and  at  one  time  was  made 


lU  O G H A P 1 1 1 C A L III  STO  R 


r)()4 


color-bearer,  a position  of  much  honor,  and 
still  more  danger,  as  it  made  him  a conspicu- 
ous mark  for  the  enemy’s  bullets.  He  con- 
tracted a chronic  ailment  in  the  arm3g  and 
while  at  Indianaj^iolis  accidently  stepped  off  a 
platform,  so  injuring  his  ankle  as  to  render  its 
amputation  necessary.  At  the  termination  of 
his  period  of  militaiy  service  Mr.  Troutman  re- 
turned to  P)Oone  county,  and  has  since  that 
time  been  one  of  the  prominent  citizens  of 
Jackson  township.  He  is  a member  of  Antie- 
tam  post.  No.  167,  G.  A.  K.,  and  is  jiromi- 
nently  identified  with  the  Masonic  fraternity, 
belonging  to  Hazlerigg  lodge.  No.  200,  of 
which  he  is  a charter  member.  Socially,  he 
occupies  a conspicuous  place  in  the  estimation 
of  his  fellow-citizens,  and  in  every  relation  of  life 
has  proved  himself  an  intelligent  and  honorable 
gentleman.  ..  ,. 


AMES  M.  TURNER  was  born  in  Rush 
county,  Ind.,  December  29,  [844,  on  a 
farm,  and  received  a common  educa- 
tion. He  is  one  of  the  old  soldiers  of 
Eebanon,  eidisting  at  the  age  of  twenty  years, 
on  Eebruary  29,  1864,  at  Indianapolis,  inc(jm- 
pany  E,  Eortieth  regiment,  Indiana  volunteer 
infantry,  for  three  years,  or  during  the  war, 
under  ('apt.  James  Hragg  and  Col.  James 
Dlake.  He  served  until  the  close  of  the  war, 
and  was  honorablv  discharged  at  Indianai)olis, 
November,  1865,  having  been  detailed  on  hos- 
pital duty  at  Nashville.  He  was  in  the  Atlanta 
campaign  and  in  all  the  battles  and  skirmishes 
of  his  regiment  - Resaca,  Rocky  Eaced  Ridge, 
Rig  Shanty,  Kingston,  Kenesaw  Mountain, 
Dalton,  New  Hope  Church,  and  Peach  Tree 
('reek.  His  health  having  been  bad  sometime 
previous  to  this  last-named  battle,  lu'  was  here 
taken  sick  with  fever,  and  was  sent  to  the  field 
hos])ital  and  then  to  Chattaiujoga  and  Nash- 
ville. He  was  sick  for  six  weeks  and  then 


furloughed  home,  and  upon  his  return  was  de- 
tailed for  duty  at  Nashville  hospital.  No.  2,  as 
nurse  until  the  close  of  the  war.  He  was  an  active 
and  efficient  soldier,  doing  the  duty  before  him 
cheerfully.  After  his  service  he  returned  to 
Boone  county,  his  father  having  moved  there 
when  James  was  but  nine  years  of  age,  and 
settled  on  a farm  in  Marion  township.  Here 
he  worked  on  the  farm  until  his  marriage, 
which  occurred  in  August,  1867,  to  MaryJ., 
daughter  of  John  P.  and  Isabell  (Maze)  Weed, 
eight  children  resulting  from  this  union — 
Emma,  Lora,  Arthur,  Anna,  Mabel,  William, 
Dickey,  and  Ethel.  After  marriage,  in  1868, 
Mr.  Turner  bought  a farm  of  eighty  acres  in 
Clinton  township,  and  his  wife  inherited  sixty 
acres,  thus  increasing  the  farm  to  120  acres. 
In  1882  Mr.  Turner  moved  to  Lebanon  and 
engaged  in  the  butcher  business,  but  after- 
ward engaged  in  farming.  In  1884  he  bought 
dri.  interest  in  the  plow-handle  business,  the 
firm  being  Neff,  Holloway  A Turner.  This 
business  prospered  and  Mr.  Turner  is  now 
building  a fine  residence  for  himself  and  family. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Turner  are  members  of  the 
Presbyterian  church,  in  which  he  is  a trustee. 
In  political  opinions  he  is  a republican,  and 
was  townshij)  trustee  ot  Clinton  townshij)  two 
years,  Mr.  Turner  is  a man  of  integrity  and 
a good  citizen,  'bhe  Turner  family  is  of  Scotch- 
Irish  descent,  and  were  earlv  settlers  of  North 
Carolina.  )ames  Turner,  the  grandfather  of 
our  subject,  was  a pioneer  (jf  Monroe  county, 
Ind.,  and  a blacksmith  by  trade.  .Moses  Tur- 
ner, his  son,  was  tlu^  father  of  our  subject, 
born  in  North  Carolina,  and  was  about  ten 
years  of  age  when  his  father  settled  in  Rush 
county.  Ind.,  among  the  pioneei's,  afterward 
moving  to  Monroe  county.  He  was  a farmer, 
and  married,  in  Rush  county,  Rebecca  Presley, 
and  to  them  were  boru  lour  children — Thomas, 
Eliza,  Dickey  and  James  M.  .Mr.  Turner  finally 
settled  in  Marion  township,  J^ooiie  county,  in 


mmm 


OF  BOONE  COUNTY. 


507 


1850,  and  still  lives  on  his  farm,  at  about 
seventy-three  years  of  age.  He  is  a prosper- 
ous farmer,  a much  respected  citizen,  and  has 
always  been  an  industrious,  honorable  man. 
He  had  two  sons  in  the  Civil  war  Thomas  E. 
and  James  M.  Thomas  was  in  an  Indiana 
regiment,  and  served  one  hundred  days.  Mr. 
Turner  is  a valued  member  of  the  Presbyterian 
church,  in  which  he  has  been  an  elder  for  many 
vears.  He  is  a stanch  republican,  and  has 
served  in  several  township  offices. 


K.  T.  S.  TURNER  is  one  of  the  lead- 
ing physicians  of  Harrison  township, 
Boone  county,  Ind.,  and,  although  a 
young  man,  has  a fine  practice  and  a 
promising  field.  His  grandfather,  Sanford, 
was  born  in  Eleming  county,  Ky.,  1816-7. 
He  went  to  Rush  county,  Ind.,  at  the  age  of 
four  years,  and  at  the  age  of  twenty-four  mar- 
ried Miss  Rachel  Drysdal.  Rachel  was  born 
in  Campbell  county,  1820,  and  in  1 848  he, 
with  his  family,  went  to  Grundy  county.  Mo. 
He  then  went  to  California  from  Missouri  dur- 
ing the  gold  excitement  of  i 849,  and  although 
he  wrote  home  that  he  would  return  at  a defi- 
nite period,  he  was  never  more  heard  from,  and 
it  is  thought  he  was  murdered  for  his  money. 
His  wife,  Rachel,  w'ith  her  family,  consisting 
of  five  children,  Susan,  Thomas,  Sanford, 
John,  and  James  \V.  Turner,  father  of  the  doc- 
tor, after  some  years’  waiting,  went  to  Rush 
county,  Ind.,  where  she  married  Joseph  Os- 
born, a wealthy  and  prominent  citizen;  they 
then  came  to  Harrison  township,  in  Boone 
county,  and  finally  settled  in  Whitestown, 
where  Mr.  Osborn  died  at  the  age  of  eighty- 
four.  James  W.  Turner,  father  of  the  doc- 
tor, was  born  in  Rush  county,  Ind.,  1840,  grew 
up  on  a farm,  and  there  married  Miss  Minerva 
Kendell.  This  lady,  the  doctor’s  mother,  died 


w'hen  the  latter  was  but  eighteen  months  old, 
but  her  husband  is  still  living  on  a farm. 

Dr.  T.  S.  Turner  w'as  born  in  Madison 
countv,  Ind.,  May  14,  1863,  on  a farm;  he  first 
attended  the  district  school,  then  the  graded 
school,  and  then  entered  the  Physio-Medical 
institute  at  Marion,  Ind.  Dr.  Turner’s  father  was 
unable  to  aid  him  financially  in  attending  the 
college,  so,  when  but  eighteen  years  of  age,  he 
went  to  Dr.  D.  B.  Snodgrass,  the  dean,  and 
contra<.ted  to  perform  the  duties  of  office  man 
for  $13  per  month.  He  here  had  the  oppor- 
tunity to  read  and  study  for  his  chosen  profes- 
sion for  two  years,  and  for  three  years  took 
courses  of  lectures  in  the  college  ])roper,  con- 
tinuing to  perform  his  office  duties  during  the 
summer  seasons.  Dr.  Turner  finally  gradu- 
ated from  the  Physio-Medical  institute,  March 
4,  1885,  with  honors,  standing  high  in  his 
classes,  and  in  the  estimation  of  the  faculty, 
and  being  recognized  as  a particular  favorite 
of  the  dean.  After  graduation.  Dr.  Turner 
immediately  located  for  practice  in  Milledge- 
ville,  Boone  county,  Ind.,  w'here  he  has  met 
with  phenomenal  success.  While  at  college 
the  doctor  regularly  attended  the  meetings  of 
the  Northern  Indiana  Medical  association,  and 
read  before  it  papers  on  nasal  catarrh  and  ty- 
phoid fever,  and  several  others  at  stated  meet- 
ings, all  of  which  met  with  great  approbation; 
he  also  investigated  all  schools  of  medicine, 
and  his  valuable  library  represents  all  systems 
of  treatment,  enabling  him  not  only  to  use  his 
own,  but  to  combine  all,  and  to  this  fact,  per- 
haps, much  of  his  great  success  is  due.  The 
doctor  is  a member  in  good  standing  of  the 
Indiana  State  Eclectic  Medical  association, 
and  May  12,  1892,  was  admitted  to  member- 
ship in  the  State  Eclectic  Medical  association 
at  Indianapolis.  Eorthe  years  1893  and  1894 
he  was  elected  by  the  society  to  the  office  of 
vice-president,  an  honor  rarely  conferred  on  so 
young  a practitioner.  For  the  meeting  that 


BTOGRAPIIICAL  HISTORY 


rm 


was  lidd  May  17,  1894,  the  doctor  was  as- 
sij^'iK‘d  to  discuss  the  Pathology  and  Treatment 
of  Iidluenza,  and  also  reafl  l)eff)re  it  a paper 
on  Specihe  Medications. 

'file  marriage  of  Dr.  Turner  took  place 
Sejdember  19,  1888,  to  Miss  Sarah  M.  Beach, 
daughter  of  ]oseph  and  Rachel  (Bennett) 
Beach,  members  of  a prominent  and  early- 
settled  family  of  Boone  county.  Mrs.  Sarah 
.M.  d'urner  was  born  in  Clinton  county,  Ind., 
juh’  I,  1868.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Turner  are  re- 
spected members  of  the  Methodist  church,  in 
which  he  takes  an  active  part  in  the  Sunday 
school  ; fraternally,  he  is  a member  {)f  K.  of 
P.  lodge.  No.  45,  of  Lebanon;  politically,  he 
votes  the  democratic  ticket,  and  has  filled  the  ! 
office  of  to\\'nshij)  trustee,  and  has  aided  in 
adding  some  fine  school-houses  to  the  town- 
ship, as  he  takes  great  interest  in  sch(jol  mat- 
ters; sociallv,  he  and  wifearegreat  favorites  m 
town  and  county,  and  professionally  he  stands 
at  the  head  of  his  vocation. 


OSEPH  TODD,  of  Sugar  Creek  town- 
ship, Boone  county,  Ind.,  and  one  of 
its  most  successful  tile  manufacturers, 
was  born  in  h'ranklin  county,  Ind., 
May  3,  1862,  a son  of  Joseidi  S.  and  Ann  R. 
(Pinkerton)  Todd.  Joseph  S.  Todd  was  born 
near  Newark,  N.  }.,  in  1810,  and  his  wife  in 
Hunterdon  county,  same  state,  March  1 2, 
1824.  Joseph  S.  Todd  was  but  si.\  years  of 
age  when  he  was  brought  to  Franklin  county, 
Ind.  He  and  wife  were  the  j)arents  of  three 
children,  viz:  Rebecca,  deceased;  Joseph, 
our  subject,  and  Ella  h'.,  wife  of  David  Cus- 
ter. The  parents  of  this  family  now  live  a re- 
tired life  in  the  village  of  'riiorntown. 

Joseph  Todd  was  but  twelve  years  of  age 
when  he  came  to  Boone  county,  and  until 
twenty-five  years  old  took  care  of  his  father’s  [ 
farm.  He  then  married,  and  {)urchased  a 


small  tract  near  the  old  homestead,  but  still 
managed  the  old  place  for  two  seasons.  In 
1890  he  bought  his  tile  mill,  and  the  twenty- 
nine  acres  of  land  connected  with  it — the  out- 
put of  the  mill  being  about  300,000  tile  per 
year.  He  employs  seven  hands  during  the 
busy  season,  and  in  the  fall  of  1893  put  in  a 
set  of  the  best  and  latest  improved  machinery. 
His  product  is  of  the  best,  and  includes  all 
grades  and  sizes  of  tile,  and,  to  some  extent, 
brick  of  very  good  finality.  On  his  farm  he 
breeds  some  fine  horses,  as  well  as  Chester 
White  hogs,  and  grows  the  mixed  crops  usual- 
ly cultivated  in  this  latitude.  Mr.  Todd  was 
married,  February  23,  1887,  to  Miss  Anna  M. 
Milner,  who  was  born  in  Montgomery  county, 
Ind.,  July  12,  1866,  and  to  this  happy  union 
have  been  born  two  children,  named  Paul  E. 
and  Fern.  Mrs.  Todd  is  a member  of  the 
Society  of  Friends.  In  politics  Mr.  Todd  is  a 
democrat,  and,  fraternally,  he  is  a Knight  of 
Pythias. 


^^^y-y^ILFIAM  H.  VAN  ARSDALL,  a 
B ■ I deceased  soldier  of  Center  town- 
ship,  Boone  county,  Ind.,  was  of 
French  origin,  his  forefathers  hav- 
ing settled  in  America  at  an  early  period  of  its 
history.  Our  subject's  father,  John  Van 
Arsdall,  was  born  in  Kentucky,  however,  was 
there  reared  a farmer,  there  married,  and  be- 
came the  father  of  the  following  children; 
Sarah,  Cynthia,  Amanda,  Tibithia,  William 
H.,  James,  Cornelius  and  Alexander,  who  were 
all  educated  in  the  little  log  school-houses  of 
their  early  day.  Jacob,  the  father,  was  also  a 
blacksmith  as  well  as  small  farmer,  and  was 
much  rcsi)ccted  as  a hard-working  man  and 
as  a pious  member  of  the  Ih'csbyterian  church. 

W'illiam  H.  \kui  Arsdall,  whose  name  opens 
this  Ifiography,  was  born  August  2,  1835,  in 
Harrodsburg,  Mercer  county,  Ky.,  was  reared 


OF  BOONE  COUNTY. 


509 


to  fanning,  and  when  a young  man  came  to 
Indiana  and  located  in  Johnson  county,  where 
he  soon  after,  in  September,  ICS55,  married 
Miss  Sarah  E.  Berry,  daughter  of  David  and 
Hester  (Bowers)  Berry.  David  Berry  was  a 
well-to-do  farmer  and  owned  a homestead  of 
160  acres,  well  improved  with  substantial 
buildings.  He  and  his  wife  were  both  church 
members  and  were  the  parents  of  the  following 
children;  William  H.,  Sarah  E.,  MaryJ., 
lemima  |.  and  Phineas  M.  These  all  lived  to 
be  grown  and  all  w'ere  given  asgood  educations 
as  the  common  school  of  the  district  afforded. 
In  politics  the  father  was  a republican,  and 
both  parents  lived  to  a ripe  old  age,  highly 
respected  as  Christians  and  neighbors. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  William  Van  Arsdall  lived  in 
Johnson  county  seven  years  on  their  farm  and 
then  came  to  Boone  county,  wherethe  husband 
still  followed  agriculture  as  a vocation.  But 
he  was  patriotic,  and  was  not  afraid  to  face 
the  cannon's  mouth  in  defense  of  his  country’s 
honor  and  integrity.  He  therefore  enlisted  at 
Lebanon,  April  ii,  i<S65,  in  company  H,  One 
Hundred  and  Eifty-fourth  Indiana  volunteer 
infantry,  and  went  w'ith  his  command  at  once 
to  the  front  in  Virginia,  where  he  was  drilled 
and  placed  on  guard  and  picket  duty,  and  com- 
pelled to  make  man}'  long  and  tiresome 
marches,  and  this  exposure  and  fatigue  broke 
down  his  constitution,  so  that  he  was  confined 
in  the  hospital,  in  Virginia,  much  of  his  time. 
In  one  of  these  distressing  marches  he  sustain- 
ed a rupture  which  effectually  disabled  him, 
and  he  was  in  consequence  discharged  August 
4,  1865.  On  his  return  home  he  purchased 
thirty-five  acres  of  land,  on  which  his  widow 
now  resides  (but  which  is  now  increased  to 
seventy-two  acres),  and  here  employed  his 
time  in  farming  until  his  death,  December  5, 
1881,  a devoted  member  of  the  Methodist 
church.  He  was  a republican  in  politics,  and 
fraternally  a member  of  Ben  Adhem  lodge  of 


Odd  h'ellows  of  Lebanon.  His  death  was  a 
sad  blow  to  his  bereaved  widow  and  children, 
and  his  memory  is  still  cherished  by  a large 
number  of  attached  friends.  The  children 
born  to  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Van  Arsdall  were 
named:  Laura  J.,  Ouilford  E. , William  P'., 
Hester  A.,  Eva  V.  and  Mary  E.  Of  these, 
Hester  Anna  was  married  to  William  Glener, 
was  a truly  devout  member  of  the  Christian 
church,  and  died  August  2,  1890,  highly  re- 
spected and  much  beloved  by  all  who  knew 
her.  Mrs.  Sarah  E.  Van  Arsdall  is  a con- 
sistent member  of  the  Methodist  church  and 
liberally  aids  it  with  her  means  and  influence. 
She  stands  deservedly  high  as  a Christian  lady 
and  is  greatly  beloved  by  a large  circle  of 
friends.  Mrs.  Van  Arsdall  contents  herself 
with  the  pension  first  granted  her  husband,  $3 
per  month,  under  the  first  pension  act  of  con- 
gress, never  having  sought  to  avail  herself  of 
the  increase  allowed  by  subsequent  enactments. 


ILLIAM  O.  VANDEVER,  a thriv- 
ing farmer  of  Perry  township,  Boone 
county,  Ind.,  is  a native  of  the 
state  and  was  born  in  Marion 
county,  December  12,  1843.  His  parents 

were  James  and  Sarah  E.  (Tucker)  Vandever, 
the  former  a native  of  Mercer  county,  Ky. , 
born  January  9,  1814,  and  a son  of  Garret 
and  Sarah  (Chatham)  Vandever;  the  latter 
born  in  Henry  county,  Ky.,  August  22,  1821, 
was  a daughter  of  James  and  Mary  (Richey) 
Tucker,  natives,  respectively  of  Virginia  and 
Ireland.  James  Vandever  and  Sarah  E. 
Tucker  came  to  Indiana  in  1824  and  were 
married  in  Marion  county,  where  they  lived 
until  1872,  when  they  came  to  Perry  township, 
and,  in  conjunction  with  their  son  William  G., 
bought  160  acies  of  land.  They  are  the  par- 
ents of  seven  children,  viz:  MaryJ.,  wife  of 
W.  Bensen;  Louisa,  married  to  J.  H.  Half- 


BIOGRAPHTCAL  HISTORY 


r,K) 


acre;  William  G.  ; D.  I).;  Margaret,  wife  of 
1).  Ross;  S.  K.  ; and  Alice,  wife  of  James 
Demott,  of  Lebanon.  The  parents  are  Bap- 
tists in  their  religions  faith,  and  in  politics 
the  father  votes  with  the  people’s  party. 

William  G.  \'andever  was  reared  and  edu- 
cated in  Marion  county,  and  at  the  age  of 
twenty-one  began  life  on  his  own  account  as  a 
monthly  farm  hand.  October  6,  1870,  he 

married,  in  Marion  coimtw  Miss  Sarah  L. 
Smitli,  a native  of  Marion  county,  born  May 
6,  1852,  and  a daughter  of  Samuel  and  Agnes 
Smith.  d'o  this  union  have  been  born  three 
children,  viz;  Flora, A.,  wife  of  Charles  Herr, 
of  Perry  township;  Carl  and  Onier.  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Vandever  are  sincere  members  of  the 
Baptist  church,  and  in  politics  he  is  a member 
of  the  peoprle's  party.  He  owns  140  acres  of 
of  nicely  cultivated  land,  and  stands  very  high 
in  the  estimation  of  his  fellow-townsmen. 


AMUEL  D.  AbVNDEVEK,  of  Perry 
township,  Boone  county,  Ind.,  was 
born  in  Marion  county,  April  17,  1845, 
and  is  a son  of  James  and  Sarah  E. 
(Tucker)  Vandever,  a detailed  notice  of  whom 
will  be  found  in  the  biography  of  W'illiam  G, 
V'andever,  which  precedes  this  sketch.  Samuel 
I),  was  reared  on  the  home  farm  in  Marion 
county  and  was  there  educated.  At  the  age  of 
twenty-two  he  started  out  on  his  own  account, 
and  for  five  years  traveled  through  the  country, 
doing  general  labor.  In  1 872  he  came  to  Boone 
county  and  bough.t  eighty  acres  of  land  in 
Perry  township,  which  he  disposed  of  later, 
and  then  bought  the  forty-two  acre  farm  on 
which  he  has  since  resided.  He  was  married 
in  Boone  county  to  ,Miss  Martha  V.  b'ulwider, 
who  was  born  in  Montgomery  county,  Ind., 
October  3,  1851,  a daughter  of  Moses  and 
Sarah  b'ulwider.  d'o  this  congenial  union 
have  been  born  five  cbildren,  of  whom  the 


last  three  were  trijdets,  that  died  in  infancy; 
thesurviving  two  are  James  and  Mina.  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Vandever  are  members  of  the  Christian 
church,  and  the  populist  party  is  that  to  which 
he  is  attached  politically. 


ONTRAVILLE  WADDLE.— Boone 
county  furnished  many  a good  sol- 
dier for  the  war,  and  among  them 
the  subject  of  this  sketch,  who  is 
now  a substantial  farmer  of  Center  township. 
His  grandfather  was  one  of  the  pioneers  of 
Nicholas  county,  Ky, , and  descended  from 
an  old  .American  colonial  family  of  Scotch- 
Irish  ancestry.  Isaac  Waddle,  the  father 
of  our  subject,  was  reared  on  a farm  in 
Nicholas  county,  Ky.,  and  married  Mary, 
daughter  of  Wdlliam  and  Isabel  (Davidson) 
Burns.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Waddle  were  the  parents 
j of  four  children- -Martha  A.,  James,  Montra- 
ville  and  Mary,  is  the  proper  order  of  their 
birth.  Ifetween  1832-5,  Mr.  W'addle  moved 
to  Decatur  county,  Ind.,  and  after  a few  years 
came  to  Boone  county,  and  settled  two  miles 
from  Jamestown,  on  a small  farm.  He  died  a 
comparatively  young  man.  He  was  a mem- 
j her  of  the  Methodist  church  and  his  wife  was 
j a member  the  Presbyterian  church. 

Montraville  AVaddle  was  born  in  Boone 
county,  Ind.,  on  bis  father’s  farm,  March  14, 
1838.  He  was  about  eighteen  months  old 
when  his  father  died,  and  his  mother,  taking 
all  her  children,  returned  to  Nicholas  county, 
j Ky.,  and  made  her  home  with  her  father, 
William  Burns.  Here  our  subject  received 
the  limited  education  of  the  subscription  school 
until  he  was  about  fifteen  years  of  age,  when 
he  returned  to  Boone  county  with  his  mother 
and  her  father,  and  the  remainder  of  the  chil- 
dren. His  uncle,  Andy  Burns,  came  also  and 
bought  land  in  ( linton  townshijr  (i)nr  subject 
early  began  to  work  out  at  farm  labor,  and  at 


OF  BOONE  COUNTY. 


511 


the  age  of  twenty-three  years,  in  October, 
1861,  enlisted  at  Fayette,  Ind.,  for  the  Civil 
war.  He  was  mustered  in,  at  Indianapolis, 
October  8,  1861,  in  company  A,  Fifty-first 
regiment  Indiana  volunteer  infantry,  as  a pri- 
vate for  three  years,  or  during  the  war.  At 
the  expiration  of  this  time  he  veteranized  in 
the  same  regiment.  May  29,  1864,  at  Indian- 
apolis, and  was  honorably  discharged,  on  ac- 
count of  wounds,  also  at  Indianapolis.  He 
was  in  the  battle  of  Stone  River,  and,  his  reg- 
iment being  mounted,  he  was  in  Streight’s 
raid  through  Alabama  and  Louisiana,  and  for 
six  days  and  nights  there  was  severe  fighting, 
and  he  was  hardly  out  of  his  saddle  during 
this  time  except  to  catch  an  hour  of  occasional 
sleep  during  a lull  in  the  firing.  The  command,  | 
in  its  hasty  march,  was  fiercely  pursued  by  the 
rebels,  and  stopped  only  long  enough  at  times 
ro  check  them  and  feed  the  horses.  At  Col. 
Streight’s  surrender.  May  8,  1863,  near  Rome, 
Ga. , he  was  among  the  prisoners,  and  was 
taken  to  Richmond,  Va.,  and  imprisoned  at 
Belle  Island  for  seventeen  days,  when  he  was 
paroled  and  sent  home.  He  was  exchanged 
and  returned  to  the  service,  and  was  in  the 
battle  at  Nashville,  Tenn.,  December  15  and 
16,  1864,  when  he  was  shot  through  the  thigh 
and  taken  off  the  battle  field  that  night  to  the 
field  hospital,  and  afterward  sent  to  a hospital 
in  Nashville,  where  he  lay  about  four  months, 
and  was  then  sent  home  on  a furlough,  after 
which  he  was  in  a hospital  at  Indianapolis 
until  discharged  on  account  of  his  wounds. 
During  his  services  as  a soldier,  he  was  in 
several  foraging  expeditions  and  in  many  severe 
skirmishes.  He  suffered  greatly  from  hard- 
ships and  exposure,  frequently  sleeping,  with 
no  blanket,  on  the  ground  in  the  rain  and 
cold,  and  was  often  without  food,  and  to  this 
day  has  not  recovered  from  the  effects  of 
army  life. 

On  September  19,  1866,  he  married,  in 

25 


j Hendricks  county,  Ind.,  Sarah  A. , daughter  of 
j Jacob  a)id  Sarah  (Schenck)  McDaniel.  Jacob 
McDaniel  w’as  a substantial  farmer  of  Hen- 
I dricks  county,  owning  over  240  acres  of  land, 
j He  was  of  Scotch  descent  and  came  from  an 
I old  American  family.  Both  of  his  grand- 
! fathers  fought  in  the  Revolutionary  war,  and 
were  old  settlers  of  North  Carolina.  J. 
McCullum,  his  maternal  grandfather,  was 
wounded  in  the  war  of  the  Revolution  and 
went  blind  thirty  years  before  his  death  as  an 
effect  of  his  service  to  his  country.  Jacob 
McDaniel  came  to  Hendricks  county,  Ind.,  in 
1839.  He  was  a devout  member  of  the  Bap- 
tist church,  in  which  he  was  a deacon  many 
3’ears.  He  and  wife  were  the  parents  of  nine 
children  ; Mary,  Samuel,  Sarah,  Rebecca, 
Elizabeth,  John,  Caroline,  Martha  and  Wil- 
lard; all  lived  to  be  men  and  w'omen.  Mr. 
McDaniel  was  a straightforward  and  very 
temperate  man.  He  held  a high  place  in  the 
esteem  of  his  neighbors,  and  his  children  may 
well  take  an  honest  pride  in  his  record  and 
cherish  his  memory.  In  1865,  directly  after 
marriage,  Mr.  M’addle  bought  his  present  farm, 
then  consisting  of  eighty  acres,  and  in  Octo- 
ber, 1866,  he  settled  with  his  wife  on  this 
land,  which  had  oidy  about  ten  acres  cleared. 
By  indomitable  perseverance  and  great  labor, 
the  heavy  timber  was  cut  off,  the  brush 
burned,  the  stumps  removed,  and  from  the 
wilderness  level  and  w'ell-tilled  fields  appeared. 
During  a process  of  years,  by  careful  economy, 
more  land  was  bought,  and  the  home  farm  in- 
creased to  1 40  acres,  upon  which  a substantial 
and  commodious  brick  dwelling  house  was 
erected,  and  excellent  farm  buildings  took  the 
place  of  the  first  rude  structures  of  logs,  which 
had  done  good  service.  Besides  this  fine  prop- 
erty, Mr.  Waddle  owns  130  acres  of  good 
farm  land.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Waddle  are  mem- 
bers of  the  Missionary  Baptist  church,  which 
they  have  always  liberally  aided  with  their 


B I O G R A PI  1 1 C A I.  Ill  STORY 


r)12 


suijport.  Mr.  Waddle  votes  the  ticket  for  I 
wliich  lie  fou^'ht  when  in  the  war — straight  re- 
publican. Around  the  family  hearthstone  of 
this  irxcellent  couple  have  gathered  live  chil- 
dren, who  are  now  living — Lizzie,  Martha, 
Bertns,  Edgar,  and  Freddie.  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Waddle  have  resided  twenty-seven  vears  on  j 
their  homestead  and  have  always  retained  the 
regard  of  the  people  in  their  neigborhood.  j 
Mr.  Waddle  has  a good  record  as  a soldier  and  j 
is  one  of  the  most  industrious  and  successful  j 
farmers  of  Center  township. 


^^AMUEL  AARON  WEST,  a leading  j 
farmer  and  popular  citizen  of  Marion 
township,  was  born  in  Lebanon,  j 
Boone  county,  Ind.,  Februarv  H,  i 
1863,  and  is  the  son  of  Samuel  and  Susannah  ! 
(Evans)  West.  His  maternal  grandfather,  j 
Evans,  was  a native  of  Ireland,  which  country 
he  left  a number  of  years  ago,  immigrating  to  i 
the  United  States  and  settling  in  Ohio,  where 
he  married  and  reared  a family  consisting  of  j 
the  following  children;  james,  Susannah,  j 
Daviil,  Jane,  Elizabeth,  [onathan,  Lavinia, 
and  Elmore  Evans.  Mr.  Evans  moved  to  ! 
Eairview,  Center  townshiji,  Boone  county,  ! 
and  entered  160  acres  of  land,  which  he  after- 
ward sold  and  jnirchased  other  real  estate,  | 
owning,  at  the  time  of  his  death,  a valuable  i 
tract  of  220  acres.  I'or  a number  of  years  he 
was  an  acceptable  minister  (jf  the  Baptist  | 
church,  and  is  remembered  as  a man  of  many 
e.Ncellent  traits  of  character.  Samuel  West, 
father  of  our  subject,  was  born  in  Kentucky,  | 
moved  to  Indiana  in  an  early  day,  settled  in 
Putnam  county,  and  later  became  a resident  of  [ 
the  county  of  Boone,  where  he  now  lives,  own-  j 
iug  at  this  time  real  estate  ag-gregating  240 
acres.  In  additicni  to  farming  he  was  for  j 
some  years  engag(‘d  in  car|)entering,  and  at  the 
present  time  givi's  his  attention  princi|)ally  to  | 


the  raising  of  fine  cattle.  Both  he  and  wife 
are  members  of  the  Antioch  Bajrtist  church 
and  stand  high  in  the  estimation  of  the  com- 
munity. The  following  are  the  names  of  the 
children  born  to  Samuel  and  Susannah  West: 
Willis  G.,  Jonathan  E.,  Martha  J.,  wife  of 
Wdlliam  Shelburn,  Rosella,  wife  of  Mansfield 
Shelburn;  Margaret  J.,  wife  of  John  dingier; 
James,  deceased;  Samuel  A.,  Charles  J.,  Su- 
sannah, wife  of  Joseph  Babher;  Albert  and 
Harvey  Wb  West. 

vSamuel  Aaron  West  was  reared  on  a farm, 
acquired  a knowledge  of  common  branches  in 
the  country  schools,  which  he  attended  at  in- 
tervals during  his  minority,  and  remained  with 
his  parents  until  his  marriage,  which  event 
took  place  when  he  was  twenty  years  of  age. 
He  chose  for  a life  partner,  November  2, 
1882,  Miss  Mary  lU  Stark,  who  was  born  No- 
vember 23,  1864,  the  daughter  of  Albert  Mb 
and  Elizabeth  (Woodard)  Stark.  After  his 
marriage  Mr.  West  began  life  for  himself  as  a 
farmer  on  his  father’s  place,  where  he  lived  for 
one  year,  and  then  received  eighty  acres  of 
his  own,  u])on  which  he  has  since  resided.  He 
has  a well-tilled  farm,  with  si.\ty-four  acres  in 
cultivation,  and  his  buildings  and  other  im- 
provements rank  among  the  best  in  the  neigh- 
borhood where  he  lives.  He  is  conveniently 
situated  within  easy  access  ol  four  good  mar- 
ket j)laces,  and  is  surrounded  by  many  of  the 
comforts  of  life;  lu'  is  an  i diistrious,  energetic 
man,  popular  with  his  neighbors,  and  has  a 
large  circle  of  friends  throughout  Marion  and 
other  townships.  His  home  is  gladdened  by 
the  presence  of  two  children  Luln  Ethel  and 
Alva — whose  births  occurred  July  30,  1886, 
and  November  7,  1892,  respectively. 

Albert  W.  Staik,  lather  ol  Mrs.  West,  was 
born  in  Decatur  county,  Ind.,  May  9.  1822, 
and  the  birth  of  the  mother,  I'dizabcth  (Wood- 
ard; Stark,  occurred  in  Decatur  county,  Ind., 
on  the  .seventh  day  of  June,  1823.  d'heir 


OF  BOONE  COUNTY 


513 


children  are  as  follows:  Mrs.  Rachel  W. 
Abbott,  born  Angnst  26,  1843;  ^^rs.  Nancy 
Butner,  born  December  4,  1855;  John  P. , 
born  September  14,  1841;  A.  B.,  deceased, 
born  October  19,  1849;  George  W.  P'.,  born 
December  4,  1854;  William  H.  H..  born 

April  3,  1857;  Downey  F.,  wife  of  William  R. 
Moreland,  born  June  14,  i860;  Elvira  N., 
wife  of  Robert  T.  Hines,  born  August  1 8, 
1862;  and  Mary  E.,  the  date  of  whose  birth  is 
given  above. 


ENJAMIN  F.  WHEELER  is  one  of 
the  old  educators  of  Marion  township, 
Boone  county,  Ind.,  where  he  has 
lived  since  his  youth.  He  was  born 
in  Decatur  county,  Ind.,  October  9,  1847,  the 
son  of  Judsonand  Nancy  (Jones)  Wheeler,  who 
were  natives  of  Ohio  and  Rentucky  respect- 
ively, and  of  English  and  Welsh  descent.  The 
father,  Judson  Wheeler,  came  to  Decatur 
county,  Ind.,  about  the  year  1830,  from  Ohio, 
and  engaged  in  clearing  up  a farm,  which  he 
occupied  until  the  year  1850,  at  which  date  he 
removed  to  Boone  county,  locating  in  Marion 
township,  where  he  resided  until  his  death, 
which  occurred  in  March,  1891.  Mrs.  Wheeler 
still  survives  her  husband  and  continues  to  re- 
side in  Marion  township  with  her  children, 
of  whom  she  is  the  mother  of  four,  namely: 
William,  Mary  E,  wife  of  William  B.  Jarrett: 
Melinda,  wife  of  Jonathan  E.  West,  and  Ben- 
jamin F.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Wheeler  were  honest 
and  industrious  hard-working  people,  and  they 
lived  the  life  of  a pioneer  in  Decatur  county  as 
well  as  in  Boone.  Through  their  long  resi- 
dence in  Boone  county  they  surrounded  them- 
selves by  scores  of  friends,  of  which  they  are 
in  every  way  most  worthy. 

Benjamin  F.  Wheeler,  the  eldest  of  the 
family  and  subject  of  this  sketch,  came  to 
Boone  county  with  his  parents  when  but  three 


years  of  age,  and  here,  in  Marion  township, 
was  reared  upon  his  father’s  farm  and  received 
his  education  in  the  common  schools  of  the 
neighborhood.  He  remained  under  the  parent- 
al roof  until  arriving  at  his  majority,  when  he 
began  life  upon  his  own  resources.  Mr. 
Wheeler,  while  in  school,  was  an  apt  student 
and  made  good  use  of  his  time,  thus  preparing 
himself  for  a useful  life.  At  an  early  age  he 
began  teaching  school,  which  vocation  he  fol- 
lowed for  upward  of  twenty  years  during  the 
winter  seasons.  He  in  early  life  purchased  a 
small  farm,  which  he  improved  and  cultivated 
and  on  which  he  made  his  home,  thus  becom- 
ing one  of  the  well-to-do  and  representative 
farmers  of  Marion  township.  It  is  true  that 
there  are  but  few  men  in  Marion  township  that 
are  more  widely  or  favorably  known.  Politi- 
call}'  Mr.  Wheeler  is  a democrat,  though  he 
has  never  been  an  office  seeker.  Mr.  Wheeler's 
marriage  occurred  in  1875,  at  which  time  he 
led  to  the  altar  Miss  Nancy  O.  Bell,  the  daugh- 
ter of  Robert  and  Mary  (Moore)  Bell,  one  of 
the  representative  families  of  the  locality.  To 
this  marriage  were  bm-n  four  children,  namely: 
Lydia  A.,  born  February  21,  1876;  JohnJ., 
born  February  22,  1877;  Mary  E.,  born  in  No- 
vember, 1878,  and  Thyrza  B.,  born  July  10, 
1888.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Wheeler  and  family 
stand  deservedly  high  in  the  community  in 
which  they  reside,  and  Mr.  Wheeler  is  well 
known  as  one  of  the  substantial  citizens  of 
Brone  county. 


ISAAC  NEWH'ON  WHETSEL.— The 
Whetsels  are  descendants  of  the  Penn- 
sylvania Dutch  family  of  Wetsels.  The 
line  of  Whetsels  under  discussion  are 
lineal  descendants  of  Daniel  Whetsel,  who, 
accompanied  by  a brother,  removed  from 
Pennsylvania  and  settled  in  Union  county,  Ind., 
about  the  beginning  of  the  present  century. 


BKXJRAPIIICAL  HISTORY 


T)!  1 


Other  ineinbers  of  tlie  old  family  einif^rated  to 
the  west  and  S(Hithwest,  and  'one  of  them  be- 
came known  in  history  as  the  great  Indian 
fightc'r  of  W’est  \hrginia — Lewis  Whetsel. 
Nine  children  were  born  to  Daniel  Whetsel, 
vi/:  Zachariah,  William  Wallace  (born  De- 
cember 5,  1812),  Theodore,  Rasmus  K., 

Margaret,  Mary,  Jane,  Eliza  and  Lydia.  Five 
of  these  children  still  survive  and  have  reached 
ages  ranging  from  si.\ty-five  to  eighty-fonr 
years,  viz;  Zachariah,  Theodore,  Kasmns, 
Margaret  and  Lvdia.  Daniel  gave  to  all  his 
children  farms  in  central  Indiana.  Zachariah, 
Theodore  and  William  received  land  in  Ham- 
ilton county  and  Rasmus  received  a farm  in 
F)Oone  county.  To  their  resjtective  ])ossessions 
the  brothers  removed  at  an  earl}-  day.  Will- 
iam W.  was  a carpenter  and  millwright,  but 
abandoned  his  trades  temporarily  in  order 
to  clear  up  his  portion  of  the  wilderness.  He 
was  married  to  Irene,  daughter  of  William  and 
Rachael  Honrne  of  Union  county,  Ind.,  and 
settled  on  the  land  alluded  to  in  Fall  Ureek 
township,  Hamilton  comity,  Ind.,  in  1S45. 
At  the  beginning  of  the  Civil  war  he  enlisted 
in  the  Seventy-fifth  regiment  Indiana  volunteer 
infantry,  in  which  he  served  four  years  and 
four  months.  The  regiment  took  active  part 
in  many  encounters,  in  one  of  which  he  was 
wounded.  His  wife,  Irene,  died  in  1856,  hav- 
ing borne  him  eight  children,  as  follows:  Elmer, 
luidoris,  Elizabeth,  Mary,  Isaac  N.,  Danicd, 
Rachael  and  Elvira.  On  account  of  the  lim- 
itcfl  facilities,  these  children  receixed  but 
meager  educations.  Ihit  four  of  them  survive, 
viz:  bhidoris  ].,  a iirosperons  farmer  of  Hamil- 
ton county,  Isaac  N.,  Elizabeth,  wife  of  }(‘sse 
Stevens,  of  Strawtown,  Hamilton  count}',  and 
Rachael,  wife  of  Thomas  ] . Sonders,  of  Sevc'ry, 
Ram;  Elmer,  Endoris  and  Isaac  N.  served  in 
the  war.  After  the  war  closed  the  father  re- 
sinned his  trades.  In  his  declining  years  he 
was  granted  a pension,  and  died  at  the  resi- 


dence of  his  daughter,  Elizabeth,  b'ebruary  22, 
1894,  at  the  age  of  eighty-one  years. 

Isaac  Newton  Whetsel  was  born  in  Union 
county,  Ind.,  May  25,  1842,  and  removed 
with  the  family  to  Hamilton  county,  Ind.,  in 
1845.  His  mother's  death  rendered  his  early 
life  one  of  hardship,  as  he  was  reared  as  a 
farm  laborer.  In  1859,  at  the  age  of  seven- 
teen, he  was  married  to  Nancy  Ellen,  daugh- 
ter of  Thomas  Olvey.  She  is  of  North  Caro- 
lina parentage  and  was  born  July,  i O,  1842. 
In  1872  she  became  a member  of  the  Baptist 
church.  I luring  the  war  Isaac  N.  was  a soldier  in 
company  D,  Ninth  regiment  Indiana  volunteer 
infantry,  and  served  until  honorably  discharged 
in  1865.  He  participated  in  the  campaigns  in 
Alabama,  Ceorgia,  Texas,  Tennessee  and 
Louisiana,  jirincipally  on  guard  duty.  He 
was  sick  in  the  hospital  at  Shield's  Mill,  Tenm, 
with  measles,  and  at  Bull’s  Gap,  Term.,  with 
small-pox.  At  the  close  of  the  war  Mr.  W'het- 
sel  learned  the  blacksmith  trade  at  Eortville, 
Hancock  county,  Ind.,  and  began  business  for 
himself  at  Ohio,  Hamilton  count}'.  He  re- 
moved from  there  to  Marion  ccumty  about 
i87_t  and  conducted  business  at  Castleton  and 
Allisonville  for  thirteen  years.  In  the  summer 
of  1886  he  removed  to  Hazelrigg,  Boone  coun- 
t\ , Ind  , where  he  has  since  resided  and  con- 
ducted a prosjierons  business  He  has  been 
an  Odd  I'ellow  for  twentx’ years  and  is  a mem- 
ber of  Boone  lodge.  No.  9,  b'.  cN  A.  M.,  Leb- 
anon, Ind.  He  receives  a jiension  of  twenty- 
two  dollars  per  month,  (n\  ns  a cozy  home,  and, 
like'  all  the  Wdietsels,  is  a (kunocrat  in  politics. 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Whetsid  are  the-  ixarents  of  eight 
childrcm,  live  of  whom  passed  away  in  infancy. 
The  survivors  are:  Henry  Monroe,  born  in 
b'all  Creek  townshi|>,  Hamilton  eonnty,  Ind., 
August  25,  i860;  learned  the  blacksmith  trade 
but  abandoned  it  at  the  age  of  twenty-one; 
was  made  a Mason;  took  service  with  W'abash 
railway  as  locomotive  (ireman;  married  Sept- 


OF  BOONE  COUNTY. 


ember  i6,  1885,  to  Dora  A.,  daughter  of  FI. 
H.  and  Susan  Bassett  of  Indianapolis;  she 
died  childle.ss,  January  21,  1888.  Henry  then 
removed  La  F'ayette,  Ind. ; June  10,  1891,  he 
was  married  to  Laura  Lee  Cowell  of  that  city. 
A son,  Dudley  Monroe,  was  born  to  them 
August  5,  1893.  Henry  is  now  a passenger 
engineer  on  the  L. , N.  A.  & C.  railway. 
Julian  Stuart  was  born  at  Ohio,  Hamilton 
county,  Ind.,  July  23,  1867;  served  in  Indian- 
apolis post  office  from  1888  to  1891  ; by  pro- 
fession he  is  a bookkeeper.  Mahlon  Everett  was 
born  at  Ohio,  Hamilton  county,  Ind.,  August 
29,  1869,  entered  the  railroad  service  as  fire- 
man at  the  age  of  seventeen;  was  married  to 
Nancy  E.  Murra}’  of  Peru,  Ind.,  August  23, 
1891  ; now  resides  in  Peru,  employed  by  the  L. 
E.  N N.  railway  as  passenger  locomotive  fire- 
man. 


BRANCIS  WHITELY,  farmer  and  ex- 
soldier, is  a native  of  Jackson  town- 
ship, Boone  county,  Ind.,  and  was 
born  October  14,  1835.  His  father, 
William  Whitely,  was  born  in  Kentucky,  but 
when  very  small  lost  his  father,  and  was  cared 
for  by  an  uncle,  Joshua  Whitely,  and  the  two 
came  to  Indiana  while  William  was  still  small 
and  located  in  Bartholomew  county.  At  the 
age  of  eighteen  William,  accompanied  by  his 
mother  and  two  brothers,  came  to  Boone 
county,  and  in  January,  1835,  married, 

the  result  being  the  following  children:  Erancis, 
Isaac  (who  died  young),  Martin  V.,  Enoch, 
John,  James,  Melvina,  William,  Sarah  C.  and 
Angeline.  The  father  was  a farmer  all  his  life, 
and  he  and  wife  were  sincere  Christians.  The 
father  died  April  24,  1874;  the  mother  still 
lives  in  New  Ross. 

Francis  Whitely  was  educated  in  one  of  the 
old-fashioned  log  school-houses,  and  November 
7,  1857,  married  Elizabeth  Airhart,  daughter 


r)15 


of  John  and  Catharine  (Loup)  Airhart.  Mr. 
Airhart  is  a retired  farmer,  and  owns  a well 
improved  farm  of  [30  acres;  is  a democrat  in 
politics,  and  his  wife  is  a member  of  the  Chris- 
tian church.  After  his  marriage,  Mr.  Whitely 
settled  on  a farm  in  Jackson  township,  and 
later  bought  a forty  acre  plat,  which  he  im- 
proved through  his  own  industry  with  every 
modern  convenience,  and  by  his  thrift  acquired 
some  very  nice  property  in  the  town  of  Ad- 
vance, where  he  resides  in  a very  handsome 
residence,  but  still  continues  to  operate  the 
farm,  of  which  he  has  retained  forty  acres. 
The  children  born  to  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Whitely 
are  named  as  follows:  Mary  E.,  David  B., 
Oliver  F. , Charles  M.,  Ellen  R.,  Minnie  L., 
Christian  R.,  Hetty  R.  and  Russia  A. ; of  these 
the  eldest  and  youngest  are  deceased,  and, 
strange  coincidence,  three  of  the  children  were 
born  in  the  same  month,  and  two  on  the  same 
day,  in  different  years. 

The  military  experience  of  Mr.  Whitely 
was  varied  and  exciting.  He  enlisted  October 
22,  1862,  at  Indianapolis,  in  company  F,  Fif- 
ty-fourth Indiana  volunteer  infantry,  and  was 
transferred  to  the  vicinity  of  Vicksburg.  His 
first  fight  was  at  Chickasaw  Mountain  under 
Capt.  Neff;  Col.  Mansheld  occupied  the  center 
and  charged  across  an  open  field,  met  the 
enemy,  but  was  compelled  to  return;  there 
was  some  severe  fighting,  and  company  F lost 
several  men,  killed  and  wounded.  His  next 
battle  was  at  Fort  Jackson,  Vicksburg,  where 
he  saw  six  rebel  brothers,  lying  side  by  side, 
dead — a rnos'^  pitiful  sight.  He  was  also  at 
Fort  Jackson,  Ark.,  where  he  was  held  in  re- 
serve, and  assisted  in  transferring  a lai'ge  num- 
ber of  prisoners  to  Memphis,  Tenn.  ; thence 
was  ordered  back  to  Vicksburg,  but  when 
across  the  Ldlack  river  Vicksburg  surrendered. 
(This  was  on  July  4,  1863.)  The  march  had 
originally  been  made  against  Vicksburg,  but  in 
the  meanwhile  there  had  been  numerous  epi- 


B[()GRAPinCAL  HISTORY 


r)i() 


sodes — ainoiif^  them  the  battle  of  Chaiujhon 
Hill,  in  May.  This  was  an  all-day  tiKht,  in 
which  his  company  suffered  severely.  At  Jack- 
son,  Miss.,  the  lighting  lasted  several  days, 
and  while  in  a rille-pit  Mr.  Whitely  saw, 
within  a few  yards  of  him,  a cannon  struck  by 
a shell  and  blown  into  fragments,  and  ten  men 
killed.  After  the  investment  of  Vicksburg 
the  Indiana  troojis  lay  there  until  September 
I , when  they  were  ordered  to  pursue  the  reb- 
els, whom  they  followed  through  Louisiana 
nearly  to  the  Texas  line,  when  they  returned 
to  New  Orleans,  where  Mr.  Whitely  was  hon- 
orably discharged  December  8,  1863,  returning 
home  via  the  Mississippi  river  as  far  as  Cairo. 
Mr.  Whitely  is  a member  of  Advance  post. 
No.  524,  G.  A.R.,  in  which  he  has  served  as 
officer  of  the  day.  He  receives  a pension  of 
eight  dollars  per  month  as  a reward  for  his 
bravery,  and  enjoys  the  respect  of  his  neigh- 
bors, not  only  as  having  been  one  of  the  sa- 
viors of  his  country  but  as  a useful  and  pro- 
gressive citizen. 


NOCH  WHITELY,  a leading  farmer 
of  Jackson  township,  Boone  county, 
Ind.,  and  a veteran  of  the  late  war, 
was  born  in  this  township  March  10, 
1843.  His  great-grandfather,  William  Whitely, 
came  to  America  from  Scotland  and  died  in 
Virginia;  his  grandfather,  also  named  William, 
was  born  in  one  of  the  eastern  states,  but  set- 
tled in  Kentucky  when  a young  man,  was  there 
married,  and  became  the  father  of  the  follow- 
ing-named children:  James,  William,  Joseph, 
and  Alexander.  He  later  came  to  Indiana, 
settled  in  Bartholomew  county  and  followed 
farming  until  his  death.  His  son,  William, 
was  born  in  Kentucky,  reared  to  farming,  and 
in  1831  came  to  Indiana  and  settled  in  Boone 
county-  the  year  the  county  was  organized — 
in  Jackson  townshij).  He  married  Mary  J. 


! Coddington,  who  bore  to  him  the  following 
children:  Francis,  Isaac  (died  in  infancy), 

j Martin,  Enoch,  John,  James  A.,  Amanda  M., 
j Martha  E.,  William  N.  and  Angeline.  The 
parents  were  ardent  members  of  the  Christian 
1 church,  in  which  the  father  was  a deacon.  The 
father  was  also  an  active  member  of  the  demo- 
' cratic  party.  He  died  in  Montgomery  county, 
Ind.,  where  his  remains  lie  interred,  and  where 
his  widow  still  has  her  residence. 

Enoch  Whitelv  lived  on  the  old  homestead 
until  his  enlistment,  .'\ugust  12,  1862,  in  com- 
pany D,  Sixty-eighth  Indiana  volunteer  in- 
fantry. He  was  sent  from  Indianapolis  to 
Louisville,  Ky.,  and  his  first  battle  was  at 
Munfordsville,  K}.,  which  battle  lasted  two 
days,  and  in  which  he  was  captured  and  held 
till  the  November  following,  when  he  w'as  pa- 
roled. The  winter  following  he  was  quartered 
in  Nashville,  Tenn.  ; later  was  engaged  in  nu- 
merous raids;  joined  Kosecrans,  and  was  in 
the  two  (lavs’  fight  at  Hoover’s  Gap.  His  next 
experience  was  in  the  sanguinary  conflict  of 
Chickamauga,  where  the  company  lost  twenty- 
four  men  out  of  the  remnant  of  thirty-eight. 
Retreating  to  Chattanooga,  his  regiment  was 
in  several  severe  skirmishes,  and  after  taking 
part  in  that  historic  battle,  the  Missionary 
Ridge  and  Lo(d<out  Mountain  conllicts  soon 
followed,  but  through  the  showers  of  grape  and 
cannister  he  again  escaped  unscathed.  He  was 
also  at  the  relief  of  Burnside  at  Knoxville;  was 
also  at  Decatur,  Ala.,  and  then  in  the  furious 
fight  at  Nashville.  His  valiant  service  lasted 
until  the  close  of  the  war,  and  the  only  time 
he  l(jst  was  occasiemed  by  an  attack  of  typhoid 
fever,  which  seized  him  at  Gdiattanooga  and 
which  was  the  cause  of  his  being  confined  to 
the  hospital  for  three  weeks.  June  20,  1865, 
he  rec(Mved  an  honorable  discharge,  and  is  now 
enjoying  the  distinction  of  having  heen  one  of 
his  country’s  most  f uthful  and  hravest  military 
subjects.  Mr.  Whitely  is  an  honored  member 


OF  BOONE  COUNTY. 


517 


of  Aiitietain  ])ost,  No.  162,  G.  A.  R.,  and  has 
filled  the  office  of  senior  vice  commander  of 
that  organization.  His  pension  for  twenty 
years  was  but  two  dollars  a month;  it  was 
then  increased  to  four  dollars,  then  to  eight, 
and  it  is  now  fourteen  dollars  per  month.  The 
marriage  of  Mr.  Whitely  took  place  August  26, 
1866,  to  Martha  M.  Emmert,  daughter  of 
.Simon  and  Mary  (Canada)  Emmert,  wealthy 
residents  of  Jackson  township.  The  children 
that  have  blessed  this  happy  matrimonial  alli- 
ance are  named  Ellworth,  Eottie  C.,  Myrtle 
M.,  and  Otto.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Whitely  are  de- 
vout members  of  the  Methodist  Protestant 
church,  in  which  Mr.  Whitely  officiates  as 
trustee  and  also  as  Sabbath-school  superintend- 
ent. His  farm  of  forty-seven  acres  is  one  of 
the  neatest  in  the  township,  and  the  family  is 
one  of  the  most  respectable  in  the  county. 


UCKNER  C.  WHITLOW.— Nations 
rush  into  war  with  little  thought  of 
what  a great  calamity  it  is  to  the 
people.  Although  thirty  years  have 
passed  since  the  close  of  the  great  rebellion — 
thousands  of  men  who  went  out  to  do  battle 
for  their  country  in  the  full  flush  of  their 
health  and  vigor  of  youth  are  still  suffering 
from  the  wounds  received  in  battle,  while 
other  thousands  have  gone  to  untimely  graves. 
For  these  many  years,  these  battle-scared 
veterans  have  suffered  with  rare  patience,  and 
generally  with  little  sympathy  or  consolation. 
What  will  pay  a man  for  his  shattered  health, 
the  loss  of  a limb,  arm  or  an  eyes.  Surely  the 
small  pensions  these  men  receive  are  no 
adequate  compensation.  Their  last  declining 
years  should  be  made  as  easy  as  possible,  their 
names  and  records  cherished  by  the  people, 
and  their  descendants  should  never  become 
forgotten.  Buckner  C.  Whitlow  is  one  of 
these  wounded  soldiers;  on  the  battle  field  of 


Mill  Creek,  a bullet  j)ierced  his  left  eye,  and 
he  has  been  a constant  sufferer  since.  The 
great-grandfather  of  Buckner  C.  Whitlow  at 
an  enrly  day  came  from  England,  settled  in 
North  Carolina  and  afterwards  emigrated  to 
Kentucky.  He  reached  an  age  seldom  attain- 
ed by  man,  and  at  the  time  of  his  death  was  a 
patriarch  of  over  one  hundred  years.  John 
Whitlow,  the  grandfather  of  our  subject,  was 
born  in  North  Carolina  and  went  to  Kentucky 
with  his  father,  married  there  and  reared  a 
family  of  children — William,  Hiram,  Pleasant 
and  Polly.  He  was  a prominent  farmer,  came 
to  Indiana  about  1825  and  settled  in  Decatur 
county,  then  almost  a wilderness.  He  cleared 
up  a good  farm  of  200  acres,  and  in  his  old 
age  sold  this  farm  and  moved  to  Greensburg, 
where  he  died  aged  eighty-four  years,  He 
was  a member  of  the  Baptist  church,  an  old- 
time  whig  in  politics,  afterward  a stanch  re- 
publican, and  was  a man  of  sterling  worth. 

Pleasant  Whitlow,  father  of  our  subject, 
was  born  July  24,  1807,  and  was  about  eigh- 
teen years  of  age  when  he  came  to  Indiana 
with  his  father,  and  here  reared  a farmer  and 
received  a common  education.  He  married, 
in  Decatur  county,  Martha  Lankford,  and  to 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Whitlow  were  born  seven  chil- 
dren, who  lived  to  grow  up;  Hiram,  William, 
Elizabeth,  Buckner  C.,  Jones,  John  and  Mar- 
garet. He  lived  to  the  age  of  eighty-four 
years  and  died  July  22,  1891.  Like  his  fore- 
parents, Mr.  Whitlow  attained  great  age.  He 
had  inherited  longevity  from  a sturdy  race, 
and  uidess  their  lives  were  cut  short  by  acci- 
dent or  the  infusion  of  the  blood  of  short- 
lived people,  the  Whitlows,  leading  proper 
lives,  should  attain  an  age  approaching  the 
centenarian.  Mr.  Whitlow  was  a Christian 
man  of  high  character.  He  moved  to  Boone 
county  in  1870,  and  bought  a farm  in  Center 
township.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Whitlow  were  mem- 
bers of  the  Baptist  church.  Politically  a 


BIOGRAPHICAL  HISTORY 


r)i8 


stroiif;^  re{)ublican,  he  was  very  loyal  to  the 
Union  (Inrin^^  the  f^reat  Civil  war,  in  which  he 
had  three  sons.  Jones  was  in  an  Indiana  bat- 
tery and  died  in  the  service;  William  was  in 
company  E,  Thirty-seventh  ref,dment  Indiana 
volunteer  infantry,  served  through  the  war  and 
was  in  the  battle  of  Stone  River. 

Hnckner  C.  Whitlow  was  born  in  Decatur 
county,  Ind.,  on  a farm,  |nne  i6,  1842,  and 
naturally  grew  up  to  follow  agricultural  pur- 
suits, receiving  the  limited  common  school 
ncation  of  his  day.  Most  of  the  sons  of  Indi- 
ana were  patriots,  and  our  subject  was  no  ex- 
ception, and  at  the  early  age  of  eighteen  vears 
he  enlisted  in  company  h',  Thirty-seventh  reg- 
iment Indiana  volunteer  infantry,  at  Adams, 
Decatur  county,  Ind.,  was  mustered  in  at 
Lawrenceburg,  September  18,  1861,  and  ser\  ed 
until  bonorably  discharged  on  account  of 
wounds  July  24,  1862,  at  Stevenson,  Ala. 

He  was  in  the  battle  of  Mill  Creek,  Ala,, 
where  he  was  shot  twice  in  the  left  leg,  once  in 
the  hip,  once  in  the  lower  leg,  breakingthe  bone, 
and  he  carries  both  of  theseTullets  to  the  present 
day.  He  was  obliged  to  lie  down  on  the  battle 
field,  but  raised  himself  to  see  how  the  battle  was 
going,  when  a rebel  cavalry-man,  a short  dis- 
tance away,  took  deliberate  aim  and  shot  him 
in  the  left  eye.  The  bullet  passed  through  the 
head  and  came  out  the  left  ear.  He  remained 
ccmscious  until  after  the  battle,  and  was  taken 
))risoner  by  the  rebels,  who  carried  him  a short 
distance  and  left  him  to  die.  He  was  recov- 
ered by  the  Federals  under  a flag  of  truce,  and 
was  in  hospital  for  three  months,  when  he  was 
discharged  and  sent  Innne,  the  sight  of  his 
left  eye  being  forever  destroyed.  After  this 
service  and  sacrifice  for  his  country  he  settled 
in  Decatur  county,  Ind.,  where  he  married 
Mary,  daughter  of  Lewis  and  Sarah  (CoiKpiest) 
P)urns. 

Ml'.  Ibirns  was  a native  of  Decatur  county, 
his  grandfather  having  come  from  Ireland  and 


settled  as  a pioneer.  Lewis  Burns  was  a 
stone-mason  by  trade,  and  a very  skillful  work- 
man. He  lived  in  Greensburg  many  years  and 
was  the  father  of  four  children — Sarah,  Nannie, 
William  and  Mary.  Mrs.  Burns  was  a mem- 
ber of  the  Methodist  church.  Socially  Mr. 
Burns  was  both  a Mason  and  a member  of  the 
I.  O.  O.  F.  He  was  a man  of  integrity  and  a 
substantial  citizen,  and  died  in  Decatur  county 
aged  fifty-four  years.  Mr.  Whitlow  farmed  in 
Decatur  county  four  years  after  marriage,  and 
in  1869  came  to  Boone  county,  and  settled  in 
Center  township,  where  he  bought  twenty 
acres  of  laud.  By  thrift,  industry  and  hard 
work  he  accumulated  means  and  jnirchased 
eighty  acres  more,  and  in  1891  he  added  thirty 
acres  more  and  received  from  his  father  fifty 
acres.  He  has  now  a fine  farm  of  i 50  acres, 
(jn  which  he  has  erected  substantial  buildings 
and  made  excellent  improvements. 

Both  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Whitlow  are  members 
of  the  Baptist  church,  of  which  he  is  treasurer. 
He  votes  the  straight  republican  ticket,  and  is 
a member  of  the  G.  A.  R.,  Rich  Mountain  post, 
Lebanon,  Ind.  He  and  wife  are  parents  of 
four  children  -liddie  C.,  Della  M.  and  Dora 
L.  (twins),  ami  Charles  P.,  died  aged  five 
years  and  three  months.  Mr.  .Whitlow  is  a 
self-made  man  and  assisted  by  his  faithful  wife, 
has  accumulated  a handsome  property — not- 
withstanding he  has  been  greatly  weakened  by 
his  wounds,  which  still,  at  times,  cause  him 
great  luiin.  As  a soldier  he  did  his  duty  faith- 
fully, as  a citizen  he  has  been  honest,  straight- 
forward and  industrious,  and  any  resident  of 
Boone  county  will  tak('  Buckner  C.  Whitlow’s 
word. 


^^w^lLLIAM  HhlNRV  WILFV.  The 
Mm  I genthnnan  whose  name  introduces 
this  sketch  belongs,  on  tbe  father’s 
side,  to  an  old  Irish  family,  several 
members  of  which  came  to  the  United  States 


OF  BOONE  COUNTY. 


519 


in  an  early  day  and  settled  in  Kentucky. 
Mugh  Wiley,  his  grandfather,  was  born  and 
grew  to  manhood  in  Kentuck_v,  and  in  1835, 
on  account  of  uncompromising  hostility  to 
slavery,  left  that  state  and  came  to  Indiana, 
locating  in  Clinton  township,  Boone  county, 
where  he  purchased  a large  tract  of  govern- 
ment land.  He  is  remembered  as  a man  of 
decided  cnnvictions  and  great  firmness,  and 
during  the  slavery  agitation  preceding  the 
Civil  war,  was  untiring  in  his  hostility  to  the 
peculiar  institution.  He  accumulated  a hand- 
property  and  was  able  to  leave  each  of  his 
children  a comfortable  home.  The  names  of 
his  children  are  as  follows;  Mary,  William  S., 
Isabella,  Rebecca,  John  N.,  Eliza,  Rachel, 
Margaret,  Spicy,  Hugh  R , Priscilla  and 
Cynthia.  He  died  in  1853. 

William  S.  Whley,  father  of  William  H,, 
was  born  March  13,  in  Kentucky,  mar- 

ried February  23,  1837,  Frances  L.  Hopkins, 
daughter  of  Jacob  and  Elizabeth  ("Brown) 
Hopkins,  and  reared  a family  of  four  children, 
namely:  Elizabeth  J.,  wife  of  Samuel  f. 

Maze;  William  H.,  Julia  A.,  wife  of  John  T. 
Pressler,  and  Margaret  E , who  died  in  in- 
fancy. Williams.  W'iley  came  from  Kentucky 
to  Indiana  with  his  father  in  1835,  settling  in 
Boone  county,  on  a tract  of  land  given  him 
by  his  father,  where  he  made  his  home  until 
his  death,  which  occurred  in  1851.  He  was 
an  upright,  industrious  man,  a consistent  mem- 
ber of  the  Utited  Presbyterian  church,  and 
like  his  father,  whose  political  opinions  he  in- 
herited, he  was  bitterly  opposed  to  the  institu- 
tion of  slavery.  He  was  a politician  of  local 
note,  supported  the  whig  party,  and  for  some 
years  was  a commissioned  officer  in  the  Indi- 
ana militia. 

William  Henry  Wiley,  the  immediate  sub- 
ject of  this  mention,  was  born  September  21, 
1841,  in  Clinton  township,  Boone  county,  and 
grew  to  manhood  on  his  father's  farm.  He 


attended  such  schools  as  the  country  afforded, 
obtaining  therein  a practical  English  education, 
and  assisted  in  the  labor  of  the  farm  until  the 
breaking  out  of  the  war  of  the  rebellion,  at 
which  time  he  entered  the  army  as  a member 
of  company  A,  Tenth  Indiana  infantry,  with 
which  he  served  for  a period  of  three  years. 
His  military  experience  included  some  of  the 
bloodiest  battles  of  the  war,  among  which  were 
Mill  Springs,  Chickamauga,  Mission  Ridge, 
and  the  Atlanta  campaign,  through  all  of 
which  he  passed  uninjured,  never  having  been 
wounded  or  captured.  Owing  to  exposure,  he 
contracted  the  rheumatism  in  1861,  since 
which  time  he  has,  at  intervals,  been  a great 
sufferer.  At  the  termination  of  his  period  of 
service  Mr.  Wile}'  returned  to  Boone  county 
and  engaged  in  farming,  which  useful  calling 
he  still  follows  with  success  and  financial  profit. 
He  owns  a well  tilled  farm  of  eighty  acres  in 
Marion  township,  has  comfortable  and  substan- 
tial buildings  and  is  looked  upon  as  one  of  the 
progressive  citizens  of  the  community  in  which 
he  resides.  He  is  a supporter  of  the  republi- 
can party,  and  for  the  past  sixteen  years  has 
been  a delegate  from  his  township  to  the  county 
conventions,  besides  serving  in  other  official 
capacities  at  different  times.  He  is  a member 
of  Chickamauga  post.  No.  48,  G.  A.  R. , in 
which  he  has  held  important  positions,  and  for 
some  years  has  been  prominently  identified 
with  the  United  Presbyterian  church.  Mr. 
Wiley  was  united  in  marriage  March  14,  1865, 
to  Eliza  J.  Turner,  daughter  of  Moses  and 
Rebecca  (Presley)  Turner;  the  children  born 
of  this  marriage  are  here  given  in  the  order  of 
their  birth:  Carrie  E.,  born  March  3,  1866; 
married  February  7,  1894,  to  O.  Amos;  Ida 
V.,  born  P'ebruary  20.  1868,  died  January  6, 
1886;  Porter  A.,  born  January  3,  1870;  Minnie 
M.,  born  August  20,  1873,  married  March  20, 
1893,  to  James  Sample;  Francis  R.,  born  De- 
cember 2,  1874,  married  December  31,  1893. 


520 


RTOCiRAPIIICAL  HISTORY 


to  Oeorge  IP  Jones.  Mrs.  Wile}’  departed  this 
life  on  the  fourth  day  (T  May,  1876,  and  on 
the  .2r)th  of  I'ehrnary,  1879,  Mr.  Wiley  was 
united  in  marriage  to  Jennie  E.  Baldridge, 
daughter  (jf  Rev.  Samuel  C.  and  Mary  (Hnd- 
dlesonj  Ifaldridge.  The  children  born  to  this 
union  were  William  IP,  whose  birth  occurred 
August  20,  1880,  but  died  September  30,  of 
the  same  year,  and  Charles  O.  Wiley,  born 
October  3,  1882. 


ACOB  E.  WILE  of  Sugar  Creek  town- 
ship, Boone  county,  Ind.,  was  born  in 
Montgomery  county.  Pa.,  June  8, 
1839,  a son  of  Samuel  and  Esther 
(Eisenberg)  Wile,  wIkj  were  born  and  married 
and  who  died  in  the  same  state,  the  former  in 
April  and  the  latter  in  November,  1857,  the 
father  being  a blacksmith  and  farmer.  The}' 
were  the  parents  of  twelve  children,  named  as 
f(dlows;  Elizabeth,  deceased;  Catherine;  Ma- 
tilda, deceased;  Esther;  Charles;  Mary;  Sam- 
nel;  Jacob  E.  ; Eleanor;  Abraham,  deceased; 
Sophia  and  Rebecca — the  last  named  also  de- 
ceased. The  parents  were  Lutheran  in  their 
religious  faith,  and  in  politics  the  father  was  a 
democrat;  he  was  scrupulously  honest  and 
much  respected. 

Jacob  E.  Wile  worked  out  among  strangers 
from  eight  until  seventeen  years  of  age,  and 
then  served  an  apprenticeship  of  three  years  at 
carpentering,  which  trade  he  later  followed 
si.\  years,  three  as  a journeyman,  and  three  as 
a contractor.  He  then  fitted  himself  for 
teaching,  and,  in  connection  with  his  trade, 
taught  school  four  years.  September  11, 
1864,  he  married  Miss  Agnes  Brand,  who  was 
horn  in  IPitler  county,  ()hio,  Mandi  19,  1845, 
a daughter  of  John  and  Mary  (Wilst)!))  Brand, 
and  to  this  marriage  were  born  thri;e  children, 
as  follows:  Clara,  now  the  wife  of  A.  McKey; 
John  W. ; and  b'lora  A.,  the  wife  of  William 


Boyd.  Mrs.  Agnes  Wile,  died  September  16, 
1876,  and  on  November  7,  1878,  Mr.  Wile 
married  Mary  Roberts,  who  was  born  in 
Eranklin  county,  Ind.,  May  7,  1852,  a daugh- 
ter of  James  and  Lucy  Roberts,  natives  of 
England.  Two  children  bless  this  union,  Car- 
rie and  Lucy  May.  Mr.  Wile  still  lives  on 
the  Brand  farm  of  eighty  acres  he  bought  four 
years  after  his  marriage,  and  which  he 
has  greatly  improved.  In  politics  he  is  a 
democrat,  and  he  and  his  wife  are  highly  re- 
spected members  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal 
church. 


HOMAS  B.  WILLIAMSON,  ex- 
county auditor  and  a prominent  hard- 
ware merchant  of  Jamestown,  Boone 
county,  Ind  , is  a native  of  Jackson 
township,  in  the  same  county,  was  born  Sep- 
tember 24,  1847,  and  is  of  English  and  Ger- 
man descent.  His  grandfather,  William  Wil- 
liamson, was  born  in  \drginia,  but  early  emi- 
grated to  \\’est  Virginia  and  settled  at  Eair- 
mont,  on  the  Monongahela  river,  seventy-five 
miles  from  Wheeling.  He  married  Catherine 
Hall,  of  Taylor  county,  \\'.  \'a. , and  in  1849 
came  to  Indiana  and  settled  in  Thorntown, 
Boone  county.  He  was  a man  of  means  and 
erected  a modern  residence,  which  still  stands. 
He  died  at  the  ripe  age  of  eighty-six  years, 
and  his  wife  died  at  about  the  same  age — both 
strict  members  of  the  Methodist  church.  He 
had  served  in  the  war  of  1812.  William  1 1. 
Williamson,  son  of  the  above,  and  father  of 
I'homas  IP,  was  horn  in  Pruntytown,  'faylor 
county,  W.  \'a.,  and  became  a carpenter.  At 
the  age  of  twenty-one  (1843)  he  came  to 
Boone  ('ount\’,  Ind.,  and  settled  two  miles 
north  of  Jamestown.  A]):!!  21,  1844,  he  mar- 
ried .Martha  A.  Cose,  daughter  of  Robert  and 
Dicy  (Je.ssee)  Cose,  a \'irginia  famil\-  that 
early  settled  in  Boone  county,  Ind.,  on  a farm 


OF  HOONE  COUNTY. 


521 


of  i6o  acres,  which  they  afterward  increased 
to  320  acres.  To  the  marriage  of  William  H. 
Williamson  and  wife  were  b(nn  Marshall  Gose 
and  Thomas  B.  Marshall  Gose  Williamson 
attended  the  Thorntown  academy,  under  the 
instruction  of  the  renowned  John  Clarke  Kid- 
path,  now  professor  of  history  at  DePauw 
university,  hut  was  suddenly  called  to  the 
grave,  December  20,  1865,  at  the  early  age  of 
twenty  years.  He  was  a consistent  member 
of  the  Methodist  church,  and  was  greatly  be- 
loved by  his  friends  and  companions.  Thomas 
B.  was  also  an  attendant  at  the  same  acad- 
emy, under  the  same  instructor.  The  father 
and  mother  have  both  been  identified  with  the 
Methodist  church  since  before  their  marriage, 
the  father  having  been  steward,  class  leader 
and  superintendent  of  the  Sunday-school,  and 
both  devoted  to  church  work.  The  father  is 
an  ardent  republican.  He  has  now  retired 
from  active  business,  having  begun  life  on 
forty  acres  of  land,  which  he  afterward  in- 
creased to  120  acres,  and  he  and  wife  are  liv- 
ing in  quiet  retirement  in  Jamestown,  re- 
spected and  honored  by  all  who  know  them. 

Thomas  B.  Williamson  commenced  the  pro- 
fession of  teaching  at  the  age  of  eighteen 
years,  and  taught  three  terms  in  his  home  dis- 
trict. Later,  for  a few  years,  he  was  success- 
fully engaged  in  stock  dealing.  Next,  in 
I 874,  he  entered  the  hardware  and  implement 
business  at  Jamestown,  in  partnership  with  D. 
W.  Osborn,  and  in  this  trade  he  has  since  been 
continuously  engaged,  excepting  when  he 
served  as  deputy  county  assessor,  in  1873, 
under  Andrew  Stucky,  and  the  years  in  which 
he  served  as  county  auditor.  In  1878  he  was 
nominated  by  the  republican  party  as  their 
candidate  for  this  important  position.  The 
contest  was  a close  one,  and  Mr.  Williamson 
was  the  only  republican  elected  in  the  county 
carrying  his  own  township — it  being  a demo- 
cratic stronghold — his  majority  being  ninety- 


nine — a circumstance  which  speaks  more 
loudly  in  his  favor  than  words.  He  filled  the 
office  to  the  full  satisfaction  of  the  people  of 
the  county,  to  the  honor  of  his  party  and  with 
credit  to  himself. 

February  5,  1885,  Mr.  Williamson  married 
Mrs.  Florida  K.  Allen,  daughter  of  Jacob  and 
Eunice  (Horner)  Kernodle.  Her  father  was  a 
retired  farmer,  and  resided  in  Lebanon,  where 
he  passed  his  latter  years  in  comfort  and  ease; 
her  mother  is  a member  of  the  Presbyterian 
church,  and  the  family  were  favorably  known 
throughout  the  county.  One  child  has  blessed 
the  marriage  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Williamson,  and 
is  named  Raymond  Marshall.  The  parents  are 
both  members  of  the  Methodist  church,  and 
both  are  teachers  in  the  Sunday  school.  Fra- 
ternally, Mr.  Williamson  is  a member  of  Hazel- 
rigg  lodge.  No.  200,  F.  & A.  M.,  in  which  he 
has  served  as  junior  warden;  he  is  also  a mem- 
ber of  Affinus  lodge.  No.  43,  of  whith  he  is 
past  chancellor;  he  is  also  an  Odd  Fellow  of 
high  rank,  having  attained  the  exalted  office 
of  chief  patriarch  of  the  encampment,  which 
he  has  represented  in  the  grand  encampment. 
No  family  in  the  county  of  Boone  is  more 
honored  or  more  distinguished  than  that  of 
Thomas  B.  Williamson. 


BLAVIUS  JOSEPHUS  WITHAM  is 
an  honored  ex-soldier  and  respected 
citizen  of  Clinton  township,  Boone 
county,  Ind.  In  1800  his  grand- 
father, Robert  Witham,  emigrated  from  the 
state  of  Maine  to  Ohio.  The  legends  all  point 
to  the  Withams  as  of  sturdy  old  English  stock. 
Robert  was  born  in  1768.  Sarah  Sipes  was 
his  wife,  and  they  were  married  at  Bullskin, 
Clermont  county,  Ohio.  He  bought  of 'the 
Government  340  acres  of  land.  The  children 
born  to  this  couple  were  William;  Hannah, 
married  a Patterson;  Betsey,  married  a Todd; 


BIOGRAPHICAL  HISTORY 


522 


Saimiel  and  James.  His  was  a rijie  old  age  ] 
v\z.,  eighty-seven,  and  his  wife  sevent3'-eight.  | 
The  father  of  Flavins  J.  Wdthain  was  Wil- 
liam Wdtham,  horn  January  i i,  1801,  in  War- 
ren county,  Ohio,  was  reared  as  a farmer  on 
his  father’s  farm,  and  was  married  in  1823  to 
Mercy  (Heaton)  Witham,  to  whom  were  born 
Sarah,  W’illiam  H.,  Mary  A.,  Rebecca, 
Robert,  Sylvester,  Ennis,  Martha  E.  and 
Flavius  J.  He  was  known  as  a man  of  in- 
tegrity, and,  while  not  belonging  to  any 
church,  he  often  remarked  that'  he. was  ready 
to  die  when  his  time  should  come,  and  his  wife 
was  noted  for  love  of  ])eace  and  harmony. 
L’ntil  the  breaking  cut  of  the  war  he  was  a 
democrat,  but  afterward  verted  the  republican 
ticket.  He  died  November  14,  1865.  His 

wife  Mercy  (Heaton)  Witham  was  born  in  the 
state  of  New  Jersey,  May  6,  1803.  She  was  a 
great  worker,  and  did  the  spinning,  weaving 
and  making  the  clothing  for  her  large  famil_v. 
She  was  a l(r\  ing  mother,  recoginzbd  b\'  the 
neighlrorhood  as  a sjdendid  t\'pe  of  woman- 
hood. She  was  a member  of  the  Universalist 
church,  and  died  April  30,  1879. 

h'lavius  Josephus  Witham  was  born  in 
Warren  county,  Ohio,  August  17,  1843.  He 
enlisted  August  12,  1862,  in  cornjrany  B,  Sev- 
enty-ninth Ohio  volunteer  infantr)’,  and  was 
))laced  in  the  twentieth  army  corps.  He 
was  a man  that  weighed  190  pounds,  but  was 
taken  with  the  camp  diarrluea,  and  was  com- 
pelled to  be  in  the  hosjrital  nurst  of  the  time. 
He  knew  what  the  hardships  of  army  life 
meant,  and  in  ihe  last  hospital  in  which  he 
was  confined,  in  Tennessee,  thirty  of  his  com- 
rades in  thirt}’  days  were-  laid  away  in  their 
last  sleep.  He  canu'  from  the  army  a used  up 
man,  broken  in  health,  and  will  suffer  the  re- 
mainder of  his  days.  He  was  discharged 
January  6,  1863.  On  August  31,  1865,  he 

was  married  to  Mary  E.  Duvall.  This  union 
has  been  blessed  with  the  following  children: 


Albert,  born  December  i i,  1868;  May  B.,  born 
March  30,  1871;  Gurley,  born  July  2,  1873, 
died  April  30,  1891;  Eaura  A.,  born  Novem- 
ber I,  1885;  Eeroy,  born  December  8,  1886, 
died  December  29,  1886:  Eva  R.,  born  Octo- 
ber 12,  1891.  He  is  a farmer  and  has  accu- 
mulated a property  of  191.^  acres,  all  in  Clinton 
township.  He  raises  a great  many  hogs,  beside 
tloing  a general  farming  business.  He  moved 
on  this  farm  in  1869  by  wagon,  built  a house, 
battened  it,  but  never  plastered,  and  there  he 
lived  for  seven  years.  This  was  moved  back 
for  a wood  house,  and  he  erected  a splendid 
brick  residence,  which  is  surrounded  bv  large 
and  commodious  buildings  which  denote  a 
prosperous  farmer.  In  1858  Mr.  Wdtham  and 
Nick  Bennett  drove  three  cows  from  Clinton 
township  to  Warren  count}',  Ohio,  some  160 
miles,  sleejiing  in  bushes,  and  barns,  living  on 
the  milk,  and  enjoy  ing  the  trip,  and  what  now 
would  be  considered  hardship  was  called  fun 
by  them.  He  was  a charter  member  Harte 
lodge.  No.  413,  1.  O.  O.  F.,  Mechanicsburg, 
huh,  filled  all  the  chairs,  and  twice  has  been 
representative  to  the  grand  lodge.  He  is  a 
member  of  Cyrus  ).  Eong  post.  No.  561,  G. 
A.  R.,  Eliza\ille,  Ind.  He  is  an  earnest  re- 
publican and  \'otes  as  he  shot.  An  iron  con- 
stitution and  an  indomitable  will  have  kept  Mr. 
Witham  about  and  at  work,  man}-  even  of  his 
neighbors  not  knowing  of  the  suffering  he  has 
endured,  as,  owing  to  his  habitsof  push,  pluck 
and  constant  hustling,  he  has  not  received  the 
sym])athy  to  which  he  is  entitled.  May  he 
and  his  faithful  wife  live  for  many  vears  to  en- 
joy the  fruits  of  their  industry.  His  wife, 
Mary  E.  Duvall,  was  l)orn  December  25,  1846, 
in  Warren  county,  Ohio,  and  received  the 
coimiKm  school  education.  She  has  had  many 
of  the  blessings  of  life  and  is  known  as  a lailh- 
ful  mother  by  her  family.  Her  father  was  J. 
E.  Duvall,  who  was  born  September  2 5,  1818, 
in  Ohio,  and  married  November  22,  1838, 


LIBRARY 
OF  THE 

UNIVERSITY  OF  IkHNSI" 


MRS.  JOHN  B.  WITT. 


OF  liOONE  COUNTY. 


Their  children  were:  Agnstiis,  Nimrod,  Rebec- 
ca, Lucretia,  Mary,  Taylor,  Martha,  Sarah  U. , 
John  A.,  Jacob,  Nancy  L.  and  Ruth.  He 
was  a farmer,  but  with  his  large  family  his 
hands  were  tied  and  he  never  accummulated 
much  property.  His  children  received  as  good 
an  education  as  he  could  give  them.  He  was 
a man  that  never  went  to  law,  and  of  a very 
meek  disposition,  sterling  integrity  and  would 
suffer  a wrong  rather  than  commit  one.  The 
mother  was  a good  woman,  and  her  time  de- 
voted to  the  raising  of  her  large  family,  so  her 
hands  as  well  as  her  heart  were  full.  In  1866 
she  was  widowed  with  six  children,  still  at 
home;  but  she  has  managed  to  rear  them  all  to 
fill  good  stations  in  life. 


OHN  B.  WTTT,  of  Perry  township, 
Boone  county,  Ind.,  was  born  in 
Union  county,  in  the  same  state.  May 
15,  1829,  a son  of  Daniel  and  Cather- 

ine (Messmore)  Witt.  Daniel  Witt  was  born 
in  North  Carolina  on  Christmas  day,  1806, 
and  at  the  age  of  ten  years  was  brought  to 
Indiana,  where  he  was  reared  to  manhood. 

John  B.  A\'itt  was  reared  in  Union  county 
until  twenty-three  years  old,  when  he  married 
and  for  a year  resided  in  Perry  township,  and 
then  for  two  and  a half  years  in  Iroquois  countv, 
111.  He  next  returned  to  Boone  county,  Ind., 
and  bought  160  acres  of  land  in  Jefferson 
township,  lived  there  until  1881,  then  lived 
a year  in  Center  township,  and  then,  on 
account  of  his  father’s  illness,  returned  to 
his  old  home,  and  on  his  father  retiring  to 
the  city  bought  the  place.  The  first  mar- 
riage of  Mr.  Witt  took  place  in  Putnam 
county,  Ind.,  to  Miss  Lydia  Keath,  a na- 
tive of  that  county,  who  bore  him  two  chil- 
dren, Catherine  and  Daniel,  both  deceased. 
Mrs.  Witt  died  in  September,  1853,  and  on  the 
8th  day  of  April,  1856,  Mr.  \Vitt  married,  in 


Jefferson  township,  this  county,  Eleanor  J. 
Caldwell,  a native  of  the  county,  who  bore 
him  seven  children,  viz:  Ida  J.,  now  wife  of 
J.  Hines;  Charles  F.,  of  Lebanon;  Catherine, 
wife  of  James  Chambers  of  Tennessee;  Nancy 
E. ; Alonzo  J. ; William  H. ; and  Ivlizabeth,  the 
wife  of  H.  Cline.  The  mother  of  these  chil- 
dren also  passed  away,  and  Mr.  Witt  was  next 
married  in  Eebanon,  Ind.,  to  Sarah  E.  Nunn, 
daughter  of  James  A.  Nunn,  ex-county  auditor. 
To  this  union  have  been  born  two  boys,  Daniel 
and  James  C.  Mrs.  Witt  is  a member  of  the 
Methodist  Episcopal  church,  and  she  and  her 
husband  are  highly  respected  members  of 
society.  In  politics  Mr.  Whtt  is  a republican; 
fraternally,  he  is  a chapter  Mason.  On  his  160 
acres  of  land  he  raises  some  very  fine  stock, 
notably  sheep,  and  Poland  China  hogs,  for 
which  he  invariably  finds  a good  market. 

Mr.  Witt  has  led  an  honorable  and  upright 
j^f^,  winning  the  approbation  and  respect  of 
his  fellow-cifizens  and  neighbors  wherever  he 
has  resided,  and  his  walk  has  been  in  the  ways 
of  prosperity  and  peace.  His  industry  and 
good  management  have  gained  him  a fair  share 
of  this  world’s  goods,  and  he  can  now  well  af- 
ford to  pass  in  ease  the  declining  years  of  his 
well-spent  life,  in  no  act  of  which  has  he  will- 
fully caused  pain  to  a fellow-creature,  but,  on 
the  other  hand,  left  undone  no  act  that  would 
tend  to  ameliorate,  as  far  as  lay  in  his  jiower, 
the  suffering  of  those  in  distress  from  any 
cause. 


OSEPH  W.  WITT,  one  of  the  most 
enterprising  business  men  of  Thorn- 
town,  Boone  county,  Ind.,  was  born 
in  Eebanon,  the  county  seat  of  said 
county,  April  2,  1857.  At  the  age  of  one 
year  he  was  taken  from  Lebanon  by  his  par- 
ents, William  W.  and  Lavinia  C.  (Haun) 
W’itt,  to  a farm  in  the  close  vicinity,  where 


528 


BIOGRAPHICAL  HISTORY 


young  Witt  was  reared  to  tlie  practical  duties 
of  life,  receiving,  in  the  meantinie,  a good  coni- 
nion  school  education,  which  was  su})[)le- 
tneuted  by  a regular  course  of  three  years  in 
the  high  school  of  Lebanon,  which  well  pre- 
pared him  for  a higher  position  in  the  world  of 
business  activity,  and  at  which  he  finished  his 
course  in  1878.  Of  industrious  proclivities, 
and  having  a business  education,  he  turned 
his  attention  to  the  business  of  his  father,  who 
was  the  owner  of  the  City  mills  at  Lebanon, 
and  became  general  assistant  in  the  same, 
which  position  beheld  until  1881,  rendering 
invaluable  aid  in  their  management.  At  this 
date  he  and  his  brother,  M.  L.  Witt,  came  to 
Thorntown,  and  both  being  fully  qualified, 
purchased  the  Thorntown  mills,  which  they 
ran  for  five  years,  at  the  end  of  which  time  M. 
L.  Witt  sold  his  interest  to  William  B. 
Kleiser.  The  new  firm  were  very  successful, 
and  during  the  four  years  of  their  co-partner- 
ship, built  the  City  elevator,  and  for  two  years 
operated  it.  Mr.  Witt  then  sold  his  interest 
in  the  elevator  and  became  sole  proprietor  of 
the  mill,  in  connection  with  which  he  built  a 
new  elevator,  the  handling  power  of  which  is 
about  100,000,000  bushels  of  grain  annually. 
The  capacity  of  Mr.  Witt’s  mill  reaches  100 
barrels  of  Hour  per  day,  and  this  product  is  of 
the  finest  quality,  the  mill  being  supplied  with 
the  most  approved  modern  machinery. 

After  thus  establishing  a life  business,  Mr. 
Witt  was  married,  at  Lebanon,  February  17, 
1880,  to  the  amiable  Theodosia  Allen,  who 
was  born  in  Bridgeton,  Parke  county,  Ind., 
September  16,  i860.  They  are  now  the  par- 
ents of  three  children,  Maud,  Frank  and  Wal- 
ter. The  happy  couple  enjoy  now,  and  ever 
have  enjoyed,  the  esteem  of  the  community  in 
which  they  live,  not  alone  because  Mrs.  Witt 
is  a devoted  member  of  the  Baptist  church, 
but  that  they  are  always  ready  to  e.xteud  re- 
lief to  all  that  seek  their  aid  in  charity.  Mr. 


Witt  is  a republican  in  politics,  has  served  as 
town  treasurer  for  two  consecutive  terms,  and 
has  been  a member  of  the  school  board  for 
three  years,  being  its  president  at  the  present 
time.  Fraternally  he  is  a member  of  the  K. 
of  P.  and  the  I.  O.  O.  F. , and  socially  he  and 
his  wife  rank  among  the  best  inhabitants  of 
Thorntown  and  Boone  county. 


ONATHAN  E.  WEST,  an  influential 
citizen  and  farmer  of  Marion  township, 
Boone  county,  Ind.,  is  of  Scotch-Irish 
descent,  but  comes  from  American  fam- 
ilies of  long  standing  on  both  the  paternal  and 
maternal  sides.  His  grandfather,  Willis  West, 
was  born  in  Kentucky  in  1800,  was  married,  in 
that  state,  to  Miss  Dixon,  reared  four  children 
— Samuel,  Sally  A.,  Ebenezer  and  Mary  E. — 
and  finally  became  a prominent  farmer  of 
Clinton  township,  Boone  county,  Ind.  The 
maternal  grandfather  of  our  subject  was  Jona- 
than Evans,  who  was  born  in  Ohio  in  1803, 
was  a farmer  and  a deacon  the  Baptist  church, 
and  died  at  the  age  of  fifty-three,  in  Boone 
county,  Ind.  Samuel  West,  son  of  Willis, 
was  born  in  1822,  and  was  two  years  of  age 
when  brought  from  Kentucky  to  Indiana,  by 
his  father.  He  was  reared  in  Boone  county, 
and  here  married,  in  1844,  Susannah  Evans, 
the  result  being  twelve  chihlreu,  born  in  the 
following  order;  Whllis,  Jonathan  E.,  Martha 
].,  Rosella,  James  (died  in  infancy),  Mar- 
garet, Mary  E.,  Samuel  .\.,  t'harles  J., 
Susannah,  Albert  and  Harvey.  The  lather 
of  this  family,  at  his  marriage,  was  given 
eighty  arcres  of  laud  by  his  father,  to 
which  he  added  eighty  acres  by  [iiirchasc, 
which,  with  the  assistance  of  his  willing  help- 
mate, he  drained  and  cleared,  and  then  sold 
and  moved  to  Lebanon,  where  he  followed 
carpentering  and  kei)t  stock  for  eleven  ^ears, 
making  money  rapidly;  he  then  purchased  a 


OF  BOONE  COUNTY. 


520 


farm  in  W'orth  township,  six  and  a half  miles 
east  of  the  city,  and  now  has  236  acres,  beside 
helpiiif^-  all  his  children,  some  of  whom  now 
reside  in  Kansas  and  Missouri  and  the  rest  in 
Indiana.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  W'est  are  both  mem- 
bers of  the  Antioch  Baptist  church,  and  rank 
high  in  the  community  in  which  they  live. 

jonathan  E.  West  was  born  December  18, 
1848,  in  Boone  county,  Ind.,  was  educated  in 
the  common  schools  and  was  reared  a farmer. 
At  the  age  of  twenty-four  years  he  had  ac- 
cumulated $800  by  his  own  industry  and 
economy,  and  married  Miss  Malinda  E. 
Wheeler,  who  was  born  December  25,  1853, 
the  daughter  of  Judson  and  Nancy  (Jones) 
Wheeler.  The  young  couple  went  to  house- 
keeping in  an  old-fashioned  log  cabin,  but 
here  laid  the  foundation  of  a future  fortune. 
The  husband  was  assisted  by  his  father  with 
a present  of  eighty  acres  of  land  in  Marion 
township,  but  this  he  traded  for  eighty  acres 
located  near  his  present  farm;  he  then  bought 
forty  acres  adjoining,  for  which  he  went  in 
debt,  but  with  the  aid  of  his  faithful  wife  he 
paid  for  it  in  due  course  of  time,  made  another 
purchase  of  eighty  acres,  and  now  has  a fine 
property  comprising  200  acres.  The  marriage 
of  Jonathan  E.  West  and  wife  has  been 
blessed  with  the  following  children  ; David  J., 
Lillian  E. , Samuel  }.,  Edgar  S.,  Nancy, 
Florence,  Joseph  B.,  and  Nora  E.,  all  in  ex- 
cellent health.  The  family  reside  in  a large 
house  conveniently  arranged  in  every  respect 
and  furnished  with  seven  fire-places  adapted 
to  the  use  of  natural  gas.  The  dwelling  is 
trimmed  throughout  with  walnut,  the  natural 
growth  of  the  premises.  A commodious  barn 
accommodates  the  live  stock,  and  all  the  out- 
buildings and  appurtenances  of  the  farm  denote 
the  care  of  a practical  and  careful  manager. 
Mr.  West  makes  a specialty  of  live  stock,  but 
general  farming  is  his  controlling  vocation. 
He  is  a stockholder  in  the  Natural  Gas  com- 


pany and  of  the  Horsethief  Detective  associa- 
tion : also  of  the  Sheridan  Fair  association,  in 
which  he  has  served  as  superintendent  of  the 
cattle  department.  In  politics  he  is  a demo- 
crat and  is  a school  director,  and  no  man  in 
the  county  is  more  highly  esteemed  by  his  fel- 
low-citizens. 

Judson  Wheeler,  the  father  of  Mrs.  West, 
was  born  in  Ohio,  August  23,  1825,  and  at  the 
age  of  one  year  was  brought  to  Indiana  by  his 
parents,  who  located  in  Rush  county.  By 
his  marriage  with  Nancy  Jones  he  became 
the  father  of  four  children,  viz  : Benjamin; 
Peleg,  who  died  in  youth;  Mary  and  Malinda. 
He  is  the  son  of  Pelag  and  Mary  (Raridan) 
Wheeler  and  grandson  of  John  Wheeler,  a 
Baptist  minister. 


OHN  WESLEY  WORLEY,  a farmer 
and  influential  citizen  of  Marion  town- 
ship, Boone  county,  Ind.,  was  born  in 
Decatur  county,  Ind.,  P'ebruary  22, 
1842,  and  was  reared  a farmer  His  father, 
Stephen  Worley,  was  born  in  east  Tennessee, 
March  12,  1809,  was  of  English  descent,  and 
in  1830  married  Elizabeth  Simmons,  who  was 
born  in  the  same  state  Jnne  12,  1814.  The 
parents  came  to  Boone  comity,  Ind.,  about  the 
year  1852,  and  settled  on  a farm  of  forty  acres. 
They  were  both  members  of  the  Methodist 
church,  in  which  the  father  was  a class  leader. 
He  died  in  the  faith  in  1876,  his  widow  sur- 
viving until  August  12,  1880. 

John  Wesley  Worley,  August  11,  1862, 

enlisted  under  Capt.  William  Sims  in  company 
F,  Eighty-sixth  Indiana  volunteer  infantry. 
The  regiment  left  La  Fayette,  Ind.,  and  went 
to  Indianapolis;  thence  to  Cincinnati,  Ohio; 
thence  to  Louisville,  Ky.,  and  down  the  river 
to  Perryville,  but  took  no  part  in  the  battle  at 
this  point.  Mr.  Worley  was  now  taken  sick 
and  did  not  rejoin  the  regiment  until  after  the 


580 


BIOGRAPHICAL  HISTORY 


battle  of  Stone  River,  and  then  joined  at  | 
Chattanoof^a  and  Missionary  Kidj^e;  was  at  I 
Ibizzard's  Roost,  and  fought  down  to  Atlanta. 
Next,  he  was  placed  under  Gen.  George  H. 
'riioinas,  and  served  until  mustered  out  at 
Nashville,  Tenn.,  June  6,  1S65 — at  the  close 

of  the  war,  after  a service  of  thirty-four  months. 
The  marriage  of  Mr.  Worley  took  jdace,  in 
Marion  township,  December  13,  i S66,  to  Miss 
.Margaret  A Bell.  They  went  to  housekeep- 
ing on  her  father’s  farm,  where  they  resided 
until  I <869,  when  they  settled  on  their  pres- 
ent farm,  which  now  comprises  100  acres, 
improved  with  good,  substantial  buildings, 
d'heir  union  has  been  blessed  \vith  one  child, 
Mary  Elizabeth,  born  March  28,  1871.  The 
grandfather  of  Mrs.  Margaret  A.  (Bell)  W orley 
was  W'llliam  Bell,  who  was  bmm  in  Ireland,  j 
but  came  to  America  when  young,  lived  for  a 
time  in  Delaware  and  then  in  Pennsylvania. 
He  married,  in  Butler  county,  latter  state, 
Martha  Reardin,  in  1807.  At  one  time  he 
lived  on  leased  land  where  Braddock  was  so 
badly  defeated  in  1755,  and  many  times  turned 
up  bullets  from  the  ground  when  plowing. 
He  did  some  service  in  the  war  of  1812,  and 
after  living  in  Clermont  county,  Ohio,  a number 
of  years,  settled  in  Rush  cemnty,  Ind.,  in  1822, 
His  son,  Robert  Bell,  was  born  March  16, 
1818,  in  Clermont  county,  Ohio,  and  married 
Mary  j.  Moore  February  25,  1841,  and  to  this 
union  were  born  Martha  ].,  August  29,  1842; 
Margaret  A.,  August  7,  1844;  William  A.,  Oc- 
tober 6,  1846;  John  C.,  January  3,  1849 

(died  December  20,  1868);  Mary  E.,  April  24, 
1851  (died  in  October,  1864);  Nancy  ()., 
March  25,  1853;  Anson  M.,  April  i,  i860. 

Mrs.  WAndey  and  her  daughter  are  members 
of  the  Presbyterian  church,  and  are  active  in 
church  work.  Mr.  W'orley  is  a member  of 
W'illiam  Smith  post.  No.  130,  (i.  A.  K.,  at 
Sheridan,  Hamilton  county,  fnd.  He  is  of 
a (juiet,  unobtrusive  disposition,  attends  to  his 


own  affairs,  and  has  nrade  a success  of  his 
farming.  He  is  r'epublican  in  politics,  votiirg 
as  he  shot,  but  has  never  been  solicitous  for 
public  office.  He  and  family  have  won  the 
respect  of  the  citizens  of  his  township,  and  his 
upright  life  entitles  him  to  the  full  confidence 
that  his  neighbors  repose  in  him. 


BLOYD  N.  W’ORRELL,  a deceased 
Union  soldier,  came  from  a long  line 
of  \’irginian  ancestry.  His  grand- 
father, Amos  Worrell,  was  an  old- 
time  planter  in  the  Old  Dominion,  and  James 
B.  W'orrell,  son  of  Amos,  was  born  on  this 
plantation,  and  was  reared  to  the  pursuit  of 
agriculture.  James  B.  first  married  Lottie 
Sanders,  and  there  were  born  to  this  union  the 
following  children:  Peter,  Alexander,  Corne- 
lius, Fleming,  Floyd  N.  (the  subject  of  this 
sketch).  IHi  B.,  Granville,  Rebecca,  Carolina, 
Susan,  Lucy  A.,  and  Olive.  Mrs.  Lottie  W'or- 
rell  died  in  Carroll  county,  Va.,  where  her  life 
had  been  passed,  and  Mr.  W'orrell  next  mar- 
ried Khoda  Tudor,  of  North  Carolina,  but  to 
this  marriage  no  children  were  born.  James 
B.  W'orrell  passed  away  in  1874,  in  Mercer 
county,  W.  Ya.,  at  the  age  of  sevent)’ years,  a 
devoted  member  of  the  Baptist  church  and  in 
politics  a democrat,  and  the  owner  of  a farm 
of  400  acres. 

Floyd  N.  WA)rrell  was  born  in  January, 
1829,  in  Carroll  county,  Va.,  was  reared  on 
his  father’s  farm,  and,  September  19,  1850, 
married  Miss  Nancy  1).  Boyd,  daughter  of 
Levi  and  Levina  (Dickerson)  Boyd.  The 
father,  Levi  Boyd,  was  born  in  \'irglnia  in 
1808,  was  a hatter  by  trade,  and  also  the 
owner  of  a fine  farm  of  400  acres,  which  he 
himself  improved  with  good  substantial  build- 
ings. He  was  a leading  citizen  and  a demo- 
crat in  j)olitics,  and  died  in  Carroll  county, 
Va.,  at  the  age  of  lift)' years.  I lis  widow  later 


I 


OF  BOONE  COUNTY. 


531 


came  to  Boone  county,  Ind.,  and  bought  eiglity 
acre.s  of  land  just  north  and  west  of  the  farm 
Mrs.  Nancy  I).  Worrell  now  owns,  and  this 
property  she  improved  with  good  substantial 
buildings,  and  resided  upon  it  from  1850  until 
her  death,  June  7,  1884.  She  was  a sincere 
Christian  and  was  mourned  by  many  friends. 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Floyd  H.  Worrell  were  married 
in  Carroll  county,  Va.,  and  eight  years  later 
sold  their  farm  of  170  acres,  came  to  Indiana 
in  1858,  and  settled  in  Boone  county,  in  Perry 
township,  on  rented  land,  which  the  husband 
cultivated  until  called  to  arms.  June  13,  1862, 
he  enlisted  in  company  A,  Eight\’-sixth  Indiana 
volunteer  infantry,  at  LaFayette,  Ind.  He  was 
first  drilled  in  Tippecanoe  county,  and  then 
sent  to  the  front,  where,  in  a remarkably  short 
time,  he  was  promoted  to  corporal.  He  was  in 
the  hottest  of  the  fight  at  Stone  River,  and 
December  31,  1862,  after  three  days’  fighting, 
was  shot  in  the  hip  by  a rifle  ball.  He  lay  on 
the  battle  field  for  some  time  after  the  battle, 
was  then  carried  to  a deserted  house,  and 
finally  taken  to  the  hospital  at  Nashville, 
placed  in  ward  3,  and  there  the  ball  was  ex- 
tracted some  weeks  after  the  wound  was  in- 
flicted. The  wound,  however,  healed  nicely, 
and  a furlough  to  come  home  was  on  its  way 
to  him,  when  he  was  seized  with  camp  diar- 
rhcea,  and  died  suddenly,  February  16,  1863, 
and  buried  with  military  honors  in  the  hospital 
cemetery  at  Nashville,  Tenn.  His  widow  was 
first  awarded  a pension  of  $8  per  month,  which 
has  since  been  increased  to  $12  per  month. 
She  kept  her  family  of  five  children  together 
and  gave  them  all  good  common-school  educa- 
tions. These  children  were  born  and  named 
in  the  following  order;  Levi  S.,  James  B., 
Elijah  D.,  Susannah  L.  and  Mary  J.  Mrs. 
Worrell  first  bought  thirty-six  acres  of  land, 
but  by  good  management  increased  the  acre- 
age to  seventy-two,  and  she  is  assisted  in  its 

cultivation  at  the  present  time  by  her  son  Eli- 
26 


jah  1).  Mrs.  Worrell,  as  was  her  husband,  is 
a devout  member  of  the  Baptist  church  and  is 
deservedly  respected  by  her  neighbors  for  her 
business  sagacity  as  well  as  for  her  womanly 
modesty. 


R.  GEORGE  T.  WRENNICK.— 
Prominent  among  the  many  success- 
ful medical  men  of  Boone  county  is 
Dr.  George  T.  Wrennick,  a descend- 
ant of  one  of  the  early  pioneers  of  Indiana. 
His  paternal  grandfather,  William  Wrennick, 
came  from  Ireland  when  a young  man  and  was 
a pioneer  in  Rentucky,  contemporaneous  with 
Daniel  Boone.  He  married  there  and  reared 
a family  of  children,  only  two  of  whom  are  re- 
membered— William,  and  Hester  J.,  who  mar- 
ried Thomas  Gouncil,  a prominent  citizen  of 
Indianapolis.  William  Wrennick  died  early 
in  the  history  of  the  state,  probably  in  the 
’twenties,  in  Indianapolis,  aged  seventy-five 
years.  His  son,  William,  the  father  of  our 
subject,  was  born  near  Frankfort,  Ky.,  April 
12,  1807,  and  received  no  education,  as  the 
pioneer  schools  of  those  early  days  were  very 
few  and  far  between.  He  learned  the  tan- 
ner’s trade,  and  in  1827,  when  twenty  years  of 
age,  came  to  Indiana,  running  away  from  his 
apprenticeship.  He  settled  in  Indiana})olis 
when  that  city  contained  but  few  houses,  and 
married  there  Nancy,  daughter  of  Joseph  and 
Ann  (Tarbietton)  Hewitt,  and  the  six  children 
born  of  this  union  were  as  follows:  Joseph  H., 
Mary,  William,  Thomas,  George  T.  and  Mar- 
tha J.  After  a few  years  Mr.  Wrennick  moved 
to  Shelby  county,  Ind. , where  he  lived  on  a 
farm  until  his  death,  which  occurred  in  April, 
1888,  at  the  venerable  age  of  eighty  years  and 
two  days.  He  was  a member  of  the  Christian 
church,  in  which  he  had  been  honored  by  all 
the  offices.  His  wife  was  a member  of  the 
Methodist  church.  He  was  an  industrious. 


BIOGRAPHICAL  HISTORY 


hard-workiiifj  man,  made  a living  and 

was  res()t‘rt('d  by  all.  In  politics,  he  was  an 
old-time  wlii.y,  afterward  a republican,  and  a 
strong  Union  man  during  the  war,  in  which  he 
had  two  sons,  William  and  George  T.,  both 
in  company  L,  Forty-fifth  regiment  Indiana 
x'obmteer  infantry,  for  three  years,  and  in 
many  battles. 

Dr.  George  T.  Wrennick  was  born  in  Shel- 
by comity,  Ind.,  jnly  15,  1841,  received  a good 
v-ornmon  school  education  and  worked  on  the 
farm.  Hefore  he  had  reachetl  his  twentieth 
year,  April  17,  1861,  he  enlisted  in  company 
F,  Si.xteenth  regiment  Indiana  volunteer  in- 
fantrv,  for  one  year,  at  Connersville,  Ind,, 
under  ('apt.  John  Orr — afterward  Gen.  Orr. 
Our  young  soldier  served  out  his  time  and  im- 
mediately re-enlisted  on  May  i,  1862,  as  a 
veteran  for  three  years,  or  during  the  war,  and 
was  honorably  discharged  August  8,  1865,  at 
Le.xington,  N.  C.,  having  served  his  country 
as  a soldier  for  four  vears  and  four  months. 
He  was  in  the  liattles  of  Ball’s  Bluff,  a heavy 
skirmish,  Rappahannock  Station,  and  Bine 
Springs,  Tenn.,  Greenville,  Watage  Station, 
Bull's  Gap,  Tazewell,  Strawberry  Plains  and  a 
battle  near  Knoxville.  He  marched  with  Sher- 
man from  Chattanooga  to  Atlanta,  and  many 
battles  were  fought  under  Gen.  Kilpatrick, 
being  for  weeks  under  hre,  and  in  Kilpatrick’s 
raid  around  Atlanta;  and  on  the  flank  move- 
ment on  Atlanta,  his  l)rigade  led  the  division 
to  |onesboro,  and  his  regiment  covered  tlie 
retreat  from  Louden  back  to  Atlanta,  following 
Hood’s  retreat  to  Altotrna,  fighting  C(nistantly. 
d'hey  fell  back  at  Powder  Springs  and  wcuit  to 
Marietta  to  recruit,  and  there  joined  Sherman's 
army  in  the  famous  march  to  the  sc'a;  he 
participated  with  his  regiment  in  every  battle 
of  that  march  Waynesboro,  Macon,  Savan- 
nah, I'ort  McAllister,  Columbia,  b'ort  Wade 
Hamilton  and  on  to  Goldsboro.  N.  C.  U|)on 
this  march  millions  of  dollars’  worth  of  ))ro])- 


I erty  were  destroyed  and  the  whole  country  laid 
j waste.  The  suffering  was  fearful.  Mr,  Wren- 
nick  was  in  the  last  skirmish  between  Sherman 
and  Johnston  the  last  battle  of  Sherman’s 
army.  The  regiment  marched  to  Raleigh  and 
to  Lexington,  N.  C.,  and  was  discharged, 
i After  this  Mr.  W’rennick  was  taken  sick  at 
Goldsboro,  but  recovered  after  he  received  his 
discharge.  He  had  never  been  in  hospital,  Init 
was  always  on  active  duty;  was  not  out  of  the 
I raidsS  during  his  entire  service,  l)ut  was  in  all 
j the  battles,  skirmishes  and  marches  of  the 
j his  regiment. 

1 After  his  return  home  he  tried  to  resume 
j farming,  l)ut  was  too  disabled  by  his  sickness 
and  could  do  no  hard  lat)or.  He  began  study- 
ing medicine,  in  1865,  with  Dr.  1).  S.  Mc- 
Gaughey,  Morristown,  Shelby  county,  Ind.,  as 
preceptor;  after  which  he  attended  the  Ohio 
Medical  college,  and,  graduating  in  1867,  he 
I began  practice  at  Pierceville,  in  Ripley  county, 
Ind.,  remaining  over  one  year.  Hethenwent 
to  Hancock  county,  where  he  followed  his 
profession  until  1873,  and  then  moved  to  Cen- 
terville, W'ayne  county  residing  until  1880, 
when  he  settled  in  Porter,  Jay  county.  In 
November,  1888,  he  went  to  Indianapolis,  re- 
maining one  year  for  his  health.  Dr.  Wren- 
nick  came  to  Boone  county  in  1889  and  to 
Lebanon  in  1893.  He  has  jirospered  in  the 
practice  of  his  chosen  profession,  in  which  he 
I stands  high.  He  is  a member  of  the  Boone 
County  Medical  society,  and  is  a juitron  of  the 
leading  medical  periodicals  of  the  day. 

I The  marriage  of  Dr.  Wrennick  took  i)lace, 
in  1867,  to  Mary  F.,  daughter  of  Thomas  and 
j Elizabeth  (Kyle)  Harrison,  both  old  American 
; families  of  \’irginia.  'I'wo  children  were  born 
j to  this  union  |ose]>h  and  Fdwin.  .Mrs.  W'ren- 
I nick  died  in  1880,  and  the  doctor  married,  in 
1 1889,  Josephine  F.  Frtel.  Mrs.  'A'rennick  is  a 
nuanber  of  the  Christian  church.  In  political 
oj)inions  he  is  a rejtublican,  and  fraternally  he 


OF  BOONE  COUNTY. 


588 


aTfiliates  with  the  Masons,  Ja\'  lodf^e  of  Port- 
land, lnd.,andhas  tilled  the  office  of  jnni<n- 
warden.  He  is  also  a inenihcr  of  the  K.  of  1\, 
I.  O.  O.  I'.,  and  Ked  Men  of  Ni])  Muck  tribe, 
at  Ad\  ance,  Ind.,  in  which  he  is  keeper  of 
records.  Dr.  Wrennick  is  one  of  those  In- 
diana soldiers  who  have  a long  and  varied 
military  record,  and  has  endured  his  full  share 
of  the  vicissitudes  of  the  camp,  of  the  hard 
march,  and  the  brunt  and  shock  of  battle.  He 
was  an  eye-witness  and  participant  in  many  of 
the  great  scenes  of  the  great  Civil  war,  and 
the  events  of  Sherman’s  great  march  are  in- 
delibly impressed  u])on  his  mind.  He  was 
young  and  hard)'  and  served  with  gallantry  and 
credit.  His  intelligence  and  perseverance 
have  been  well  exhibited  since  'the  war  in  the 
mastery  and  successful  practice  of  the  medical 
profession. 


AMES  W.  WYNKOOP,  one  of  the  old- 
est living  residents  of  Boone  county, 
Ind.,  springs  from  sterling  German  an- 
cestry, and  traces  his  genealogy  to  the 
early  history  of  Pennsylvania,  in  which  state 
his  paternal  grandfather  was  born  and  reared. 
H is  father,  Isaac  Wynkoop,  also  a native  erf 
the  above  state,  where  he  married  Ann  Win- 
der, became  a resident  of  Indiana  at  the  age 
of  thirty  years,  locating  first  in  Union  county, 
and  later  in  the  county  of  Boone,  which  at 
that  time  was  an  almost  unbroken  wilderness. 
He  was  by  occupation  a farmer,  in  which  use- 
ful calling  he  took  a front  rank,  and  did  much, 
in  a quiet  way,  for  the  material  and  moral  ad- 
vancement of  the  community  which  he  assisted 
in  founding.  He  was  progressive  and  enter- 
prising, a leading  member  of  the  Presbyterian 
church,  and  he  enjoyed  the  acquaintance  of  a 
large  circle  of  friends  throughout  the  county 
of  Boone. 


James  W.  Wynkoop  was  born  in  Franklin 
county,  Ind.,  January  23,  1821,  and  was 

seventeen  years  of  age  when  he  accompanied 
his  father  to  Boone  county,  of  which  he  has- 
since  been  an  honored  resident.  In  the  pio- 
neer school-house  of  the  olden  time,  with  its 
stick  chimney,  puncheon  floor  and  greased  pa- 
per windows,  he  accpiired  a limited  education, 
and  in  the  clearing  of  the  fields  learned  the 
le.ssons  of  industry  which  afterward  enabled 
him  to  succeed  in  life  and  become  the  possess- 
or of  a comfortable  portion  of  worldly  wealth. 
He  recalls  with  pleasure  the  stirring  scenes  of 
long  ago,  when  the  deep  forests  abounded  in 
wild  game  of  all  kinds,  which  served  as  the 
chief  means  of  subsistence  for  the  early  set- 
tlers, and  when  the  nearest  neighbor  lived 
several  miles  distant  from  his  home.  From  a 
primitive  condition  he  has  witnessed  the  many 
changes  through  which  Boone  county  has 
passed  to  its  present  advanced  stage  of  civili- 
zation, and  frequently  goes  back  in  memory  to 
the  period  when  he  assisted  the  neighbors  in 
log  rolling  for  thirty  days  in  succession.  He 
married  in  April,  1845,  Amanda  J.  Gleaner, 
daughter  of  Benjamin  and  Elsie  (Shepherd) 
Gleaner,  and  immediately  thereafter  settled  on 
a farm  not  far  from  the  county  seat.  Later 
he  purchased  his  present  place  in  Harrison 
township,  which  at  that  time  was  but  little  im- 
proved— only  a very  small  area  being  in  culti- 
vation. He  states  that  when  he  moved  to  his 
new  home  in  the  forest  the  brush  grew  to  the 
very  door  of  his  dwelling,  and  the  outlook 
was  anything  but  encouraging.  Possessed  of 
a strong  physical  frame,  he  at  once  began 
felling  the  forest,  and  with  the  assistance  of 
his  good  wife,  who  worked  with  him  early  and 
late,  succeeded  in  due  season  in  bringing  a 
number  of  acres  under  a state  of  cultivation. 
He  has  always  been  a very  industrious  man 
and  spent  the  prime  of  his  life  in  improving 
his  place,  which  is  now  one  of  the  best  farms 


lilOGRAPHICAL  HISTORY 


.YH 


in  Harrison  townshi]).  He  has  reached  the 
f(oo(l  old  age  of  seventy-three  years,  is  well 
l>reserved  j)hysically  and  tnentally,  but  is  now 
])ractically  retired  from  the  active  duties  of  the 
farm;  his  wife  is  hale  and  hearty  at  sixty-six 
years  of  age,  and  it  is  a compliment  justly  be- 
stowed in  saying  that  she  is  one  of  the  most 
highly  respected  and  kind-hearted  women  of  her 
neighborhood.  Their  children  are  as  follows  ; 
Levi  L. , Julia  A.,  Isaac,  Rebecca,  Perry, 
Henry  G.,  David,  Mary  E.  and  Ora.  Of  the 
above,  Isaac,  Mary  E.,  julia  A.  and  Perry  are 
dead;  the  others  are  all  living  and  doing  well 
for  themselves.  The  parents  of  Mrs.  Wyn- 
koop  were  early  settlers  of  Boone  county  and 
highly  respectable  people.  Her  grandfather, 
W'illiam  Shepard,  was  a jiatriot  of  the  Revo- 
lution, in  which  struggle  he  served  eight  years 
and  eight  months,  and  took  part  in  a number 
of  leading  battles  under  Gen.  Washington. 


'^j'OHN  \'.  YOUNG,  farmer  of  Jefferson 
4 township,  Boone  county,  Ind.,  is  “ na- 
A y tive  '‘ere,"  and  was  born  Deceniber  17, 
1836.  Mhlliam  and  Mary  (VanNice) 
^’oung,  who  were  his  parents,  were  born  in 
Tennessee  and  Kentucky.  The  father  of  John 
\’.  'S'onng  located  in  Boone  county  December 
17,  1829,  and  at  one  time  owned  1,200  acres 
of  good  land.  His  death  occurred  in  Novem- 
ber, 1870,  and  that  of  his  wife  in  May,  1887. 
May  II,  1857,  Mr.  ’S’oung  married  Miss  Eliza- 
beth A.  Caldwell,  daughter  of  Robert  and 
Sibba  (Russell)  ('aldwell,  and  of  tlu'  six  chil- 
dren that  blessed  this  hapj)y  union  four  an' 
still  living,  \ iz;  Alonzo  A.,  Omer  B.,  bhlward 
( . and  Lee.  'I'he  two  deceased  were  named 
I .oiiisa  and  Addison. 

Mr.  \'oung  has  not  only  proved  himsell  to 
be  an  c'xcelh'iit  larmer,  but  he  has  also  shown 
himsedf  to  be  an  excellent  raiser  of  livestock, 
some  of  his  horses  being  recognized  as  among 


the  best  breeds  in  the  county.  In  politics  Mr. 
Young  is  a pronounced  democrat,  and  has  served 
as  townshij)  trustee  and  justice  of  the  peace. 
He  is  well  known  as  a free  contributor  of  his 
means  to  every  educational  and  church  enter- 
prise, and  no  one  in  the  township  sustains  a 
higher  social  position  than  his.  He  owns  260 
acres  of  fine  land,  well  improved,  in  Boone 
county,  and  forty  acres  in  Montgomery 
county,  Ind. 


aHARLES  M.  ZION. — Conspicuous 
among  the  successful  attorneys  of  the 
Boone  county  bar  is  Charles  M.  Zion, 
who  is  descended  from  an  old  colonial 
Virginia  family,  the  ancestors  of  which  came 
originally  from  Scotland  and  Germany.  Jacob 
Zion,  his  grandfather,  was  a native  of  Virginia, 
and  there  married  and  became  the  father  of 
a large  family  of  children,  among  whom  were 
William,  John,  Jonathan,  Alexander  and  Sarah. 
Jacob  Zion  was  twice  married,  and  emigrated 
to  Rush  county,  Ind.,  as  early  as  1827;  thence, 
sometime  in  the  'thirties,  went  to  Iowa,  locat- 
ing in  the  comity  of  Des  Moines,  where  all 
of  his  children  except  William,  the  father  of 
Charles  M.,  eventually  settled.  Jacob  Zion 
was  a typical  pioneer  of  his  day,  was  an 
honorable,  respected  man,  and  prospered 
greatly  in  Iowa,  of  which  state  many  of  his 
descendants  are  now  substantial  citizens.  He 
died  in  Iowa  at  the  advanced  age  of  eighty- 
five  years  William  Zion,  father  of  the  sub- 
ject, was  born  in  Washington  comity,  \'a., 
Jannarv  19th,  1812,  received  a common 

school  education  and  early  learned  the  black- 
smith's trade.  He  was  about  fifteen  or  eight- 
een years  old  when  he  went  with  his  father  to 
Rush  county,  Ind.,  and  he  there  married, 
Decemher  13,  1832,  Amelia,  daughter  of 

Stephen  and  I'dizabeth  (Cheek)  Sims.  Mr. 
Sims  was  one  of  the  pioneers  of  Rush  county. 


UBRAR'^ 

OF  THE  ■ 

unwersitv  of 


OF  BOONE  COUNTY, 


539 


served  as  justice  of  the  peace  many  years,  and 
was  a member  of  the  constitutional  convention 
of  Indiana  in  1851-2.  He  became  a resident 
of  Lebanon  in  1855,  and  after  a few  years 
moved  to  the  county  of  Clinton,  which  he 
afterward  represented  in  the  general  assembly 
of  the  state.  He  lived  to  be  over  seventy 


in  which  five  of  his  sons  served  with  distinc-  1 
tion  in  the  Union  army.  William  Zion  locat- 
ed at  Lebanon  in  the  fall  of  1834  and  engaged 
in  business,  which  he  pursued  quite  successfully 
for  a number  of  years,  accumulating  consider- 
able property.  For  a period  of  more  than 
twenty  years  he  was  prominently  identified 
with  the  mercantile  history  of  Lebanon,  but 
disposed  of  his  store  during  the  war  and  be- 
came one  of  the  leading  promoters  and  large 
stockholders  of  the  La  Fayette  & Indianapolis 
railroad,  of  which  he  was  also  a director  until 
the  road  passed  into  the  hands  of  the  Cincin- 
nati & Indianapolis  railroad  company  in  1867. 
He  was  the  first  railroad  station  agent  at 
Lebanon,  and,  in  addition  to  his  other  busi- 
ness, dealt  extensively  in  buying  and  shipping 
hogs,  and  was  also  known  far  and  wide  as  a 
successful  dealer  in  horses.  He  ever  had  the 
welfare  of  Lebanon  at  heart  and  was  untiring 
in  his  efforts  toward  building  up  and  improv- 
ing the  town.  He  erected  the  first  brick  house 
within  the  present  limits  of  the  city,  put  up 
the  Zion  block  on  the  south  side  of  the  square, 
assisted  liberally  in  building  churches  and 
school-houses,  and  was  for  many  years  presi- 
dent of  the  board  of  trustees  of  the  Lebanon 
academy.  He  served  as  sheriff  of  Boone 
county  from  1836  to  1838  inclusive,  was  an 
old-line  whig  in  1840,  and  assisted  in  the 
organization  of  the  republican  party  in  Leban- 
on, in  the  principles  of  which  he  remained  firmly 
true  until  death  He  served  as  postmaster  of 
Lebanon  under  President  Lincoln  and  was  one 
of  the  charter  members  of  Boone  lodge.  No.  9, 


F.  & A.  M.,  in  which  he  held  important  official 
positions.  He  was  an  energetic  business  man, 
one  of  the  foremost  in  Boone  county,  and  at 
one  time  was  the  possessor  of  a handsome 
property,  but  suffered  severe  financial  losses 
during  the  latter  part  of  his  life  through  rail- 
road enterprises. 

Mrs.  Amelia  Zion  was  born  in  Brookville, 
Ind.,  May  28,  1814,  and  was  married  to  Will- 
iam Zion  December  13,  1832,  in  the  town  of 
Rushville.  She  was  a prominent  charter 
member  of  the  Methodist  church  of  Lebanon, 
organized  in  1835,  and  for  forty  years,  after 
moving  to  Boone  county,  was  intensely  inter- 
ested in  everything  that  tended  to  advance  the 
interests  of  the  community.  Her  home  was 
the  stopping  place  for  the  early  pioneer  preach- 
ers; and  governers,  senators,  congressmen, 
railroad  officials  and  many  dignitaries  of  less 
pr'«!)imijiience,  found,  beneath  her  roof,  a free 
and  open  hearted  hospitality.  In  caring  for 
the  sick  of  the  town,  her  tender  hands  and 
sympathizing  heart  were  ever  ready  to  respond, 
and  many  persons  in  distress  were  consoled  by 
her  kind  and  loving  ministrations.  She  died 
in  Lebanon  April  5,  1894,  aged  seventy-nine 
years,  ten  months  and  six  days.  The  follow- 
ing are  the  names  of  the  children  born  to  Wil- 
liam and  Amelia  Zion;  Charlotte,  George, 
Elizabeth  K.,  Parisade  A.,  Mary  L. . Theodore 
L. , Alonzo  A.,  James  M.,  William  A.  and 
Charles  M. 

Charles  M.  Zion  was  born  at  the  town  of 
Lebanon  September  7,  1854,  and  received  his 
education  at  Asbury  university  (now  DePauw), 
Greencastle,  Ind.,  from  which  he  was  gradu- 
ated in  1876.  He  made  a creditable  record 
as  a student,  and,  after  completing  his  educa- 
tion, began  the  study  of  law  in  the  office  of 
Clements  & Terhune,  of  Lebanon.  After  ac- 
quiring a thorough  knowledge  of  the  principles 
of  the  profession,  he  was  admitted  to  the  bar 
in  1878,  and  one  year  later  began  the  practice 


BIOGRAPHICAL  HISTORY 


r)i() 


at  Lebanon,  where  his  tine  abilities  soon  w'on 
for  him  a snccessfnl  ])ractice  and  high  reputa- 
tion as  a careful  and  painstaking  lawyer.  He 
was  prosecuting  attorney  of  Boone  county  from 
i<S<S9  to  icSpi,  nearly  two  years,  and  during 
his  official  term  discharged  his  many  duties 
with  credit  to  himself  and  satisfaction  to  all 
concerned.  Mr.  Zion  is  one  of  the  leading  re- 
publicans of  the  county  of  Boone,  and  as  such 
has  contributed  much  to  the  success  of  his 
l)arty  in  a number  of  cam])aigns.  He  is  a 
member  of  Ifoone  lodge.  No.  9,  F.  & A,  M., 
in  the  deliberations  of  which  he  takes  an  ac- 
tive ])art,  and  he  has  tilled  the  offices  of  junior 
and  seiiior  warden  and  deacon.  Mr.  Zion  was 
married  P'ebrnary  2,  1879,  to  Mary  Clements, 
daughter  of  William  P.  and  Mary  A.  Clem- 
ents, to  which  union  one  child,  Mary  A.,  has 
been  born.  The  father  of  Mrs.  Zion  was  a 
native  of  Kentucky,  a wealthy  farmer  and 
stock  raiser,  and  at  one  time  served  as  a mem- 
ber of  the  legislature  of  Indiana.  Theodore 
L.  Zion,  brother  of  Charles  M.,  served  in  the 
late  Civil  war  in  the  Eleventh  ladiana  cavalry. 
He  participated  in  a number  of  battles,  in- 
cluding the  engagement  at  Franklin,  Term., 
and  made  a very  creditable  record  as  a soldier. 
.\lonzoA.,  another  brother,  entered  the  gov- 
ernment service  when  but  seventeen  years  of 
age  and  continued  therein  for  a period  of  over 
one  year. 


.VMUh'L  WEST,  om:  of  the  early  pio- 
neers of  Booiu' comity,  Ind.,  was  born 
in  Estill  connt\-,  Ky.,  May  29,  1825. 
Ills  parents,  Willis  and  IClIen  (Di.xon) 
West,  also  natives  of  Kentucky,  were*  of  Ivn- 
glish,  Irish  and  German  e.xtraction  Willis 
West  w'as  a son  of  Samnel  Wc'st,  a native  of 
Virginia,  who  settled  in  Kcmtucky  at  a very 
earl\'  day.  He  married  Lydia  A'hiteside,  and 
was  the  father  of  thirteen  childnm,  all  of  whom 


grew  to  maturity:  Elizabeth,  Nicholas,  Lucy, 
Sarah,  Whllis,  James,  Hiram,  Tinsley,  Nancy, 
Minerva,  Louisa,  Samuel  and  Lydia.  Willis 
West  W'as  born  Sejitember  9,  1800,  and  was 
married  in  1824.  In  the  fall  of  1828  Mr.  West 
moved  to  Montgomery  county,  Ind.,  wdiere  he 
resided  until  1834,  when  he  moved  to  Boone 
county,  and  settled  in  Clinton  township,  on 
land  w'hich  he  had  entered  the  year  previously. 
Here  he  resided  in  the  w'oods  until  1853,  w^hen 
he  moved  to  Lebanon,  where  his  wife  died 
August  23,  1870,  leaving  four  children:  Sam- 
uel, Sally  A.,  Ebenezer  and  Margaret  E.  In 
February,  1871,  he  married  Mrs.  Mary  J. 
johnson,  and  died  March  18,  1888. 

Samuel  West,  our  subject,  came  with  his 
parents  to  Montgomery  county,  Ind.,  and 
thence  to  Boone  county  in  1834,  w'hich  he  has 
made  his  home  ever  since.  He  was  married 
in  Boone  comity,  Ind.,  September  28,  1845, 
to  Susanna  Evans,  who  w'as  born  in  Piqua 
county,  Ohio,  August  5,  1827,  and  w'as  a 

daughter  of  jonathan  and  MargareP  (Bell) 
Ex'ans,  natives  of  Pennsylvania  and  Ireland 
respectively,  and  of  W'elsh  and  Irish  extraction. 
These  parents  were  married  in  Ohio,  and  in 
1828  moved  to  W'ayne  county,  Ind.,  and 
thence  to  Boone  count)-  in  1839.  I'hey  were 
the  parents  of  eleven  children:  Susanna,  Janies, 
Jane,  David,  Ivlizabeth,  Margaret  A.,  Mary, 
Elvira,  Jonathan  S.,  Louisa  L.  and  IClmer. 
After  Mr.  West’s  marriage  he  first  settled  in 
Clinton  townshi]),  where  he  resided  until  1853, 
when  he  moved  to  Lebanon,  liuk,  and  there 
resided  until  1864,  when  he  movi'd  to  W'orth 
township  and  settled  on  a part  of  the  same 
farm  on  which  he  now  residt'S,  and  which  at 
jirescmt  conn>rises  240  acres,  w'l'll  im|)roved. 
Tweh'e  children  have  been  born  to  Mr.  and 
Mrs  West,  viz:  Willis  G.,  Jonathan  E., 

Maltha  |.,  Kosella,  James  Ik  (dcct'ased), 
Sarah  M.,  Mary  Ik,  Samuel  .\.,  Charley  ]., 
Susanna,  Albert  I',  and  Harvey  \\'.  They  are 


OF  BOONE  COUNTY. 


541 


tlie  graiulparents  of  thirty-eif.{;ht  children,  and 
great-j^randparents  of  three,  all  living.  Since 
the  biography  of  Jonathan  E.  West,  son  of  the 
above,  was  printed  on  page  528,  th  dates  of 
the  birth  of  the  children  of  the  latter  (and  the 
grand-children  of  Samuel  West)  have  come  to 
hand,  and  are  given  herewith,  as  follows: 
Daniel  J.,  November  21,  1874;  Lillian  E., 

August  30,  1876;  Samuel  March  17,  1878; 
Edgar  S.,  December  17,  1 879;  Nancy,  Novem- 
ber 12,  1881;  Florence,  December  15,  1883; 
Joseph  B.,  February  2,  1886;  and  Norah  E., 
May  12,  1888 — all  living. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  \\Yst  are  members  of  the 
Regular  Baptist  church,  and  with  their  large 
family  enjoy  the  respect  of  all  their  neighbors. 


OKLLSTUS  B.  STEPHENSON,  of 
Irish  descent,  was  born  in  Clinton 
township,  Boone  county,  Ind.,  Oc- 
tober 18,  1867,  and  was  educated  at 
the  high  school  of  Lebanon,  which  he  at- 
tended four  consecutive  years,  graduating  May 
22,  1891.  September  9,  of  the  same  year,  he 
married  Gurtha  Dickerson,  w'ho  was  born  in 
Jamestown,  Ind.,  November  14,  1869 — the 
daughter  of  William  H.  and  Trj  phena  ( Elrod) 
Dickerson,  and  also  a graduate  of  the  Lebanon 
high  school.  Tryphena  Elrod  w'as  the  daugh- 
ter of  William  and  Lavina  ( Henkle)  Elrod, 
the  former  of  whom  was  one  of  the  first  judges 
of  Boone  county.  William  H.  Dickerson  was 
formerly  a merchant,  and  for  many  years  a 
justice  of  the  peace  of  Jamestown,  and  has 
taught  more  terms  of  school  in  the  county 
named  than  any  man  yet  engaged  in  the  work, 
and  still  holds  a state  license.  The  children 
born  to  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Dickerson  were  named 
in  the  order  of  birth;  Gurtha,  Corinne,  de- 
ceased; and  Otto  B.  Jacob  Dickerson,  father 
of  William  H.,  was  a native  of  Virginia,  w'as 


an  early  settler  of  Putnam  county,  Ind.,  and 
was  a noted  local  minister  of  the  Predesti- 
narian  Regular  Baptist  school  of  Boone  county. 
He  married  Elizabeth  Hinton.  His  father, 
John  B.  Dickerson,  w'as  also  a native  of  Vir- 
ginia, was  in  the  war  of  1812,  married  Mary 
Grider,  and  died  in  Putnam  county,  Ind. 
Robert  Stephenson,  great-grandfather  of  our 
subject,  was  a native  Pennsylvania  and  an 
early  settler  of  Nicholas  county,  Ky.  He  mar- 
ried Martha  McNulty,  and  became  the  father 
of  the  follow'ing  children:  William,  wdio  died 
an  infant;  Joseph,  who  died  on  a trip  to  New 
Orleans;  James,  Robert,  and  Jane.  The 
mother  of  these  children  died,  and  for  his  sec- 
ond wife  Mr.  Stephenson  married  Sarah  Mc- 
Daniel, who  bore  the  following  children:  John 
A.,  William,  Thomas  M.,  Aris  J.,  George  W., 
Joseph  S.  and  Margaret  J.  Of  these,  John 
married  Mary  Adams,  and  George  was  killed 
by  a falling  tree  at  the  age  of  fourteen.  Oc- 
tober 17,  1834,  the  family  reached  Boone 
county,  Ind.,  coming  from  Kentuck}^  in 
wagons,  in  company  with  the  families  of  Aleck 
Black  and  James  Sample,  and  settling  in  Clin- 
ton township.  Aris  Stephenson,  son  of  above 
and  grandfather  of  our  subject,  was  born  in 
Nicholas  county,  Ky. , June  23,  1818,  entered 
160  acres  of  land  in  Clinton  township  and 
married  Margaret  Wiley,  daughter  of  Hugh  and 
Elizabeth  (Stephenson)  Wiley,  Squire  Wiley, 
as  he  was  familiarly  called,  filled  the  office 
of  justice  of  the  peace  many  years  in  Clinton 
township,  Boone  comity,  Ind.,  and  w^as  an  ab- 
olitionist stump  speaker  of  local  note.  He  and 
wife  were  charter  members  of  the  Salem 
U.  P.  church,  of  which,  for  many  years,  he 
was  an  elder.  Tw'o  children  were  born  to 
the  grandfather  of  our  subject — G.  W.  and 
Robert.  The  grandfather  was  a remarkably 
strong  man,  but  died,  at  the  early  age  of 
twenty-six  years,  from  exposure  to  the  hard- 
ships of  pioneer  life.  His  wife  followed  him 


Ill  O G R A P n 1 C A L 1 1 1 S T ( ) R Y 


to  the  grave  two  j-'ears  later,  Robert  Stephen- 
son, son  of  the  above  and  father  of  our  sub- 
ject, was  born  July  1 8,  1842.  fde  was  a 

school-teacher,  was  a volunteer  in  the  late 
C'ivil  war  and  received  an  honorable  discharge. 


and  was  married  to  Nancy  T.  Weed,  daughter 
of  John  P.  and  Isabell  (Mazej  \Veed.  The 
children  born  to  Orlistus  11  Stephenson  and 
wife  are  two  in  number  and  are  named  Lillian 
Hazel  and  Martha  Corinne. 


OF  HOONE  COUNTY. 


543 


Additional  Memoranda  for  Biographical  History. 


544 


BIOGRAPHICAL  HISTORY 


Additional  Memoranda  for  Biographical  History. 


OF  BOONE  COUNTY 


545 


Additional  Memoranda  for  Biographical  History. 


546 


BIOGRAPHICAL  HISTORY 


Additional  MeiTioranda  for  Biographical  History. 


OF  BOONE  COUNTY. 


547 


Additional  Memoranda  for  Biof^raphical  History. 


518 


BIOGRAPHICAL  HISTORY 


Additional  Memoranda  lor  ITographical  History. 


OF  BOONE  COUNT^'. 


ional  Memoraiuia  for  Hiofjraphical  History. 


550 


BIOGRAPHICAL  HISTORY 


Additional  Memoranda  for  Biographical  History. 


GbINTON  COUNTY, 


27 


f 


LIBRARY 
OF  THE 

UNIVERSITY  OP  IkyNQI'., 


LIBRARY 
OF  THE 

UNIVERSITY  OF  ILLINO»' 


HHNER  baker,  retired  fanner  of 
section  12,  Washington  township, 
Clinton  county,  Ind.,  was  born  in 
W'ayne  cownship,  ffutler  county, 
Ohio,  April  14,  1808.  His  father,  Thomas 
Baker,  was  born  October  18,  1763;  his  mother, - 
Eydia  (Hand)  Baker,  was  born  December  23, 
1761,  and  they  were  married  January  6,  1784. 
They  had  ten  children,  four  girls  and  six  boys, 
viz:  Sarah,  William,  Rachel,  Stephen,  Thomas, 
Anna,  James,  John,  Lucy  and  Abner — the  last 
named  being  the  onl}'  survivor.  The  parents 
were  married  near  Trenton,  N.  J.,  and  when 
Washington  fought  the  battle  of  Trenton  the 
cannon  were  distinctly  heard  by  Mrs.  Baker. 
After  marriage  Mr.  aTid  Mrs.  Thomas  Baker 
moved  to  Redstone,  Pa. , where  they  lived 
two  or  three  years,  then  started  for  Ifutler 
county,  Ohio,  on  the  Big  Miami  river;  but 
hearing  of  serious  trouble  with  the  Indians, 
they  stopped  one  year  on  the  Hockhocking 
river  below  Wheeling;  then  went  through  to 
Cincinnati.  In  the  year  1800  they  went  to 
Monroe,  Butler  county,  Ohio.  After  that, 
and  to  the  present  time,  it  has  been  called 
Baker’s  Hill.  The  mother  died  in  Preble 
county,  Ohio,  January  6,  1843,  the  father 

having  died  a few  months  previous,  in  the 


same  county.  Thomas  was  a family  name. 
The  great-grandfather’s  name  was  Thomas, 
and  several  of  his  descendants  were  so  named. 
Abner  Baker  has  in  his  possession  a letter  writ- 
ten by  his  great-uncle,  Nathan  Baker,  to  his 
^’g'reaf-grail'dfather,  Thomas  Baker,  who  died  of 
small-pox  in  New  Jersey. 

Thomas,  the  great-grandfather,  born  in 
1707,  was  married  in  1736,  to  Hannah 
Thompson,  and  settled  on  the  Rahway  river, 
in  Essex  county,  N.  J.,  then  moved  to  the 
Passaic  valley,  bought  a farm  of  forty  acres 
of  John  Blanchard,  of  hdizabethtown,  in 
March,  1738,  and  in  1761  bought  of  William 
Maxwell  ninety-nine  acres;  he  also  bought  a 
small  tract  of  land  from  Joseph  Rolph.  He 
died  of  small-pox  in  1767.  William  Baker, 
second  son  of  above  and  grandfather  of  Abner 
Baker,  was  born  in  1739  and  died  July  4, 
1787.  In  1762  he  married  Rachael  Valentine, 
who  was  born  in  17.42  and  died  in  April,  1790; 
she  had  a twin  sister,  who  died  June  26,  1768. 
William  and  Rachael  were  parents  of  six  chil- 
dren; Thomas,  Abner,  Nathan,  John,  Hannah, 
and  Sarah. 

x\bner  Baker,  the  subject  of  this  sketch, 
passed  his  early  life  upon  his  father’s  farm. 
When  thirteen  years  of  age  he  met  with  an 


lilOGRAPIIICAI.  HISTORY 


accident  that  materially  chanj^ed  his  life  work. 
While  seeking'  shelter  froir.  a storm  he  made 
an  unfortunate  jump,  which  so  crippled  him 
that  he  did  not  recover  for  several  years,  and 
for  one  year  could  not  talk.  At  the  age  of 
si.xteen  he  commenced  clerking  for  one  David 
Holloway,  at  Richmond.  He  remained  with 
him  one  year,  then  entered  the  employ  of  Jon- 
nathan  Martin,  at  Middletown,  Ohio,  with 
whom  he  remained  a year,  and  so  faithfully 
did  he  ])erform  his  duties  that  when  Mr.  Mar- 
tin learned  that  Abner  wished  to  embark  in 
the  mercantile  business  on  his  own  account  he 
offered  to  purchase  his  goods  for  him,  advance 
the  money  without  security  or  interest,  and 
wait  si.\  months  for  his  pay.  This  scheme 
was  faithfully  carried  out,  and  in  March,  1828, 
■Abner  loaded  two  wagons  with  merchandise 
and  started  for  Lab'ayette,  Ind.,  accompanied 
by  two  brothers,  James  and  John,  and  a broth- 
er-in-law, John  Cornthwait,  the  brothers  driv- 
ing a four-horse  team,  and  Mr.  Cornthwait  a 
three-horse  team.  After  "wo  days'  drive  the 
goods  were  loaded  on  a boat,  and  the  brothers 
and  brother-in-law  returned  home.  Mr.  Ba- 
ker pursued  his  way,  stopping  to  trade  at  every 
Indian  village.  At  night  they  would  tie  up  the 
boat  and  sleep  on  the  banks  of  the  river.  One 
night  Mr.  ICiker  and  Caj)t.  Wright  made  their 
bed  together  of  coverlids  that  Mr.  Baker  had 
carried  from  home.  Mr.  I faker  arose  at  day- 
light, and  turning  around  esj)ied  a large  tim- 
ber rattlesnake  l}’ing  between  ('a|)t.  Wright 
and  the  spot  from  which  he  had  just  risen. 
He  shouted  t<)  the  captain,  inftu  ining  him  of 
his  dangerous  bed-fellow,  whereu])on  the  caj)- 
tain  gave  a sudden  bound,  and  thus  escajied 
from  his  deadly  foe.  Mr.  Baker  killed  there[)- 
tile  and  preservi-d  the  ten  rattles  for  sevi-ral 
yc'urs.  It  was  Mr.  Baker's  plan  to  go  directly 
to  Lal'ayette,  having  visited  that  |)oint  a year 
previous;  but  when  he  reacdied  Logansport  he 
was  persuaded  by  Oen.  'ri])t()n  to  iiidoad  his 


goods  at  that  point  and  open  his  store.  He 
was  the  first  jierson  that  sold  goods  there. 
Cen.  Tipton  and  his  interpreter  were  the  only 
settlers.  After  being  there  a few  days  he  in- 
(piired  of  the  intepreter  what  his  board-bill 
would  be,  and  upon  being  informed  that  it 
would  be  fourteen  dollars  per  week,  he  shipped 
his  goods  to  LaFayette  by  the  first  boat.  He 
rented  a store  from  William  Digby,  paying 
four  dollars  a month,  and  boarded  with  Col. 
johnson  for  one  dollar  and  seventy-five  cents 
per  week.  Here  he  remained  during  the  sum- 
mer. In  September  he  was  taken  very  ill  with 
fever,  and  as  soon  as  he  was  sufficiently  recov- 
ered he  returned  home  to  recruit  his  health. 
His  brother  William  packed  up  his  goods  and 
kept  them  until  his  return. 

In  February,  1829,  he  went  to  Cincinnati 
and  purchased  a bill  of  goods,  taking  them 
himself  to  LaFavette,  During  his  journey  he 
camped  out  for  sleep  and  was  surrounded  by 
wolves  every  night.  The  first  summer  he  was 
in  Lab'ayette  he  jnirchased  132  feet  frontage 
on  Main  street,  and  built  a one-story  frame 
house  upon  it.  It  was  the  first  painted  house 
in  Lal'ayette.  Into  this  house  he  juit  his  new 
goods  and  his  old.  About  the  time  he  was 
fairly  settled  in  his  new  store,  john  Ross  went 
to  see  him  and  induced  him  to  come  to  the 
new  town  of  jefferson.  He  at  once  purchased 
two  lots  of  Da\’id  Kilgore  for  $5  each,  the 
chi)icest  lots  in  the  plat,  one  being  a corner 
lot  and  the  other  adj(.)ining.  He  bought  a 
third  lot  of  Samuel  (.Ilinger  for  $25,  which  was 
not  as  desirable  as  either  one  of  the  others. 
He  had  a house  built,  for  which  he  paid 
$10,  e.xclusive  of  tin;  door,  which  Mr.  Baker 
was  to  furnish  himself.  b'or  two  or  three 
months  he  had  no  door  except  a blaid-:et  which 
his  mother  had  given  him  before  he  left  home. 
He  wishes  to  say  for  the  Indians  that  he  lived 
in  this  chinked,  udaubed  log  house,  16x20, 
with  his  blanketed  door,  all  summer  without 


OF  CLINTON  COUNTY, 


559 


losiii^^  any  of  his  goods  or  being  robbed  of  his 
money.  They  would  not  enter  after  dark 
without  being  bidden  to  do  so.  They  en- 
camped within  ten  rods  of  his  store,  armed 
with  guns  many  nights,  but  he  was  never  in- 
sulted or  annoyed  by  them.  Mr.  P)aker  did  a 
very  profitable  business  until  Gen.  Jackson  re- 
moved the  deposits.  At  this  time  he  was  in 
debt  $9,000  for  goods.  His  creditors  were 
considerably  frightened  and  came  here  to  see 
him;  but  after  examining  the  situation,  they 
went  back  satisfied  that  Mr.  Baker  would  pay 
his  debts  if  not  molested.  After  settling  up 
his  business  he  had  $1,300  left,  and  bought 
four  eighty-acre  lots  in  Wabash  county  and 
nine  in  Kosciusko  county,  a part  of  which  he 
still  owns.  He  then  went  to  farming,  and  has 
since  followed  that  vocation.  He  now  owns 
between  500  and  600  acres  where  he  resides. 
His  tw'o  sons  also  reside  upon  this  farm. 
The  eighty  acres  upon  which  his  barn  stands 
was  the  first  eighty  entered  in  Clinton  county, 
and  is  described  as  the  west  half  of  southwest 
quarter  of  section  12. 

Mr.  Baker  was  the  first  man  married  in  this 
county.  In  August,  1830,  he  was  united  with 
Catherine  W.  Hood,  daughter  of  John  and 
Nancy  Hood.  She  was  born  in  Westport, 
Ky. , in  September,  1811.  Her  father  pur- 
chased a farm  in  Indiana,  opposite  Westport, 
where  he  lived  from  1810  to  1829,  when  he 
brought  his  family  to  this  county,  settling  near 
Jefferson,  where  they  remained  until  their 
death.  They  lie  buried  in  Jefferson  cemetery. 
Mr.  Baker  put  the  first  headstone  and  the 
first  monument  in  this  cemetery,  to  the  memory 
of  his  wife’s  sister,  who  was  the  second  person 
buried  there.  Mrs.  Baker’s  ancestors  came 
from  Scotland  and  settled  in  South  Carolina 
before  the  Revolution.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Baker 
had  born  to  them  the  following  children  ; 
— Matilda  died  at  the  age  of  four  weeks ; 
Dr.  Robert  Fulton  is  living  at  Davenport,  la.. 


and  was  at  one  time  a j)rofessor  in  a medical 
college;  Hood  S.  lives  in  Warsaw.  Ind. ; The- 
odore died  when  less  than  two  years  of  age; 
Henry  Clay  died  when  about  two  years  old; 
Caroline  N.  is  wife  of  David  Todd,  who  is  be- 
lieved to  be  the  oldest  Presbyterian  minister  in 
Kansas;  Lucy  A.,  wife  of  Joseph  Burroughs,  a 
resident  of  Wabash,  Ind.  ; Catherine,  wife  of 
John  Ray,  now  deceased;  John  O.,  living  on  a 
farm  near  his  father’s;  Knox,  also  a farmer; 
Linnaeus  S.,  living  in  Jefferson.  The  death  of 
Mrs.  Baker  occurred  in  April,  18^7. 

Mr.  Baker  is  a liberal  republican  in  politics. 
He  has  taken  the  Cincinnati  Gazette  sixty- 
three  years  wuthout  intermission,  and  still  con- 
tinues to  take  it.  He  was  justice  of  the  peace 
for  many  years,  his  jurisdiction  extending  over 
the  whole  county.  In  1830  he  ran  for  county 
clerk,  and  came  within  two  votes  of  being 
elected.  He  took  the  first  paper  that  was  sent 
to  this  county  by  mail,  which  was  the  “Liberty 
Hall,”  and  also  the  Cincinnati  “Gazette.”  He 
was  the  first  person  to  bring  dry  goods  into  the 
county,  and  he  built  the  first  house  on  a town 
lot,  and  when  he  built  it  Chicago  was  unknown. 
He  says  that  ])eople  came  from  Indianapolis  to 
Jefferson  to  buy  their  salt,  and  for  ten  years 
Jefferson  sold  more  dry  goods  than  Indianapo- 
lis. In  1848  Mr.  Baker  took  300  barrels  of 
pork  to  New  York,  that  was  packed  at  Jeffer- 
son, and  cleared  $500  on  it  over  and  above  his 
expenses.  He  has  heard  many  of  the  greatest 
orators  of  his  day,  among  them  being  Henry 
Clay  (who  spoke  to  50,000  people),  John  C. 
Calhoun,  Tom  Benton,  Ben  Butler,  and  also 
his  father;  General  Houston  of  Texas,  Butler 
of  South  Carolina,  Jeff  Davis,  Tom  Corwin, 
Gens.  Scott  and  Cass,  and  in  1825  heard  Lor- 
enzo Dow  preach  to  a large  audience.  He  is 
in  the  enjoyment  of  good  health  and,  although 
eighty-seven  years  old,  has  in  the  past  year 
visited  eleven  of  the  states  and  Canada,  and  is 
contemplating  a visit  to  the  Southern  states. 


APIIICAL  HISTORY 


r)()() 


Ilis  si'cond  inarria^^c  occurred  November  8, 
1886,  in  I kittle  Ro(d<,  y\rk.,  to  Mrs.  Sarah  E. 
Stafford,  burn  in  Ibitlc-r  county,  Ohio,  October 
3,  1819,  and  daii^^litcu'  of  )ohn  and  Rachel 
(Shab’r)  VanSickle,  who  were  natives  of  New 
Jc'rsey  and  Kentucky.  At  the  af;e  of  twenty- 
three  slu'  was  married  to  Edward  Stafford  and 
located  in  Clarke  county,  Ohio,  then  later 
Mount  Pleasant,  Iowa,  and  then  in  Arkansas, 
where  Mr.  Stafford  died,  and  she  still  remained 
with  their  only  scm,  A.  \’.  Stafford,  until  her 
marriaf.^e  with  Mr.  Raker. 


AVID  AETER,  a prominent  farmer 
and  stock-raiser  of  Eorest  township, 
was  born  in  Westmoreland  county. 
Pa. , the  date  of  his  birth  being  March 
28,  1828.  His  parents,  john  and  Charity  (\'an 
Arsdel ) Alter,  were  also  nati\’es  of  Pennsylva- 
nia, and  of  Cierman  ancestry,  the  former  a-Sbn 
of  John  .Alter,  who  served  in  the  war  of  1812, 
and  the  latter  a daughter  of  Garnett  \Ain  Arsdel, 
upon  \vhose  farm  the  battle  of  Gettysburg  was 
fought.  Our  subject’s  parents,  with  their 
family,  came  to  Indiana  in  1836,  and  entered 
goveamment  land  in  Hancock  county,  near 
Greenfield,  where  Airs.  Alter  died  in  1841. 
Their  family  consisted  of  eight  children:  Hel- 
anor  was  for  thirty  years  a minister  in  the 
Methodist  Protestant  church;  John  W.  died 
from  the  effects  of  w'ounds  received  in  the  late 
Civil  war;  Isaac  lives  in  Jasjier  county,  Ind.  ; 
David  and  R.  I',  in  Clinton  county;  Hester 
and  Hannah  in  Kansas;  Jacob,  the  seventh 
child,  died  b'ebruary  2,  1859.  The  father 

came  to  Cdinton  county  in  1849,  locating  in 
Warren  township  (of  wddch  l''orest  is  now  a 
[)art),  where  he  married  l^ucinda  Rlack,  daugh- 
ter of  Wdliiam  Rla(d<.  d'o  this  union  w'cn' 
born  two  children  Ibba  [ane,  wifi'  of  Ca|)t. 
E.  Chand)erlain,  of  Kansas,  and  one  who  died 
in  infancy,  the  mother  dying  shortly  after.  Mr. 


Alter  then  moved  to  Jasper  county,  where  he 
was  married  to  Mary  Chamberlain,  a native  of 
Maryland,  and  of  the  eight  children  born  to 
this  union  five  are  living.  John  Alter  was  one 
of  the  early  abolitionists,  and  was  twice  mobbed 
in  Indiana  for  expressing  his  views  on  the  slav- 
ery question.  He  was  a minister  of  the  Meth- 
odist Protestant  denomination,  and  was  actively 
engaged  in  the  work  of  the  ministry  for  fifty- 
one  years.  He  died  in  Jasjier  county,  Ind., 
in  1876. 

David  Alter,  whose  name  heads  this  sketch, 
was  twelve  years  of  age  wdien  he  came  with 
his  parents  to  Indiana.  After  the  death  of  his 
mother  he  served  an  apprenticeship  of  six 
years  at  the  cabinet-maker’s  trade,  after  which 
he  worked  two  years  as  journeyman  in  Peru, 
Ind.  With  two  brothers  he  came  to  Jasper 
county,  Ind.,  where  they  took  up  a claim  and 
made  a home  for  their  father.  In  1848  David 
Alter  came  to  Clinton  county,  where  he  mar- 
ried, December  25,  of  the  same  year.  Miss 
Eavona  Sims,  by  whom  he  had  nine  children; 
John  T.,  Adola  (deceased),  Renjamin  P". 
(deceased),  Mary  Alvernon,  Louise  Id.,  Sarah 
Id.  (deceased).  Perry  F. , Martin  Wd  and 
Emma.  Mrs.  .Alter  having  died,  Mr.  Alter 
w'as  next  married,  December  25,  1872,  to  Miss 
Rebecca  Shoemaker,  a daughter  of  Eli  Shoe- 
maker, of  Clinton  county,  and  to  this  union 
were  born  three  children;  Christena  Ala}', 
who  died  December  11,  1893;  David  I.  (de- 
ceased), and  Eeander  C.  Mr.  Alter  was  again 
bereaved  by  the  death  of  his  wife,  which  oc- 
I curred  November  18,  1881.  For  his  present 
wife  he  married  Mary  Jane  King,  November 
! 27,  1883,  her  father,  James  Ring,  being  a res- 
ident of  Kirklin  townsbip.  d'o  them  w'ere 
I born  two  children  (twins),  both  dying  in  infan- 
! cy.  Mr.  Alter  has,  of  late  years,  turned  his 
attrition  to  agricultural  jiiirsuits,  and  is  now 
j the  owner  of  a line  farm  of  186  acres  of  highly 
I cultivated  land,  on  which  arc  substantial  and 


UMW 

t<wv£fts,?y 


MRS.  M.  R.  ALLEN. 


LIBRARY 
OF  THE 

vglWERSTTY  0^  lkllN0»S 


OF  CLINTON  COUNTY. 


565 


coniinodious  farm  buildings.  His  residence 
is  comfortable  and  convenient,  and  he  and  his 
family  are  surrounded  by  the  comforts  of  life. 
He  is  one  of  the  most  esteemed  citizens  of 
Forest  township,  and  is  at  present  serving  as 
township  trustee  witli  credit  to  himself  and  his 
constituents,  having  received  a majority  of 
fifty-two  votes,  while  his  predecessor,  a dem- 
ocrat, had  received  a mjority  of  forty-four 
votes.  Mr.  Alter  has  always  affiliated  with  the 
republican  party,  while  in  religion  he  believes 
in  the  doctrine  of  the  Universal  church,  and 
that  the  Bible  teaches  the  universal  salvation 
of  the  whole  human  family. 


^ ¥ 'V  OSES  R.  ALLEN,  a leading  farmer 
■ I H of  Washington  township,  and  one 
X ][[  ^ of  Clinton  county’s  representative 
men,  is  a son  of  John  and  Cynthia,,, 
(Rush)  Allen,  natives  respectively  of  Pennsyl- 
vania and  Ohio  and  of  English  and  Welsh- 
German  descent.  John  Allen  was  born  in 
Greene  county.  Pa.,  May  5,  1805,  and  was  the 
seventh  son  in  a family  of  twelve  children  born 
to  Isaac  Allen,  whose  ancestors  settled  in  the 
Keystone  state  at  a period  antedating  the  war 
of  the  Revolution.  When  twelve  years  old, 
John  Allen  was  taken  by  his  parents  to  Butler 
county,  Ohio,  where,  owing  to  the  reduced  cir- 
cumstances of  his  father,  he  was  early  thrown 
upon  his  own  resources  and  for  some  time  fol- 
lowed the  river,  rafting  logs  and  lumber  and 
various  articles  of  merchandise — corn.  Hour, 
bacon,  etc. — to  New  Orleans.  He  was  quite 
successful  in  this  enterprise,  but,  while  making 
the  last  trip,  suffered  a serious  financial  loss  by 
the  sinking  of  his  boat  and  all  its  contents 
while  tied  to  bank  to  secure  fuel,  the  bank 
being  undermined  and  a tree  falling  on  the 
boat.  In  1 828  he  located  in  Clinton  county, 
Ind.,  where  a brother  had  pi'eviously  entered 
land,  and  worked  for  the  settlers  until  1833, 


when  he  invested  his  savings  in  a tract  of  land 
which  he  cleared  and  brought  under  cultivation. 
He  was  married  in  Butler  county,  Ohio,  to 
Cynthia  Rush,  and  with  her  lived  in  the  old 
log  cabin  for  a period  of  thirteen  years.  Oc- 
casionally he  was  engaged  in  hauling  goods 
from  Cincinnati  to  the  village  of  Jefferson,  and 
once,  while  making  a trip  to  Chicago,  narrowly 
escaped  death  from  drowming  in  the  Tippeca- 
noe river,  which  he  attempted  to  cross  on 
horseback,  having  unhitched  his  team  and  rid- 
ing across  to  test  the  depth  of  the  river. 

Moses  R.  Allen  was  born  in  Clinton  county, 
Ind.,  September  10,  1838,  and  grew  to  man- 
hood accustomed  to  the  manifold  duties  of  the 
farm.  He  has  followed  successfully  the  pur- 
sui*'  of  agriculture  and  is  now  one  of  the  larg- 
est land  holders  of  Washington  township,  own- 
ing' 452  acres,  which  are  well  improved  and 
^adorned  with  substantial  buildings,  the  place, 
"indeed,  b'eing'a-' model  home.  Mr.  Allen  is  a 
man  of  excellent  judgment  in  business  matters 
and  his  services  are  frequently  in  demand  by 
his  neighbors  and  others  in  the  settlement  of 
estates,  drawing  up  instruments  of  writing, 
giving  advice  on  legal  questions,  etc.  Mr. 
Allen  was  married  September  20,  1 860,  to 
Margaret  J.  Pence,  daughter  of  Michael  C. 
and  Susannah  (Stafford)  Pence.  The  father 
of  Mrs.  Allen  was  born  in  Rockingham  county, 
Va. , August  17,  1817,  and  when  eighteen  years 
of  age  moved  to  Clarke  county,  Ohio,  where,  on 
the  twelfth  day  of  December,  1839,  he  was 
united  in  marriage  to  Susannah  Stafford.  He 
came  to  Clinton  county  in  1858,  settling  on  a 
farm  in  Washington  townshiju  where  Mrs. 
Pence  died  January  25,  1876.  Two  children 
were  born  to  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Pence — Catherine 
W.  and  Margaret  J.  (Mrs.  Allen),  both  deceased. 
The  marriage  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Allen  was 
blessed  with  the  birth  of  six  children,  namely — 
John  P.,  born  November  3,  1862;  Joseph  E., 
August  4,  1866;  Howard  E.,  July  16,  1870; 


;')()() 


BIOGRAPIITCAL  HISTORY 


'riioinas  W. , July  29,  1876;  W'illiam  E.,  Au- 
gust 14,  1 86 1,  (lied  |un(‘  28,  1880;  Georj^c 

I'ebruary  2,  1875,  (lic<l  January  17,  1877. 

'I'he  mother  of  tliese  children,  Mrs.  Mar- 
j.;aret  J.  Allen,  was  l)orn  in  Miami  county, 
Ohio,  October  30,  1840,  and  died  at  her  home 
in  C'linton  county,  Ind.,  Auf^ust  15,  1894,  of 
abdominal  tumor.  She  was  a devoted  mem- 
ber of  the  .M.  E.  church,  of  which  Mr.  Allen 
is  also  a member.  Mr.  Allen  is  a member 
also  of  the  Masonic  fraternity,  belonj.,^s  to  the 
G.  A.  R.,  and  is  a republican  in  ])oliti('s. 

.Mr.  Allen  has  a military  record  of  which  he 
feels  deser\-edly  proud,  covering.;  a period  of 
over  three  years,  dnrinp^  which  time  he  marched 
o\’er4,oO(.)  miles  and  participated  in  twenty-hve 
bloody  l)attles.  To  ^ive  in  detail  his  military 
e.xperience  would  require  a volume,  and  oidv 
the  leading  facts  are  herewith  set  forth.  He 
eidisted  SejTember  16,  1862,  in  company  I, 
One  Hundredth  Indiana  infantry,  under  Gajit. 
James  N.  Sims,  and  the  following  November 
the  repnnent  proceeded  to  Memidiis,  Tenm, 
with  X’icksbnrq  as  the  (jlqective  point,  but  the 
latter  city  was  not  at  that  time  reached.  .Mr. 
.Mien's  first  active  duty  was  as  pmard  to  the 
Memphis  A Gharleston  railroad,  and  his  first 
ba])tism  of  lire  was  at  Vicksburg,  in  the  mem- 
orable siege,  in  which  he  took  an  active  part. 
.After  the  surrender,  he  moved  with  Sherman’s 
army  to  Jackson,  Miss.,  taking  part  in  the  siege, 
thence  to  the  Big  Black  river,  and  afterward 
returned  to  Memphis.  ffis  ne.xt  movement 
was  to  Chattanooga,  Tenm,  near  which  he 
participated  in  the  battles  of  Mission  Ridge 
and  Eookout  Mountain,  after  which  lu'  accom- 
panied his  command  to  Kno.wille,  and  later  to 
Bridgeport,  Ala.  In  thespringof  1 864  he  was 
in  the  army  of  Gen.  Sherman,  and  fought 
thi'onghout  the  Atlanta  canqiaign,  dining  tuc 
jirogress  of  which  he  was  under  lire  about  one 
hundred  days  and  nights,  and  participated  in 
the  following  historical  engagements  from  Dal- 


ton through  Snake  Creek  Gap,  to  Resaca,  Dal- 
las, New  Hope  Church,  Big  Shanty,  Kenesaw 
Mountain,  Nickajack  Creek,  Chattahooche 
river,  Decatur,  Cedar  Bluffs,  Jonesboro,  Love- 
joy  Station  and  the  final  surrender  of  Atlanta. 
Mr.  Allen’s  regiment,  after  the  surrender,  was 
sent  on  a forced  march  through  northern  Geor- 
gia to  Alatoona,  and  finally  returned  to  its  old 
camping  ground  near  Atlanta.  After  a great 
deal  of  active  service  in  Georgia,  the  regiment 
participated  in  a battle  near  the  town  of  Gris- 
wold, entered  the  city  of  Savannah  December 
23,  1864,  thence  went  to  Beaufort,  S.  C.,  and, 
marching  through  the  Carolinas,  captured  suc- 
cessfully Branchville,  Columbia,  Georgetown, 
Ifentonville,  and  finally  reached  Goldsboro 
March  26,  1865,  after  having  marched  1,300 
miles  and  fought  seventeen  battles.  Mr.  .Allen 
remained  with  his  command  at  Greensboro 
until  .April  of  that  year,  when  the  regiment 
moved  to  Raleigh,  thence  marched  by  way  of 
Petersburg,  Richmond  and  Ale.xandria,  \’a., 
to  AVashington,  D.  C.,  reaching  that  city  May 
20,  1865.  He  was  discharged  June  20,  1865, 
with  a record  of  duty  bravely  and  unconqrlain- 
ingly  done,  and  it  is  to  such  brave  and  gallant 
spirits  that  the  country  is  indebted  for  its 
preservation. 


OSES  ALEIvN,  one  of  the  oldest 
living  residents  of  Clinton  county. 
Inch,  was  born  in  Butler  county, 
Ohio,  July  27,  1807.  He  was 

and  educated  in  his  native  county,  remained 
with  his  parents  until  his  twenty-fifth  year,  and 
in  the  spring  of  1831  came  to  Clinton  county, 
Ind.,  when'  he  worked  one  summer,  after 
which  lu'  returned  to  Ohio;  this  he  rcjieated 
tor  three  successive  years.  h'cbruary  13, 
1884,  lu'  married  Rachel  Griill,  who  was  born 
in  Scioto  county,  Ohio,  March  1,  1813.  Im- 
mediately after  their  marriage  Mr.  and  Mrs, 


OF  CLINTON  COUNTY. 


507 


Allen  moved  to  Clinton  county,  Ind.,  making 
the  journey  with  two  horses  and  the  usual 
covered  wagon,  the  canvas  of  which  was 
woven  from  fla.x  by  Mr.  Allen's  own  hands. 
They  were  eleven  days  on  the  road  and  settled 
upon  a piece  of  prairie  land  which  Mr.  Allen 
had  purchased  from  the  government  the  year 
previous.  He  also  entered  eighty  acres  of 
timber  and  erected  thereon,  with  the  assist- 
ance of  his  few  scattered  neighf)ors,  a small 
log  cabin,  in  size  about  sixteen  by  eighteen 
feet,  containing  a single  room,  in  which  all  his 
household  effects  were  stored.  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Allen  occupied  this  primitive  dwelling  until 
1843,  in  November  of  which  year  they  moved 
into  a new  frame  house  which  still  stands  upon 
the  old  farm.  Some  idea  of  the  cost  of  build- 
ing in  those  days  may  be  learned  from  the 
fact  that  Mr.  Allen  obtained  money  to  buy 
material  by  marketing  his  wheat  at  La  Fayette 
for  thirty  cents  per  bushel,  and  he  states  that 
the  nails  used  in  the  construction  of  his  house 
were  purchased  for  ten  cents  per  pound.  Mr. 
Allen  now  owns  240  acres  of  land  in  Clinton 
county,  in  the  improvement  of  which  he  has 
spared  no  expense,  the  one  item  of  tiling  alone 
representing  an  outlay  of  $1,400.  He  is  a re- 
publican in  politics,  though  formerly  a demo- 
crat, and  cast  his  first  presidential  vote  for 
Gen.  Andrew  Jackson  Religiously  he  sub- 
scribes to  the  liberal  creed  of  Universalism ; 
Mrs.  Allen  is  a member  of  the  Methodist 
church. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Allen  have  had  eleven  chil- 
dren, namely:  William  H.,  born  December 
28,  1834,  died  June  27,  1837;  Isaac  N.,  born 
January  22,  1837,  died  June  20,  1843;  Eliza- 
beth, born  December  21,  1838,  died  Septem- 
ber 19,  1870;  Eliza,  born  January  7,  1841, 
died  April  19,  1864;  Manford,  born  March  24, 
1843,  died  October  27,  1866;  John  P.,  born 
February  ii,  1845;  Martha  J.,  born  June  ii, 
1847;  Mary  Alice,  born  August  22,  1849,  died 


October  15,  1871;  Cass  and  Kossuth,  twins, 
born  March  3,  1852 — Kossuth  died  March  16, 
1853,  Cass  died  December  25,  i860;  and 

Emma  D.,  born  September  16,  1854.  Eliza- 
beth married  Hugh  C.  Crockett  November  6, 
1865;  Eliza  married  Mfilliam  Jenkins  Decem- 
ber 22,  1859;  John  married  Louisa  Holling- 
worth  P'ebruary  14,  1869;  Martha  J,,  married 
Milton  Hockman  November  23,  1870;  Mary 
married  Daniel  Wh  Price  December  7,  1870; 
Emma  was  married  May  22,  1878,  to  William 
J.  Crull,  and  resides  on  the  home  farm.  On 
the  thirteenth  day  of  Eebruary,  1894,  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  Allen  celebrated  the  sixtieth  anni- 
versary of  their  marriage,  upon  which  oc- 
casion their  many  neighbors  and  friends  for 
miles  around  came  to  participate  in  the  festivi- 
ties. At  one  time  Mr.  Allen  was  the  owner  of 
a large  amount  of  land  in  Clinton  county, 
amounting  to  i,  100  acres,  but  he  has  sold  and 
divided  it  until  he  has  but  240  acres,  which 
constitute  the  home  farm. 

The  father  of  Mr.  Allen  was  Isaac  Allen, 
who  was  born  in  Sussex  county.  New  Jersey. 
He  remained  there  until  attaining  his  majority, 
at  which  time  he  removed  to  Greene  county. 
Pa.,  and  there  married  Elizabeth  Rush,  who 
bore  him  eight  children,  names  and  dates  of 
birth  as  follow's:  Mrs.  Rebecca  Thomas,  born 
December  3,  1794;  James,  born  in  1796; 

Stephen,  Eebruary  14,  1799:  David,  Eebruary 
22,  1801;  Jesse,  in  May,  1803;  J'^hn,  in  1805; 
Moses,  the  date  of  whose  birth  is  given  above; 
Deborah,  in  181  i ; and  Lydia,  whose  birth  oc- 
curred in  the  year  1813;  all  the  members  of 
the  family  are  now  deceased,  except  the  sub- 
ject of  this  sketch.  The  mother  was  born  in 
Greene  county.  Pa. , where  she  was  reared  and 
married;  she  died  in  Butler  county,  Ohio, 
where  the  family  removed  about  the  year 
1806.  Mrs.  Allen  was  the  daughter  of  Wil- 
liam and  Ruth  (Stockham)  Crull — the  father 
born  in  Morgan  county,  Va. , in  1778,  died 


BIOfJRAPITlCAL  HISTORY 


r)f)8 


I '('bniary  3,  1836;  Mrs.  ('rull  was  born  in  ! 

1 790  and  departed  this  life  on  tlie  sixteenth  i 
day  of  Jnly,  1 82 5.  ' 

'file  brothers  and  si.sters  of  Mrs.  Allen  are  | 
as  follows;  Susanna  H.,  born  February  ii.  ! 
1812;  Anna,  born  September  30,  1814;  Asen-  1 
atb,  born  June  4,  1816;  Jemima,  March  8,  | 

1818;  E/ekiel,  Ajuil  22,  1820;  Martha  IF, 

July  29,  1822,  and  Mary,  born  July  12,  1824.  j 
The  ^grandfather  of  Moses  Allen  was 
Thomas  Allen,  a native  of  England  and  by  oc- 
cupation a carpenter;  his  wife  was  of  Welsh 
descent.  David  Crull,  the  grandfather  of  Mrs.  j 
Allen,  was  born  in  Germany,  came  to  the 
United  States  in  an  early  day,  and  settled  in  | 
Pennsylvania.  He  married  Nancy  Bennett,  a 
native  of  Morgan  county,  Va.,  and  both  him- 
self and  wife  died  in  Butler  county,  Ohio. 
Moses  Allen  has  lived  a long  and  useful  life, 
and  since  coming  to  Clinton  county  has  wit- 
nessed many  surprising  changes  incident  to  the 
growth  and  development  of  the  country,  and 
recounts  the  events  of  early  times  with  much 
pleasure.  He  fre(juently  relates  the  following 
incident:  In  the  spring  of  1829,  when  he  came 
to  Clinton  county  f(H'  the  purpose  of  entering 
land,  he  one  day  fell  in  with  two  Indians  and  j 
three  white  boys,  and  one  of  the  latter  told 
the  Indians  that  young  Allen  was  a good  wrest- 
ler, whereupon  he  was  challenged  to  a test  of 
strength  and  skill  by  one  of  the  redskins.  The 
challenge  was  |»romptly  accepted,  and  the  two 
wrestlers  at  once  took  hold;  the  Indian  had 
but  little  clotbing,  which  made  the  ('outest 
somewhat  unetpial,  as  young  Allen  found  it  j 
difficult  to  secure  a grasp  upon  his  person,  j 
He  succeeded,  however,  in  laying  hold  of  his 
adversary’s  scant  clothing,  and,  grasping  the  j 
latter’s  bare  thigh,  threw  him  heavily  to  the  | 
ground,  leaving  the  marks  of  his  finger-nails  in 
the  flesh,  causing  the  blood  to  How.  d'he  In- 
dian then  wanted  to  try  a back-hold,  to  whicdi  j 
Allen  assented,  and  in  the  .second  contest,  like  I 


the  first,  skill  triumphed  over  physical  strength, 
the  Indian  falling  heavily  to  the  ground,  with 
his  adversary  on  top  of  him.  This  seemed  to 
satisfy  the  red  wrestler,  who  rose  to  his  feet, 
gave  a whoop  and  said  heap  stout  man 
you,”  after  w'hich  the  two  separated  in  the 
very  best  of  humor. 


MITH  B.  ALLEN,  the  present  efficient 
sheriff  of  Clinton  county,  Ind.,  and 
an  enterprising  farmer  of  Washington 
township,  was  born  x\ugust  22,  1846, 
in  Clinton  county,  within  the  bounds  of  which 
nearly  all  of  his  life  has  been  spent.  His 
father,  Stephen  Allen,  was  born  in  Lehigh 
county.  Pa.,  February  14,  1799,  and  when  a 
mere  boy  accompanied  his  parents  to  Butler 
county,  Ohio,  where  he  grew  to  manhood  as  a 
farmer.  He  became  a resident  of  Clinton 
county,  Ind.,  as  early  as  1829,  locating  on  the 
farm  now  owned  by  the  subject  of  this  sketch, 
where  his  death  occurred  on  the  fourth  of 
September,  1878.  His  wife,  whose  maiden 
name  was  Mary  Ross,  was  born  May  5,  1804, 
in  Butler  county,  Ohio,  and  was  there  married; 
she  de])arted  this  life  Fel)ruary  13,  1876,  in 
Clinton  county,  Ind,  The  family  of  Stephen 
and  Mary  Allen  consisted  of  the  following 
children:  Andrew  ].,  born  Aj)ril  5,  1827;  John, 
May  4,  1829;  Elizabeth,  wife  of  David  Thomp- 
son, October  19,  1832;  Rachel,  wife  of  Robert 
Groves,  October  20,  1834;  james,  December 
30.  '837;  Da\ud,  Junet),  1840;  .Mmeda,  wife 
of  Thomas  Majors,  December  19,  1842;  and 
Smitb,  tbe  date  of  whose  birth  is  given  above. 

Smith  B.  .Allen,  the  youngest  son  of  the 
family,  giawv  to  manhood  on  his  father’s  farm 
in  Washington  township,  and  his  education 
embraced  the  usual  branches  taught  in  the 
public  schools.  Since  beginning  lib'  lor  bim- 
self,  he  has  beiui  an  honest  and  industrious 
tiller  (jf  the  soil,  and  his  labors  have  been 


OF  CLINTON  COUNTY. 


569 


crowned  with  success.  As  a farmer  he  ranks 
with  the  most  progressive  of  his  township,  and 
as  an  intelligent,  wide-awake  citizen,  deeply 
interested  in  all  that  has  a tendency  to  benefit 
the  community  in  any  way  whatever,  he  occu- 
pies a prominent  place  in  the  estimation  of  the 
public.  On  the  twenty-fifth  of  April,  1877, 
Mr.  Allen  and  Laura  C.,  daughter  of  Abraham 
and  Sarah  (Davids)  Miller,  were  joined  in 
matrimon}',  a union  blessed  with  the  birth  of 
two  children — Chester  L.,  born  April  29,  1878, 
and  Madison  R.,  born  July  26,  1881.  The 
parents  of  Mrs.  Allen  were  natives  of  Ohio, 
and  were  of  Scotch  descent.  Their  family 
consisted  of  three  children,  Eliza,  James  and 
Laura.  ^^r.  Allen  is  a member  of  the  Masonic 
fraternity,  belonging  to  Vista  lodge.  No.  1 36, 
at  Jefferson,  and  for  some  years  has  been 
identified  with  the  Patrons  of  Husbandry.  A 
republican  in  politics,  he  has  never  been  an 
aspirant  for  political  honors,  preferring  to  give 
his  attention  to  the  interest  of  his  farm,  he 
was  nevertheless  elected  sheriff  of  Clinton 
county,  November  6,  1894,  by  a majority  of 
520,  taking  possession  of  the  office  November 
15,  1894.  Socially,  Mr.  and  l\frs.  Allen  are 
w'ell  known  throughout  Washington  towmship 
as  kind-hearted  neighbors,  and  their  popular- 
ity has  gained  for  them  a prominent  place  in 
the  affections  of  the  people. 


HE  ANDERSON  EAMILY,  — The 
family  of  Andersons  are  well  knowm 
throughout  Clinton  county,  in  the 
early  history  of  which  they  took  a 
prominent  part.  Elijah  Anderson  the  great- 
grandfather of  David  W.  Anderson  of  Perry 
township,  was  a native  of  Germany  and  settled 
in  Pennsylvania  in  the  time  of  the  colonies 
and  there  married  and  reared  a family.  His 
son,  also  named  Elijah,  the  American  progen- 
itor of  the  family  in  Clinton  county,  is  said  to 


have  served  in  the  war  of  the  Revolution.  He 
married,  in  one  of  the  eastern  states,  Cather- 
ine Miller,  and  in  an  early  date  emigrated  to 
Highland  county,  Ohio.  Samuel  Anderson, 
son  of  the  above,  was  born  in  Highland  county 
in  the  year  1805,  married  Nancy  Thomas, 
daughter  of  Griffith  Thomas,  and  in  1830  came 
to  Clinton  county,  Ind. , and  entei'ed  240  acres 
of  land  in  the  township  of  Perry.  Later  he 
purchased  additional  land,  until  at  one  time 
he  owned  700  acres.  He  was  one  of  the  prom- 
inent pioneers  of  Clinton,  a member  of  the 
old  school  Baptist  v.hurch,  and  took  part  in  the 
easly  politics  of  the  county  as  a democrat. 
The  following  are  the  names  of  his  children; 
Jeremiah,  James,  Elijah,  Griffith,  Samuel, 
John,  David,  Nancy,  Ahnedia  and  Joseph  (de- 
ceased). 

Jeremiah  Anderson,  the  eldest  son  of  the 
above,  was  born  in  Madison  county,  Ohio, 
October  26,  1828,  and  w'as  but  a mere  child 
when  brought  by  his  parents  to  Clinton  county, 
Ind.  He  grew  to  manhood  on  a farm,  receiv- 
ed his  educational  training  in  the  indifferent 
country  schools  common  in  the  early  day,  and 
on  arriving  at  manhood’s  estate  married  Sarah 
Miller,  daughter  of  John  and  Mary  (Nickels) 
Miller.  John  Miller  w'as  a soldier  in  the  w^ar 
of  1812  and  one  of  the  early  settlers  of  Clinton 
county.  After  his  marriage,  Mr.  Anderson 
settled  on  a farm  which  he  had  previously  pur- 
chased, and  is  now  the  owner  of  300  acres  of 
valuable  land,  the  greater  portion  pf  w'hich  is 
under  a successful  state  of  cultivation.  His  ^ 
farm  is  w'ell  stocked,  contains  excellent  im- 
provements in  the  way  of  buildings,  fences, 
etc. , and  its  fertility  has  been  greatly  enhanced 
by  a succe.sful  system  of  tile  drainage.  Mr. 
Anderson  served  with  distinction  in  the  late 
war  and  took  part  in  a number  of  campaigns, 
including  that  of  Atlanta,  in  nearly  all  the 
fighting  of  which  he  participated,  and  saw 
nearly  three  years  of  active  service.  He  en- 


570 


BIOGRAPIIICAI.  HISTORY 


tcrcd  as  a private,  but  before  the  termination 
of  his  i)erio(l  of  enlistment  was  promoted  lirst 
lieutenant,  for  meritorious  conduct.  He  was 
honorably  discharged  July  6,  1865,  since  which 
time  he  has  given  his  attention  to  the  pursuit 
of  agriculture. 

IClijah  i\nderson,  one  of  the  leading  farm- 
ers of  Perry  township,  was  horn  October  31, 
1831,  in  Clinton  county,  Ind.,  received  a com- 
mon school  education  and  grew  to  manhood  on 
the  farm.  He  married  Nancy  A.  Ball,  daugh- 
ter of  Joseph  and  Nancy  (McDavid)  Ball,  and 
settled  on  his  present  farm  in  1859.  He  has 
greatly  improved  this  jilace,  which  consists,  at 
this  time,  of  ninety-four  acres,  and  he  ranks 
among  the  best  farmers  of  the  township  of 
Perry.  Politically  he  is  a democrat,  but  not  a 
partisan  in  the  sense  of  seeking  office.  Mr. 
Anderson  has  an  army  record  of  which  he  is 
proud,  having  enlisted  .August  10,  1862,  in 

company  D,  Twenty-second  Indiana  infantry. 
He  took  part  in  the  battle  of  Murfreesboro, 
where  he  was  wounded,  and  a number  of 
other  engagements,  in  all  of  which  he  acquit- 
ted himself  as  a brave  and  gallant  defender  of 
the  Union. 

David  W.  Anderson,  brother  of  the  pre- 
ceding, was  born  December  7,  1840,  on  the 
old  home  farm  in  Perry  township,  and  he  at- 
tended at  intervals  during  the  years  of  his 
minority  the  common  schools,  in  which  he 
acquired  an  education,  which,  although  bv  no 
means  finished,  has  since  enabled  him  to  dis- 
charge successfully  the  duties  of  a very  active 
life.  Prom  his  youth  Mr.  Anderson  has  l)een 
inured  to  labor  and  he  has  never  known  what 
it  was  to  eat  the  bread  of  idleness.  In  the 
year  1866,  he  chosC'  for  a life  ])artner  Miss 
Rachel  Ross,  daughter  of  james  and  Hannah 
fMilburne)  Ross,  and  at  once  began  life  for 
himself  14)011  a farm  of  seventy  acres,  w'hich 
he  still  owns.  To  this  place  he  has  made  ad- 
ditions from  time  to  time  and  his  present  farm. 


embracing  an  area  of  260  acres,  is  one  of  the 
most  finely  situated  and  best  cultivated  places 
in  the  southwestern  part  of  Clinton  county. 
In  addition  to  general  farming,  Mr.  Anderson 
gives  considerable  attention  to  the  raising  of 
livestock,  his  cattle,  hogs  and  horses  being 
among  the  best  in  his  neighborhood.  Mr. 
Anderson  did  not  neglect  his  duty  to  his  coun- 
try during  the  dark  days  of  the  rebellion,  but 
nobly  responded  to  the  call  for  volunteers,  en- 
listing April,  1863,  in  company  H,  One  Hun- 
dred and  'Phirty-fifth  Indiana  infantry.  He 
served  in  the  army  of  the  Cumberland  under 
Gen.  Thomas,  saw  active  duty  in  the  states  of 
Kentucky,  Tennessee,  Alabama  and  other 
parts  of  the  south,  but  owing  to  sickness  did 
not  complete  the  period  of  his  enlistment. 
Politically  Mr.  Anderson  is  a populist,  of  the 
principles  of  which  he  is  a strong  advocate. 
Fraternally  he  belongs  to  the  Order  of  Odd 
F'ellow's,  holding  membership  in  Sharon  lodge. 
No.  487,  at  Colfax. 

To  David  W.  Anderson  and  wife  have  been 
born  the  following  children  : Maud,  Mary  J., 
William  N.,  Milo  ].,  Iva  E.  and  James  R. 
Mr.  Anderson  has  spared  no  pains  in  the  edu- 
cation of  his  children,  his  daughter  Maud  hav- 
ing attended  the  high  school  at  I'rankfort  two 
years,  and  William  pursuing  his  studies  in  an 
institution  of  learning  in  Kansas.  Mrs.  Ander- 
son is  a mcmlrer  of  the  United  Brethren  church 
and  an  enthusiastic  teacher  in  the  Sunday- 
school.  It  is  a fact  worthy  of  note  that  Mr. 
Anderson’s  grandfather,  Griffith  Thomas,  was 
a brother  of  the  celebrated  “W'hite  Pilgrim” 
a traveling  evangelist  of  note  during  the  early 
days  of  Ohio,  and  who  accpiired  an  almost 
national  reputation  as  a j)rcactu‘r  and  singer. 
Grandfather  Thomas  was  a farmer  of  Ohio 
and  one  of  the  earliest  settlers  of  C'linton 
county,  to  which  part  of  the  state  he  moved  as 
long  ago  as  1829.  At  that  time  there  was  not 
a house  in  h'raid<fort,  and  with  but  little  ex- 


OF  CLINTON  COUNTY. 


571 


ception  the  country  was  a wilderness,  un- 
cheerd  by  tlie  presence  of  civilization.  Mr. 
Thomas  became  the  possessor  of  a larf?e  amount 
of  land — fully  800  acres — the  greater  part  of 
which  was  divided  among  his  children. 


IGHLMAN  HAILEY.  — Prominent 
among  the  well  known  citizens  of 
Clinton  county  is  Tighhnan  Bailey, 
who  was  born  in  Ross  county,  Ohio, 
on  the  fourth  day  of  June,  1828.  He  is  de- 
scended from  Scotch-Irish  ancestry  on  the 
father’s  side  and  maternally  is  of  German 
lineage.  From  the  best  information  obtaina- 
ble, it  appears  that  the  family  settled  original- 
ly in  Virginia  before  the  war  of  the  Revolution 
and  in  that  state  the  subject’s  paternal  great- 
grandfather becanre  a planter  of  large  means. 
Thomas  Bailey,  grandfather  of  the  subject,  was 
born  in  Morgan  county,  Va. , where  he  lived 
and  died,  and  where,  like  his  ancestors  before 
him,  he  became  a wealthy  planter.  He  mar- 
ried in  his  native  state  Rebecca  Williamson,  and 
had  a family  of  eight  children,  namely;  Will- 
iam, Elizabeth,  Bazel,  Mary,  Nancy,  Samuel, 
Hannah,  and  Silas.  He  was  a patriot  in  the 
war  of  1812,  enlisting  at  the  age  of  eighteen, 
and  w'as  present  at  the  bombardment  of  Fort 
McHenry  near  Baltimore.  William  Bailey, 
father  of  the  subject,  was  born  August  8,  1795, 
in  Morgan  county,  Va. , and  there  married 
Drusilla  Bohrer,  daughter  of  Adam  and  Bar- 
bara Bohrer,  both  parents  of  German  descent, 
the  father  having  been  born  upon  the  ocean. 
William  Bailey  was  by  occupation  a miller. 
He  lived  in  his  native  state  until  1829,  at 
which  time  he  emigrated  to  Rcss  county,  Ohio, 
where  he  followed  agricultural  pursuits  until 
his  removal  to  Clinton  county,  Ind.,  about  the 
year  1839.  On  coming  to  Clinton  county  Mr. 
Bailey  settled  in  Perry  township,  where  he  pur- 
chased eighty  acres  of  land,  to  which  he  made 


additions  from  time  to  time  until  he  became 
the  possessor  of  over  380  acres.  He  died 
April  13,  1864;  Mrs.  Bailey  departed  this  life 
in  the  month  of  January,  1859.  The  follow- 
ing are  the  names  of  their  children — Belle 
Jane,  F.  P. , Samuel,  Tighhnan,  Caroline, 
Sarah,  Rose  and  Silas. 

Tighhnan  Bailey  accompanied  his  parents  to 
Clinton  county,  Ind.,  when  eleven  years  of  age, 
and  easily  recalls  many  incidents  of  the  jour- 
ney, which  was  made  to  the  new  country  in 
the  middle  of  a bitterly  cold  winter.  The 
father  preceded  the  family  and  prepared,  for 
their  reception,  a small  log  cabin,  in  size  about 
si.xteen  by  eighteen  feet.  In  this  primitive 
dwelling,  surrounded  by  deep  forests,  in  which 
numerous  wild  animals  found  shelter,  life  in  the 
backwoods  commenced  in  earnest.  The  early 
life  of  Mr.  Bailey  was  one  of  unceasing  activ- 
ity and  he  found  much  to  do  in  assisting  his 
father  in  clearing  the  farm,  in  consequence  of 
which  his  educational  advantages  were  some- 
what limited.  On  the  fifteenth  of  |une,  1856, 
he  was  united  in  marriage  with  Clara  Ely, 
daughter  of  John  and  Hager  (Shobe)  Ely.  Mrs. 
Bailey’s  parents  came  to  Indiana  from  P'ayette 
county,  Ohio,  in  1837,  and  the  father  was  for 
a number  of  years  a teacher  in  the  schools  of 
Montgomery  county.  He  was  a man  of  fine 
intelltctual  attainments,  served  as  justice  of  the 
peace  and  in  other  official  positions,  and  is  re- 
membered as  a very  earnest  member  of  the 
Methodist  church.  He  died  March,  1845,  and 
his  wife  was  laid  to  rest  on  the  fifth  day  of  De- 
cember, 1847.  The  Elys  came  originally  from 
England  and  the  Shobe  family  is  of  German 
extraction.  After  his  marriage,  Mr.  Bailey 
began  the  pursuit  of  agriculture  on  a farm  of 
100  acres  in  Perry  township,  and,  later,  he 
added  to  his  original  place  until  he  now  owns 
1 50  acres,  and  is  recognized  as  one  of  the 
most  successful  farmers  in  the  community 
where  he  resides.  In  1867  he  identified  him- 


572 


BIOGRAPHICAL  HISTORY 


self  witli  the  Metluxlist  Protestant  church,  and 
in  1870  lie  yielded  to  a desire  of  lon^  standing 
and  ent(M-ed  the  ministry,  in  the  active  work  of 
vvhicdi  he  has  Ix'en  successfully  engaged  ever 
since'.  I'or  a period  of  ten  years  he  had  regular 
charges,  including  four  different  circuits,  and 
through  his  instrumentality  over  six  hundred 
persons  were  converted  and  added  to  the  church. 

Mr.  Bailey  has  a military  recferd  of  which 
he  feels  deservedly  proud,  and  few  soldiers  had 
a more  thrilling  experience  than  he  in  fighting 
for  their  country  during  the  late  rebellion.  On 
the  fourteenth  of  August,  1862,  he  eidisted  in 
company  I,  Eighty-sixth  Indiana  infantry,  and 
saw  his  first  actii'e  service  in  Kentucky  while 
under  the  command  of  Gen.  Buell.  He  parti- 
cipated in  the  bloody  battles  of  Perryville  and 
Stone  River,  in  the  latter  of  which  he  was 
captured  by  the  enemy  and  sent  to  the  famous 
Libby  prison  at  Richmond.  After  an  incar- 
ceration of  about  one  month  he  was  exchanged, 
and,  rejoining  his  command  in  Tennessee,  took 
part  in  the  battle  of  Chickamauga,  where  he 
narrowly  escaped  death  a number  of  times  on 
that  hotly  contested  field.  He  was  in  the  bat- 
tle of  Missionary  Ridge  and  all  the  leading 
battles  of  the  Atlanta  camjiaign,  where  for  a 
number  of  weeks  his  command  was  constantly 
exposed  to  the  fire  of  the  enemy.  He  had 
many  narrow  escapes  at  Buzzard's  Roost  and 
Kenesaw  Mountain  and  other  engagements. 
On  account  of  sickness  brought  on  by  ex])os- 
nre,  he  was  compelled  to  leave  the  ranks,  and 
at  intervals  was  treated  in  the  hospitals  at 
Marietta,  Chattanooga,  Nashville  and  jefferson- 
ville.  After  spending  a short  time  at  home 
on  Inrlongh,  Mr.  Bailey  rejoined  his  regiment 
at  Pulaski,  Tenn.,  in  season  to  take  part  in  a 
number  (jf  battles,  including  Jonesboro,  I'rank- 
lin  and  Nasln  illc',  in  the  latter  of  which  he 
was  for  two  days  engaged  in  the  hottest  ])art 
of  the  fight.  In  the  spring  of  1865  lie  accom- 
panied his  command  to  Richmond  to  aid 


Grant,  but  at  Jonesboro  was  ordered  back  and 
then  returned  to  Nashville  a short  time  there- 
after, w'here,  on  the  twelfth  day  of  June  of  the 
same  year,  he  was  honorably  discharged  from 
the  service.  It  will  thus  be  seen  that  Mr. 
Bailey's  military  experience  was  in  every  way 
an  honorable  one,  and,  during  his  period  of 
three  years'  service  he  never  shrank  from  nor 
hesitated  to  ])erform  any  duty,  however 
dangerous.  In  civil  life  Mr.  Bailey  has  a rec- 
ord which  entitles  him  to  the  confidence  and 
esteem  of  his  fellow-citizens,  and  against  his 
character  as  an  upright  and  courteous  Christian 
gentleman  no  breath  of  suspicion  has  ever  been 
uttered.  Politically  he  is  a prohibitionist. 


EORGE  W.  BAKER,  one  of  the  self- 
made  men  of  Boyleston,  Clinton 
county,  Ind.,  is  now  successfull)^  en- 
gaged in  farming.  He  is  widely  known 
in  the  county,  and  in  its  history  well  deserves 
representation.  The  record  of  his  life  is  as 
follows:  He  was  born  in  Owen  county,  Ind., 

May  20,  1847,  and  is  of  English  descent.  His 
grandfather,  John  Baker,  was  an  Ohio  farmer 
who  died  at  the  advanced  age  of  eighty-eight 
years.  B}’  his  first  marriage  he  had  six  chil- 
dren, and  by  his  second  union  one  son,  Beals. 
In  politics  he  was  a wing,  and  for  forty  years 
he  was  a faithfid  nu'inber  of  the  Christian 
church.  William  Baker,  father  of  George  W. , 
was  born  in  Ohio  in  1817,  and  in  i860  came 
to  Clinton  county,  where  he  purchased  eightv 
acres  of  timber  land.  He  now  has  eighty- 
three  acres,  all  cleared  and  highly  cultivated. 
In  religious  belief  he  is  a Methodist.  He  was 
married,  in  1846,  to  Mrs.  Jane  fNichols)  Pitt- 
man, who  by  her  fornu'r  marriage  had  one  son, 
Jasper,  who  enlisted  in  the  cavalry  .ser\  ice  and 
died  during  the  lati'  war.  I'onr  children  were 
born  to  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Baker — George  W., 
John,  Sarah  J.  and  Arabel. 


OF  CLINTON  COUNTY. 


573 


In  an  old  lo^'  school-honse  G.  Baker 

began  his  education.  He  was  only  seven  years 
old  at  the  time  of  his  mother’s  death,  and  at 
the  age  of  fifteen  he  began  life  for  himself, 
working  at  any  employment  which  he  conld  ! 
find.  In  Angust,  i<S67,  he  was  united  in  mar- 
riage to  Mrs.  Sarah  (Holton)  Hendricks,  a na- 
tive of  Kentuckv,  and  a daughter  of  Ambrose 
D.  and  Mary  J.  (\'allandingham)  Holton. 
Her  father  was  a soldier  in  the  war  of  1812, 
and  received  a land  warrant  for  300  acres. 
To  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Baker  have  been  born  ten 
children;  Ambrose  S.,  Josephine  M.,  Truly 
S.,  Edgar  M.,  Dora  K.,  Leontes,  Richard  E., 
Willard  C.,  Zora  E.  and  Basil  V.  Upon  his 
marriage,  Mr.  Baker  rented  his  father’s  farm, 
and  afterward  operated  the  farm  belonging  to 
his  mother-in-law,  for  five  years.  He  then 
purchased  forty  acres  on  Indian  Prairie,  and 
afterward  bought  forty  acres  of  his  present 
farm.  To  this  he  has  added  from  time  to  time 
until  he  has  now  1 80  acres,  which  yields  to 
him  a golden  tribute  in  return  for  the  care  and 
cultivation  he  places  upon  it.  At  first  he  was 
able  to  make  only  a partial  payment,  but  it  is 
now  clear  from  all  indebtedness  and  is  recog- 
nized as  one  of  the  valued  farms  of  the  com- 
munity. His  pleasant  home  was  erected  at  a 
cost  of  $ 1 ,400,  and  he  has  built  good  barns 
and  outbuildings  and  added  all  other  necessary 
improvements  and  conveniencies.  His  home  is 
within  a mile  and  half  of  the  fine  gravel  road 
which  leads  to  I'rankfort,  and  he  has  five  good 
markets  within  a short  distance.  Mr.  Baker 
has  won  success  through  business  ability,  en- 
terprise and  industry,  and  has  arisen  from  a 
humble  position  to  one  of  affluence.  His  life 
has  ever  been  an  honorable  and  upright  one, 
and  throughout  the  community  where  he  lives 
he  has  many  warm  friends,  who  esteem  him 
highly.  The  energy  with  which  he  has  lifted 
himself  from  comparative  indigence  to  af- 
fluence is  worthy  of  emulation. 


AVID  M.  BALL  is  a native  of  Indi- 
ana, and  was  born  in  the  county  of 
Boone  July  26,  1845.  His  father, 
Joseph  Ball,  married  in  West  Vir- 
i ginia  Ingabo  McDaniel,  and  in  1 834  emigrated 
to  Boone  county,  Ind.,  in  company  with  his 
father-in  law,  William  McDaniel,  a planter  of 
Virginia.  At  the  time  of  his  arrival  in  Boone 
county  but  few  improvements  of  any  kind  had 
been  made  in  the  country,  the  city  of  Lebanon 
containing  but  a few  log  cabins  and  a popula- 
tion less  than  two  hundred.  Joseph  Ball  was 
one  of  the  pioneer  teachers  of  Boone  county 
and  did  much  in  awakening  an  interest  in  mat- 
ters educational  in  an  early  day.  He  occupied 
a high  social  position  and  was  known  and  re- 
spected throughout  the  county  as  a man  of 
good  judgment  and  most  excellent  moral  char- 
acter. He  reared  a family  consisting  of  the 
following  children:  Jackson,  Nancy  A.,  Rob- 
ert, Reuben,  Celesta,  Perry,  John,  Ellen, 
David  M.,  William,  Joseph  and  P'lora. 

David  M.  Bell  was  but  nine  years  old  when 
his  father  died,  which  sad  event  threw  him,  at 
that  tender  age,  largely  upon  his  own  resources. 
He  desired  to  obtain  an  education,  but  untow- 
ard circumstances  interfered  with  the  realiza- 
tion of  his  wishes,  although  he  obtained  a fair 
knowledge  of  such  branches  as  were  then  taught 
in  the  common  schools.  The  building  in  which 
he  first  received  instruction  in  the  mystery  of 
books  was  common  to  that  period,  being  con- 
structed of  unhewn  logs,  covered  with  clap- 
boards, held  in  their  places  by  weight  poles, 
warmed  in  the  winter  season  by  a fire  in  a fire- 
place occupying  nearly  an  entire  end  of  the 
building,  and  supplied  with  rough  benches 
which  rested  upon  an  uneven  floor  made  of 
puncheons.  While  attending  school  in  this 
primitive  backwoods  college  he  worked  morn- 
ings, evenings  and  Saturdays  for  his  board,  and, 
considering  the  obstacles  by  which  he  was  con- 
fronted, his  progress  was  indeed  commendable. 


BIOGRAPHICAL  HISTORY 


r)7-i 


Mr.  Bail  chose  for  a life  partner  Miss  Al- 
ineda  Trotter,  daughter  of  Matthew  and  Emily 
(Mch'arland)  Trotter,  and  shortly  after  his  mar- 
riage settled  on  a farm  near  Colfax,  where  he 
lived  for  some  years.  Later,  he  abandoned 
farming  for  a time  and  engaged  in  the  hard- 
ware business  in  Colfax,  but,  after  two  years 
thus  spent,  returned  to  agriculture,  purchasing 
his  present  farm  of  eighty  acres  in  Perry  town- 
ship, where  he  has  since  resided.  He  has  a 
pleasant  home,  is  comfortably  situated,  and 
ranks  among  the  well-to-do  farmers  of  his 
neighborhood.  While  not  identified  with  any 
religious  organization,  Mr.  Ball  believes  in 
churches,  and  is  always  found  on  the  side  of 
any  movement  having  for  its  object  the  moral 
well-being  of  the  community.  Politically  he 
is  a republican.  The  following  are  the  names 
of  the  children  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Ball,  together 
with  the  dates  of  Irirths;  Robert  A.,  April  3, 
1868;  Lawrence,  November  3,  1871;  Jesse, 
February  27,  1878,  and  Emma,  June  28,  1883. 
The  father  of  Mrs.  Ball  was  a merchant  of 
Colfax  and  a very  successful  business  man.  He 
came  to  Clinton  county  from  Virginia  and  was 
the  father  of  four  children — Almeda,  Abner, 
Thomas  [.  and  James.  After  his  death  his 
widow  married  David  Wolf,  a farmer  of  Clin- 
ton county,  by  whom  she  had  three  children — 
Sanford,  Charles  and  Jesse.  She  died  in  1867. 


01  IN  BARNER  fdecensed),  father  of  j 
1).  P.  Barner,  whose  biography  will  be  j 
found  below,  was  born  in  Surry  county,  | 
N.  C.,  January  it,  1810,  and  died  in 
I'rankfort,  Ind.,  March  31,  1892.  His  par- 

ents were  of  American  birth,  but  of  P'rench, 
(ierman  and  Irish  descent.  In  the  year  1814, 
with  his  parents,  he  emigrated  to  and  settled  j 
in  Bledsoe  countv,  Tenn.  His  father,  Horatio 
^Barner,  was  a millwright  by  occupation.  At  1 


this  early  day  in  the  settlement  of  the  central 
west  there  were  but  few  opportunities  to  at- 
tend school,  but  while  working  on  a farm  and 
learning  cabinet-making,  John  managed  by 
honest  industry  and  perseverance  to  obtain 
quite  a good  education.  It  was  on  the  27th 
day  of  March,  1828,  when  eighteen  years  of 
age,  that  he  left  his  parental  home.  He  jour- 
neyed from  Pikeville,  Tenn.,  to  Bloomington, 
Ind.,  alone,  walking  the  entire  distance.  Here 
he  found  employment  at  his  trade  during  the 
winter  of  1828-29.  In  the  spring  of  1829  he 
went  with  his  employers  to  Indianapolis.  He 
was  next  employed  abcnit  six  months  in  a 
cabinet-maker's  shop  in  Logansport,  but  re- 
turned to  Indianapolis  in  the  spring  of  1830. 
It  was  in  this  city,  February  27,  1831,  that 
John  Barner  and  Miss  Mary  E.  Darnell  were 
united  in  marriage.  They  lived  in  Indianapo- 
lis until  the  following  spring,  when  they  moved 
to  Eraid<fort,  arriving  here  on  the  19th  of  May, 
1832.  To  this  union  were  born  five  children: 
John  IL,  David  P. , Mrs.  Mary  E.  Hill,  Mrs. 
Judith  B.  Sample  and  Mrs.  Imlia  S.  Ghere. 
The  first  named,  John  H.  Barner,  died  April 
22,  1885.  The  ever  faithful  and  beloved 

mother  departed  this  life  June  21,  1884. 

In  1834  Mr.  Barner  was  appointed  post- 
master of  Frankfort  and  served  continuously 
until  1849,  when  he  resigned,  that  he  might 
give  his  time  more  fully  to  the  duties  of  clerk 
of  the  circuit  court,  to  which  office  he  had  been 
duly  elected  in  1843.  b'ather  Barner  was  the 
leading  spirit  in  the  organization  of  the  Clin- 
ton county  Old  Settlers’  association,  and  for 
seventeen  years  its  conq^etent  secretary.  b'or 
forty  3'cars  he  was  a prominent  member  of  the 
Indeiiendent  Order  of  Odd  b'ellows.  He  en- 
joyed meeting  men  as  men,  but  he  specially 
revered  this  order  for  its  work’s  sake.  He 
loved  the  brothers  of  this  society  as  he  loved 
himself,  and  they  in  turn  reverenced  him 
with  affectionate  veneration.  He  was  an 


OF  CLINTON  COUNTY. 


575 


honorable  member  of  the  Clinton  county  bar 
for  thirty-two  years.  In  legal  matters  he 
was  a safe  counselor,  and  in  all  his  official 
and  professional  transactions  he  showed  the 
minutest  care.  He  was  a master  of  details, 
but  it  was  as  a pure,  gracious,  manly,  Chris- 
tian man  that  his  children  and  his  grand- 
children, his  friends  and  neighbors,  will  re- 
member him.  His  Christian  life  began  at  his 
mother’s  knee  when  he  was  but  three  years  of 
age.  He  united  with  the  Methodist  Episcopal 
church  in  May,  1831,  and  his  active  church  life 
began  at  the  old  Wesley  Chapel  in  Indianapo- 
lis, sixty-two  years  ago.  He  served  as  teacher 
and  officer  in  the  Sunday-school  of  that  church, 
and  he  assisted  in  organizing  the  first  Metho- 
dist Sunday-school  in  Frankfort,  in  February, 
1841.  For  thirty  years  he  was  either  a teach- 
er or  officer  in  the  school,  and  for  eighteen 
years  was  its  capable  superintendent.  For 
nearly  sixty  years  he  was  a member  of  the 
official  board  of  this  church,  serving  up  to  the 
time  of  his  death  with  marked  loyalty  and 
fidelity  as  president  of  the  board  of  trustees. 

Mr.  Barner  was  a delegate  from  this,  the 
old  Eighth  congressional  district,  to  the 
national  democratic  convention  in  1852,  which 
resulted  in  the  nomination  of  Franklin  Pierce 
for  president.  At  that  time  it  took  some  five 
days  to  make  the  trip  to  the  city  of  Baltimore, 
where  the  convention  was  held,  by  the  various 
modes  of  travel — stages,  steamboats  and  a 
small  part  by  rail.  What  a contrast  now, 
when  we  think  of  its  taking  only  a few  hours 
to  make  this  trip. 

Mr.  Barner’s  was  the  first  golden  wedding 
celebrated  in  Frankfort,  at  which  there  were  a 
large  number  of  the  family  friends  in  attend- 
ance, on  the  27th  day  of  February,  1881,  at 
the  old  family  homestead  on  the  east  side  of 
the  public  square  of  Frankfort,  on  which  oc- 
casion the  following  brief  history  of  this  old 

couple  was  read  by  one  of  the  family  friends; 

28 


“John  Earner  and  Mary  Darnell  were  married 
at  Indianapolis,  on  Sunday,  February  27,  1831,  by 
Kev.  Thomas  S.  Hitt,  now  deceased,  at  the  late  resi- 
dence of  Isaac  N.  Phipps,  now  deceased.  Mr.  Barner 
went  to  work  in  his  cabinet  shop  on  the  lot  now  oc- 
cupied by  the  Bates  House  the  next  day  after  his 
marriage;  commenced  housekeeping  in  a few  days 
and  was  furnished  with  a joint  of  bacon  by  his  neigh- 
bor and  friend,  the  late  Calvin  Fletcher.  In  about 
a week  afterward,  this  young  couple  started  on  a 
pleasure  trip  on  board  the  steamboat.  General  Han- 
na, the  first  and  last  steamer  that  ever  came  up  from 
of  White  river,  which  event  was  hailed  with  the  roar 
of  cannon.  Thej'  ascended  the  river  quite  a distance, 
with  a jovial  company  fro:n  the  city;  and  there  was 
also  a small  artillery  company  in  attendance,  and  all 
returned  that  evening.  This  couple  came  to  Frank- 
fort, May  19,  1832,  in  a wagon  drawn  by  oxen,  mak- 
ing the  distance  in  five  days  from  Indianapolis. 
Their  first  dwelling  was  in  a brick  house  on  Ken- 
tucky avenue;  the  next  in  a double  log  cabin,  oppo- 
site the  present  site  of  the  new  state  house;  the  next 
at  Frankfort  in  a log  cabin  on  the  next  lot  north  of 
this;  next  in  the  old  log  frame,  south  of  this;  and 
since  July  4,  1865,  in  their  present  dwelling,  where 
they  are  on  this,  the  fiftieth  anniversary  of  their 
marriage,  happy  to  meet  their  children,  grand-chil- 
dren, friends  and  acquaintances.  By  this  marriage 
there  have  been  born  two  sons  and  three  daughters: 
John  H.,  David  P.,  Mary  E.,  Judith  and  Indiana  S.; 
they  have  seven  grandchildren  living:  Emma  M. 
Whitcomb,  John  H.  Barner,  Jr.,  Willie  B.  Hill,  Bird 
E.  Barner,  Mabel  C.  Barner,  Alba  B.  Ghere  and 
Helen  Barner;  and  three  dead:  Ella  and  Mattie  U. 
Hill  and  Lee  G.  Barner,  and  one  great-grandchild 
living,  Bertha  Whitcomb,  all  of  those  living  being 
present  this  evening,  except  John  H.,  Jr.,  who  is  in  a 
distant  clime  on  account  of  ill  health.” 

Tlie  death  of  this  venerable  citizen  took 
place  Thursday  morning,  March  31,  1892,  and 
memorials  in  his  honor  were  passed  by  the 
official  board  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  church 
of  Frankfort,  by  the  Women’s  Foreign  Mis- 
sionary society,  by  Frankfort  lodge.  No.  108, 

I.  O.  O.  F.,  and  by  the  Clinton  county  har. 
At  the  meeting  of  the  latter  for  this  purpose, 
addresses  were  made  by  Capt.  J.  N.  Sims,  P. 
W.  Card,  H.  Y.  Morrison,  Joseph  Claybaugh, 

J.  V.  Kent,  J.  C.  Suit,  Rev.  W.  McKendry 
Darwood,  of  Yonkers,  N.  Y.,  and  Sam  Van- 
ton.  At  his  demise  the  remains  lay  in  state 
at  his  former  residence,  from  two  till  five 
o’clock,  Saturday  afternoon,  April  2,  and  were 
viewed  by  hundreds  of  mourning  friends.  The 
obsequies  in  honor  of  Mr.  Barner  took  place 
Sunday,  April  3,  1892,  at  the  M.  E.  church, 
of  which  he  was  an  ardent  member.  The 


I5I()(;RAPIIICAT.  itistoky 


rxC) 


(H'rcmoiiiijs  wc're  most  impressive  and  the  lloral 
(lisi)lay  very  elaborate.  ()rations  were  made 
by  Rev.  \\'.  l’>.  Slut/,  Rev.  S.  lb  Town,  and 
Rev.  Thomas  Meridith,  and  the  funeral  cortege, 
which  formed  on  I'uesday  morning,  at  9:30, 
procec'ded  to  the  1.  O.  O.  b'.  cemetery.  The 
attendance  of  the  representative  Odd  I'ellows 
was  the  largest  ever  assembled  to  pay  homage 
to  tludr  dead,  and  under  the  auspices  of  this 
noble  order  were  the  mortal  remains  of  the 
lamented  John  Ifarner  laid  in  their  last  resting 
l)lace. 


AVfl)  PARRY  EARNER,  banker 
and  broker,  and  second  son  of  the 
late  [ohn  Earner  and  his  wife,  Mary 
E.  Darnell,  was  born  October  29, 
1833,  in  Erankfort,  Clinton  county,  fnd., 
which  is  still  his  place  of  residence.  He  ac- 
(piired  a liberal  education  in  the  schords  of  his 
native  citv,  and  passed  his  Satmjtla3’s.  and . vjm 
cations  in  the  offices  of  the  Clintonian,  Com- 
piler and  Clinton  News,  acciniring  a knowledge 
of  typography,  and  in  the  winter  of  1852  en- 
tered the  office  of  the  Sentinel  at  Indianapolis 
as  a compositor,  and  so  worked  until  the  fol- 
lowing sj)ring,  when  he  entered  Asbury  nni- 
versity,  at  Creencastle,  Ind.,  and  after  a ])ar- 
tial  course,  returned  to  Erankfort  and  taught 
school  during  the  winter  of  1854.  He  ne.xt 
entered  the  office  of  his  father,  who  was  at 
that  time  clerk  of  Clinton  county.  He  taught 
school  in  the  country  during  the  winter  of 
1855,  and  served  as  an  assistant  cderk  in  the 
lower  house  of  the  state  legislature  during  the 
session  of  1857.  fie  tlu.m  returned  to  Eraid<- 
fort  and  resumed  his  duties  in  the  clerk's  office, 
and  in  1859  was  elected  to  succeed  his  father, 
who  had  retired  after  a faithful  service  ol  fif- 
teen years. 

October  19,  J858,  at  )elferson,  Ind.,  Mr. 
Earner  was  united  in  marriage  with  Miss 


Mattie  M.  Hoj)kinson,  daughter  of  Mrs.  Lydia 
Ho])kinson,  now'  deceased.  To  this  union 
have  been  born  four  children,  viz  : ]ohn  H., 
deceased;  Eird  E.  ; Mabel  C.,  and  Lee  G.,  the 
latter  also  deceased.  In  October,  1863,  Mr. 
Earner  was  re-elected  county  clerk.  It  is  a 
matter  of  pride  with  Mr.  Earner  that  he  w'as 
the  first  native-born  citizen  in  Clinton  county 
elected  to  fill  a county  office.  May  i,  1868, 
he  and  his  father  engaged  in  the  banking  bus- 
iness, under  the  firm-name  of  U.  P.  Earner  & 
Co.  January  6,  1869,  this  firm  consolitlated 
with  Carter,  Given  A Go.,  proprietors  of  the 
International  bank,  of  which  Mr.  Earner  was 
elected  cashier,  which  position  he  retained  un- 
til july  22,  1871,  when  the  International  was 
convei'ted  into  the  Eirst  National  Eank  of 
P'rankfort,  of  which  institution  Mr.  Earner 
W'as  chosen  cashier,  and  which  office  he  accept- 
ed at  the  solicitation  of  Win.  K.  Garter,  now 
deceased,  who  for  some  years  ably  filled  the 
f.position  of  president.  Mr.  Earner  honorably 
and  efficiently  discharged  his  responsible  duties 
as  cashier  until  September  25,  1893,  having 

filled  the  position  continuouslv  for  twenty-two 
years — a term  of  service  not  often  ecpialed, 
and  of  which  anyone  might  well  be  proud. 
Under  his  management  the  First  National 
bank  steadily  advanced  to  a condition  ol  en- 
viable jrrosperity.  Mr.  Earner  is  generally 
ack  'owledged  by  men  w'ho  are  versed  in  such 
matters  as  the  best  judge  of  cretlit  in  this 
count\',  and  as  a safe  and  conservative  banker. 
Unlike  many  men  whose  life  w'ork  consists  in  the 
management  and  control  of  money  Mr.  Earner 
has  lU'ver  bc-come  its  slave.  The  needy  and 
suffering  could  not  appeal  to  a more  indulgent 
source  of  relief;  nor  could  they  who  desired  to 
engage  in  any  legitimate  enleri)rise  find  a more 
enthusiastic  snpj)orter. 

In  ]niug  1 879,  Mr.  Earner  was  elected  to 
attend  the  democratic  national  convention  at 
St.  Louis,  Mo.,  in  the  interest  of  Gov.  Hen- 


LIBRARY 
OF  THE 

UNIVERSITY  OP  ftWHOIS 


OF  CLINTON  COUNTY 


579 


(Iricks  as  a nominee  for  the  i)residency.  Mr. 
Harner  is  an  earnest  friend  of  public  education, 
and  durinfj  his  term  as  member  of  the  school 
hoard  of  h'rankfort  the  handsome  school  edi- 
fice in  the  Second  ward,  was  built  in  1873. 
He  is  the  onl}?  survivor  of  the  board  of  trustees 
with  whom  he  was  associated  in  that  enter- 
prise— Messrs.  James  H.  Paris  and  Samuel  D. 
Ayers — who  have  since  died. 


^ ^ ON.  SAMUEL  O.  BAYLESS,  a 
prominent  member  of  the  Lrankfort 
^ * bar  and  of  the  bar  of  the  supreme 
court  of  the  state,  is  a son  of  John 
N.  and  Christiana  (Cosner)  Bayless,  and  was 
born  in  Tippecanoe  county,  Ind.,  June  24, 
1848.  John  M.  Bayless  was  born  in  Butler 
county,  Ohio,  Januar}'  3,  1813,  and  was  a son 
of  Platt  and  L'annie  (McGar})  Bayless,  who 
were  born  and  married  in  New  jersey,  where 
Platt  Bayless  was  engaged  in  farming.  In 
1802  they  moved  to  Butler  county,  Ohio,  and 
and  there  remained  until  1833,  when  they 
came  to  Indiana  and  settled  in  Tippecanoe 
county,  in  the  eastern  part  of  which  Platt 
Bayless  entered  160  acres  of  forest  land,  which 
he  cleared  and  cultivated  until  his  death,  which 
occurred  in  1856,  his  widow  surviving  until 
1861.  They  were  the  parents  of  the  follow- 
ing children:  John  M.  ; Sarah  Ann,  wife  of 
Ezra  Bush,  now  decaased;  Cyrus;  Martha  j., 
wife  of  William  H.  Sims,  of  Mulberry,  Clinton 
county;  Platt,  of  Lincoln,  Neb. ; and  Samuel, 
who  went  to  Te.xas  before  the  opening  of  the 
late  war,  and  of  whom  all  trace  is  lost. 

John  M.  Bayless  was  only  twenty  years  of 
age  when  he  came  to  Indiana  with  his  parents. 
At  the  age  of  twenty-one  he  engaged  in  shoe- 
making, at  which  he  worked  in  the  village  of 
Dayton,  Tippecanoe  county,  until  1842,  when 
he  purchased  land  and  engaged  in  farming  in 
same  county,  which  vocation  he  followed  until 


March,  i 879,  when  he  moved  to  I'rankfort  and 
retired  from  active  labor.  His  first  farm  com- 
jirised  eighty  acres  only,  but  before  he  retired 
he  had  increased  it  to  300  acres,  and  had 
erected  one  of  the  finest  farm  dwellings  in  the 
comity.  During  his  residence  in  Tippecanoe 
county  he  assisted  in  the  organization  of  the 
Tippecanoe  & Clinton  county  L'anners’  Mutual 
Insurance  company;  was  elected  its  first  presi- 
dent and  held  this  position  until  his  retirement 
from  the  farm.  He  was  also  for  a number  of 
years  president  of  the  board  of  trustees  of  the 
Dayton  seminary.  The  first  marriage  of  John 
j\I.  Bayless  took  place,  in  Tippecanoe  county, 
August  25,  1839,  to  Harriet  Isabella  Paige, 
who  was  a member  of  the  first  white  family 
that  settled  in  that  county,  and  was  of  English 
e.xtraction,  and  to  this  marriage  were  born 
three  children — two  sons  who  died  in  infancy, 
and  a daughter,  Sarah,  who  grew  to  maturity, 
but  is  now  also  deceased.  The  mother  of  these 
children  died  November  3,  1845.  The  second 
marriage  of  John  M.  Bayless  took  place,  in 
Tippecanoe  county,  July  25,  1847,  to  Christi- 
ana Cosner,  a native  of  Virginia,  born  July  6, 
1826,  and  the  daughter  of  Adam  and  Margaret 
(Michaels)  Cosner.  To  this  felicitous  union 
were  born  eight  children,  all  of  whom  are  de- 
ceased save  two — Samuel  O. , the  subject 
proper  of  this  sketch,  and  John  O.,  of  Erank- 
fort.  The  greatly  lamented  John  M.  Bayless 
departed  this  life,  at  Frankfort,  October  3d, 
1892.  In  his  religious  belief  he  was  a life-long 
and  consistent  Universalist;  never  bitter  in  the 
advocacy  of  his  views,  but  broad  and  compre- 
hensive in  his  love  for  mankind,  with  charity 
and  tolerance  for  all.  He  was  a Mason,  be- 
longing to  the  Dayton  lodge,  of  which  he  was 
an  active  member  at  the  time  of  his  death. 
This  lodge  had  charge  of  the  burial  ceremo- 
nies. In  politics  Mr.  Bayless  was  a republican 
from  the  organization  of  that  party.  At  the 
beginning  of  the  war,  having  passed  the  age  of 


580 


l?I()(iRAPlIICAL  HISTORY 


arlivi-  service,  he  was  apjxjiiited  and  served  as 
enrolliiifj^  oHicer  in  'rijijiecanoe  comity.  He 
was  an  ardent  union  ami  anti-slavery  man  and 
rcMuiered  material  assistance  to  tlie  cause.  Mr. 
Ihiyless  was  a kind,  gentle  and  genial  compan- 
ion, a true  and  steadfast  friend,  and  an  honest 
man  free  from  deception  of  any  kind.  His  in- 
tegrity was  spotless  and  irreproacliable. 

Samuel  ().  Bayless,  the  subject  of  this  bio- 
grajihy,  was  reared  on  the  liome  farm,  alter- 
nating his  labor  with  study.  His  preliminary 
education  was  received  at  the  common  schools 
of  Tippecanoe  county,  snpjilemented  by  a 
course  of  one  year  in  the  high  school  of  P'raidi- 
foot,  Clinton  county,  and  a year  at  Lombard 
university,  ('lalesburg.  Ilk,  wliere  he  took  a 
special  course  in  political  economy.  In  Octo- 
ber, I 868,  at  the  age  of  twenty,  he  entered  the 
law  dejiartment  of  the  Michigan  university  at 
Ann  Arbor,  and  up  to  this  time  had  never  en- 
tered a court  room  nor  even  read  a law  book. 
After  a course  of  two  years,  he  graduated 
(March  27,  1870),  and  went  to  Selma,  Ala., 
where  he  practiced  until  the  fall  of  the  same 
year,  when  he  settled  in  Frankfort,  Ind., 
where  he  has  met  with  a success  unrivaled.  In 
1871  he  formed  a co-partnership  with  Judge  J. 
C.  Suit.  This  jiartnership  continued  until 
January  i,  1873,  when  the  partnership  was 
discontinued  and  he  practiced  alone  until  No- 
\ember,  1874.  At  that  time  he  associated 
himself  in  practice  with  Hon.  A.  E.  Paige, 
under  the  firm-name  of  Paige  A I fayless. 
This  jiartnership  continued  until  the  elec- 
tion of  Mr.  Paige  to  the  position  of  judge 
of  the  (dinton  circuit  court,  in  Octolier,  1884. 
d'his  linn  did  a large  and  lucrative  business 
during  the  ten  years  of  its  ('xistence.  In  May, 
1885,  he  associated  with  him  W.  H.  Russell, 
Es(|.,  under  the  firm  name  of  Bayless  A Rus- 
sell. 'I'his  partnership  continued  one  year, 
and  again,  in  )annary,  1889,  ('haiU'sCi.  (Iikmi- 
ther  became  the  partner  of  Mr.  Bayless,  under 


the  firm  name  of  Bayless  & Guenther.  This 
relation  still  exists.  To  revert,  however,  to 
the  initiatory  practice  of  Mr.  Bayless  in  I'rank- 
fort,  it  may  be  mentioned  that  it  was  soon 
made  manifest  that  Mr.  Bayless  had  a peculiar 
faculty  for  handling  the  legal  affairs  of  c r})or- 
ations.  He  was  selected  as  local  attorney  for 
the  railroad  companies  then  constructing  their 
lines  through  the  county,  and  his  reputation 
was  soon  established  on  a ])ermanency,  and 
his  corporation  business  has  steadily  and  ra[)- 
idly  increased  from  year  to  year,  until  he  now 
stands  without  a peer  in  Indiana  in  this  par- 
ticular class  of  litigation. 

In  1884  he  accepted  the  position  of  general 
attorney  for  the  Indianapolis  and  Chicago  di- 
vision of  the  Monon  route,  or  Louisville,  New 
Albany  & Chicago  railway  companv,  w'hich 
position  he  held  two  years;  in  1886  he  was  ap- 
jiointed  general  attorney  for  the  Toledo,  St. 
Louis  (S;  Kansas  City,  or  “Clover  Leaf” 
railroad  company,  for  Indiana,  which  of- 
fice he  held  until  1892,  when  he  accepted 
tlie  position  of  assistant  general  solici- 
tor for  the  same  company,  and  had  entire 
charge  of  the  litigation  of  the  company  in  In- 
diana and  Illinois;  in  May,  1893,  he  was  ap- 
pointed assistant  general  counsel  for  the  receiver 
of  this  company,  which  position  he  still  holds. 
Mr.  Bayless  is  also  special  attorney  for  the  Lo- 
gansj)ort  and  Terre  Haute  division  of  the  \kin- 
dalia  line,  and  also  the  local  attorney  with  the 
Lake  Erie  N Western  railroad  company.  Mr. 
Baylcss  is  also  called  upon  (piite  frecpiently  to 
act  as  counsel  for  the  “Big  h'onr,  " or  Cleveland, 
Cincinnati,  Chicago  A St.  Louis  company,  as 
well  as  for  the  Wabash  com])any  as  local  coun- 
sel. Beside  his  railroad  connection,  he  is  at- 
torney for  the  Central  Union  'rdephone  com- 
pany in  Indiana,  and  has  Ix'en  the  counsel  for 
till'  water-works,  gas  and  other  cori)orations  at 
I'rankfort.  In  March,  1894,  he  was  admitted 
to  tlu'  bar  of  the  United  States  supreme  court. 


OF  CLINTON  COUNTY. 


581 


Mr.  Bayless  was  most  happily  united  in 
rnarriaf^e,  in  Clinton  county,  November  21, 
1872,  to  Miss  Emma  D.  Clark,  daughter  of 
Dr.  John  M.  and  Sarah  V.  (Gilkerson)  Clark, 
jirominent  residents  of  the  county.  This  lady 
was  horn  August  18,  1852,  is  highly  ac- 

complished, and  is  a member  of  the  Presby- 
terian church.  Two  children  have  blessed  this 
union,  and  are  named  Coralyn  C.  and  Florence 
G.  Mr.  Bayless  is  a thirty-second  degree 
Mason,  a K.  of  P. , a member  of  the  I.  O.  R. 
M.  and  of  the  B.  & P.  O.  E.  In  politics  he 
is  a republican,  and  in  1874  was  elected  mayor 
of  Frankfort,  and  filled  the  office  for  three  con- 
secutive terms  of  two  years  each.  For  a num- 
ber of  years  he  was  chairman  of  the  republican 
county  central  committee,  and  a member  of 
the  republican  state  central  committee.  His 
name  has  frequently  been  mentioned  as  a can- 
didate for  the  position  of  congressman  on  the 
republican  ticket  in  this  congressional  district. 
This,  however,  he  has  always  declined  on 
account  of  his  e.xtensive  law  practice.  It  is 
needless  here  to  comment  upon  the  career  or 
character  of  such  a man  as  Samuel  O.  Bayless. 


DWARD  C.  BEA\'ER,  agent  of  the 
Terre  Haute  & Indianapolis  railway 
and  for  twenty-four  years  a promi- 
nent citizen  of  Frankfort,  was  born 
on  the  tenth  day  of  January,  1848,  in  Mont- 
gomery county,  Ohio.  His  father,  John  N. 
F.  Beaver,  for  a number  of  years  a business 
man  of  Dayton,  Ohio,  was  born  in  Cumber- 
land county.  Pa.,  the  son  of  Nicholas  Beaver, 
also  a native  of  the  Reystone  state.  John  N. 
F.  Beaver,  married  in  Afontgomery  comity, 
Ohio,  Miss  Caroline  Snyder,  who  was  born  in 
1821  and  died  in  the  city  of  Dayton  in  the 
year  1861.  Mr.  Beaver  died  in  the  same  city, 
in  1856,  at  the  age  of  thirty-seven  years.  The 
following  are  the  names  of  their  five  children; 


P'rederick  P. , Edward  C.,  Harriet  A.,  Charles 
and  Alice  Ida,  all  living  with  the  exception 
of  Charles.  The  subject  of  this  sketch  is  in 
possession  of  some  interesting  facts  relating  to 
his  paternal  family  history,  which  he  traces 
back  through  many  generations  to  the  old  coun- 
try, notably  to  the  city  of  Strasburg,  then  be- 
longing to  France  but  now  subject  to  Germany. 
In  that  city  were  seven  brothers,  French 
Huguenots,  who,  by  reason  of  religious  perse- 
cution in  France,  during  the  latter  part  of  the 
sixteenth  century,  were  compelled  to  leave 
their  native  country  and  seek  a home  elsewhere, 
which  they  did  by  escaping  to  the  United 
States.  They  settled  in  various  parts  of 
Pennsylvania  and  other  eastern  states,  and 
left  a number  of  descendants,  who  became 
prominently  known  in  various  sections  of  the 
Union.  It  is  from  one  of  the  brothers  referred 
to  that  the  subject  of  this  sketch  is  descended, 
and  he  has  inherited  in  a marked  degree  many 
of  the  sterling  traits  which  characterized  his 
sturdy  ancestors.  Mr.  Beaver’s  maternal 
grandfather  was  of  Pennsylvania  birth  and  a 
descendant  of  an  old  and  well  known  Holland 
family  that  came  to  America  at  a very  early 
period  in  the  history  of  the  country. 

Edward  C.  Beaver  received  a good  educa- 
tion in  the  public  schools  of  Dayton,  Ohio, 
but  was  compelled  to  lay  aside  his  books  at  the 
early  age  of  fifteen  and  rely  upon  his  own  ex- 
ertions for  a livelihood.  When  sixteen  years 
old,  he  accepted  a clerkshij)  in  a dry-goods 
house  at  Ripley,  Ohio,  and  after  continuing  in 
that  capacity  for  a period  of  nearly  five  years, 
during  which  time  he  became  familiar  with 
every  detail  of  the  business,  he  accepted  a sim- 
ilar place  in  the  city  of  Portsmouth,  where  he  re- 
mained for  a limited  period.  He  next  moved 
to  Liberty,  Ind. , and  learned  telegraphy,  and 
accepted  his  first  position  as  an  operator  with 
the  C.  H.  & D.  railway  at  Oxford,  Ohio, 
where  he  remained  for  six  months  as  operator. 


BIOGRAPIITCAI.  HISTORY 


r)SL> 


and  for  about  one  year  in  tlie  double  jiosition 
of  operator  and  agent.  Mr.  Heaver  next  ac- 
cepted an  offer  from  the  old  L.  ('.  A S.  \V., 
now  tlu'  \'andalia  com])anv,  to  take  charge  of 
tlu‘  telegraph  office  at  Frankfort,  Inch,  and 
entered  njion  the  disediarge  of  his  duties  in 
lannary,  1872,  at  which  date  the  line  had  not 
completed  telegraphic  communications  with 
this  city;  hence,  for  a short  time  his  position 
was  that  of  assistant  agent.  Mr.  Heaver  was 
the  first  operator  at  this  point,  and  held  the 
position  until  1875,  at  which  date  he  severed 
his  ('onnec'tion  with  the  road  and  embarked  in 
the  dry-goods  bnsiiu.'ss,  continuing  the  same 
for  a jieriod  of  five  years.  In  1880,  he  again 
entered  the  employ  of  the  Vandalia  as  agent 
as  h'rankfort,  and  has  since  discharged  the  du- 
ties (.if  the  position  in  a manner  highlv  satis- 
factor\-  to  the  company  by  which  he  is  em- 
ployed. Mr.  Heaver  is  an  accomplished  rail- 
road man,  thoronghU'  familia,r  w’ith.  bverv 
detail  of  his  office,  and  is  highly  esteemed  for 
his  knowledge  of  the  business  in  general  and 
his  unusual  adaptability  to  its  duties.  Frater- 
nally he  is  a member  of  the  1.  ().  ().  1'.  and 
politically  affiliates  with  the  rejiublican  party. 
For  two  3'ears  he  served  the  city  of  Fraid-;- 
fort  as  a member  of  the  common  council,  aside 
from  which  he  has  hcdd  no  civil  office  nor  has 
he  been  an  aspirant  for  official  honors,  politi- 
cal (jr  otherwise.  In  1873  Mr.  Heaver  was 
united  in  marriage  to  one  of  Frankfort’s  most 
estimable  young  ladies — Miss  Amanda  I),  (fas- 
ter— a union  blessed  by  the  birth  of  one  child, 
a daughter,  Anna  Pearl  Heaver.  Mr.  Heaver 
and  family  are  esteemed  members  of  the  Pres- 
byterian (dniK  h of  h'rankfort. 

'Idle  arduous  duties  pertaining  to  teleg- 
rai)h\’,  as  is  well  known,  are  exceedingly  wear- 
ing upon  the  constitution,  but  Mr.  Hcxiver  has 
been  able  to  bear  the  wear  and  tear,  and 
at  the  same  time  maintain  his  impertur- 
bability. 


i!»  FTER  HFEHOU'F,  oneof  the  foremost 

B,  M farmers  (^f  Michigan  township,  Clin- 
M ton  county,  Ind.,  was  born  in  Fay- 
county,  Inch,  September  22,  1830, 

and  is  of  (herman  extraction.  Wdlliam  Hee- 
liont,  his  father,  was  born  and  reared  in  Fay- 
ette county,  Pa.,  from  which  state  he  moved 
t(j  Ohio,  and  a few' years  later  came  to  Indiana, 
and  juirchased  and  improved  a farm  in  Fayette 
county.  He  married  Catherine  Walters, 
daughter  of  Michael  Whdters,  a noted  Indian 
fighter.  Mr.  Walters  was  at  one  time  cap- 
tured by  the  redskins,  w'ho,  admiring  his  brav- 
ery, did  not  burn  him  at  the  stake,  and  in 
about  three  years  he  made  his  escajie.  Will- 
iam Heebout  died  while  the  younger  children 
of  his  family  were  yet  small,  but  the  mother 
managed  to  keep  the  family  together  and  to 
educate  them  and  rear  them  to  be  an  honor  to 
her  name.  In  her  old  days'she  made  her 
home  with  her  son,  our  subject. 

Peter  Heebout,  whose  name  heads  this 
biography,  was  reared  a farmer  and  waseducat- 
ted  in  the  old-fashioned  log  school-house.  De- 
cember 15,  1852,110  married  Miss  Ann  Parker, 
daughter  of  Richard  aud  Elizabeth  (Benbow') 
Parker.  Mr.  Parker  was  a native  of  New  Jer- 
sey, of  Cierman  descent;  be  farmed  for  some 
time  in  Henry  comity,  Ind.,  in  1852  came  to 
Clinton  county,  and  at  his  death  was  the  own- 
er of  200  acres  of  land.  He  lost  his  w ife  Sep- 
tember 7,  1870,  and  his  own  death  occurred 
July  26,  1888.  Mr.  Heebout  settled  on  his 
present  farm  in  1857.  1 1 then  consisted  of  110 

acres  and  was  but  little  improved;  it  was  after- 
ward increast'd  to  400  acres,  but  he  has  gen- 
(-roiisly  given  most  of  this  to  his  married  chil- 
dren, retaining  for  himself  1 80  acres  only.  (hi 
this  he  has  a substantial  but  |)lain  dwelling 
and  a large  bank  barn,  lie  handles  ri'gistered 
stock,  including  Polo-.\ngns  cattle  and  Poland 
(diina  hogs.  In  politics  Mr.  Hc'chout  is  a 
democrat,  but,  althongb  lu'  has  been  Inapiently 


fc't,  ■ Iffy 

of 


PETER  BEEBOUT. 


MRS.  PETER  BEEBOUT. 


LIBRARY 
OF  THE 

UNIVERSITY  Of'  !LUNO«S 


OF  CLINTON  COUNTY 


587 


urged  to  accept  office,  including  that  ot  county 
commissioner,  he  has  always  declined.  He  is 
a Protestant  in  his  religions  predilections,  but 
is  connected  with  no  church,  although  he  con- 
tributes liberally  to  the  aid  of  numerous  de- 
nominations. His  children  are  named  Eliza- 
beth C. , wife  of  Robert  Heaton;  John,  Will- 
iam, Warren,  Howard,  Hattie,  Carrie  and 
Elmer  G.  Mr.  Beebout  is  an  accomplised 
agriculturist,  and  was  the  first  man  in  the 
county  to  introduce  tile  draining. 

Mr.  Beebout  has  led  an  industrious  and 
upright  life,  and  his  heart  is  filled  with  the 
sentiments  of  a true  Christianity,  notwithstand- 
ing the  fact  that  he  is  not  a member  of  any 
legitimately  organized  body  of  worshipers. 
Charitable  in  every  impulse,  the  suffering  poor 
have  never  appealed  to  him  in  vain,  although 
his  benefactions  have  ever  been  of  an  unosten- 
tatious and  modest  character. 


AVID  BLACK,  a substantial  farmer 
of  Michigan  township,  Clinton  coun- 
ty, Ind.,  was  born  in  Montgomery 
county,  Ind.,  May  30,  1839,  and  de- 
scends from  good  old  German  stock,  Schwartz 
being  the  original  name  in  German.  Daniel 
Black,  the  great-grandfather  of  our  subject, 
was  born  on  the  ocean,  while  his  parents  were 
on  their  way  to  America.  Growing  up  on  the 
solid  land,  however,  he  entered  160  acres  in 
Preble  county,  Ohio,  where  he  passed  his  life. 
Daniel  Black,  his  son,  was  born,  was  married, 
and  died  on  his  father's  farm.  He  served  in 
the  war  of  1812,  was  a strong  Methodist,  and 
was  the  father  of  the  following  children:  David, 
Uri,  and  Thomas  J.  Uri  Black,  son  of  Daniel, 
was  born  on  the  old  farm  in  Preble  county, 
Ohio,  November  6,  1806,  was  a blacksmith  by 
trade,  came  to  Indiana  in  1833,  and  entei'ed 
160  acres  of  land  in  Montgomery  county,  near 
the  Boone  county  line;  this  farm  he  improved. 


hut  later  sold  and  bought  one  near  Thorntown, 
on  which  he  lived  eleven  years  and  then  sold; 
in  1865  became  to  Clinton  county  and  pur- 
chased 245  acres,  on  which  he  resided  until 
his  death  in  1882.  He  married  Mary  Ann 
Wolf,  daughter  of  John  \Volf.  Mr.  Black  was 
a stanch  republican  and  served  as  justice  of 
the  peace  many  years;  he  was  a devout  Metho- 
dist, and  was  a class  leader  at  Thorntown.  His 
children  w-ere  born  in  the  following  order: 
George  W. , William  L. , Daniel,  John,  Henry 
H.,  David,  fames  E.,  Uri,  Jesse  L. , Mary  E. , 
and  Sarah  C. 

David  Black,  son  of  the  above  and  subject 
proper  of  this  biographical  sketch,  was  edu- 
cated in  the  old-time  log  school-house,  com- 
mon in  his  early  day.  September  19,  1861, 
he  enlisted  for  three  3^ears  in  company  I, 
Tenth  I.  V.  I.,  and  took  part  in  the  following 
engagements:  Mill  Springs,  Corinth,  Perry- 
ville,  Tnllahoiiia;  Pittsburg  Landing,  Kesaca, 
Buzzard’s  Roost,  Kenesaw  Mountain,  Lost 
Mountain,  Big  Shanty,  Missionary  Ridge, 
Chickamahga,  Hoover's  Gap,  Chattahoochee 
River,  Rolling  Fork,  and  others.  At  Rolling 
Fork  he  caught  a bullet  in  his  haversack;  at 
Missionary  Ridge  his  hat  was  blown  off  by 
concussion  of  a shell;  at  Chattanooga  a sixty- 
two  pound  shell  passed  between  his  legs  and 
buried  itself  in  the  ground,  covering  him  all 
over  with  dirt.  Notwithstanding  all  these 
“close  calls,”  Mr.  Black  escaped  being- 
wounded,  and  was  absent  from  duty  onl\'  a 
few  days,  while  sick  in  the  Kingston,  Ga., 
hospital.  At  Tunnell  Hill  Mr.  Black  was  of- 
fered a corporalship,  bnt  he  refused  to  accept 
the  position  unless  elected  to  it,  and  elected  he 
was.  He  received  an  honorable  discharge 
September  19,  1864,  and  now  receives  a pen- 
sion of  eighteen  dollars  per  month.  Mr. 
Black  is  a member  of  the  F.  & A.  M.,  and  has 
passed  all  the  chairs  of  Herman  lodge.  No. 
184;  he  is  now  senior  grand  in  the  Michigan- 


BIOCiRAPIIICAL  HISTORY 


ASS 


tcjvvii  l()(if(e  of  the  I.  O.  O.  F. , and  is  a ineinber 
of  Rubicon  lodj^e,  No,  340,  K.  of  P.  Mr.  Black 
was  married  I)ec(Mni:)er  12,  iiS65,  to  Miss 
Melissa  E.  Van  Ansdall,  daughter  of  Henry 
and  Sarah  A.  (Deem)  Van  Ansdall.  Mrs. 
Sarah  A,  (Deem)  \'an  Ansdall  was  a full  cousin 
(jf  Gov.  C'ampbell,  of  Ohio.  Mr.  Van  Ansdall 
is  a highly  educated  gentleman  and  has  long 
been  a teacher  in  graded  and  high  schools. 
The  children  horn  to  the  marriage  of  Mr. 
Black  are  named  Howard  L. , Laurie  E.,  John 
C.  and  Maud  F.  Mr.  Black  has  a fine  farm 
of  ninety-nine  acres,  improved  with  every 
modern  convenience.  He  and  family  hold  the 
respect  of  all  their  neighbors. 


HBEL  W.  BIAVSEY,  a progressive 
citizen  of  Perry  township,  Clinton 
county,  Ind.,  was  born  here  August  16, 
1858,  and  is  the  son  of  Samuel  and 
Elizabeth  (Dukes)  Bewsey,  both  parents  of 
English  descent.  His  grandfather  was  James 
Bewsey,  who  emigrated  from  England  to 
the  United  States  a number  of  years  ago 
and  settled  in  New  York;  thence,  after  his 
marriage,  he  moved  to  Indiana  and  located 
near  the  town  of  Hardensburg.  His  son, 
Samuel  Bewsey,  father  of  Abel  \V.,  was 
born  in  the  vicinity  of  Hardensburg  and  was 
by  occupation  a cooper,  which  trade  he  fol- 
lowed until  his  thirtieth  year,  when,  on  ac- 
count of  declining  health,  he  moved  to  the 
country  and  engaged  in  agriculture.  In  1856 
he  moved  to  Clinton  county  and  purchased  a 
jdace  (jf  160  acres,  at  the  time  but  littk-  im- 
proved, from  which,  by  the  e.xercise  of  great 
industry,  lu'  subse(| uently  developed  a very 
fine  farm.  He  owned  at  one  tinu'  320  acres 
of  land,  the  gi'eater  part  of  which  was  highly 
im])roved,  and  he  becanu^one  of  the  most  suc- 
cessfid  and  |)rogressive  citizens  of  the  town- 
shij)  where  he  lived.  Samuel  Ifewscy  was  one 


of  the  early  settlers  of  Clinton  county  and  a 
man  of  local  prominence.  He  was  originally 
a whig,  afterward  su])ported  the  re{)ublican 
party,  and  as  such  was  elected  to  the  position 
of  trustee  of  the  township.  He  lived  to  a ripe 
old  age  and  died  on  the  twenty-first  day  of 
August,  1893;  Mrs.  Bewsey  ts  still  living. 

Abel  W.  Bewsey  was  reared  a farmer  and 
early  chose  agriculture  for  the  work  to  which 
his  life  should  be  devoted.  In  his  chosen  call- 
ing he  has  met  with  the  most  encouraging  suc- 
cess and  now  owns  a well-stocked  and  well- 
tilled  farm,  with  modern  improvements,  lying 
about  one  mile  east  of  the  thriving  town  of 
Colfax,  thus  being  vvithin  easy  access  of  a good 
market.  His  place  is  considered  one  of  the 
best  in  Clinton  county,  and  as  a farmer  and 
stock  raiser  Mr.  Bewsey  takes  a deservedly 
high  rank  among  the  successful  agriculturists 
of  the  township  of  Perry.  He  is  an  enter- 
prising man,  a close  observer,  and  takes  an 
active  interest  in  public  affairs,  and  is  a poli- 
tician of  the  republican  school;  religiously  he 
subscribes  to  the  United  Brethren  creed,  while 
his  wife  is  a Methodist.  Mr.  Bewsey  was 
married  December  18,  1879,  to  Mary  A.  Bliss, 
to  which  union  have  been  born  the  following 
children:  Bertha,  Roy,  Flora,  Orlando  and 
I.ela.  The  father  of  Mrs.  Bewsey  was  for 
a number  of  years  a well-known  farmer  of 
Clinton  county,  and  at  one  time  was  engaged 
in  the  mercantile  trade  at  Logansport,  where 
he  did  a very  successful  business. 


D.  BhlRGlfN,  M.  1).,  was  born  in 
Benton  county,  Iowa,  December  2, 

I 866,  and  is  a son  of  Isaac  and  Martha 
(Vorhis)  Bergen.  Isaac  Bergim  was 
born  in  the  state  of  Rentucky  September  3, 
1829,  married  in  |ohn.son  county,  Ind.,  in  1852, 
and  was  tliere  engaged  in  farming  until  1855, 
at  which  time  he  emigrated  to  Iowa,  locating 


library 


OF  CLINTON  COUNTY. 


589 


in  Benton  county,  where  he  followed  the  pur- 
suit of  agriculture  until  his  removal  to  the  town 
of  Vinton  in  1886.  Isaac  Bergen  is  a success- 
ful man,  a public-spirited  citizen  of  the  county 
where  he  resides,  and  by  judicious  manage- 
ment has  become  the  possessor  of  ample 
means,  owning  at  this  time  975  acres  of  land 
in  Benton  county,  low'a,  and  other  property 
equally  valuable.  He  is  the  father  of  eight 
children,  namely:  J.  C.,  railroad  agent  at  Liv- 
ermore, Iowa;  Retta,  deceased;  Jennie,  de- 
ceased; Matilda,  wife  of  W.  H.  Hanna,  of 
Iowa;  Mattie,  wife  of  Dr.  J.  D.  George,  of  In- 
dianapolis; E.  I).,  the  subject  of  this  mention; 
James  T.,  deceased,  and  G.  L. 

Dr.  Bergen  remained  with  his  parents  until 
attaining  his  majority,  received  his  early  edu- 
cation in  the  country  school,  and  in  1888  was 
graduated  from  the  Tilford  academy.  On 
completing  his  literary  education,  he  began 
reading  medicine  with  Dr.  C.  C.  Griffin,  of 
Vinton,  Iowa,  under  whose  instructions  he 
continued  two  years,  and  then  attended  a 
course  of  lectures  in  the  university  of  Michigan, 
at  Ann  Arbor.  Later,  he  prosecuted  his  pro- 
fessional studies  under  the  able  instruction  of 
Dr.  J.  D.  George,  of  Indianapolis,  and  in 
March,  1891,  was  graduated  from  the  Chicago 
school  of  Homeopathy.  After  receiving  his  di- 
ploma, the  doctor  began  the  practice  of  his 
profession  at  Frankfort,  Ind.,  where  he  has 
since  remained,  and  where  his  well  known 
abilities  as  a skillful  and  painstaking  physician 
have  won  for  him  a large  and  lucrative  busi- 
ness, which  is  constantly  increasing.  Dr.  Ber- 
gen was  married  in  Frankfort,  August  30, 
1892,  to  Mary  D.  Young,  who  was  born  in 
Clinton  county,  Ind.,  on  the  ninth  day  of 
April,  1871,  daughter  of  John  S.  and  Carrie 
fKernj  Young.  The  doctor  is  a member  of  the 
I.  O.  O.  F.  and  Maccabees  fraternities;  also  a 
member  of  the  Indiana  institute  of  Homeopa- 
thy, and  in  religion  subscribes  to  the  creed  of 


the  Presbyterian  church.  He  possesses  natural 
abilities  of  a high  order,  that  have  been  cpiick- 
ened  by  a thorough  mental  discipline,  and  he 
is  universally  recognized  as  one  of  the  rising 
physicians  of  Clinton  county.  Of  prepossess- 
ing presence  and  genial  disposition,  the  doctor 
has  won  a prominent  place  in  the  regard  of  his 
fellow'-citizens,  and  the  future  has  in  store  for 
him  a career  of  great  promise  and  usefulness. 


ILLIAM  N.  BERRY.MAN,  the  ac- 
commf)dating  station  agent  at  Scir- 
cleville,  Clinton  county,  Ind.,  for 
the  Lake  Erie  & Western  Railroad 
company,  was  born  in  Madison  county,  Ind. , 
August  20,  1865.  His  father,  Charles  E. 

Berryman,  descended  from  an  old  colonial 
family  of  North  Carolina,  and  married  Charity 
J.  Worley,  daughter  of  William  and  Nancy 
Worley,  who  were  among  the  earliest  settlers 
of  Madison  county.  The  father  was  engaged 
in  merchandising  for  a number  of  years  after 
marriage,  and  during  the  late  war  was  a gov- 
ernment contractor  for  horses.  He  w’as  a re- 
publican in  politics,  was  of  the  New  Light  re- 
ligious faith,  and  a P'reemason,  and  died  in 
May,  1881,  and  the  mother  now  resides  in 
Scircleville,  a respectable  member  of  the  Chris- 
tian church.  Their  three  surviving  children  are 
named  William  N.,  John  E.  and  Mary  E. 

William  N.  Berryman  received  a good  edu- 
cation and  began  his  business  life  as  a clerk  in 
a drug  store,  but  before  he  was  grown  learned 
telegraphy  and  station  work  on  the  railroad, 
and  for  twelve  years  has  discharged  the  duties 
of  his  position  to  the  satisfaction  of  the  com- 
pany and  of  the  public.  He  is  a thorough 
business  man  of  large  caliber,  and  enjoys  the 
confidence  of  all  who  know  him.  He  is  a 
stanch  democrat,  and  by  that  party  has  been 
unanimously  selected  as  their  nominee  for  the 
office  of  township  trustee,  his  business  qualifi- 


BIOGRAPHICAL  HISTORY 


cations  and  the  esteem  in  which  he  is  lield  by 
the  pnhlic  pecnliarly  fittiiif^  him  for  the  race. 
Ill'  is  a mend)i‘r  of  the  Sliield  lodge,  No.  71, 
K.  of  P. , at  h'raid<fort,  and  of  the  Scircleville 
lodge,  No.  593,  I.  O.  O,  1'.,  and  in  the  latter 
he  has  passed  all  the  chairs,  and  has  also  been 
its  rej)resentative  in  the  grand  lodge.  He 
is  an  advocate  of  public  education  and  is 
free  in  his  support  of  the  churches.  Mr.  Ber- 
ryman was  married  to  Miss  F.  E.  Merritt, 
daughter  of  John  Merritt  and  sister  of  Law- 
sou  C.  Merritt,  whose  biography  appears 
oil  another  page.  To  this  iiiiiou  have  been 
born  three  children;  jewett  C.,  deceased, 
and  Boyd  M.  and  Charles.  .\fter  taking  the 
agency  of  the  Lake  Erie  A Western  railroad, 
twelve  years  ago,  while  Mr.  Berryman  was 
yet  an  unmarried  man,  he  built  a house  for  his 
widowed  mother  and  family,  and  just  before 
his  marriage,  he  deeded  it  to  her,  thus  provid- 
ing for  her  a home.  He  then  made  a new  start 
in  life’s  battle,  with  his  wife  to  aid  him,  and 
they  are  now  the  owners  of  a nice  forty-acre 
farm,  beside  other  town  property.  Mr.  Berrv- 
man's  energy  and  close  attention  to  business 
have  won  for  him  not  only  the  esteem  and  ap- 
probation of  the  company  by  which  he  is 
em|)loyed,  but  also  the  commendation  of  the 
public  in  general.  His  social  position  is  as 
enviable  as  it  is  deserved,  and  his  genial  dis- 
position and  generous  impulses  have  made 
him  a universal  favorite. 


LORGb'  W’.  BIRD,  the  efficient  city 
marshal  of  b'rankfort,  was  born  at 
the  historic  town  of  Harjier’s  I'erry, 
\ a. , on  the  nnieteenth  day  of  De- 
cember, I SgX,  and  is  a son  of  jacob  and 
Sarah  (Crunijiton)  Bird,  parents  both  natives 
of  the  same  state.  |aeob  Bird  died  when 
the  subjei't  ol  this  sketch  was  barely  one 
}ear  old,  and  the  widowed  mother,  with 


her  only  child,  continued  to  live  at  Harper’s 
Lerry  until  the  breaking  out  of  the  great 
rebellion.  W’hen  President  Lincoln  issued 
his  ])roclamati(m,  advising  all  loyal  people  to 
move  out-  of  the  state  of  Virginia,  Mrs. 
Bird  with  her  son  and  brother  moved  to 
Weaverton,  Md.,  where  they  continued  to 
reside  until  the  year  1870.  In  the  mean- 
time, George  \\h , after  receiving  his  educa- 
tional training  in  schools  of  the  above  town, 
began  working  for  himself  at  different  kinds 
of  employment,  and  for  some  years  prior  to 
1870  engaged  in  the  construction  of  the 
Baltimore  A Ohio  R.  R.  He  was  married 
in  the  above  year  to  Miss  Jane  A.  Buffing- 
ton of  Virginia,  and  afterward  w'as  engaged 
as  driller  in  the  Hagerstown  tunnel,  later 
worked  in  an  iron  furnace  at  Knoxville,  Md., 
to  which  place  he  removed  with  his  wife 
and  mother,  making  his  home  there  for  a 
jieriod  of  two  years.  Lor  a little  over  a year  Mr. 
Bird  was  a fireman  on  the  Baltimore  A Ohio 
R.  R.,  and  in  the  spring  of  1873  came  to  Frank- 
fmt,  Ind.,  where  he  has  since  resided. 

Mr.  Bird  learned  the  plasterer’s  trade 
which  he  followed  with  fair  success  for  seven 
years,  the  greater  part  of  the  time  as  con- 
tractor; in  1880  he  was  elected  marshal  of 
b'raidcfort,  which  position  he  held  two  terms, 
being  re-elected  in  1882.  From  the  year 
1884  to  the  year  1888  Mr.  Bird  was  alter- 
nately engaged  in  his  trade  and  the  furni- 
ture liusiiu'.ss,  and  from  the  latter  date  to 
1891,  inclusive,  served  as  dc|)uty  city  marshal 
of  b'rankfort.  In  1892  he  was  again  elected 
marshal  for  a leim  of  two  years,  and  in 
1894  was  re-elected  for  a ti'iin  of  four  years, 
being  the  jiresent  incumbent  of  the  office. 
As  a guardian  ot  the  peaci'  Mr.  Bird  has 
proved  a most  excellent  and  efficient  officer, 
and  the  ability  disi)layed  in  the  discharge  of 
the  many  onerous  duties  of  the  position  has 
received  universal  recognition  and  commen- 


OF  CI.TNTON  COUNTY. 


591 


(lation.  Politically,  Mr.  Pird  has  always 
been  an  active  republican,  and  fraternally 
belongs  to  the  Masonic  order,  the  Loyal 
Order  of  Moose  and  the  Improved  Order  of 
Red  Men,  the  last  named  of  which  he  had 
the  honor  of  representing  in  the  great  council 
at  Indianapolis.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Bird  have  a 
family  of  six  children,  namely:  Edgar  E.,  a 
telegraph  operator;  Pearl,  Agnes,  Bertha, 
Ethel  and  Maud.  The  mother  of  Mr.  Bird 
is  still  living  and  has  made  her  home  with 
him  ever  since  he  arrived  at  manhood’s  estate. 


ELDEN  E.  BLISS,  a prosperous  car- 
penter and  ex-soldier  of  Colfax,  Clin- 
ton county,  Ind.,  is  of  Scotch-Irish 
descent,  coming  from  a New  York 
family  of  colonial  antiquity.  His  father,  Elias 
Bliss,  a native  of  the  Empire  state,  was  a car- 
penter and  farmer,  was  an  early  settler  of 
Ohio,  and  is  still  living,  at  the  age  of  seventv- 
nine  years;  his  mother  died  six  years  ago,  in 
Ohio,  a devout  member  of  the  Methodist  j 
church.  Selden  E.  Bliss  was  married  June 
28,  1868,  to  Lucinda  E.  Baker,  daughter  of 
Daniel  and  Rachel  fMattix)  Baker.  Daniel 
Baker  came  from  Ohio  to  Indiana  in  the  early 
history  of  Clinton  county,  and  entered  and 
cleared  up  eighty  acres  of  land,  but  lost  his 
wife  July  18,  1888;  she  took  a deep  interest 
in  religion,  and  died  strong  in  the  faith  of  the 
United  Brethren  church.  To  the  marriage  of 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Bliss  were  born  the  lollow- 
ing  children:  Flora  M.,  Charles  E.,  Edward 
L.  (deceased),  Rachel  E.  and  Genevieve  E. 
Mr.  Bliss  has  made  a success  in  life  and  is  the 
owner  of  a very  pleasant  residence  and  tine 
city  lots.  For  over  three  years  he  did  good 
and  faithful  service  under  his  country’s  flag, 
and  a brief  record  is  here  given  of  his  military 
career:  At  the  age  of  eighteen  he  enlisted  for 
three  years,  November  6,  1861,  in  company 


C,  Fortieth  I.  V.  I.,  and  saw  his  first  battle 
at  Shiloh;  he  was  next  in  the  siege  of  Corinth; 
then  at  Perryville,  Ky. ; then  in  the  battle  of 
Stone  River;  was  at  Waldron’s  Ridge,  and  at 
Missionary  Ridge  was  wounded,  having  a great 
toe  shot  away,  and  for  several  weeks  was  in 
the  convalescent  camp  at  Chattanooga;  then 
joined  his  regiment  at  Tullahoma,  Term.  ; was 
in  fi'ont  of  Dalton  and  at  Resaca,  and  was 
hei'e  hit  by  a spent  ball  in  the  left  arm ; fought 
at  Kenesaw  Mountain  and  at  Peach  Tree  Creek 
and  Spring  Hill;  back  to  Franklin;  down  on 
the  Atlanta  campaign  for  ninety  days;  was 
with  Thomas  in  pursuit  of  Hood,  fighting  until 
the  latter’s  army  was  scattered,  and,  in  fact, 
was  with  the  army  of  the  Cumberland  in  all 
its  marches,  engagements  and  victories,  from 
the  time  of  his  enlistment  until  his  final  dis- 
charge at  Nashville,  December  10,  1864.  For 
all  this  hard  service  his  grateful  country  irow 
allows  him  a pension  of  $14  per  month.  Mr. 
Bliss  is  a member  of  Stillwell  post.  No.  375, 
G,  A.  R.,  and  in  politics  is  a republican. 


AMUEL  M.  BLYSTONE,  a substan- 
tial farmer  and  ex-soldier  of  Michigan 
township,  Clinton  county,  Ind.,  is  of 
German  descent,  but  of  an  old  Amer- 
ican family,  his  grandfather  Blystone  having 
been  a hero  in  the  Revolutionary  army. 
Moses  Blystone,  father  of  Samuel  M.,  was  a 
native  of  Ohio  and  came  to  Clinton  county, 
Ind.,  with  the  early  settlers.  He  married 
Hannah  Paris,  daughter  of  Richard  and  Eva 
Paris,  natives  of  Alabama.  To  this  marriage 
the  following  children  have  been  born: 
George  F.,  William  J.,  Josephus  and  Samuel 
M.  Excepting  George  F. , these  sons  were  all 
in  the  late  war. 

Samuel  M.  Blystone  was  born  in  Michigan 
township,  Clinton  county,  Ind.,  .\pril  5,  1844, 
and  has  been  a farmer  from  his  youth  up.  In 


BIOGRAPHICAL  HISTORY 


tlicrfallof  I <S64,  Mr.  Blystoiie  enlisted  in  com- 
pany G,  I'ifty-firsl  rej^iment  Indiana  volnnteer 
infantry,  and  was 'assigned  to  the  army  of  the  j 
Ciimherland  under  Gen.  Thomas.  He  par-  j 
ticipated  in  the  campaigns  of  Tennessee,  Ala-  | 
bama,  and  the  battles  of  Columbus,  Bridge- 
})ort,  I'ranklin  and  Nashville.  In  the  first 
day’s  battle  at  Nashville  a shell  exploded  near 
him  and  the  concussion  rendered  him  senseless 
for  more  than  an  hour;  the  second  day  a minie 
ball  struck  hfs  hand,  necessitating  his 
transfer  to  the  hospital;  while  convalescing  he 
was  attacked  by  the  measles,  which  settled  on 
his  lungs,  permanently  disabling  him.  He  was 
honorably  discharged  in  the  fall  of  1865,  and 
now  receives  a pension  of  $14  per  month,  and 
is  a dormant  member  of  the  G.  A.  R.  In 
1871  Mr.  Blystone  married  Miss  Mary  Wilson, 
daughter  of  George  M.  and  Lucinda  (Kent) 
Wilson,  the  former  of  whom  was  a farmer  of 
Clinton  county.  Mr.  Bb'stone  at  once  settled 
on  his  farm  of  1 20  acres,  which  is  well  im- 
proved and  cultivated.  They  have  two  chil- 
dren— Mark  M.  and  Hattie  B. — both  married 
and  doing  for  themselves. 


URIAH  BOND  is  a wor- 
H I ■ thy  representative  of  the  business 
X ^ ^ interests  of  Kirklin,  Clinton  county, 
Ind.,  is  a valued  citizen  and  an  hon- 
ored veteran  of  the  late  war.  He  is  now  en- 
gaged in  the  hardware  and  agricidtural  imple- 
ment business.  He  came  of  an  old  family  of 
Dutch  origin,  but  his  grandfather  was  an  Ohio 
farmer.  His  father,  Ulias  |.  Bond,  was  born 
in  Ohio,  in  1823,  and  on  attaining  his  major- 
ity married  Margaret  Slagle,  who  was  born  in 
1826.  Their  children  were'  Marion  U.;  Mary 
A.,  wife  of  William  Wood;  David  P. , who 
wedded  Ruth  Lhnore;  Sarah  L. , wife  of  Jas- 
])er  ]ohnson;  james  P. , who  wcddeal  Mary 
Ricketts;  Desta,  wdle  of  William  Woods; 


George  E.,  who  married  Ella  Wells;  Jesse  B., 
who  married  Matilda  Elkenson;  and  Stephen 
A.,  deceased.  Mr.  Bond  owned  about  1,000 
acres  of  improved  land.  He  had  only  $200  at 
the  time  of  his  marriage,  and  by  hard  labor, 
perseverence  and  economy,  he  acejuired  a 
handsome  competence.  In  politics  he  was  an 
old-line  whig  and  afterward  became  a republi- 
can. Both  he  and  his  wife  belonged  to  the 
Christian  church.  He  was  a straightforward, 
industrious  man,  who  had  the  respect  of  his 
neighbors,  and  was  often  appointed  guardian 
for  young  chddren  He  and  his  wife  now  live 
retired  in  Clinton  county. 

M.  U.  Bond  was  born  in  Ohio,  July  19, 

1 844,  was  reared  on  the  old  homestead  farm 
and  remained  w’ith  his  parents  until  August  7, 
1863,  when  he  joined  comjiany  B,  One 
Hundred  and  Sixteenth  Illinois  infantry,  under 
Capt.  Dutch.  After  drilling  for  some  thirty 
days,  the  regiment  started  from  La  Eayette  to 
Fort  Durbon,  Mich.,  and  guarded  the  arsenal 
at  that  place  for  a month.  Thence  they  pro- 
ceeded to  Tennessee  and  participated  in  the 
battle  of  Bull's  Gap,  which  was  a hard-fought 
engagement.  They  then  crossed  the  moun- 
tains into  North  Carolina,  and  for  seven  days 
they  were  without  provisions,  save  what  they 
could  gather  from  the  surrounding  country. 
This  caused  them,  to  retreat,  which  they  did, 
cutting  the  timber  behind  them  in  order  to  im- 
pede the  advance  of  the  enemy’s  artillery. 
About  this  time  Mr.  Bond  was  taken  with  the 
measles,  but  was  forced  to  march  through  mud 
and  rain,  and  when  his  fever  was  the  highest 
had  to  ford  Clinch  river.  For  a week  after- 
ward he  lay  unconscious,  and  when  he  re- 
covc'ied  found  himself  in  an  old  log  church 
surrounded  by  many  of  his  companions,  all 
lying  on  the  lloor.  d'he  guerrillas  made  a raid 
on  this  place,  set  fire  to  the  church,  and  some 
of  the  soldi('rs  who  were  unable  to  help  them- 
selves perished  in  the  llames.  Mr.  Bond  sue- 


OF  CLINTON  COUNTY. 


son 


ceedecl  in  gettinj;'  away  from  the  building  and 
was  afterward  taken  to  Cumberland  Gap, 
where  he  was  forced  to  lie  on  the  ground  in  a 
tent.  Those  who  were  able  had  to  forage  for 
“■heir  food.  About  this  time  a young  colored 
girl  came  to  the  tents,  and  Mr.  Bond  says  to 
her  he  owes  his  life,  for  she  gathered  herbs 
and  roots,  from  which  she  made  teas  which 
proved  very  beneficial  to  the  patients.  The 
regiment  then  again  proceeded  to  the  front, 
and  two  weeks  later  was  sent  to  Camp  Nel- 
son, in  Kentucky,  where  for  the  first  time 
the  sick  and  wounded  received  the  attention 
which  they  so  much  required.  Mr.  Bond’s 
health  was  so  greatly  impaired  that  he  was 
granted  a furlough  and  returned  home.  In 
March,  1864,  on  a physician’s  certificate  of 
disability,  he  was  mustered  out  and  again 
went  to  his  father’s  farm. 

On  the  15th  of  March,  1865,  Mr.  Bond 
married  Mrs.  Eliza  A.  Whalen,  who  was  born 
in  1842,  and  is  a daughter  of  Dudley  and  Mary 
Holden.  To  them  have  been  born  eight  chil- 
dren; Gazaro  Almeda,  Lou  Edna,  John  W. , 
Gertrude,  Milford  M.,  Clarence,  Lottie  and 
Elossie.  Mrs.  Bond  owned  sixty- five  acres  of 
land,  and  to  that  farm  the  yonng  people  re- 
moved, making  it  their  home  for  eight  years, 
when  they  traded  it  for  ninety-three  acres  in 
Kirklin  township.  This  was  afterward  ex- 
changed for  a farm  of  225  acres  on  the  Michi- 
gantown  road,  and  to  its  cultivation  Mr.  Bond 
devoted  his  energies  until  1892,  when  here- 
moved  to  the  town  of  Kirklin  and  purchased 
an  interest  in  the  Frazier  & Bond  roller  pro- 
cess flouring  mill.  They  also  bought  and  sold 
grain  during  one  season.  The  partnership 
was  then  dissolved,  and  our  subject  afterward 
bought  out  Robert  Thomas,  and  began  dealing- 
in  shelf  and  heavy  hardware,  tinware,  agricul- 
tural implements,  buggies  and  wagons.  He 
has  prospered  in  this  line  and  has  a constantly 
increasing  business.  He  is  also  a stockholder 


in  the  Kirklin  Natural  Gas  company.  Mr. 
Bond  has  served  as  road  superintendent  of  his 
township,  is  an  active  republican,  and  has  fre- 
(juently  been  delegate  to  the  county  and  con- 
gressional conventions  He  holds  member- 
ship with  the  Christian  church,  and  belongs  to 
Chickamauga  post.  No.  44,  G.  A.  R. , of  which 
he  has  been  assistant  treasurer  for  twenty  years; 
also  belongs  to  Kirklin  lodge.  No.  443,  F.  iS:  A. 
M.,  in  which  he  has  been  actively  interested 
I since  its  organization,  more  than  twenty-five 
j years  ago.  He  is  also  noble  grand  in  Kirklin 
i lodge.  No.  299,  I.  O.  O.  F.  He  is  a faithful 
citizen,  who  is  as  loyal  to  his  country  in  the 
days  of  peace  as  when  he  followed  the  stars 
and  stripes  on  southern  battle  fields. 


AVID  M.  BONHAM,  M.  D.,  of  Edna 
Mills,  Ross  township,  Clinton  county, 
Ind.,  is  one  of  the  leading  physicians 
of  his  county,  and  a prominent  citi- 
zen, coming  from  an  old  colonial  Virginia  fam- 
ily. His  grandfather.  Dr.  Benjamin  Bonham, 
was  born  at  Oldtown,  Va.,  of  German  stock. 
He  married,  in  Virginia,  Susan  Zinger,  and  to 
them  were  born  five  children,  viz. : Susan, 
Wesley,  Samuel,  Jeremiah  and  David.  At  an 
early  age  Dr.  Benjamin  Bonham  settled  in 
Shelby  county,  Ohio,  practiced  medicine  for 
many  years,  and  died  of  heart  disease  while 
visiting  a patient.  His  wife  also  practiced 
medicine  extensively  for  twenty  years,  and  rode 
horseback  far  and  wide.  Jeremiah  Bonham, 
son  of  above  and  father  of  our  subject,  was 
born  in  Virginia  and  went  to  Ohio  with  his 
parents  at  three  years  of  age.  He  married 
Mary  Fee,  daughter  of  John  and  Ann  (Gordon) 
Fee,  natives  of  Kentucky.  John  Fee  was  a 
substantial  farmer  of  Shelby  county,  Ohio,  and 
gave  all  of  his  children  a farm.  To  Jeremiah 
Bonham  and  wife  were  born  four  children: 
David  M.,  Susan,  Nancy  and  Francis.  Jere- 


BIOGKAPIITCAL  HISTORY 


imah  lioiiliain  died  at  tiie  age  of  sixty-threc 
\ears.  lie  and  wife  were  inenibers  ol  the 
Metliodist  (diiirch,  and  he  was  an  luniorable, 
indnstrions  man. 

Dr.  David  M.  Donhani  was  born  in  Shelby 
county,  Ohio,  September  15,  1849,  received  a 
common  school  education  and  taught  seven 
terms  in  Ohio,  beginning  at  sixteen  years  of 
age.  He  commenced  the  stndy  of  medicine 
w'ith  Dr.  jidian  vSharj),  of  Cridersville,  Ohio, 
and  attended  the  PAlectic  Medical  institute,  of 
('incinnati,  Ohio,  receiving  his  diploma  in 
I 869,  ami  also  attended  the  Michigan  nniver- 
sit\',  at  Ann  Arl)or,  receiving  his  diploma  from 
that  renowned  institution  in  1874.  He  first 
began  the  practice  of  medicine  in  Sidney, 
Ohio,  in  1869,  remaining  hve  years,  and  then 
practiced  at  Pleasant  Hill,  Ohio,  three  years, 
and  was  then  at  New  Vienna,  Ohio,  six  years. 
He  came  to  Edna  Mills,  Ind.,  in  1885.  The 
doctor  has  been  phenomenally  snccessfnl  in  his 
profession,  and  has  built  up  a large  and  lucra- 
tive practice  that  extends  from  Edna  Mills  far 
and  wide  through  the  surrounding  counties.  He 
))rovides  his  own  medicines,  that  his  patients 
may  have  them  pure,  and  he  always  has  on 
hand  a large  and  well  selected  stock,  which  he 
keeps  in  the  most  systematic  order,  so  that 
mistakes  are  almost  imiiossible,  and  his  meth- 
ods are  commended  by  all  physicians  w'ho  see 
his  plan.  Dr.  Ponham  is  a patron  of  the 
leading  medical  journals  of  the  day,  keeps  well 
read  up,  and  is  a member  of  the  State  Medical 
society,  Homeopathic  institute,  and  is  presi- 
dent of  the  Bureau.  Dr.  Boidiam  married 
Della  Syinons,  daughter  of  ]ohn  Symons,  and 
to  Dr.  and  Mrs.  Bonham  were  born  two  chil- 
dren - (fale  and  Kay.  Mrs.  Bonham  died  in 
I 884,  and  the  doctor  next  married  I )ora,  daugh- 
ter of  Samuel  Oldham,  and  to  this  union  have 
been  born  four  children,  vi/.  ; Lonnie,  Bessie, 
Russell  and  Samuel.  Dr.  Boidiam  has  pros- 
pered, and  is  tin;  owner  of  a tasteful  residence 


and  other  town  property.  He  and  wife  are 
iiiembers  of  the  (ferman  Baj)tist  church.  The 
doctor  is  a man  of  broad  mind,  and  is  highly 
respected  as  a ])hysician  and  citizen.  He  is 
entirely  a self-made  man,  having  begun  life  as 
a school  teacher. 


SA  H.  BOULDEN. — Conspicuous 
among  the  successful  lawyers  of  the 
Erankfort  bar  is  Asa  H.  Boulden,  a 
native  of  Clinton  county,  Ind.,  and 
son  ol  James  N.  and  Sarah  A.  (Elmore)  Boul- 
den. The  Bouldens  were  among  the  early 
pioneers  of  Clinton,  moving  to  this  part  of 
the  state  about  the  year  1830,  and  in  the 
growth  and  development  of  the  county  they 
have  ever  taken  an  active  and  prenninent  part. 
To  the  nnion  of  James  N.  and  Sarah  Boulden 
were  born  eight  children,  five  sons  and  three 
daughters,  all  of  whom  with  one  exception  re- 
side in  or  near  Frankfort  at  the  present  time. 
Their  names  are  as  follows:  Asa  H.,  Horace 
Ci.  (deceased),  W illiam  x\. , Mortimer  1).,  Oli- 
ver |.,  Hattie  M.,  (iharles  E.  and  Forest  M. 
Of  the  above,  William  A.  is  a farmer;  Morti- 
mer, Hattie,  Oliver  and  Forest  are  well-known 
teachers  of  C'linton  county,  and  Charles  E.  is 
the  present  efficient  county  surveyor. 

Asa  H.,  the  immediate  subject  of  notice, 
was  born  on  the  second  day  of  October,  1854, 
and  remained  under  the  parental  roof  until  his 
eighteenth  year,  attending  in  the  meantime 
the  schools  of  the  neighborhood.  x'Mter  his 
marriage,  which  was  consnmmated  in  the  year 
1874,  with  Mary  J.  Harde.sty,  Mr.  Boulden 
engaged  in  the  ])ursuit  of  agricultural  in  White 
county,  where  lu'  remaineil  two  years,  at  the 
end  of  which  time,  he  returned  to  Clinton 
county,  and  for  the  three  years  succeeding  fol- 
lowed farming  with  reasonably  fair  results  in 
the  townshij)  of  Kirklin.  During  the  next 
few  years  he  carried  on  general  trading  in  con- 


OF  CLINTON  COUNTY. 


595 


nectioii  with  agriculture,  and  in  i<S79  engaged 
in  the  lumber  business  at  the  town  of  Kirklin, 
where,  in  addition  to  buying  and  selling  lum- 
ber and  timber,  he  operated  a saw-mill  for 
about  one  year.  His  next  venture  was  as  a 
dealer  in  slack  barrel  staves,  at  the  town  of 
Kirklin,  in  partnership  with  Robert  Stoops, 
Esq.,  where  he  remained  one  year  and  then 
embarked  in  the  drug  trade  at  Kirklin  for  three 
vears  as  a member  of  the  firm  of  Davis  & 
Boulden,  doing  a very  remunerative  business 
in  the  interim. 

Exchanging  his  interest  in  the  above  house 
for  a general  stock  of  clothing,  Mr.  Boulden 
dealt  in  the  latter  line  for  a limited  period  at 
Kirklin  and  then  moved  his  business  to  the 
town  of  Sheridan,  Hamilton  county,  where  he 
remained  one  year,  disposing  of  his  stock  at 
the  end  of  that  time  and  retiring  permanently 
from  the  mercantile  trade.  While  residing  at 
Kirklin  Mr.  Boulden  filled  the  office  of  justice 
of  the  peace  four  years,  and  in  the  meantime, 
having  selected  the  law  for  a profession,  he 
began  preparing  himself  for  the  same  by  a 
course  of  reading,  which  he  pursued  assidu- 
ously during  his  incumbency  and  afterwards. 
He  resigned  the  justiceship  in  1886,  and,  com- 
ing to  Erankfort,  entered  the  office  of  Bristow 
& Higinbotham,  the  leading  law  firm  of  the 
city,  and  after  his  admission  to  the  bar,  in 
March  of  that  year,  he  at  once  entered  upon 
the  active  practice  of  his  profession  with  the 
above-named  gentlemen,  continuing  a member 
of  the  firm  until  its  dissolution,  two  years  later. 
During  the  next  four  years,  Mr.  Boulden  was 
associated  in  the  praetice  with  Messrs.  Bristow 
& Beard,  and  at  the  end  of  that  time  he  was 
appointed  deputy  prosecutor  of  Clinton  county, 
the  duties  of  which  he  discharged  in  a credit- 
able manner  for  a period  of  three  years.  His 
next  partner  was  Marcellus  Bristow,  with 
whom  he  remained  one  year,  and,  after  prac- 
ticing alone  for  the  same  length  of  time,  he  ef- 


fected a co-partnership  with  A.  Waters, 
which  was  dissolved  one  year  later,  since  which 
time  Mr.  Boulden  has  been  alone  in  the  prac- 
tice. Mr.  Boulden  has  led  an  active  and  in- 
dustrious life,  and  in  his  profession  has  earned 
the  reputation  of  a capable  and  honorable  law- 
yer, a safe  counselor,  an  able  advocate,  and  a 
suceessful  general  practitioner.  Among  his 
professional  associates  of  the  Clinton  bar  he  is 
highly  esteemed,  and  as  a chizen  fully  alive  to 
all  that  benefits  the  public,  he  is  progressive 
and  energetic  in  the  sense  in  which  those  terms 
are  usually  understood.  Politically  his  alle- 
giance is  with  the  republican  party,  but  he  is 
not  a partisan  in  the  sense  of  seeking  the  hon- 
ors or  emoluments  of  office.  Fraternally  he 
belongs  to  the  I.  O.  O.  E.,  and  to  the  Royal 
Order  of  Moose.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Boulden  have 
two  children — James,  deceased,  and  Millie  A. 


HARLES  MADISON  BRIDGEORD, 
who  is  successfully  engaged  in  gen- 
eral farming  in  Kirklin  township, 
Clinton  county,  Ind.,  was  born  in 
Butler  county,  Ohio,  January  10,  1824,  and 
is  of  Welsh  descent.  His  grandfather,  Mul- 
liam  Bridgford,  was  a native  of  Virginia,  and 
was  a blacksmith  and  farmer.  He  voted  with 
the  democratic  party,  and  lived  to  the  age  of 
eighty-four.  His  children  were  John,  William 
B.,  George,  Richard,  Walter,  Polly,  Eliza, 
Nancy  and  Elsie.  William  Bonaparte  Bridg- 
ford was  horn  in  Virginia  in  1794,  and  when  a 
young  man  learned  the  trade  of  shoemaking, 
which  he  followed  several  years.  He  married 
Polly  Wakeland,  of  Kentucky,  daughter  of 
Charles  and  Permilia  Wakeland,  and  their 
children  were:  Andrew  J.,  Mary  A.,  Samuel 
A.,  Charles  M.,  Caroline  G.,  Parmelia,  Fran- 
cis E.  (deceased),  James,  William  T.  and 
Eliza  (who  died  at  the  age  of  eleven  years). 
Mr.  Bridgford  owned  fifty  acres  of  college 


B10(tRAPIITCAL  history 


r/.io 


lai\(l  near  Oxford,  Oliio,  which  he  sold  on  re-  [ 
moving;  to  Fayette  comity,  Inch,  in  i(S3o.  j 
In  i<S32,  he  settled  in  Marion  county,  and  j 
there  he  reared  part  of  his  family,  and  accumu-  j 
lated  400  acres  of  land.  He  became  a promi- 
nent and  influential  citizen,  and  for  four  years 
served  as  justice  (A  the  peace.  In  jiolitics  he 
was  first  a whi"  and  afterward  a reinihlican. 
Like  his  father  and  brother,  he  served  in  the  | 
war  of  1S12,  with  the  mounted  men  which 
were  sent  to  Canada.  He  died  at  the  a^je  of  I 
sixty-eight,  and  his  wife  passed  aw’ay  in  1850, 
at  the  age  of  fifty-four  years.  They  w'ere 
buried  in  Marion  county,  Ind. 

C.  M.  Bridgford  spent  the  days  of  his 
boyhood  and  youth  on  a farm,  aiul  was  edu- 
cated in  a log  school-house,  which  he  attended 
two  months  each  winter.  He  lived  with  his 
parents  until  February  25,  1847,  when  he  mar- 
ried Mary  A.  Hilton,  wdio  was  born  July  10, 
1828,  and  is  a daughter  of  Aquilla  and  Sarah 
(Redwine)  Hilton.  They  had  two  children, 
Virginia  A.  and  Sam  A.  (wdro  died  in  child- 
hood). They  began  their  domestic  life  on  the 
old  home  farm,  and  those  early  days  w'ere  a 
period  of  hardship.  First  the  daughter  died; 
then,  on  the  28th  of  May,  1851,  the  mother 
jrassed  away;  while,  shorty  after  the ^on  joined 
the  silent  majority.  Mr.  Bridgford  was  again 
married  February  9,  1859,  his  second  union 
being  with  Ellen  Miller,  who  was  born  July 
14,  182S,  and  was  a daughter  of  Isaac  and 
Sarah  (Liddick)  Miller,  the  former  a native  of 
X’irginia,  and  the  latter  of  Maryland.  Mr. 
Bridgford  inherited  from  his  father  about 
$1,900,  and  his  wdfe  recei\'ed  from  her  father 
120  acres  of  land.  The  farm  on  wdiich  they 
now  reside  is  a rich  and  highly  cultivated  tract, 
well  drained  with  800  rods  of  tiling  and  sujw 
plied  with  all  modern  im|)rovements  and  acces- 
sories. The  pleasant  home  is  the  abode  of  hos- 
pitality, and  onr  subject  and  his  worthy  wife 
raid<  high  in  social  circles  and  have  many  warm 


friends  in  the  community.  In  politics  he  is  a 
stalwart  republican,  unswerving  in  his  allegi- 
ance to  the  party. 


HI).  BROCK,  one  of  the  most  exten- 
sive farmers  of  Jackson  township, 
Clinton  county,  Ind.,  is  a native  of 
the  state  and  was  born  in  Johnson 
county,  November  i,  1824.  His  father,  Elias 
Brock,  was  born  in  Kentucky  February  8, 
1800,  moved  from  his  native  state  to  Ohio, 
and  thence  came  to  Indiana,  where  he  was 
married,  in  Johnson  county,  to  Miss  Mary 
Durbin,  a native  of  Kentucky.  In  1835  Elias 
Brock  brought  his  family  to  Clinton  county 
and  here  purchased  240  acres  of  wild  land, 
and  also  entered  forty  acres  from  the  govern- 
ment, but  did  not  live  long  afterward,  dying 
in  February,  1839,  and  leaving  a widow,  who 
had  borne  him  eight  children.  Two  of  these 
had  previously  died,  and  of  the  remaining  six 
A.  D Brock  was  the  eldest,  and  is  now  the 
only  survivor.  Mrs.  Brock  was  born  April  12, 
1802,  was  married  December  6,  1821,  and 
died  March  25,  1872.  The  names  of  her  de- 
ceased children  were  Elizabeth,  Susan,  Mar- 
tha, Thomas,  Clarissa,  John  W.  and  Nancy  M. 

A.  D.  Brock,  as  will  have  been  noticed, 
was  but  fourteen  years  old  when  he  lost  his 
father,  and,  being  the  eldest  son,  was  naturally 
the  one  on  whom  the  care  of  the  home  farm 
devolved,  and  the  chief  jiart  of  this  care  was 
to  release  it  from  indebtedness,  which,  by  hard 
work  he  succeeded  in  doing.  Not  only  this, 
he  has  added  to  the  old  homestead  until  he 
now  owns  818  acres,  and  an  important  factor 
in  this  desired  result  has  been  stock  raising. 
His  success  in  life  has  been  marvelous,  and  he 
has  now  retired  from  active  work,  renting  his 
land  and  giving  it  only  a general  sujiervision. 
Mr.  Brock  has  never  married,  ami  until  her 
recent  death  his  sister  has  been  his  hou.se- 


o-^io7m  CP 


OF  CT.INTON  COUNTY. 


509 


keeper.  Politically  Mr.  Brock  is  a democrat. 
In  his  retirement  he  enjoys  not  only  the  com- 
forts secured  by  a well-spent  life,  but  the  re- 
spect of  all  who  know  him. 


ILEY  W.  BROOKS,  one  of  the 
heaviest  farmers  of  Forest  township, 
Clinton  county,  Ind.,  was  born  in 
Tazewell  county,  Va.,  and  is  of 
German  descent  through  the  distant  past. 
His  grandfather,  Robert  Brooks,  was  slso  a 
native  of  Tazewell  county,  Va. , where  he  owned 
a plantation,  and  from  which  state  he  volun- 
teered as  a soldier  in  the  war  of  1812.  His 
son,  Robert  Brooks,  Jr.,  was  born  in  Tazewell 
county  also,  in  the  year  1801.  He  married 
Sarah  Vensel,  and  had  born  to  him  six  children 
in  the  following  order:  Manda,  Adeline  V., 
Robert  O. , Andrew  J. , Wiley  W.  and  Sarah 
E.  Both  parents  w'ere  members  of  the  M.  E. 
church.  They  came  to  Clinton  county  in 
1858,  and  here  the  father  died  in  1872,  the 
death  of  the  mother  having  taken  place  in 
Tazewell  county,  Va. 

Wiley  W.  Brooks  was  reared  a farmer  and 
educated  in  the  proverbial  log  school-house. 
He  married  Elizabeth  Michael,  daughter  of 
Abraham  and  Mary  (Trobaugh)  Michael,  who 
were  of  German  descent  and  among  the  early 
settlers  of  Clinton  county.  At  their  marriage 
Wiley  W.  Brooks  and  wife  settled  on  a part  of 
her  father’s  old  farm,  which  part  they  have 
increased  so  as  to  comprise  190  acres,  improv- 
ed with  a good  dwelling  and  barn  and  in  a 
good  state  of  cultivation.  Mr.  Brooks  also 
owns  and  operates  a steam  thresher.  The 
children  born  to  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Brooks  were 
named  Leona,  Albert  H.,  Williard  D.,  and 
Lessie  G.  Of  these,  Leona  died  February  10, 
1892,  at  the  age  of  eighteen,  a devout  member 
of  the  M.  P.  church,  and  beloved  by  all  who 
knew  her,  and  Albert  H.,  is  a teacher  in  the 

29 


township  schools.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Brooks  are 
both  members  of  the  M.  P.  church,  in  which 
he  is  a class  leader,  has  been  steward,  was  at 
one  time  Sabbath-school  superintendent,  and 
is  now'  a Sabbath-school  teacher.  Mr.  Brooks 
is  also  a member  of  Forest  lodge.  No.  592,  L 
O.  O F.,  in  w'hich  he  has  passed  all  the 
chairs,  and  which  he  has  represented  in  the 
grand  lodge;  he  is  likewise  a member  of  the 
encampment,  and  also  a K.  of  P.  The  family 
stand  very  high  socially  and  their  circle  of 
acquaintances  is  large  and  influential. 


OHN  A.  BROOKIE,  a thriving  farmer 
of  Jackson  tow'nship,  Clinton  county, 
Ind.,  was  born  in  Oldham  county,  Ky., 
February  6,  1821,  and  is  the  second 
son  of  William  and  Mary  (Dougherty)  Brookie,' 
also  natives  of  Kentucky  and  of  Scotch-Irish 
ancestry.  William,  the  father,  was  the  son  of 
John  Brookie,  a soldier  of  the  Revolutionary 
war,  w'ho  was  shot  in  the  left  shoulder  at  the 
battle  of  Lexington,  and  crippled  for  life; 
William  Brookie,  his  son,  served  in  the  war 
of  1812.  John,  the  grandfather,  w'as  the 
progonitor  of  the  American  family,  and  in 
coming  from  Scotland  to  America  settled  in 
Pennsylvania,  where  he  was  married,  and 
subsequently  moved  to  Kentucky,  locating  in 
Lexington.  After  the  death  of  his  wife  he 
came  to  Madison  county.  Inch,  and  lived  un- 
til his  death  with  his  daughter,  Mrs.  Catherine 
Anderson..  The  father  of  our  subject,  \\dl- 
liam  Brookie,  was  born  December  8,  1782, 

was  married  May  30,  1816,  and  died  July  23, 
1838.  Mary  (Dougherty)  Brookie  was  born 
January  9,  1794,  and  died  May  14,  1868. 

On  coming  from  Kentucky  to  Indiana,  Wil- 
liam made  a temporary  sojourn  in  Madison 
county,  wdiere  he  follow'ed  carpentering  the 
v\hile,  and  then  returned  to  Kentucky,  lived 
there  until  1834,  and  then  again  came  to 


BIOGRAPHICAL  HISTORY 


fiOO 

Indiana,  and  for  four  years  resided  in  Clin- 
ton county,  and  linally  went  to  Carroll 
county,  where  he  died  in  1838,  his  widow 
surviving  until  1868.  d'hey  were  the  parents 
of  thirteen  children,  ten  of  whom  lived  to 
maturity,  namely;  Mary  A.,  James  I).,  John 
A.,  Sarah  A..  Robert  H.,  Catherine  E.,  Eliza 
h'.,  Louisa  J.,  Amanda  D.,  and  Harvey  E. 
The  father  of  these  children  was  a member 
of  the  Social  Reform  church  and  his  wife  of 
the  Presbyterian  church. 

John  A.  Brookie  was  fourteen  years  of 
age  when  he  came  to  Clinton  county;  a year 
later  he  moved  to  Carroll  county,  where  he  re- 
sided until  the  death  of  his  father,  at  which 
time  his  mother,  with  her  frmily,  returned  to 
Clinton  county.  John  A.  remained  with  his 
mother  until  he  was  twenty-five  years  of  age. 
May  13,  1850,  he  was  united  in  marriage  to 
Miss  May  McCollom,  the  daughter  of  David 
and  Elizabeth  McCollom,  the  former  of  Irish 
and  the  latter  of  Welsh  descent.  Mrs.  Brookie 
is  a native  of  Mason  county,  Ry. , where  her 
father  died  when  she  was  three  years  of  age, 
after  which  her  mother  moved  to  Adams 
county,  Ohio,  and  thence,  in  1845,  Clinton 
C(junty,  Ind.  After  his  marriage,  Mr.  Brookie 
purchased  a part  of  the  old  homestead  on  the 
Twelve  Mile  Priarie,  where  he  lived  six  years, 
then  settled  on  his  present  farm,  which  was 
then  a dense  wilderness,  and  comprised  218 
acres,  forty  of  which  lie  in  Boone  county.  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  Brookie  are  the  parents  of  eleven 
children,  namely:  Eliza  M.,  born  March  18, 
1851,  wife  of  Isaac  N.  Irvin,  they  were  mar- 
ried August  15,  1888;  Mary  E.,  born  I'ebruary 
'7.  James  R.,  b'ebruary  15,  1855,  died 

January  2,  1857;  Harvey,  born  May  5,  1857, 
married  Hannah  Paris  March  15,  1880;  Hester 
II.,  born  Sei)tember  16,  1859,  married  James 
Berry  January  i,  1885;  h'hnira,  born  March  1, 
1862;  'I'liomas,  born  Novend)er  i,  1804,  mar- 
ried Mary  E.  Bennett  April  4,  1888;  William 


A.,  born  May  8,  1867,  married  Luetta  Strange 
December  4,  1889;  Martha  E.,  born  January 
18,  1870,  married  William  Stern  December  5, 
1889;  John  E.,  born  July  9,  1872,  died  August 
22,  1872;  infant  child,  August  ii,  1874,  died 
September  17,  1874. 


EWIS  BROWN,  a highly  respected 
farmer  living  in  Cyclone,  Ind.,  is  a 
self-made  man  whose  success  is  due 
entirely  to  his  own  efforts.  His  bus- 
iness career  has  ever  been  an  honorable  one 
and  is  well  worthy  of  emulation.  Mr.  Brown 
claims  Ohio  as  the  state  of  his  nativity  and  is 
descended  from  ancestors  who  located  in  this 
country  iji  colonial  times.  His  grandfather, 
John  Brown,  was  a farmer,  and  reared  a family 
of  five  children.  During  the  war  of  1812,  he 
drove  pack  horses  loaded  with  provisions  to 
the  army.  He  held  membership  with  the 
Methodist  church,  was  a democrat  in  politics, 
and  died  at  the  age  of  ninety.  His  wife  passed 
away  at  the  age  of  seventy-five.  Jesse  Brown, 
father  of  our  subject,  was  born  in  Virginia,  in 
1805,  and  at  the  age  of  eighteen  he  was  mar- 
ried to  Mary  Shepard,  who  was  born  in  Ohio, 
in  1 807,  and  was  a daughter  of  Lewis  Shep- 
ard. Their  children  are  Rachel,  \Vesley,  Tem- 
perance, Lewis,  Jesse,  Amos  (who  died  at 
Gallatin,  Tenn.,  during  the  late  war)  and  Ab- 
salom. Mr.  Brcrwm  was  a \’ery  hard  worker, 
and  through  his  industry  accumulated  a good 
farm  of  160  acres.  He  was  one  of  the  pio- 
neers of  Clinton  county,  of  1834,  living  here 
when  the  land  was  undevelo])cd  and  the  In- 
dians still  frecpiented  the  neighhorhood.  Dur- 
ing the  first  winter  he  cleared  and  fenced 
twenty  acres.  The  family  lived  in  true  pio- 
neer style,  and  during  the  spring  they  made 
500  j)()unds  of  maple  sugar,  working  day  and 
night.  Both  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Brown  belonged  to 
the  Methodist  Episcopal  church,  and  he  served 


OF  CLINTON  COUNTY. 


GOl 


as  class  leader  for  many  years.  In  early  life 
he  was  a democrat,  but  when  the  war  broke 
out  became  a republican.  His  death  occurred 
at  the  age  of  seventy-two  years.  His  wife 
died  at  the  age  of  forty-two,  and  in  1848,  he 
married  Mrs.  Laura  (Huffman)  Bennett,  by 
whom  he  had  five  childi'en,  namely:  William, 
Mary,  Hannah,  Phebe  j.  and  Amanda  J. 
The  mother  died  in  i 874,  at  the  age  of  fifty- 
five. 

Lewis  Brown  was  reared  among  the  wild 
scenes  of  the  frontier,  and  during  his  boyhood 
had  to  w'alk  two  miles  through  the  heavy  tim- 
ber to  school.  He  conned  his  lessons  in  a log 
school-hause,  with  puncheon  floor  and  stick 
chimney,  and  thus  acquired  his  education. 
.At  the  age  of  si.xteen  he  started  out  make  his 
own  living.  On  the  14th  of  I'ebruaiy,  1856, 
Mr.  Brown  was  united  in  marriage  with  Sarah 
Mistier,  who  was  born  in  Ohio,  October  19, 
1835,  a daughter  of  Silas  and  Sarah 

(Curry)  Misner.  Si.\  children  grace  their 
union — Oscar  E.,  Amos  E.,  Mary  E.,  Silas 
E.,  Claude  A.  and  Minnie  S.  Mr.  Browm 
lived  upon  rented  farms  until  1883,  w'hen  he 
purchased  fort}-  acres  of  land.  He  now'  has 
eighty  acres,  under  a high  state  of  cultivation 
— a veritable  garden  spot.  He  has  placed 
upon  it  1,700  rods  of  tiling,  has  erected  a neat 
frame  residence  at  a cost  of  $1,000,  and  has 
built  good  out-buildings,  wdiich  indicate  his 
progress  and  practical  spirit.  He  also  makes 
a specialty  of  raising  hogs  for  market.  His 
home  is  pleasantly  situated  only  a short  dis- 
tance from  eight  good  markets.  Mr.  Brown  is 
a supporter  of  the  populist  party  and  for  one 
term  served  as  constable.  He  and  his  wife 
hold  membership  with  the  United  Brethren 
church,  and  are  well  known  and  prominent 
people  of  the  community,  wdio  in  social  circles 
hold  a high  position.  Their  lives  have  been 
one  of  industry  and  economy,  and  now'  they 
are  in  comfortable  circumstances. 


MANUEL  BURGET,  present  county 
auditor  and  thriving  farmer  of  John- 
son township,  Clinton  county,  Ind., 
w'as  born  in  Butler  county,  Ohio, 
P'ebrnary  9,  i 839.  His  great-grandfather  Bur- 
get  came  from  England  and  was  killed  by  the 
Indians  while  he  was  sw'imming  the  Big  Miami 
river  in  an  attempt  to  reach  his  block-house. 
Emanuel  Burget,  grandfather  of  our  subject, 
and  an  early  settler  of  Butler  county,  Ohio, 
W'as  a soldier  of  the  Revolution  and  married 
Catherine  Garner.  His  son,  William  Burget, 
W'as  born  in  Butler  county,  Ohio,  married 
Lydia  Keever,  daughter  of  John  Keever,  and 
became  the  father  of  the  following  children: 
Margaret  C.,  Emanuel,  Elizabeth}.,  William 
M.,  Rachel  E.,  John  H.  and  Samuel.  Will- 
iam was  a gallant  soldier  in  company  H, 
Eighty-si.xth  I.  Ak  I.  Elizabeth  J.  w'as  the 
first  white  child  born  in  Johnson  township. 
The  parents  w'ere  Baptists  in  their  religious 
faith,  and  the  father,  at  first  a democrat,  be- 
came a republican  on  account  of  *^he  war,  and 
was  elected  justice  of  the  peace  eighteen  con- 
secutive years.  He  lost  his  wife  in  1853,  and 
he  followed  her  to  the  grave  in  1881. 

Emanuel  Burget  was  brought  to  Clinton 
county,  Ind.,  in  1839,  before  hew'asa  year  old. 
He  was  educated  in  the  old  log  school-house, 
but  secured  a fair  education,  and  now  ow'ns 
eighty  acres  of  good  land.  He  enlisted,  March 
4,  1865,  in  company  C,  Fifty-eighth  I.  V.  I., 
and  W'as  assigned  to  the  Eourteenth  army  corps, 
army  of  the  Cumberland.  He  passed  through 
the  campaigns  of  North  Carolina,  Maryland, 
Virginia  and  Kentucky;  w'as  a member  of  the 
pontoon  detail,  and  was  constantly  skirmishing 
for  many  weeks.  He  was  honorably  discharged 
July  25,  1865,  and  now  receives  a pensicn  of 
six  dollars  per  month.  In  politics  he  is  a re- 
publican, has  been  a justice  of  the  peace,  and 
was  once  nominated  for  county  auditor.  He 
married  Naomi  Stroup,  daughter  of  Jacob  and 


G02 


BIOGRAPHICAL  HISTORY 


Naomi  (I)ebington)  Strouj),  and  a sister  of 
Jacob  Stroup,  whose  biograpliy  appears  on  an- 
other page.  The  children  born  to  this  union 
were  named  William  J.,  Cinderella,  who  died 
in  1882,  and  Nora.  Mr.  Burget  is  an  indus- 
trious and  enterprising  citizen  and  farmer,  and 
he  and  family  are  highly  respected  in  the  com- 
munity in  which  they  live.  He  was  again  nom- 
inated for  county  auditor  June  7,  1894,  and 
elected  in  November  by  a majority  of  570  by 
the  republican  party,  and  he  took  possession 
of  the  office  November  15,  1894. 


ILLIAM  M.  BURGET,  an  ex-soldier 
and  a well-known  farmer,  is  a resi- 
dent of  Johnson  township,  Clinton 
county,  Ind.,  where  he  was  born 
June  28,  1844.  He  is  son  of  William  and 
Lydia  (Keever)  Burget,  and  grandson  of 
Emanuel  Burget.  On  August  13,  1862,  he  en- 
listed in  company  H,  Eighty-sixth  Indiana  vol- 
unteer infantry,  and  was  assigned  to  the  army 
of  the  Cumberland.  He  fought  through  the 
campaigns  of  Kentucky,  Tennessee,  Georgia 
and  Alabama,  and  took  an  active  jiart  in  the 
battles  of  Stone  River,  Chickamauga,  Mis- 
sionary Ridge  and  Knoxville.  At  the  latter 
place  he  was  taken  sick  and  was  in  hospital  a 
short  time,  and  then  was  furloughed  home  to 
recover;  having  recuperated,  he  rejoined  his 
regiment  immediately  after  the  fall  of  Atlanta, 
and  later  took  jiart  in  the  battles  of  Colnmbia, 
I'ranklin  and  Nashville;  was  honorably  dis- 
charged June  6,  1865,  and  is  now  drawing  a 
pension  of  $10  per  month.  In  politics  he  is 
a stanch  republicam,  but  is  not  ambitious  for 
office.  His  farm  contains  forty-three  acres  and 
is  well  taken  care  (jf. 

Mr.  Burget  has  been  thrice  married.  His 
first  wife  was  Miss  Pi’rmelia  Mcdt,  daughter  of 
Sayres  Mott,  and  to  this  marriagi;  were  born 
May,  born  May  15,  1867,  died  September  20, 


1868;  Eugene  O.,  born  January  5,  1869; 

Lula,  born  February  13,  1872,  and  Sarah, 

born  July  10,  1874,  died  same  day.  Mrs. 

Burget  was  a member  of  the  Church  of  God 
and  was  a most  estimable  lady.  The  second 
marriage  of  Mr.  Burget  was  to  Miss  Sarah 
Longfellow,  daughter  of  John  Longfellow,  and 
to  this  union  was  born  Leon  V.,  born  June  10, 
1880,  died  August  14,  i88r.  The  mother  was 
a member  of  the  Christian  church.  The  third 
marriage  of  Mr.  Burget  was  to  Mrs.  Hester  J. 
McCreary,  daughter  of  John  M.  and  Hester 
(Mott)  Dunn,  and  this  union  has  been  blessed 
with  the  birth  of  four  children — John  P. , born 
October  16,  1884;  Earnest  D.,  born  January 
2,  1886;  Minnie  T.,  born  April  3,  1887,  and 
George  E.,  born  May  18,  1888.  Eugene  O. 
Burget  has  been  engaged  in  teaching  in  John- 
son township  for  seven  years.  He  graduated 
from  the  State  Normal  college,  which  he  at- 
tended two  years,  and  is  the  present  deputy 
auditor  of  Clinton  county. 


OHN  JEFFERSON  CALDWELL,— 
Among  the  older  and  better  known  cit- 
izens of  Clinton  county  is  he  whose 
names  forms  the  caption  of  this  per- 
sonal mention.  Mr.  Caldwell  was  born  in 
Hamilton,  Butler  county,  Ohio,  November  19, 
1825.  The  name  Caldwell  is  of  Scotch-Irish 
origin  and  the  early  ancestors  of  this  family  in 
America  settled  in  Delaware,  in  which  state 
John  W.  Caldwell,  the  father  of  our  subject, 
was  born,  and  from  which  state  he  migrated 
to  Butler  county,  (Ihio,  where  he  married 
johannah  1).  Ayers,  the  daughter  of  Isaac 
Ayers,  a native  of  Ohio  and  a i)ioneer  settler 
of  Union  township,  this  county.  The  father 
of  our  subject,  after  tetching  school  for  a few 
years  in  Ohio,  accepted  a clerkship  on  one  of 
the  Ohio  river  steamboats,  which  ex]>lodcd  in 
1825,  causing  his  death.  In  1833  the  mother 


OF  CLINTON  COUNTY. 


G03 


of  our  subject  came  to  Indiana  with  her  father, 
with  wliom  she  made  her  home  until  she  died, 
in  1865,  at  the  age  of  fifty-seven  years.  Mr. 
Caldwell  was  one  of  two  children — the  late 
Hon.  Frank  D.  Caldwell  being  his  brother. 
Mr.  Caldwell  was  eight  years  of  age  when 
brought  to  this  county,  which  has  since  been 
his  home,  with  the  e.xception  of  about  one 
year  spent  in  California.  He  grew  to  man- 
hood, making  his  home  with  his  paternal 
grandfather  until  1850,  in  which  year  he  joined 
the  crowd  of  gold-seekers  making  their  wav  to 
California,  where  he  engaged  in  gold  mining. 
One  year  later,  he  returned  to  his  home  in  this 
county  and  took  up  the  pursuit  of  farming. 
March  17,  1853,  he  married  Miss  Rebecca 
Price,  the  daughter  of  Daniel  Price,  a native 
of  Butler  county,  Ohio,  and  an  early  settler  in 
Clinton  county.  Mrs.  Caldwell  was  born  in 
Butler  county,  Ohio,  January  i,  1833.  The 
home  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Caldwell  has  been 
blessed  by  the  birth  of  four  children,  namely: 
Alice,  who  became  a teacher  in  the  public 
schools  and  a young  lady  of  great  promise  in 
her  profession,  but  was  called  away  by  death 
in  her  seventeenth  year;  Horace  Greeley,  who 
died  at  the  age  of  five  yetrs;  Laura  E. , and 
Ida  Victoria. 

After  his  marriage  Mr.  Caldwell  settled 
down  in  life  upon  his  present  farm  of  160  acres, 
and  since  that  date  has  been  actively  and  suc- 
cessfully engaged  in  farming.  Mr.  Caldwell 
has  held  several  positions  of  honor  and  trust. 
In  his  early  life  he  was  a whig,  but  upon  the 
organization  of  the  republican  party  he  became 
a republican  and  as  such  has  continued  an 
active  worker.  His  first  elective  office  was 
that  of  justice  of  the  peace,  to  which  he  was 
chosen  in  1856  and  which  office  he  filled  for  a 
period  of  four  years.  In  1865  he  became  the 
republican  candidate  for  the  state  legislature, 
and  notwithstanding  the  fact  that  the  demo- 
cratic party  was  at  that  time  in  the  majority 


in  Clinton  county,  he  made  a successful  race, 
being  elected.  He  served  one  term  in  the  leg- 
islature and  became  a candidate  for  re-elec- 
tion, but  was  unsuccessful  in  overcoming  the 
majority  of  the  opposing  political  party. 


ATHAN  H.  CAMMACK,  owner  of  a 
saw-mill  in  Mulberry,  Clinton  county, 
Ind.,  and  one  of  the  enterprising 
business  men  of  the  town,  has  the 
honor  of  being  a native  of  the  Hoosier  state, 
his  birth  having  occurred  in  Richmond,  Ind. , 
Atigust  19,  1821.  His  parents,  Samuel  and 
Hannah  (Hollingsworth)  Cammack,  were  both 
natives  of  South  Carolina,  and  the  former  was 
of  Scotch  descent,  while  the  latter  was  of  En- 
glish lineage.  The  father  was  born  in  1796, 
and  in  early  life  removed  to  Ohio,  where  he 
was  married.  Subsequently  he  removed  to 
Richmond,  Ind.,  where  for  a time  he  carried 
on  a pottery,  and  then  embarked  in  the  lum- 
ber business.  He  established  a woolen  mill 
in  Wayne  county,  and  operated  that  until 
1867,  when  he  removed  to  a farm  in  Grant 
county,  upon  which  he  remained  two  years. 
His  death  occurred  in  1874,  at  Arba,  Ran- 
dolph county,  Ind.,  and  his  wife,  who  was 
born  in  1803,  passed  away  in  1890,  at  the  ad- 
vanced age  of  eighty-seven.  Of  their  family 
of  four  children,  only  two  are  now  living — 
Nathan  H.  and  Rachel,  wife  of  Plenry  Robin- 
son. David  and  Eli  have  passed  away. 

Nathan  H.  Cammack  was  reared  in  Wayne 
county,  Ind.,  and  on  attaining  his  majority, 
entered  into  partnership  with  his  father  in  the 
manufacture  of  woolen  goods.  This  connec- 
tion continued  until  1870,  when  he  embarked 
in  the  saw-mill  business,  which  he  continued 
until  1882.  In  that  year  he  removed  to  Cot- 
tage Home,  111.,  where  he  again  engaged  in 
the  lumber  trade.  In  July,  1887,  he  became 
a resident  of  Mulberry,  and  since  that  time 


GOl 


BIOGRAPHICAL  HISTORY 


has  operated  a saw-mill  at  this  place.  He  is  a 
mail  of  paiod  business  and  e.xecntive  ability, 
and  is  hi^ddy  esteemed  thronj.^hout  this  com- 
munity. On  the  6th  of  May,  1841,  Mr.  Cam- 
mack  was  joined  in  wedlock  with  Miss  Priscilla 
Morris,  who  was  born  December  6,  1821,  and 
is  a daughter  of  Joshua  and  Mary  (Morgan) 
Morris,  natives  of  North  Carolina.  Her  father 
was  a miller  by  trade  and  followed  that  busi- 
ness until  his  death,  which  occurred  in  1 82 3. 
His  wife  jiassed  away  about  1854.  In  their 
family  were  eight  children,  namely:  Charles, 
John,  Jesse,  Lydia,  Susanna  and  Mary,  all 
now  deceased;  Priscilla  and  Ruth.  To  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  Cammack  were  born  four  children — 
Adeline,  who  was  born  December  22,  1843, 
and  is  the  wife  of  James  Peelle;  David,  born 
January  25,  1845.  Charles,  born  January  5, 
1847;  Laura,  who  was  born  March  9, 
1851,  and  died  August  10,  1890.  They  also 
have  an  adopted  daughter,  Emma  J.,  who  was 
born  in  Milton,  Ind.,  October  27,  1862.  She 
there  remained  until  six  years  of  age,  when, 
with  her  parents,  she  removed  to  Cambridge, 
an  old  and  quaint  city  of  eastern  Indiana. 
There  she  was  educated  under  the  supervision 
of  Prof.  James  K.  Hall,  who  was  at  the  head 
of  the  Caml)ridge  schools  for  twelve  years. 
Her  high  school  teachers  were  Mrs.  Hall  and 
Miss  Hattie  Beech,  and  their  beautiful  lives 
left  an  impress  on  their  students  for  good. 
Miss  Cammack  graduated  in  a class  of  only 
four  members,  and  then  in  1884  began  teach- 
ing in  Mnncic,  Ind.,  having  charge  of  the  sec- 
ond, third,  fourth  and  sixth  grades.  She  en- 
tered upcm  the  high  school  work  in  1890,  and 
and  now'  occujiies  a merited  position  among 
the  best  teachers  of  the  state.  She  always 
wins  the  love  and  coididence  of  her  pupils  and 
they  are  developed  in  other  ways  as  well  as 
intellectually.  With  the  Ih'csbyterian  church 
she  holds  memh('rshi|).  Mr.  Cammacd'C  is  a 
member  of  the  Society  of  I'riemls,  and  in  j)oli- 


tics  he  is  a republican.  The  death  of  Mrs. 
Cammack  occurred  early  in  November,  1894, 
and  during  life  she  had  also  been  a devout 
member  of  the  Society  of  Friends. 


ICHARD  C.  CLARR,  the  circuit  court 
clerk  elect  of  Clinton  count}',  w'as 
born  in  WMrren  county,  Ind.,  May  28, 
1840,  and  lived  in  his  native  county 
until  fifteen  years  of  age.  Later,  he  moved  to 
Minnesota,  and  w'as  there  in  1857,  when  the 
dreadful  massacre  of  Inkpadudah  took  place, 
and  W'as  also  a member  of  Capt.  Dodd’s  com- 
jiany,  w'ho  w'ent  out  to  quell  the  outlawed  In- 
dians in  i860.  He  also  enlisted  in  company  I, 
Seventy-second  Indiana  volunteer  infantry,  un- 
der Capt.  Jesse  Hillis,  in  the  late  war,  w'as 
soon  promoted  to  he  first  lieutenant,  and  had 
a command  in  Mhlder’s  scouts  until  the  close 
of  the  struggle.  lu  1873  he  located  in  Frank- 
fort, Ind.,  and  for  a time  w'as  successfully  en- 
gaged in  the  grocery  business.  About  1890  he 
engaged  w'ith  Dr.  Card  as  de])uty  clerk,  and 
has  met  with  the  recognition  of  the  Frankfort 
bar  as  an  efficient  deputy,  and  this  efficiency 
has  also  been  acknow’ledged  by  the  republican 
party,  who  have  re-elected  him  to  succeed 
Dr.  O.  Card,  his  former  principal,  as  clerk  of 
Clinton  county. 


OSES  S.  CANFIIHM),  M.  D.- An 
able  and  popular  physician  and  sur- 
geon of  Frankfort,  is  a native  of 
Indiana,  horn  on  the  13th  day  of 
June,  1852,  iiTl'ipiiecanoe  county.  His  pa- 
ti'rnal  grandfatlu'r,  Nathan  C'anfield,  was  born 
in  X'irginia,  June  I2,  1779,  and  there  married, 
in  1805,  Eli/aheth  Royal,  whose  birth  oc- 
curred on  the  16th  day  of  June,  1783,  also  in 
the  Old  Dominion.  By  occiqiation  Nathan 
Canfield  was  a farmer  and  stock  raiser,  and  he 


OF  CLINTON  COUNTY. 


605 


followed  that  useful  calliuf:^  iu  the  state  of  his 
nativit)^  until  his  removal,  in  an  early  day,  to 
Butler  county,  Ohio,  where  he  was  called 
from  the  scene  of  his  earthly  labor  on  the  25th 
day  of  December,  1813.  Elizabeth  Canfield 
became  the  mother  of  four  children  and  sur- 
vived her  husband  a number  of  years,  depart- 
ing this  life  in  1849.  The  following  are  their 
names;  Hannah,  Daniel,  Vincent  N.  and 
Mary.  Vincent  N.  Canfield,  the  doctor’s 
father,  was  born  February  4,  1814,  in  Butler 
county,  Ohio,  and  was  reared  to  manhood  in 
Clark  county,  Ind.,  having  been  taken  to 
that  part  of  the  state  by  his  mother  when  one 
year  old.  He  was  reared  a farmer,  and  in 
early  life  united  with  the  Christian  church, 
into  the  active  ministry  of  which  he  entered 
while  still  a mere  boy.  He  preached  accept- 
ably the  remainder  of  his  life  and  did  much 
towards  strengthening  the  cause  of  his  church 
and  disseminating  its  pure  teachings  in  the 
different  communities  where  he  resided.  He 
spent  seven  years  of  his  life  in  Scott  county, 
was  a resident  of  Clark  county  six  years,  and 
about  the  year  1850  removed  to  the  county  of 
Tippecanoe,  where  he  remained  until  1857, 
when  he  moved  to  Coles  county.  111.,  where 
he  remained  until  1863,  when  he  moved  back 
to  Indiana.  His  death  occurred  on  the  17th 
day  of  February,  1876.  He  was  married  in 
Clark  county,  Ind.,  to  Miss  Mary  Hougland, 
who  was  born  in  Indiana,  September  25, 
1815,  the  daughter  of  Spencer  and  Jane 
(Myers)  Hougland.  To  this  union  were  born 
seven  children,  named  respectively  as  follows: 
John  M.,  a well-known  minister  of  Indianap- 
olis: Mariah  J. ; Elizabeth,  Vincent  N.  (de- 
ceased); Moses  S.  ; Hannah  (decased),  and 
Margaret,  wife  of  D.  Thompson  of  Clayton 
county.  The  mother  of  these  children  is  still 
living  and  makes  her  home  at  this  time  with 
the  subject  of  this  sketch. 

Dr.  Moses  Spencer  Canfield  spent  the  first 


fifteen  years  of  his  life  on  his  father’s  farm  and 
then  accompanied  the  family  to  Areola,  111., 
the  schools  of  which  place  he  attended  for  one 
year.  Later  he  pursued  his  studies  in  the 
school  of  Attica,  Ind.,  until  seventeen  years  of 
age,  at  which  time  he  entered  the  university  of 
Kentucky  at  Lexington,  of  which  institution 
he  remained  a student  about  one  year.  Re- 
turning to  Attica,  the  doctor  began  the  study 
of  medicine  under  the  instruction  of  Dr.  Sam- 
uel Whitehall,  with  whom  he  remained  three 
years,  teaching  school  during  the  winter  months 
in  the  meantime.  The  further  to  increase  his 
professional  knowledge  he  entered  the  Eclectic 
Medical  college  at  Cincinnati,  Ohio,  from 
which  he  was  graduated  May  19,  1873,  and 
immediatel}^  thereafter  located  in  Frankfort, 
Ind.,  where  for  the  last  twenty-one  years  he 
has  been  actively  engaged  in  the  practice  of 
his  profession,  being  one  of  the  old  physicians 
in  point  of  residence  at  this  time  in  the  city. 
The  doctor  was  married  November  16,  1876, 
at  the  town  of  Mullberry,  Clinton  county,  to 
Sarah  A.  Waldron,  daughter  of  Thomas  and 
Emily  (Slipher)  Waldron,  to  which  union  the 
following  children  have  been  born:  Burton  E., 
James  C.,  and  John  M.  R. 

The  career  of  Dr.  Canfield  in  his  profession 
has  been  of  the  most  flattering  character,  not 
only  from  a financial  standpoint,  but  from  a 
scientific  standpoint  as  well.  His  re))utation 
as  an  exponent  of  the  particular  school  to 
which  he  belongs  is  widespread,  and  he  may 
with  complacency  look  upon  the  long  list  of 
patients  his  skill  has  brought  him  during  his 
many  years  of  active  practice.  A number  of 
years  ago  he  joined  the  Christian  church,  with 
which  he  is  still  identified,  being  at  this  time  one 
of  the  prominent  members  of  the  congregation 
worshiping  at  Frankfort,  in  which  body  he 
holds  the  office  of  treasurer  and  is  also  the 
efficient  superintendent  of  the  large  and  flour- 
ishing Sunday-school.  The  doetor  possesses 


BIOGRAPHICAL  HISTORY 


(iOG 


f^ood  business  tact,  and  his  careful  judgment 
and  diligent  and  faithful  application  to  his  pro- 
fession have  secured  him  not  only  a very  ex- 
tensive practice  throughout  Clinton  and  adjoin- 
ing counties,  but  have  resulted  in  the  accumu- 
lation of  a goodly  share  of  worldly  wealth,  his 
possessions  including  valuable  real  estate  in 
the  county  aiul  an  elegant  residence  and  other 
property  in  the  city  of  Frankfort.  The  doctor 
has  taken  great  interest  in  the  material  devel- 
opment of  the  city  and  is  president  of  four 
building  and  loan  associations,  which  have  been 
the  means  of  adding  many  substantial  improve- 
ments to  Frankfort  during-the  last  few  years. 
He  is  president  of  the  Indiana  State  Eclectic 
Medical  association;  also  belongs  to  the  Na- 
tional Eclectic  Medical  association,  in  the  de- 
liberations of  which  body  he  takes  an  active 
part.  He  is  a Mason  of  high  standing,  belong- 
ing to  the  blue  lodge,  chapter  and  command- 
ery,  in  all  of  which  he  has  h'eld  important 
official  positions. 


PAMIXONUAS  CARTER.  - The  gen- 
tleman for  whom  this  biographical 
sketch  is  j^repared  is  a native-born 
son  of  Clinton  county,  Ind.,  and  dates 
his  birth  from  the  first  day  of  October,  1841. 
He  is  a son  of  Richard  and  Eleanor  (Byers) 
Carter,  and  a grandson  of  Jesse  Carter  and 
Ephraim  Byers,  the  former  of  English  and  the 
latter  of  Irish  descent.  His  paternal  great- 
grandfather, William  Carter,  was  a pioneer  of 
Clinton  county  and  died  at  the  advanced  age 
of  ninety-two  years.  His  grandfather  C.artcr 
died  at  the  age  of  eighty-eight,  and  his  maternal 
grandfather  departed  this  life  in  Missouri  at  a 
good  old  age.  It  will  thus  be  seen  that  IC. 
Carter  is  descended  from  long-lived  ancestry, 
and,  inherititig,  as  he  does,  many  of  their  vir- 
tiires  and  charactc'ristics,  he  bids  fair  to  live 
for  many  years  to  come. 


Mr.  Carter  was  reared  to  manhood  in  his 
native  county,  became  familiar  with  the  rug- 
ged usages  of  the  farm  at  an  early  age,  and 
received  a good  etlucation,  attending  school  at 
intervals  until  attaining  his  majority.  He 
made  substantial  progress  in  his  various 
studies,  which  he  pursued  assiduously,  and  for 
a period  of  about  sixteen  years  was  one  of  the 
successful  teachers  of  Clinton  county.  On  the 
first  day  of  January,  1861,  Sarah  A.  Hutchin- 
son, daughter  of  Robert  M.  and  Elizabeth 
(Davis)  Hutchinson,  became  his  wife,  and  the 
marriage  thus  consummated  resulted  in  the  birth 
of  three  children — Geneva,  born  P'ebruary  8, 
1861;  William  H.,  born  August  ii,  1862,  and 
Julia  E.,  born  September  20,  1864.  The 

mother  of  these  children  died  October  24, 
1865,  and  on  the  twenty-fifth  of  December, 
1868,  Mr.  Carter  was  united  in  marriage  to 
Amy  A.  Morris,  daughter  of  G.  W.  and  Abia 
Morris.  To  this  marriage  eight  children  were 
born,  five  of  whom  are  deceased,  all  dying  in 
infancy  except  Allie  May,  a very  interesting- 
little  girl,  whose  death  occurred  at  the  age  of 
nine  years.  The  following  are  the  names  of 
those  living:  Jennie,  born  June  15,  1870; 
Roy,  born  May  19,  1876,  and  Bert,  born 

November  1,  1878.  In  1882  Mr.  Carter’s 
home  was  again  visited  by  the  death  angel, 
Mrs.  Carter  dying  September  1 1 of  that  year. 
Mr.  Carter  married  his  present  wife,  Retta  C. 
Lipp,  daughter  of  Andrew  J.  and  Margaret  A. 
Lipp,  on  the  fourteenth  day  of  May,  1889 — a 
union  l)les.sed  with  the  birth  of  two  children: 
Ella,  born  March  10,  1890,  and  Levi,  whose 
l)irth  occurred  on  the  fourteenth  day  of  May, 
1892.  Mr.  Carter  is  a successful  farmer  of 
W'ashington  townshii)  and  a gentleman  in 
whom  his  neighb(U-s  and  fellow-citizens  reimse 
the  utmost  confidence.  He  subscribes  to  the 
creed  of  the  United  Brethren  church,  and  in 
politics  is  an  earnest  suppoitc-r  of  the  prohibi- 
tion party. 


LIBRARY 
OF  THE 
tlHIVERSlTY  OF 


OF  CLINTON  COUNTY. 


009 


ARION  A.  CARTLR  is  a native  of 
Clinton  county,  Ind. , was  born  May 
4,  1859,  and  is  a son  of  Richard  J. 
Carter,  a })ioneer  of  the  county, 
whose  biography  appears  in  the  paragraph 
above.  Marion  A.,  when  he  became  of  age, 
was  placed  in  charge  of  his  father’s  farm, 
which  he  now  owns  and  which  comprises  200 
acres.  On  this  farm  he  still  lives,  in  the 
house  in  which  he  was  born.  Mr.  Carter  has, 
since  the  year  1892,  carried  on  a dairy  on  his 
farm,  keeping  only  Jersey  cows  and  selling 
cream  only.  He  has,  also,  large  business  in- 
terests elsewhere,  being  a heavy  stockholder  in 
the  Frankfort  Handle  manufactory,  of  which  he 
has  been  vice-president  since  its  organization. 

The  marriage  of  Mr.  Carter  took  place 
May  20,  1880,  to  Miss  Leonora  B.  Douglas, 
daughter  of  Thomas  S.  and  Lucy  (Hughes) 
Douglas.  This  lady  w'as  born  July  28,  i860, 
and  has  borne  her  husband  eight  children,  in 
the  following  order:  Walter  R. , November 

26,  1880;  Lucy  A.,  May  10,  1883;  Frank  M., 
May  10,  1885;  Ella,  March  28,  1887  (died 
August  9 of  the  same  year);  Richard,  July  10. 
1888  (died  January  i,  1892);  Essa,  Nov.  17, 
1890  (died  April  13,  1891);  Etoyd  R.,  April 

27,  1892;  Ross  M. , September  20,  1894.  Mr. 
Carter  is  a remarkably  good  business  man,  and 
besides  holding  a high  position  in  the  commer- 
cial world,  is  an  honored  member  of  the  K,  of 
P.  lodge.  No.  71,  and  of  Dakota  lodge  of  Red 
Men.  In  politics  he  is  a republican,  and,  al 
though  not  an  ofhce-seeker,  gives  his  substan- 
tial support  to  his  party. 


H^ES  A.  CARVER  was  born  in 
Chenango  county,  N.  Y. , Novem- 
ber 7,  1816,  and  is  a lineal  descend- 
ant of  John  M.  Carver,  first  gov- 
ernor of  Connecticut.  His  father.  Perry  Car- 
ver, moved  from  Connecticut  many  years  ago 


to  Chenango  county,  N.  Y. , of  which  he  w'as 
one  of  the  pioneers.  The  wife  of  Perry  Car- 
ver was  Keziah  Warner,  who  bore  the  following 
children:  Shubael,  /Minina  Eliza,  Matilda, 
Miles  A.,  Justice,  Elisha  W.  and  Lyman,  all 
of  whom,  w'ith  the  e.xception  of  Justice,  who 
died  in  the  army,  lived  to  a good  old  age. 
The  father  of  the  above  children  reached  his 
eighty-fourth  year;  Shubael  is  living  yet.  at 
eighty-four  years  of  age;  Almina  Eliza’s  age  is 
eighty-two;  Matilda  is  seventy,  Elisha  seventy- 
four;  Lyman  died  at  the  age  of  seventy,  and,  by 
reference  to  date  of  birth,  it  will  be  found  that 
the  subject  of  this  sketch  has  arrived  at  the 
ripe  old  age  of  seventy-eight — surely  a remark- 
able record  of  longevity  for  the  family.  Shu- 
bael Carver  was  a graduate  of  a theological 
institution,  and  for  a number  of  years  was  an 
acceptable  minister  of  the  Presbyterian  church, 
occupying  one  pulpit  for  seven  years.  He 
served  as  county  superintendent  in  two 
counties  and  achieved  an  enviable  reputation 
as  a teacher,  having  been  identified  with  edu- 
cational work  for  a considerable  period.  He 
and  wife  had  the  honor  of  assisting  in  the  or- 
ganization of  the  first  Presbyterian  church  in 
Chenango  county,  N.  Y. , and  he  took  an  act- 
ive part  in  the  discussion  of  the  leading  theo- 
logical questions  of  his  day.  Politically,  he 
was  opposed  to  the  institution  of  slavery  and 
did  all  in  his  power,  both  with  tongue  and  pen, 
to  awaken  a public  sentiment  against  the  sinful 
traffic  in  human  beings.  He  and  wife  died  in 
Monroe  county,  Ind.,  to  which  part  of  the  state 
they  emigrated  in  an  early  day. 

Miles  A.  Carver  attended  first  the  common 
schools  of  his  native  state,  and  at  the  age  of 
nineteen  entered  an  educational  iiistitution  at 
Oneida,  N.  Y. , in  which  he  acquired  a knowl- 
edge of  the  higher  branches  of  learning,  work- 
ing on  the  farm  in  the  meantime.  He  pursued 
his  studies  for  a period  of  four  years,  with  the 
intention  of  preparing  himself  for  teaching. 


010 


BI  ( ) c;  R A PI  1 1 C A I.  H T STO  R Y 


and,  beinj^f  fortiiied  with  the  proper  intellec- 
tual training;',  he  took  charge  of  a school  in 
New  ^■()rk,  where  he  taught  two  terms.  Dur- 
ing the  six  succeeding  years  he  followed  the 
teacher’s  profession  in  Ross  connry,  Ohio, 
where  in  the  meantime  he  met  and  married 
Miss  Margaret  Kellenberger,  daughter  of  Wil- 
liam and  Mary  fllaynes)  Kellenberger.  Shortly 
after  his  marriage,  Mr.  Carver  emigrated  to 
Indiana,  and  began  teaching  in  Clinton  county, 
and  was  thus  engaged  for  a number  of  years, 
during  which  time  he  did  much  tcnvard  laying 
the  fomulation  upon  which  the  present  excel- 
lent school  S3’stem  of  the  county  is  built.  He 
introduced  the  first  blackboard  ever  used  in  the 
county,  and  suggested  many  other  improve- 
ments, the  value  and  ntilitv  of  which  have 
since  been  fully  demonstrated.  Mr.  Car- 
ver, during  his  period  of  educational  work, 
was  untiring  in  his  efforts  to  elevate  the 
standaial  of  the  teacher’s  profession,  and  it 
is  safe  to  say  that  no  man  in  Clinton  county 
has  watched  with  keener  interest  or  kejd 
in  closer  touch  \\'ith  the  schools  than  he. 
He  was  actively  engaged  in  the  work  of 
teaching  for  a period  of  thirty-five  years, 
and  in  the  meantime  did  much  to  awaken  an 
interest  in  the  cause  of  the  Sabbath  school, 
having  been  a superintendent  both  in  this 
county  and  his  native  state.  For  some  years 
Mr.  Carver  has  been  engaged  in  agricultural 
])ursuits,  (jwning  at  this  time  a fine  farm  in 
Perry  townshij),  upon  which  he  is  passing  his 
declining  years.  He  has  practically  retired 
from  the  active  dntiesof  lif(',  but  still  ])o.ssesses 
iju  a marked  degree  his  faculties,  both  physical 
and  mental.  His  life  has  been  Iraught  with 
much  gocrd  to  his  fellow-men,  andtlu'  inllnence 
which  he  has  exerted  morally  and  intellectually 
upon  tlu'  community  is  destined  to  be  perma- 
nent. He  is  a member  of  the  Methodist  clmrch 
and  jiolitically  su|)|)orts  the  princijiles  of  the 
prohibition  party. 


To  Mr.  Carver’s  first  marriage  the  follow- 
ing children  were  born;  Mary  E.,  Orlautha, 
AngclineS.,  P’rancis,  Elizabeth,  Albert  and 
William.  By  his  present  wife,  whose  maiden 
name  wa.3  Catherine  Deal,  he  has  four  chil- 
dren: Ada,  Rose,  Dora  and  Lillian.  Of  these 
Ada  was  a successful  teacher  in  the  county  of 
Clinton,  is  an  accomplished  musician,  and  is  now 
the  wife  ef  J.  S.  Frantz,  a traveling  salesman 
of  Decatur,  111  ; Rose  is  married  to  W.  N. 
Clark,  editor  of  the  Mulberry  Reporter;  Dora 
is  a well-known  teacher  in  the  schools  of 
Frankfort,  Ind. 


AMES  R.  CAST,  farmer  and  ex-sol- 
dier of  Michigantown,  Clinton  county, 
Ind.,  is  a native  of  Clinton  county, 
Ohio,  born  December  2,  1840.  His 
father,  Horatio  Cast,  was  born  near  Lexing- 
ton, Ky. , whence  he  moved  to  Clinton  county, 
Ohio,  where  he  was  a school  teacher  by  pro- 
fession for  many  years.  He  was  married  in 
Ohio  to  Jane  Mount,  who  bore  him  the  fol- 
lowing children;  Amos,  William,  Hezekiah, 
Thomas,  Alvin,  George,  John,  Mary  E., 
James  R.  and  Elizabeth.  In  1852  he  and 
family  came  to  Clinton  county,  Ind.,  and 
bought  160  acres  of  land  in  Kirklin  township. 
He  was  a stanch  republican,  was  elected  justice 
of  the  peace  in  Ohi(r,  and  in  Indiana  was 
elected  a township  trustee,  when  the  law  re- 
(piired  three.  In  February,  1865,  Mrs.  Jane 
Cast  passed  from  earth  and  Horatio  Cast  died 
October  17,  1874 

|ames  R Cast  was  reared  on  a farm,  and 
August  2,  1861,  enlisted  in  comiiany  C,  Tenth 
Indiana  vohmlec'r  infantry,  and  served  under 
Gens,  riiomas,  Halleck,  Buell  and  Rosecrans. 
Beside  the  pursuit  of  Jolm  Morgan  and  the 
Atlanta  comiuiign,  he  took  i)art  in  many 
skirmishes  and  the'  following  regular  battles: 
Perry ville,  Corinth,  Tullahoma,  Chickamauga, 


OF  CLINTON  COUNTY. 


611 


Missionary  Kiclge,  Ringgold,  Ruzzard’s  Roost, 
Big  Shanty,  Kenesaw  Mountain,  Resaca, 
Peach  Tree  Creek,  Chattahoochee  river  and 
others.  At  Chickainauga  a bullet  passed  bet- 
ween his  fingers,  indicting  a slight  wound;  he 
was  also  dangerously  sick  at  one  time  with 
typhoid  jmeninonia,  and  at  another  with 
pneumonia  uncomplicated.  For  his  services 
the  government  now  allows  him  a pension  of 
seventeen  dollars  per  month.  Mr.  Cast  was 
married,  December  25,  1866,  to  Miss  Lydia 
E.  Parker,  who  was  born  May  10,  1843.  She 
is  a daughter  of  Richard  and  Elizabeth 
(Benbow)  Parker,  the  former  of  whom  was  a 
blacksmith  by  trade,  but  is  now  a farmer.  Mr. 
Parker  was  reared  in  Henry  county,  Ind. , 
came  to  Clinton  county  in  1852,  and  bought 
200  acres  of  land.  Plis  children  are  named 
Ann,  Eliza,  Warren,  Jackson,  Lydia,  Sarah 
and  Marian.  The  children  born  to  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Cast  were  named  Hekla,  Omer,  both 
died  in  infancy;  Oris,  born  July  17,  1873,  and 
Bert,  born  November  5,  1876.  Bert  Cast  is  a 
natural  draftsman,  and  has  been  able  since 
childhood  to  draw  accurately  whatever  he  de- 
sired, and  will  doubtless,  in  course  of  time, 
make  a famous  name  as  an  artist.  Both  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  Cast  are  members  of  the  Christian 
church,  of  which  he  is  an  elder.  Mr.  Cast  is 
also  a dormant  member  of  the  G.  A.  R.  at 
Eraimfort.  His  farm  comprises  forty  acres  of 
fertile  land  and  is  well  improved. 


H ARLES  CHITTICK,  M.  D.,  of 
Frankfort,  was  born  in  Clinton  county, 
Ind.,  February  14,  1849,  and  is  a son 
of  Archibald  and  Hannah  J.  (Comp- 
ton) Chittick.  Archibald  Chittick  is  a native 
of  the  state  of  New  York  and  was  born  Feb- 
ruary 19,  1812.  His  parents  were  Archibald 
and  Rachel  (Miller)  Chittick.  The  elder 
Archibald  was  born  in  the  south  part  of  Ire- 


lajid,  and  in  1 806,  when  about  twenty-one 
years  of  age,  came  alone  to  America.  In  the 
state  of  New  York  he  resided  until  1819,  when 
he  moved  to  Butler  county,  Ohio,  and  from 
there  came  to  Indiana  in  1834,  and  farmed  in 
Carroll  county  until  his  death  in  1855.  He 
lost  his  wife  in  1847.  Archibald  Chittick,  the 
father  of  Dr.  Charles  Chittick,  was  reared  on 
his  father’s  iarm,  and  resided  on  the  home- 
stead until  after  he  had  passed  his  majority. 
In  1847  he  married  Miss  Compton  and  settled 
in  Warren  township,  Clinton  county,  where 
he  died,  July  2,  1894.  In  1853,  however,  he 
made  a trip  to  California,  via  the  Isthmus  of 
Panama,  where  he  was  seized  with  the  yellow- 
fever,  but  recovered,  finally  reached  his  des- 
tination in  the  Golden  state,  and,  being 
shrewd  and  energetic,  made  considerable 
money  in  mining.  To  the  union  of  Archibald 
and  Hannah  Chittick  have  been  born  seven 
children,  in  the  following  order:  Charles, 
whose  name  heads  this  paragraph;  James,  of 
Starke  county,  Ind. ; Rachael,  wife  of  John 
Brookie,  of  Carroll  county,  Ind.  ; Rebecca,  de- 
ceased; Paulina,  wife  of  S.  Weida,  of  Green- 
castle;  A.  M.,  of  Carroll  county,  and  William, 
of  Clinton  county.  The  mother  of  this  family 
was  born  in  Wayne  county,  Ind.  ; July  24, 
1822,  and  is  a daughter  of  Arthur  and  Susanna 
Compton,  natives  respectively  of  Ireland  and 
Virginia.  Arthur  Compton  first  located  in 
Virginia  on  his  arrival  in  America,  thence 
moved  to  Wayne  county,  Ind.,  and  in  1833 
came  to  Clinton  county;  he  lost  his  wife  in 
1858,  and  in  i860  removed  to  Delphi,  Carroll 
county,  Ind.,  where  he  was  noted  as  a thriv- 
ing farmer  and  as  a prominent  Mason  and 
politician.  He  died  in  1865. 

Dr.  Charles  Chittick  was  reared  on  his 
father’s  farm,  received  his  preliminary  educa- 
tion in  the  district  school,  and  then  for  three 
years  attended  the  Frankfort  seminary;  he 
next  taught  one  year  in  the  same  school,  and 


BIOGRAPIIICAT.  HISTORY 


C>\-2 


t!u'  next  year  he  passed  in  the  hij^li  school  at 
Ann  Arhor,  Mich.,  also  takinj;  a partial 
course  in  medicine,  preparatory  to  the  study 
for  his  chosen  professitm ; after  six  months  of 
additional  study  at  home,  he  entered  the  Ohio 
Medical  collef;e  at  Cincinnati  in  1873,  gradu- 
ating;'therefrom  March  2,  1876.  He  at  once 
entered  upon  practice  at  Burlington,  Carroll 
county,  Ind.,  where  his  mark  was  soon  made 
and  his  undoubted  ability  fully  recognized.  In 
November,  1890,  he  formed  a partnership 
with  Dr.  Young,  of  Frankfort,  making  a 
specialty  of  surgery  and  treatment  of  women, 
and  disorders  of  the  eye  and  nose.  The  doc- 
tor was  most  happily  married  at  Crestliiie, 
Ohio,  July  3,  1878,  to  Miss  Henrietta  Thoman, 
who  was  born  October  9,  1851,  a daughter  of 
John  and  Susan  Thoman,  and  to  this  feli- 
citous union  have  been  born  three  children, 
viz:  William,  deceased;  Golding  and  Fred, 
at  home.  The  doctor  and  Mrs.  Chittick 
are  consistent  members  of  tlTfe"  ‘Methodist 
Episco])al  church,  while  fraternally  the  doctor 
is  a third  degree  Mason  and  a Knight  of 
Pythias.  His  skill  in  his  profession  has  placed 
him  is  very  comfortable  circumstances,  and  he 
now  owns  a fertile  farm  in  Carroll  county. 
Inti.,  as  well  as  a half  incei'est  in  the  Young  & 
Chittick  block,  and  other  interests. 


OXATHAN  K.  ('LAPPFR,  one  of  the 
old  settlers  of  Ross  townshi|\  Clinton 
county,  Ind.,  and  a prominent  farmer, 
springs  from  sturdy  German  ancestors. 
His  great-grandfather  was  horn  in  Germany, 
but  was  one  of  the  pioneer  settlei's  in  the  wil- 
derness of  Hundingdon  county,  Pa.  d'he  names 
of  his  children  were  John,  Susan,  Harvey, 
George,  Daniel,  |aci)b  and  'Tobias.  Mr.  Cla])- 
pt.'r  lived  to  be  a very  aged  man,  and  was  seen 
but  once  by  our  subject,  when  the  laltei'  was  a 
small  b(jy.  He  died  in  Huntingdon  ctjuidy, 


Pa.  Daniel  Clajtper,  grandfather  of  our  sub- 
ject, was  born  in  Huntingdon  county.  Pa.,  and 
married  there  a Miss  Loner.  To  them  were 
born  the  following  children;  Henry,  Daniel, 
Jacob,  George,  Emanuel,  Sallie,  Katie,  Susan, 
Betsy,  Polly,  Peggy.  Mr.  Clapper  passed  his 
earlier  days  in  Huntingdon  county,  but  finally 
settled  near  Altoona,  where  he  had  a good 
farm,  and  where  he  died  when  about  seventy 
years  of  age.  He  and  wife  were  members  of 
the  Lutheran  church,  were  highly  respected 
and  reared  a large  family  of  children.  The 
old  h(.)mestead  is  still  in  the  hands  of  his 
sons.  Henry  Clapper,  son  of  above  and  father 
of  our  subject,  was  born  in  Huntingdon  county. 
Pa.,  September  22,  1797,  was  reared  a farmer 
and  U'larried  September  5,  1820,  in  that  county, 
Catherine  Kephart.  To  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Henry 
Clapper  were  horn  eleven  children:  Jonathan 
K.,  George,  Henry,  Samuel  (died  at  ten  years), 
Susan,  Mary,  Sarah,  Rebecca,  and  three  that 
d.ied  as  infants.  Mr.  Clapper  lived  in  Hunt- 
ingdon county.  Pa.,  some  time  after  marriage, 
when,  the  county  line  being  changed,  his  land 
fell  to  Blair,  a new  county.  In  1851  he  moved 
with  his  family  to  Tippecanoe  county,  Ind  , 
settled  on  eighty  acres,  and  here  passed  the 
remainder  of  his  days,  dying,  aged  seventy-six 
years,  on  his  farm,  Sejitemher  27,  1873.  His 
wife  died  on  the  homestead  July  8,  1882,  aged 
sevent\'-nine  years.  Both  were  members  of 
the  Lutheran  church,  in  which  he  was  a dea- 
con many  \ t'ars.  He  was  industrious,  liard- 
working  and  mu(di  respected,  and,  like  his 
father,  reari'd  a large  family  of  chil'dren. 

jonathan  K.  (daj)per  was  born  July  7, 
i82t,  in  Huntingdon  count}’.  Pa.,  received  a 
common  education  and  became  a larmer.  He 
married,  in  Pennsylvania.  Susan,  daughter  ol 
Philip  Tfvers,  and  to  them  was  born  one  child  - 
William  1 1.  Mr.  Clap|>er  came  to  Indiana 
with  the  family  in  1851  and  settled  in  Clinton 
comity,  Ross  townshii),  where  his  wife  died  in 


OF  THE 

UNIVERSITY  OF  ItMNOISi 


MRS.  J K.  CLAPPER. 


OF  CIJNTON  COUNTY. 


(>17 


1856;  he  next  married  a widow,  Matilda  Peter, 
March  9,  1858.  She  was  the  daugliter  of  Ja- 
cob and  Susannah  (rj03'er)  Nev'hard.  Jacob 
Ne3diard  was  from  Lehigh  county,  Pa.,  near  Al- 
lentown, and  was  the  father  of  twelve  chil- 
dren, eleven  of  whom  reached  maturity:  Han- 
nah, William,  Mary,  Moses,  Edward,  Levi, 
Owen,  Magdalena,  Elizabeth,  Matilda  and 
William.  Mr.  Neyhard  was  a prosperous 
farmer  and  came  to  Indiana  in  1836,  bringing 
his  famil3’  and  settling  in  Carroll  county.  Mr. 
Neyhard  died  aged  seventy-three  3'ears,  a mem- 
ber of  the  German  Reformed  church,  in  which 
he  was  an  elder,  at  the  home  of  his  daughter, 
Mrs.  Clapper,  who  was  first  married  to  Joseph 
Peter,  son  of  \Villiam  and  Julia  (Kern)  Peter. 
William  Peter  came  from  Butler  county,  Ohio, 
but  was  formerl3^  from  Penns3dvania,  and  set- 
tled in  Indiana  in  1833.  He  entered  a large 
tract  of  land — 3,880  acres — and  was  one  of 
the  original  pioneers.  In  183C  he  built  a sub- 
stantial brick  house  where  our  subject  lives, 
which  was  one  of  the  first  brick  houses  in 
Clinton  county  and  was  a fine  residence  for 
those  days.  Mrs.  Clapper  was  born  July  20, 
1820,  in  Lehigh  county.  Pa.,  and  was  five 
years  old  when  her  father  first  settled  in  But- 
ler coimt3',  Ohio,  and  in  her  sixteenth  3"ear 
when  he  came  to  Indiana  (in  1836),  and  can 
well  remember  the  journey  through  the  wilder- 
ness, by  means  of  horse  and  covered  wagon, 
and  also  remembers  that  there  were  but  few 
houses  in  LaEayette  when  she  rode  through. 
She  was  twenty-three  years  of  age  when  she 
married  Mr.  Peter,  and  by  him  had  two  chil- 
dren, both  of  whom  died  in  infanc3\  She  can 
well  remember  the  old  pioneer  days  when  the 
deer  and  wolves  and  wild  turkey  were  plenLful 
and  the  streams  were  full  of  fine  large  fish. 
To  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Clapper  has  been  born  one 
son,  Joseph  E.  After  marriage  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Clapper  settled  on  the  old  Peter  homestead 
and  have  since  resided  there.  The  farm  now 


consists  of  163  acres  of  fine  fertile  land,  in  a 
high  state  of  cultivation,  and  the  fine  old 
homestead  has  been  improved  with  a new  roof 
in  modern  style,  neat  and  substantial  farm 
buildings  have  been  erected  and  a large  part  of 
the  farm  cleared.  Both  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Clapper 
are  members  of  the  Presbyterian  church,  of 
which  he  was  a deacon  for  many  years.  Mr. 
Clapper  was  one  of  the  original  republicans 
of  the  county,  but,  having  been  previously  a 
whig,  cast  his  first  vote  for  William  H.  Harri- 
son in  the  famous  log-cabin  hard-cider  cam- 
paign. Mr.  Clapper  is  one  of  the  substantial 
farmers  of  Ross  township,  is  well  known  for 
his  integrity  of  character,  and  has  frequently 
been  on  the  grand  jury.  His  son,  Joseph  E., 
married.  Ma3"  12,  1886,  Carrie  J.,  daughter  of 
JacoJ;)  and  Caroline  (Kurtz)  Bowers.  Two 
children  have  blessed  this  union — Eugene  E. 
and  Mabel  J.  Joseph  Clapper  is  a practical 
farmer  and  manages  the  home  farm.  As  a 
republican  he  is  active  in  politics,  was  a mem- 
ber of  the  republican  central  committee  two 
terms,  also  a member  of  the  election  board  of 
Ross  township  three  terms,  and  in  the  fall  of 
1894  was  elected  assessor  of  Ross  township. 
He  is  a K.  of  P. , Imperial  lodge.  No.  240,  at 
Mulberry,  and  he  and  wife  are  members  of  the 
Presbyterian  church.  He  graduated  from 
Union  Business  college,  LaEayette,  attended 
Purdue  Universit3',  LaFay'ette,  three  years, 
and  was  superintendent  of  the  shop  in  the 
mechanical  department  the  last  year.  He  is  a 
young  man  of  practical  business  experience, 
and  is  also  a practical  engineer. 


UGUSTUS  E.  CLARK  is  one  of  the 
most  prominent  farmers  of  Ross  town- 
ship, Clinton  county,  Ind.,  and  a 
highly  honored  citizen.  On  his 
father’s  side  he  sprang  from  English  stock  and 
on  the  maternal  side  is  of  German  ancestry. 


lilOGRAPIIICAL  HISTORY 


(;i.s 


11  is  grcat-grcat-^a'aiulfather,  Hlder  john  Clark, 
was  horn  on  Lon^  Island,  N.  Y.,  in  1710,  and 
was  twice  married.  l>y  his  first  wife,  whose 
name  is  forgotten,  he  was  the  father  of  three 
(hildren:  Jeremiah,  Stephen  and  Ketnrah; 
hy  Ids  second  wife,  who  hore  the  maiden  name 
of  .Sarah  Hart,  five  children  were  born ; Sam- 
uel, John,  Abigail,  Snsannah  and  Sarah.  He 
died  aged  eighty  years.  Samuel  Clark,  great- 
grandfather of  iVngnstns  F.,  was  born  in  1755 
in  New  Jersey,  married  Jane  Osborne,  and 
was  a merchant  and  justice  of  the  peace.  By 
his  first  wife  were  born  five  children:  Samuel 
S.,  David  C.,  Stephen,  Polly  and  Sibyl,  the 
last  named  of  whom  died  an  infant.  For  his 
second  wife  he  married  Damaris  Day,  to  whom 
were  born  Abraham  and  Martha  D.  Mr. 
Clark  li\'ed  and  died  in  the  neighborhood  of 
Trenton,  N.  J.,  aged  seventy  years.  Stephen 
Clark,  grandfather  of  Angnstns  F.  Clark,  was 
born  in  Trenton,  N.  J.,  in  i77d;  was  a justice 
of  the  peace,  and  married  Johanna,  daughter 
of  jacob  Miller.  Mr.  Clark  moved  to  Ohio  in 
1804  and  settled  on  the  Miami  river  at  Hickory 
I'lat,  Bntler  comity,  near  Trenton,  where  he 
entered  120  acres  of  land  and  cleared  up  a 
farm,  the  state  at  that  time  being  an  almost 
unbroken  wilderness.  His  children  were  four 
in  nnmber;  Jonas  P. , David  C.,  Jane  and 
one  that  died  unnamed.  Mr.  Clark  died  on  his 
farm  at  thirty-two  years  of  age,  in  the  faith  of 
tile  Christian  church.  David  C.  Clark,  father 
of  Angnstns  F.,  was  born  January  15,  1804,  in 
New  Jersey,  and  was  brought  through  the  wil- 
derness to  Ohio,  when  an  infant,  the  journey 
being  made  by  wagons.  He  was  brought  ii]) 
among  tlu'  pioneers  and  received  the  common 
education  of  his  day,  and  became  a farmer, 
brick-layer  and  jilasterer.  He  married  Mary 
M.,  daughter  of  Stephen  and  Idizabeth  ( I'lein- 
ard)  .Stipher.  Ste|)hen  Stijilicr  was  of  C.erman 
descent  and  settled  in  Bntler  comity,  Ohio, 
in  1804,  where  lie  became  a prosiierons 


farmer.  His  wife's  parents  were  born  in  Ger- 
many and  were  also  early  settlers  of  Butler 
county,  Ohio.  To  David  C.  Clark  and  wife 
were  born  ten  children:  Elizabeth,  Augustus 
F.,  Stephen  S.,  Isaac  N.,  Eliza  J.,  Jonas  D., 
Tillman  H.,  William  A.  and  David  A.  (twins), 
and  George  W.  This  wife  died,  and  he  mar- 
ried Rebecca  White,  whose  maiden  name  w'as 
Ivins.  She  is  still  living  in  Nebraska.  He 
lived  in  Butler  county,  Ohio,  until  1832,  on 
his  farm,  and  that  year  came  to  Indiana  and 
settled  on  the  farm  now  occupied  by  William 
Rose.  He  entered  400  acres  in  that  neighbor- 
hood and  his  wife  had  160  acres,  which  her 
father  gave  her.  He  had  entered  one-fourth 
section  five  miles  east  of  his,  making  1,280 
acres  in  Madison  township,  to  which  he  moved 
in  1854,  and  where  he  died  in  1869,  aged 
eighty-eight  years.  He  was  a member  of  the 
Euthern  church,  ami  was  a man  of  integrity 
and  thrift.  Mr.  Clark  cleared  up  his  home 
farm  and  divided  the  land  among  his  children; 
he  gave  them  all  a good  education,  and  died 
at  the  age  of  seventy  years,  a member  of  the 
Missionaiy  Baptist  church,  in  which  he  was  a 
deacon.  He  was  trustee  of  Ross  t(nvnshij)  by 
appointment,  and  served  as  comity  commis- 
sioner for  nine  years  at  an  early  date.  He 
was  a man  of  high  character  much  respected 
by  the  people. 

Augustus  1'.  Clark  was  born  December  26, 
1828,  in  Butler  county,  Ohio,  on  the  old  home- 
stead, and  was  four  years  old  when  he  came 
to  Indiana  with  his  jiarents;  he  received  a com- 
mon education,  and  became  a farmer,  brick- 
layer and  iilasterer.  He  married  Mary  E., 
daughter  of  David  and  Mary  .A.  11.  (Whit)  Ee- 
P'ever.  David  Eel'ever  was  from  Pennsyl- 
vania and  ol  b'rench  descent.  'fo  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Clark  were  born  three  children,  all  of 
whom  died  in  infancy.  Mrs.  Clark  died  May 
I,  1857,  and  Mr.  Clark  married  Catherine, 
daughter  of  Da\id  and  Mary  ( 1 lines)  .Swaid- 


OF  CLINTON  COUNTY. 


019 


ner.  Mr.  Swaidner  was  from  Maryland,  of 
Oerman  descent,  settled  in  Clinton  comity, 
Ind.,  in  1S34,  on  a farm,  and  lived  to  be  an 
old  man.  To  Mr.  Clark  by  this  wife  eight 
children  were  born;  William  N.,  Laura  A., 
Mary  J.,  George  S. , Edwin  A.,  Ida  M.  (died 
an  infant),  Rosa  J.  and  Herbert  R.  Mrs. 
Clark  died  November  13,  1890,  and  for  his 

third  wife  Mr.  Clark  married  Mary  E.  Arm- 
strong, )icc  Moore,  daughter  of  Lytle  and  Des- 
demona  (Pierce)  Moore.  Mr.  Moore  was  of 
German  descent  and  came  from  New  York, 
was  a farmer  and  the  father  of  eight  children: 
Sophronia,  John,  Adelia,  Henry,  Mary,  Eran- 
cis,  P'ranklin  and  Elmer.  Mr.  Moore  moved 
to  Licking  county,  Ohio,  was  a.  pioneer,  a sub- 
stantial farmer  and  a member  of  the  Methodist 
church.  He  lived  to  be  sixty-three  years  of 
age  and  died  in  Indiana.  Mrs.  Clark’s  first 
husband  was  Robert  Armstrong,  who  was  a 
carpenter  by  trade,  and  moved  to  Indiana  from 
Licking  county,  Ohio,  and  located  in  Ross- 
ville,  but  moved  to  Peru,  where  he  died,  aged 
fifty-eight  years.  He  and  wife  had  two  sons 
— Edmond  and  Elmer.  Mr.  Clark  settled  on 
a farm  three  miles  south  of  town,  consisting 
of  172  acres,  and  by  thrift  anti  industry  pros- 
pered. He  lived  on  this  farm  until  he  moved 
to  Rossville  in  1892,  and  built  a substantial 
and  tasteful  residence.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Clark 
are  members  of  the  Baptist  church,  of  which 
he  has  been  deacon  six  years;  he  is  a demo- 
crat, and  was  township  trustee  one  term,  and 
is  a man  of  more  than  ordinary  ability;  has 
always  been  hard-working  and  industrious,  pos- 
sesses a i-emarkable  memory,  and  is  well  known 
for  his  integrity  of  character  and  sterling  worth, 
and  has  reared  a highly  respectable  family. 

The  Clark  family  have  maintained  their 
high  character  throughout  their  long  residence 
in  the  township  of  Ross,  and  few  families  in 
Clinton  county  can  excel  it  in  the  hold  it  has 
on  the  affections  of  the  citizens  in  general. 


EROME  CLARR,  a farmer  of  more 
than  local  note  in  Johnson  township, 
was  born  in  Clinton  comity,  Ind., 
March  4,  1855,  and  still  retains  his  resi- 
dence here,  and  has  alwa3’s  been  engaged  in 
farming.  October  7,  1875,  he  married  Miss 
Martha  E.  Jackson,  who  was  born  Eebruary 
10,  1854,  and  who  is  the  daughter  of  Henry 
and  Mary  E.  (Stinson)  Jackson.  Henry  Jack- 
son  was  an  early  settler  of  Johnson  township, 
w'as  a prominent  farmer,  owning  140  acres, 
was  a leading  member  of  the  Baptist  church, 
in  politics  was  a stanch  republican,  and  his 
death  took  place  in  the  army  in  March,  1864. 
When  married,  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Clark  settled  on 
their  present  farm,  which  now  contains  ninety 
acres  of  choice  land,  improved  with  one  of  the 
best  barns  in  the  county.  The  residence  is 
modern  in  construction  and  convenient  in  all 
its  details.  His  marriage  has  been  blessed  by 
the  birth  of  one  child — Herschel  L.  In  poli- 
tics Mr.  Clark  is  a democrat;  fraternally,  he 
is  a member  of  Hillisburg  lodge.  No.  550,  E.  & 
A.  M.,  and  has  passed  all  the  chairs  of  his 
lodge;  he  is  also  a dormant  member  of  the 
I.  O.  R.  M.,  and  his  wife  is  a member  of  the 
New  Light  church.  Mr.  Clark  takes  great 
pride  in  the  appearance  of  his  farm  and  build- 
ings, and  their  tidiness  and  beauty  are  the  ad- 
miration of  all  who  view  them — be  the)"  neigh- 
bors or  strangers. 


OHN  IRWIN  CLARK,  of  Moran,  is 
widely  and  favorably  known  in  Clinton 
county,  and  in  this  volume  well  de- 
serves re])resentaiion.  The  record  of 
his  life  is  as  follows  : A native  of  the  Key- 
stone state,  he  was  born  in  Juniata  county, 
March  8,  1830,  and  is  of  Irish  and  English  de- 
scent. His  grandfather,  Robert  Clark,  was 
born  in  New  York,  and  was  a tai'or  by  trade. 
In  those  days,  wl  ea  each  family  spun  and 


BIO(5RAPIIICAL  HISTORY 


wove  its  owTi  clotli,  he  went  from  house  to 
liouse  making  garments.  When  a young  man 
he  remove<l  to  Hnntingdon  county,  Pa.,  where 
he  married  Nancy  Alcorn,  and  they  became 
tlie  parents  of  the  following  children  ; Will- 
iam, Jane,  Mary,  Matthew,  Robert,  Richard, 
Nancy  and  George.  The  father  of  this  family 
served  in  the  war  of  1812,  and  at  its  close 
wrote  that  he  had  been  mustered  out  and 
would  soon  be  at  home,  but  it  is  supposed 
that  he  was  murdered  by  the  Indians,  for  no 
news  was  ever  received  from  him  afterward. 
His  father  had  been  murdered  by  a Spaniard 
in  New  York  when  Robert  was  a lad  of  twelve 
years. 

Matthew  Clark,  father  of  our  subject,  was 
born  in  Huntingd(jn  county.  Pa.,  April  ii, 

1 800,  and  became  a teacher,  which  occupa- 
tion he  followed  in  the  winter.  In  1825,  he 
married  Elizabeth  A.  McFeaters,  who  was 
born  August  23,  1798,  and  was  a daughter  of 
James  and  Mary  (Armstrong)  McFeaters. 
Their  eight  children  w'ere  ; Mary  A.,  born  in 
1827;  William  A.,  born  in  1828;  John  I.,'  born 
in  1830;  Margaret  N.,  born  in  1831;  James 
C.,  born  in  1833;  Matthew  S.,  born  in  1835; 
Sarah  F.,  born  in  1837;  and  Cyrus,  born  in 
1840.  In  1852  the  father  brought  his  family 
to  Owen  township,  Clinton  county,  Ind.,  and 
purchased  eighty  acres  of  partially  improved 
land,  which  he  transformed  iiito  a good  farm. 
He  and  his  wife  were  members  of  the  United 
Presbyterian  church.  He  voted  with  the 
democracy,  and  here  served  as  township  asses- 
sor, and  while  in  Pennsylvania  was  captain  of 
militia  for  live  years.  Six  years  ju'evious  to 
his  death  he  received  a stroke  of  paralysis,  and 
at  the  age  of  seventy  passed  away.  His  life 
was  a busy  and  useful  one,  and  those  who 
knew  him  held  him  in  high  regard.  Mrs. 
Clark  suffered  greatly  from  rheumatism,  and 
for  t went}’-eight  years  could  not  walk.  She 
survived,  however,  to  the  age  (d  seventy-three. 


John  Irwin  Clark  was  reared  on  a farm, 
worked  in  the  fields,  and  attended  the  public 
schools  until  attaining  his  majority.  In  1851, 
with  his  brother,  William  A.,  he  came  to 
Clinton  county,  Ind.,  and  made  arrange- 
ments for  securing  the  land  which  his  father 
purchased  the  following  year.  Wishing  for 
further  educational  privileges,  he  went  to 
Frankfort,  and  with  several  other  young  men 
received  instruction  from  John  P.  Crothers, 
the  county  auditor.  Eater  he  taught  for  thirty 
years  in  the  winter  seasons,  and  in  the  summer 
months  farmed  until  1867,  when  he  embarked 
in  carpentering,  which  he  followed  several 
years.  On  the  31st  of  March,  1857,  Mr. 
Clark  was  united  in  marriage  with  Mary  E. 
Bate,  who  was  born  in  Clarke  county,  Ohio, 
December  21,  1832,  and  is  a daughter  ofjosiah 
and  Hannah  A.  (Jones)  Bate.  Four  children 
have  been  born  to  them — Milton,  who  was 
born  January  2 1 , 1858,  and  died  at  the  age  of 
three  years;  Faura  M.,  who  was  born  Septem- 
ber 23,  1862,  and  died  September  30,  1864; 
Cynthia  E.,  who  was  born  in  September,  1864, 
and  was  married  November  2,  1887,  to  W.  H. 
Whlson;  and  Flewellyn,  whose  birth  occurred 
April  8,  1868. 

Mr.  Clark  came  to  Indiana  without  capital, 
but  was  determined  to  win  success.  Going  to 
Iowa  he  entered  eighty  acres  at  $1.25  per  acre, 
and  after  two  years  sold  it  for  $3  per  acre. 
Purchasing  three-quarters  of  an  acre  of  the  old 
home  farm,  he  built  thereon  a good  frame 
residence  and  barn.  Eater  he  j)urchased  forty 
acres,  and  now  has  a thrifty  and  well  devel- 
oped farm  as  the  result  of  earnest  and  untiring 
efforts.  It  is  jdeasantly  situated  a mile  and 
threc-(]uarters  from  Moran,  an.d  thus  the  com- 
forts of  the  town  are  easily  obtained.  In 
social  circles,  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Clark  hold  an 
enviable  ])osition,  and  both  are  memhers  of 
the  Presbyterian  church,  in  which  he  has 
served  as  elder  for  ten  years.  In  |)olitics  he  is 


OF  CLINTON  COUNTY. 


021 


a democrat,  and  for  five  years  filled  the  office 
of  township  trustee;  he  has  also  been  adminis- 
trator of  estates  and  has  acted  as  guardian, 
and  the  confidence  and  trust  reposed  in  him 
have  never  been  misplaced. 


y^T^ARTIN  L.  CLARK,  a very  suc- 
I I I cessful  and  progressive  young  farm- 
^ ^ er,  was  born  in  Johnson  township, 
Clinton  county,  and  is  a son  of 
Lewis  and  Julia  (Cole)  Clark,  and  has  always 
been  a farmer.  His  great-grandfather,  Abra- 
ham Clark,  was  a citizen  of  Chester  county. 
Pa.  William,  the  son  of  Abraham,  was  born 
in  Chester  county,  and  by  trade  was  a steam- 
fitter  and  miller  ; he  married  Sydney  Wood- 
ard, and  he  and  wife  were  early  settlers  of 
Fayette  count3^  Ind.,  and  were  members  of 
the  Christian  church.  Mrs.  Sydney  Clark 
died  in  Januar}^  1839,  ^-^d  William  Clark  died 
in  October  1867.  Lewis  Clark,  the  father  of 
Martin  L.,  was  fourteen  years  of  age  when  his 
father  settled  in  Fayette  county,  Ind.,  coming 
by  way  of  Cincinnati,  and  then  by  hired  team, 
to  convey  their  household  goods,  and  the 
father,  after  paying  the  teamster,  had  fifty 
cents  left  with  which  to  begin  life  in  the  new 
country.  Lewis  Clark  first  married  Irena 
Vickery,  daughter  of  Martin  and  Margaret 
(Galbreth)  Vickery.  She  was  a member  of  the 
Christian  church  and  died  April  22,  1862. 
Mr.  Clark  then  married  November  i,  1865, 
Julia  Cole,  daughter  of  Jacob  and  Mary  Ann 
(Miller)  Cole.  Lewis  Clark  came  to  Miller 
county  in  1850,  has  since  continuouslyresided 
in  Johnson  township,  and  now  at  the  age  of 
seventy-four,  is  hale  and  hearty. 

Martin  L.  Clark  was  married,  August  28, 
1873,  to  Miss  Maggie  Dunn  [see  biographies 
of  Dunn  family  elsewhere],  to  which  union 
the  following  children  have  been  born,;  James 
R. , Marshall  E.,  and  Gillie  Bell.  After  his 

30 


marriage  Mr.  Clark  settled  on  his  present 
farm,  which  now  comprises  lOO  acres  of  land. 
This  is  a very  fertile  farm  and  is  well  im- 
proved with  an  elegant  residence  and  good 
modern  barn,  and  is  also  under  a high  state  of 
cultivation.  Mr.  Clark  has  given  much  atten- 
tion, the  past  five  years,  to  breeding  Chester 
White  hogs,  which  he  considers  to  be  more 
hardy  and  prolific  than  any  other  breed.  He 
sold,  the  past  spring,  114  pigs  from  fifteen 
brood  sows.  He  is  a democrat  in  politics, 
and  has  filled  the  office  of  township  trustee  to 
the  full  satisfaction  of  the  people.  He  is  a 
member  of  Hillsburg  lodge.  No.  550,  F.  and 
A.  M.,  and  has  passed  all  the  chairs  ; he  is 
also  a dormant  member  of  the  I.  O.  R M. 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Clark  are  consistent  members  of 
the  New  Light  church,  to  which  he  is  a liberal 
contributor,  and  the  family  is  much  esteemed. 


N.  CLARK,  editor  and  proprietor 
of  the  iMulberry  Reporter,  Madison 
township,  Clinton  county,  Ind.,  was 
born  in  the  township  Ross,  same 
county,  November  ii,  1857,  and  is  a son  of 
A.  F.  and  Ann  Catherine  (Swaidner)  Clark, 
the  former  of  whom  was  a pioneer  of  Clinton 
county,  coming  from  Butler  county,  Ohio,  in 
1832,  and  now  residing  in  the  town  of  Ross- 
ville  in  retirement;  the  latter  bade  farewell  to 
earth  November  13,  1890. 

W.  N.  Clark  is  the  eldest  in  a family  of 
eight  children,  of  whom  all  are  still  living  with 
the  exception  of  one  sister,  who  died  in 
infancy.  He  was  reared  on  the  home  farm 
until  eighteen  years  of  age.  In  1876,  having 
received  an  excellent  education,  he  began 
teaching  school,  and  has  taught  every  year 
since,  being  now  one  of  the  oldest  educators  of 
note  in  Clinton  county,  and  the  duties  per- 
taining to  this  position  he  finds  time  to  per- 
I form  w'ithout  interference  with  his  editoral 


niOGRAPIIICAL  HISTORY 


()22 


labors.  The  marriage  of  Mr.  Clark  was 
solenniized  April  20,  iHcS/,  with  Rose  V. 
('arver,  the  accomplished  daughter  of  Miles  A. 
Carver  of  Perry  township,  Clinton  county,  and 
this  union  has  been  blessed  by  the  birth  of  two 
children — Raymond  R.,  born  January  7,  i8<S8, 
and  Bernice,  born  April  12,  1891.  In  1888, 
Mr.  Clark  moved  to  Mulberry  to  become 
principal  of  the  Mulberry  schools,  a position 
he  has  since  hlled  in  a most  satisfactory  man- 
ner. May  6,  1890,  he  established  the  Mul- 
berry Reporter,  this  being  the  first  successful 
attempt  to  establish  a journal  on  a substantial 
basis  in  the  town,  all  other  efforts  having  re- 
sulted in  failure. 


AMES  H.  COAPSTICR,  a well-to-do 
farmer  of  Michigan  township,  Clinton 
county,  Ind.,  and  an  ex-soldier,  was 
born  September  26,  1 844,  and  was 

reared  and  educated  in  Clinton,  the  county  of 
his  nativity.  His  father,  Samuel  Coapstick, 
was  a native  of  Ohio  and  of  German  extrac- 
tion. He  came  to  Clinton  county,  Ind.,  about 
I 840,  and  settled  in  Owen  township,  where  he 
passed  the  remainder  of  his  days  as  a farmer. 
He  married  Elizabeth  Concannon,  of  Ohio, 
by  whom  he  became  the  father  of  five  children. 
Before  he  had  reached  the  age  of  eighteen, 
James  H.  Coapstick  enlisted,  August  26,  1862, 
for  three  years,  in  company  H,  Third  cavalry, 
or  Eorty-fifth  regiment  Indiana  volunteers, 
which  was  assigned  to  the  army  of  the  Cum- 
berland, and  placed  under  the  command  of  the 
renowned  cavalry  general,  Kilj)atrick.  His 
first  action  was  at  Stone  River,  where  he  was 
in  the  saddle  almost  constantly  for  five  consec- 
utive days  and  nights,  without  rest  or  proper 
rations;  he  was  next  in  a cavalry  fight  down 
the  Shelbyville  pike,  wlu're  the  C<mfi‘derate 
cavalry  commander,  Jo  Wheeh-r,  attempted 
to  ambush  the  b'ederals  in  front,  while  I'orrest 


was  to  flank  the  rear,  but  the  rebels  were 
badly  beaten.  Mr.  Coapstick  was  also  at 
Chickamauga  and  Missionary  Ridge.  He  was 
next  in  a number  of  skirmishes  in  east  Tennes- 
see, at  this  time  acting  as  orderly  for  regimental 
commander;  he  then  acted  with  Sherman’s 
army  as  rear  guard  immediately  after  the  At- 
lanta campaign,  and  was  constantly  engaged 
in  skirmishing,  scouting  and  fighting.  He  next 
aided  Kilpatrick  in  destroying  stores,  etc.,  at 
Jonesl)oro.  Huring  the  Jonesboro  battle,  Mr. 
Coapstick,  in  company  with  100  picked  cav- 
ahwmen,  was  sent  to  cut  telegraph  lines  and 
tear  up  railways  twenty  miles  away  from  the 
field,  in  the  midst  of  the  enemy’s  country. 
With  Sherman  he  made  the  march  to  the  sea, 
and  was  honorably  discharged  at  Greensboro, 
S.  C.,  June  8,  1865.  He  now  receives  a pen- 
sion of  eight  dollars  per  month. 

October  7,  1869,  Mr.  Coapstick  married 
Miss  Caroline  Young,  daughter  of  John  and 
Isabel  (Benard)  Young — the  former  a pioneer 
farmer  of  Clinton  county,  and  an  elder  in  the 
Presbyterian  church.  Mr.  Coapstick’s  children 
are  named  Josephine,  Brant,  Earl  and  Harvey. 
Mr.  Coajistick  settled  on  his  farm  of  eighty 
acres  in  1879.  This  farm  is  beautifully  situ- 
ated on  the  pike,  one-half  mile  south  of  Michi- 
gantown,  and  is  well  improved  with  a modern 
dwelling  and  fine  barn.  He  is  a stanch  demo- 
crat and  a hard  worker  for  his  party,  and  is  a 
strictly  self-made  man. 


EZEKfAH  M.  COHEE,  a progress- 
ive and  successful  young  farmer  of 
Michigan  township,  (dinton  county, 
Ind.,  was  born  in  Boone  county,  Ind., 
Ai)ril  21,  i860,  the  son  of  Andrew  and  Amelia 
(Irwinj  C.ohec,  who  were  early  settlers  of 
Boone  county.  'I'he great-grandfather,  Benja- 
min Cobee,  the  progenitor  of  the  Cohee  kin- 
dred of  this  country,  came  to  America  in  early 


OF  CLINTON  COUNTY, 


G23 


manhood  and  scttleil  in  the  state  of  Delaware, 
wliere  he  married  and  reared  a large  family. 
Benjamin  Cohee,  the  grandfather  of  our  sub- 
ject, was  one  of  the  family  and  was  boru  iu 
the  state  of  Delaware  September  lO,  1788. 
Me  grew  to  manhood’s  estate  in  his  native 
county  and  there  married  Miss  Nancy  Holland, 
and  sometime  thereafter  Mr.  Cohee  removed 
to  Butler  county,  Ohio.  By  this  marriage 
three  sons  were  born,  viz:  Vincent  D.,  Jona- 
than, and  Henry  H.  Mrs.  Nancy  Cohee  died 
while  the  children  were  yet  small  and  Mr. 
Cohee  married  Miss  Rebecca  Wilson,  and, 
September  30,  1830,  moved  to  Clinton  county, 
Ind.,  where  he  settled  on  240  acres  of  land 
that  he  entered  in  1828.  They  became  the 
parents  of  eight  children,  four  sons  and  four 
daughters,  viz:  Andrew,  M'ilson,  James  L. , 
Hezekiah,  Mary  A.,  Rachel  C.,  Hattie  J.,  and 
Eliza  C.  Grandfather  Benjamin  Cohee  died 
January  7,  1863,  and  his  wife  Rebecca,  died 
March  4,  1868.  Andrew  Cohee,  the  father  of 
our  subject,  being  the  eldest  son  born  to 
Benjamin  and  Rebecca  Cohee,  dates  his  birth 
from  March  14,  1823,  in  Butler  county,  Ohio, 
and,  while  yet  a small  boy,  came  with  his 
parents  to  Indiana,  where  he  grew  to  manhood, 
assisting  his  father  in  forging  a home  out  of 
the  wilderness.  March  2,  1847,  he  married 
Miss  Amelia  Irwin,  who  was  born  in  Ohio, 
November  27,  1828.  This  marriage  took 

place  near  Eagle  Village,  in  Boone  county, 
Ind.,  and  has  been  blessed  by  the  birth  of  six 
children,  three  sons  and  three  daughters,  viz: 
Sarah  E.,  born  September  19,  1850;  David  D., 
born  October  i,  1853;  Rebecca  J.,  born  Octo- 
ber 30,  1856;  Hezekiah  M.,  born  April  21, 

i860;  John  A.,  born  December  24,  1866;  and 
Ella,  born  June  4,  1869.  Mr.  Cohee  is  one  of 
the  substantial  and  well-to-do  farmers  of 
Boone  county,  and,  in  1854,  located  on  his 
present  farm,  three  and  one-half  miles  north 
of  Lebanon,  where  he  has  resided  ever  since. 


He  and  wife  have  been  worthy  members  of 
the  Methodist  Episcopal  church  upward  of 
fifty  years,  and  are  highly  respected  by  all  who 
know  them. 

Hezekiah  M.  Cohee  grew  to  manhood  in  his 
native  county  and  became  quite  well  educated, 
and  is  still  a great  student  and  reader  of  cur- 
rent literature.  January  i,  1881,  he  married 
Margaret  Wharry,  daughter  of  James  and 
Julia  A.  (Price)  Wharry.  To  the  union  of 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Cohee  have  been  born  the  fol- 
lowing children:  Cecil  M.,  born  December  4, 
1882;  Leslie  W.,  born  June  29,  1885,  deceased; 
Clifton,  born  April  9,  1887;  Leah  I.,  born 
September  20,  1890,  and  Paul,  born  October 
8,  1894.  Mr.  Cohee  owns  a good  farm  of  160 
acres,  of  which,  Mrs.  Cohee  inherited  thirty- 
six  acres  from  her  father’s  estate.  This  is 
now  well  improved  with  a fine  house  and  barn 
and  is  furnished  with  all  modern  improvements. 
In  politics,  Mr.  Cohee  is  strongly  republican. 
Both  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Cohee  are  members  of 
the  Methodist  church,  of  which  he  is  super- 
intendent of  the  Sunday-school.  Mr.  Cohee  is 
a member  of  Herman  lodge.  No.  184,  F.  & 
A.  M.  He  is  heartily  in  favor  of  our  school 
system,  is  a liberal  supporter  of  the  church, 
and  is  public-spirited  and  generally  progressive. 


C.  COHEE,  a member  of  one  of  the 
oldest  and  most  respectable  families 
of  Clinton  county,  Ind.,  was  born  in 
the  city  of  Frankfort,  August  ii, 
1858,  and  is  one  of  a family  of  three  sons  and 
three  daughters  born  to  Ezekiel  and  Lydia 
(Michaels)  Cohee,  natives  of  Prebel  county, 
Ohio.  Samuel  Cohee,  father  of  Ezekiel,  was 
born  in  1802,  was  the  father  of  five  sons  and 
four  daughters,  and  died  in  Frankfort  Febru- 
ary 22,  1892,  his  wife  having  preceded  him  to 
the  grave  in  1880.  The  latter  was  a daughter 


624 


BIOGRAPHICAL  HISTORY 


of  I*'red  Michaels,  one  of  the  i)ioneers  of  Clin- 
ton connty. 

S.  C.  Cohee,  now  the  leading  liveryman  of 
Frankfort,  has  supported  himself  since  he  was- 
twelve  years  of  age,  but  nntil  ten  years  old  he 
lived  on  a farm.  His  first  effort  at  self-sup- 
port was  at  teaming;  he  was  then  employed  in 
a feed  store  and  next  engaged  in  draying.  June 
iS,  icSS.S,  with  a ])artner,  he  started  his  present 
livery  barn,  but  two-and-a-half  years  later  be- 
came sole  proprietor,  and  bv  his  affability, 
rectitude  and  strict  attention  to  the  wants  of 
patrons,  has  met  with  more  than  ordinary  suc- 
cess. In  icS75,  Mr.  Cohee  married  Miss  Ida 
Bell  W'ilson  of  Kempton,  Ind.,  and  this  happy 
union  has  been  blessed  with  three  children, 
named  Ethel,  Clair,  and  Lela.  Mr.  Cohee  is 
a member  of  the  Improved  Order  of  Red  Men, 
and,  being  a native  of  the  county  and  city  and 
a descendant  of  one  of  the  pioneer  families, 
stands  socially  in  a very  high  position. 


AMES  W.  COLLINS  is  a well-known 
l)usiness  man  and  prominent  official  of 
Erankfort.  He  was  born  in  Highland 
count}',  Ohio,  August  14,  1848,  and 
inherits  in  a marked  degree  the  characteristics 
of  the  sturdy  Scotch- Irish  ancestors  from  wdheh 
he  is  descended.  The  family  of  which  he  is  a 
representative  settled  at  an  early  day  in  Mary- 
land, and  from  there  his  grandparents  emi- 
grated to  Highland  county,  (dhio,  about  the 
year  1820,  and  died  in  the  latter  state  some 
time  in  the  earl}'  fifties.  They  reared  a family 
of  five  children,  vi/:  Thomas,  John,  Mary, 
William  and  (ieorge  \\k  the  latter  the  father 
of  the  subject  of  this  notice.  George  W. 
Collins  was  reared  to  agricultural  juirsuits,  and 
in  early  life  assisted  his  father  in  the  manufac- 
ture of  the  old-fashioned  spinning-whecds  so 
common  in  the  pioneer  times,  and  he  exercised 
his  mechanical  skill  in  this  way  until  his  twenty- 


fourth  year.  He  then  married  Mary  J.  Patton, 
and  immediately  afterward  began  carpentering 
and  building,  which  he  followed  until  1854  in 
Ohio,  and  then  came  to  Clinton  county,  Ind., 
where  he  was  similarly  engaged  for  two  years, 
returning  to  his  native  state  at  the  end  of  that 
period.  He  died  in  Ross  county,  Ohio,  March 
16,  1858;  his  widow  survives  him,  and  resides 
at  this  time  with  a daughter  at  the  town  of 
South  Salem.  George  W.  and  Mary  J.  Col- 
lins were  the  parents  of  the  following  children: 
James  W.,  Mary  E.,  Edgar  F. , a physician  of 
Mt.  Sterling,  Ohio,  and  Laura,  deceased.  The 
father  of  Mrs.  Collins  was  James  Patton,  and 
the  maiden  name  of  her  mother  was  Margaret 
Edgar,  a native  of  Kentucky  and  a relative  of 
the  Todd  family  to  which  Mrs.  Abraham  Lin- 
coln belonged. 

James  \\k  Collins,  who  grew  to  manhood 
on  a farm  in  Ross  eounty,  Ohio,  attended  in 
his  boyhood  the  common  schools  and  later 
South  Salem  academy.  When  twenty-one 
years  of  age  he  left  Ross  county,  Ohio,  and 
came  to  Indiana,  locating  at  Erankfort,  where 
he  accepted  the  position  of  deputy  in  the 
county  recorder’s  office  under  David  B.  Car- 
ter, the  duties  of  which  he  discharged  for  a 
period  of  three  years.  During  the  three  years 
succeeding  Mr.  Collins  taught  in  the  schools  of 
Clinton  county,  and  in  the  meantime  began 
the  study  of  law  in  the  office  of  Messrs.  Page 
(S;  Bayless,  under  whose  instruction  he  con- 
tinued for  some  months,  and  then  went  to  La 
P'ayette,  where  he  remained  about  two  years, 
with  the  law  firm  of  Behm,  Park  tS;  Behm. 
I'or  the  next  two  years  he  resided  at  Colfax, 
and  in  1879  returned  to  Erankfort,  where  he 
entered  the  practice  of  law.  In  December, 
1881,  he  accepted  the  position  of  deputy 
county  treasurer  under  Alexander  B.  Given,  in 
which  capacity  he  continued  two  years;  and 
later,  for  about  the  same  length  of  time,  con- 
ductc'd  a thriving  drug  business.  In  thes])ring 


OF  CLINTON  COUNTY. 


025 


of  1892  he  was  complimented  by  being  elected 
mayor  of  the  city,  which  honorable  position 
he  filled  with  ability  for  one  term  of  two  years. 

Mr.  Collins  was  married  in  Frankfort  on 
the  thirty-first  day  of  December,  1884,  to 
Miss  Jessie  B.  Mulhallen,  who  was  born  in 
Rockville,  Ind.,  June  16,  1856.  The  union 
thus  consummated  has  resulted  in  the  birth  of 
three  children,  namely — Esther,  Todd  and 
James  C.  Mr.  Collins  is  one  of  the  leading 
republicans  of  Frankfort  and  has  always  taken 
a lively  interest  in  the  success  of  his  party. 
He  is  a knight  templar  Mason  and  an  Episco- 
palian in  his  religious  belief,  belonging  to  the 
Erankfort  congregation,  as  does  also  his  wife. 
In  every  relation  of  life  Mr.  Collins  has 
shown  himself  to  be  a man  of  prudence,  sa- 
gacity, discretion  of  judgment,  of  scrupulous 
integrity  and  gentlemanly  demeanor.  In  the 
capacity  as  mayor,  he  proved  a most  excellent 
executive,  and  in  the  public  positions  to  which 
he  was  called  from  time  to  time  the  ability  and 
faithfulness  which  were  displayed  in  the  dis- 
charge of  the  duties  incident  thereto  show  him 
to  have  been  a most  competent  and  obliging 
public  servant. 


OHN  NELSON  COOPER,  who  i$ 
numbered  among  the  prominent  farmers 
of  Sugar  Creek  township,  Clinton 
county,  Ind  , deserves  representation  in 
this  volume,  for  he  is  both  widely  and  favor- 
ably known.  He  came  from  Irish  and  English 
ancestry.  His  grandfather,  Malachi  Cooper, 
was  a native  of  Kentucky,  and  an  old  Hard- 
shell Baptist  preacher.  He  voted  with  the 
W'hig  party,  and  removed  to  Rush  county, 
Ind.,  where  he  died  at  the  age  of  seventy-four. 
His  children  were  James,  John,  Asa,  Levi, 
Delilah  and  Jane.  John  Cooper  was  born  in 
Kentucky  in  1800,  and  on  the  fifth  of  March, 
1820,  married  Jane  King,  who  was  born  in 


Kentucky,  March  9,  1801,  and  was  a daughter 
of  William  King.  They  became  the  parents 
of  nine  children;  William  E.,  Malachi,  James, 
Polly  A.,  John  N.,  Lucinda,  Stanley,  Angeline 
and  Jane.  In  February.  1838,  John  Cooper 
came  with  his  family  to  Clinton  county,  and 
entered  160  acres  of  wild  land,  covered  with 
heavy  timber.  He  was  an  expert  marksman 
and  was  known  to  kill  eight  deer  in  ttvo  days. 
He  served  as  justice  of  the  peace  both  in  Rush 
and  Clinton  counties,  ami  was  a man  of  good 
judgment,  who  had  the  confidence  and  re- 
pect  of  the  entire  comnnity.  In  politics  he 
was  an  old-line  whig.  He  died  November  30, 
1851,  at  the  age  of  fifty-one,  and  his  wife  in 
1841,  aged  forty  years. 

John  Nelson  Cooper  was  born  in  Rush 
county,  Ind.,  January  15,  1832,  was  reared  on 
a farm,  and  acquired  his  education  in  the  old 
log  school-house,  with  its  puncheon  floors, 
slab  seats  and  mud  and  stick  chimney,  where 
for  some  years  he  spent  about  three  months 
each  season.  When  in  his  twentieth  year  he 
was  married,  March  2,  1851,  to  Elizabeth 

Ward,  also  a native  of  Rush  county,  born  Jan- 
uary 18,  1832,  and  a daughter  of  Newton  and 
Sarah  (Parkins)  Ward  of  Indiana.  They 
began  life  in  true  pioneer  style  in  a log  house, 
the  furniture  of  which  was  made  by  Mr. 
Cooper,  but  those  were  happy  days,  neverthe- 
less. In  1857,  he  went  to  California,  by  way 
of  New  Orleans  and  Cuba,  and  after  sixteen 
months  returned  home,  for  the  trip  was  not 
very  successful.  He  then  resumed  farming 
and  became  owner  of  forty  acres  of  land.  In 
August,  1862,  Mr.  Cooper  responded  to  the 
call  for  troops  and  joined  company  B,  Seventy- 
fifth  Indiana  infantry,  which  went  from  Indian- 
aj  olis  to  Lebanon,  Ky.,  thence  to  Chicka- 
mauga,  and  Missionary  Ridge,  participating  in 
the  entire  Sherman  campaign.  His  brother 
[ who  stood  at  his  side  was  killed  at  Chicka- 
1 mauga,  and  his  brother-in-law  was  wounded. 


626 


BIOGRAPHICAL  HISTORY 


Mr.  Cooper  escaped  uninjured  throughout  the 
struggle,  and  at  it  close  returned  home  in 
June,  1865.  He  was  with  Sherman  on  the 
celebrated  march  to  the  sea  and  participated  j 
in  the  grand  review  in  Washington.  | 

To  Mr.  Mrs.  Cooper  were  born  three  chil- 
dren; James  M.,  who  married  Siotha  Amos; 
William  E.,  who  wedded  Anna  B.  Nelson,  and 
Charles  M.,  who  died  at  the  age  of  six  months. 
The  mother  died  January  4,  1886,  and  on  the  | 
twenty-seventh  of  August,  1887,  Mr.  Cooper  [ 
wedded  Mrs.  Priscilla  Purdy,  ucc  Amos,  who 
was  born  February  24,  1841,  in  Indiana. 

Their  home  is  upon  a good  farm  of  120  acres, 
which  is  well  drained  and  cultivated,  and 
therefore  yields  to  the  owner  a golden  tril)ute 
in  return  for  his  care  and  labor.  Mr.  Cooper 
is  a republican,  but  has  never  aspired  to  office. 
His  wife  belongs  to  the  Methodist  church,  and 
both  are  prominent  and  highly  respected  people, 
who  well  deserve  representation  in  this  volume. 


HRTHUR  L.  COOPER,  a representa- 
tive business  man  and  manufacturer 
of  Frankfort,  Ind.,  of  which  city  he 
has  been  a resident  since  the  spring 
of  1883,  was  born  in  Philadelphia,  Pa.,  March 
4,  1861.  His  parents  were  Jacob  and  Re- 

becca (Shurtzj  Cooper,  both  natives  of  the 
Keystone  state  and  of  German  lineage.  The 
father  was  born  in  the  town  of  Coopersburg, 
where  the  Cooper  family  have  lived  for  gener- 
ations. He  was  a son  of  Daniel  Cooper, 
whose  father,  David  Cooj)er,  a son  of  a Hes- 
sian soldier  in  the  war  of  the  Revolution,  was 
born  in  Virginia.  Jacob  Cooper  was  a soldier 
in  the  Civil  war  and  died  while  in  the  service, 
the  subject  of  this  sketch  being  hardly  two 
years  old  at  the  time.  Mrs.  Cooper  after- 
wards married  Alonzo  Koons,  of  Allentown, 
Pa,,  and  died  when  Arthur  had  reached  the 
age  (;f  six  years. 


Arthur  L.  Cooper  was  brought  up  in  Allen- 
town, in,  the  schools  of  wliich  he  obtained  a 
good  English  education,  which  was  afterward 
supplemented  by  a business  course  in  what 
was  known  as  Blackman's  business  college. 
At  the  age  of  fifteen  he  went  to  Philadelphia, 
where  he  remained  until  attaining  his  major- 
ity, in  the  meantime  learning  the  cigar-maker’s 
trade.  In  1881  Mr.  Cooper  was  united  in 
marriage  to  Miss  Eleanora  Anewalt,  imme- 
diately thereafter  located  in  Allentown,  and 
thence,  in  1883,  moved  to  Frankfort,  Ind.  On 
coming  to  the  latter  place  Mr.  Cooper  em- 
barked in  the  machine  business,  and  later  he 
became  associated  with  E A.  Colver,  under 
the  firm  name  of  F.  A.  Colver  & Co.,  by 
which  the  Excelsior  machine  works  have  since 
been  known.  Both  Mr.  Cooper  and  his  part- 
ner are  practical  machinists,  and  their  estab- 
lishment is  well  ecjuipped  for  all  kinds  of 
foundry  and  machine  work  in  their  line.  They 
manufacture  steam  engines,  boilers,  do  all 
kinds  of  heavy  work  and  make  a.  specialty  of 
wrought  iron  and  steel  fencing,  malleable  iron 
cresting  and  rail  work,  turning  out  over 
seventy  different  styles  of  fences,  which  have  a 
large  sale  throughout  the  United  States.  They 
also  do  a great  deal  of  jail  work,  and  all  in 
all  their  establishment  is  one  of  the  most  im- 
portant manufacturing  institutions  of  h'rank- 
fort.  Politically  Mr.  Cooiier  is  a republican, 
and  as  such  was  elected,  in  the  spring  of  1894, 
a member  of  the  common  council  of  h'rank- 
fort.  He  is  a promiueut  member  of  the 
knights  teiujilar  Masons,  also  the  Pythian  order 
and  captain  of  the  uniform  rank,  and  with  his 
wife  is  identified  with  the  Presbyterian  church. 
Socially  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Coo])er  are  very  popu- 
lar ill  Frankfort,  and  during  their  residence  in 
the  city  have  gained  a large  circle  of  friends 
and  actiuaintauces.  'I'lieir  home  is  blessed 
with  the  jiresence  ol  four  intcrestiug  children, 
namely;  W'arren,  Grace,  June  and  Aurora. 


OF  CLINTON  COUNTY 


027 


ELSON  COSNER  is  a well 

know'll  and  highly  respected  citizen 
of  Frankfort,  where  for  a mimlier  of 
years  he  has  acceptably  held  the  of- 
fice of  justice  of  the  peace.  His  ancestors  in 
the  United  States  w'ere  North  Carolina  peo]ile, 
in  which  state  his  grandfather,  John  Cosner, 
was  born  and  reared.  John  Cosner  and  Mar- 
garet Pike  were  married  in  North  Carolina, 
and  lived  there  until  1831,  when  they  emi- 
grated to  Indiana  and  settled  in  the  county  of 
Hendricks,  where  their  deaths  occurred  in  the 
years  1851  and  1856,  respectively.  They 
were  the  parents  of  eight  children,  whose 
names  are  as  follows  : Anthony,  William, 
Mary,  Elizabeth,  Sally,  Lovy,  Hannah,  Peg- 
gy ; all  living  but  four,  Mary,  Anthony,  Eliza- 
beth and  Sally.  Both  parants  were  devoted 
members  of  the  Society  of  P'riends,  in  which 
Mr.  Cosner  was  an  able  minister  for  many 
years,  and  they  both  are  remembered  as  most 
exemplary  and  pious  people.  They  were 
among  the  pioneers  of  Hendricks  county,  and 
did  much  in  a quiet  way  for  the  moral  im- 
provement of  the  community  which  they  as- 
sisted in  founding.  William  Cosner,  second 
son  of  the  above,  and  father  of  the  immediate 
subject  of  this  sketch,  was  born  January  14, 
1806,  in  Forsythe  county,  N.  C.,  and  there 
grew'  to  manhood  on  a farm,  acquiring  in  the 
mean  time  a common  school  education.  He 
accompanied  his  parents  to  Indiana  in  1831, 
and  assisted  'in  clearing  the  home  farm  in 
Hendricks  county,  which  is  still  in  possession 
of  members  of  the  family.  In  1832  w'as  sol- 
emnized his  marriage  with  Epervia  Orrell, 
daughter  of  Daniel  and  Mary  ( Black)  Orrell, 
natives  of  North  Carolina,  in  which  state  Mrs. 
Cosner  first  saw  the  light  of  day  on  the  7th  of 
March,  1816.  Daniel  and  Mary  Orrell  both 
lived  to  be  very  old  people,  the  former  dying 
at  the  remarkable  age  of  102  years.  He  was 
a saddler  in  early  life,  later  became  a physi- 


cian, and  by  tw'o  marriages  had  seventeen 
children.  After  his  marriage,  William  Cosner 
purchased  a tract  of  government  land  in  Hen- 
dricks county,  consisting  of  160  acres,  to 
w'hich  he  subsequently  added  a similar  area, 
and  became  the  possessor  of  ample  means. 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Cosner  lived  w'here  they  origi- 
nally settled  the  remainder  of  their  days,  the 
former  dying  December  23,  1852,  and  the  lat- 
ter in  August,  1890.  The  followdng  are  the 
names  of  their  seven  children  ; Emily,  wife 
of  J.  H.  Rudd  ; Malinda,  wife  of  S.  S.  Shields  ; 
Daniel,  deceased  ; Peggy,  wife  of  J.  M. 
Champion  ; Nelson  W.,  Mary  A.,  wife  of  T. 
Vaughan,  and  an  infant  that  died  unnamed. 

Nelson  W.  Cosner  was  born  October  11, 
1844,  in  Hendricks  county,  Ind.,  and,  like  the 
majority  of  country  lads,  passed  his  youthful 
years  amid  the  active  but  uneventful  scenes  of 
the  farm,  and  early  learned  to  appreciate  the 
true  dignity  of  honest  labor.  Deprived  of  a 
father’s  care  and  advice  when  but  eight  years’ 
old,  he  remained  with  his  wddowed  mother  un- 
til his  twenty-first  year,  looking  after  her  in- 
terests, and  w'hen  twenty-two,  he  married  and 
settled  on  the  old  farm,  which  he  had  previ- 
ously purchased,  and  began  the  contented  life 
of  a tiller  of  the  soil.  He  remained  in  Hen- 
dricks county  until  1874,  w'hen  he  removed  to 
the  county  of  Marion  and  engaged  in  the  mill- 
ing business,  continuing  the  same  about  one 
year,  and  then  accepted  a position  as  railroad 
bridge  carpenter,  which  he  followed  for  about 
the  same  length  of  time.  During  the  succeed- 
ing thirteen  years  Mr.  Cosner  followed  carpen- 
tering and  building,  after  which  he  engaged 
in  the  manufacture  of  lumber  at  P'rankfort, 
where  he  operated  a mill  very  successfully  un- 
til meeting  with  a severe  accident,  which  re- 
sulted in  the  loss  of  his  good  right  arm,  since 
which  time  he  has  not  been  able  to  perform  any 
kind  of  manual  labor.  In  1 890,  Mr.  Cosner  was 
elected  justice  of  the  peace  in  P'rankfort,  the 


028 


BIOGRAPHICAL  HISTORY 


functions  of  which  office  he  has  since  performed 
in  an  able  and  satisfactory  manner.  He  votes 
the  republican  ticket,  and  with  his  wife  belongs 
to  tlu'  Methodist  church,  in  which  both  are 
valuable  workers.  Mr.  Cosner  has  a military 
record  of  six  months’  duration,  having  served 
from  April,  1864,  till  September  of  the  same 
year,  in  the  army  of  the  Cumberland  as  a priv- 
ate in  company  C,  One  Hundred  and  Seven- 
teenth Indiana  infantry.  He  was  discharged 
at  Knoxville,  Tenn.,  on  account  of  expiration 
of  period  of  enlistment,  then  became  a mem- 
ber of  company  B,  One  Hundred  and  Forty- 
eighth  Indiana  volunteer  infantry,  from  Janu- 
ary, 1864,  to  October,  1864,  and  is  now  the 
recipient  of  a pension  of  four  dollars  a month. 
Mr.  Cosner  owns  a pleasant  home  in  Frank- 
fort, which  is  presided  over  by  his  wife,  whom 
he  married  on  the  ist  day  of  September,  1866, 
in  Hendricks  county.  Mrs.  Cosner’s  maiden 
name  was  Sally  Phillips,  daughter  of  Levi  and 
Elizabeth  Phillips,  and  she  has  borne  her  hus- 
band the  following  children:  Edgar  O.,  book- 
keeper in  Chicago  stock  yards;  Orra,  a railroad 
employe;  Anna,  deceased;  Mark,  connected 
with  the  Times  office,  Erankfort;  Verne,  de- 
ceased, and  Harry,  who  lives  at  home  with  his 
parents.  Mr.  Cosner  is  a member  of  the  G. 
A.  R..  of  Frankfort;  was  a charter  member  of 
the  Reuben  Masten  post.  No.  431,  and  was 
transferred  to  this  j)lace. 


BRANCIS  G.  COVEEY,  a well  known 
farmer  of  Washington  townshi]), 
Clinton  comity,  Ind.,  was  b(>rn  Aug- 
ust 31,  1847,  in  Berks  comity.  Pa., 
and  is  a son  of  David  and  Mary  (Gery) 
Covely,  both  parents  natives  of  the  Key- 
stone state  and  of  German  descent.  David 
C.ovely  was  the  son  of  William  Covely,  who 
was  also  a native  of  Pennsylvania,  where  his 
ancestors  settled  in  a very  early  day,  mov- 


ing there  from  Germany.  David  Covely  was 
born  in  the  year  of  1820  in  Berks  county,  Pa., 
where  all  his  life  was  passed  and  where  his 
death  occurred  in  1892;  his  widow  is  still 
living.  David  and  Mary  Covely  were  the 
parents  of  sixteen  children,  the  subject  of  this 
sketch  being  first  in  order  of  birth.  The 
names  of  the  others  are  as  follows:  David, 
Sarah,  wife  of  Edwin  Bower;  William,  de- 
ceased; Mary,  w'ife  of  James  Sallada;  John, 
Michael,  Joseph;  Matilda,  wife  of  James  Grice; 
Henry,  Caroline,  deceased;  Jerry,  and  four 
that  died  in  infancy. 

Erancis  G.  Covely  at  the  early  age  of 
fifteen  years  began  life  for  himself,  working 
at  anything  that  his  hands  found  to  do,  and 
after  his  tw'enty-first  year  turned  his  atten- 
tion to  the  carpenter’s  trade,  at  wFich  he 
became  a skillful  workman.  In  1870  he  be- 
came a resident  of  Clinton  county,  Ind., 
locating  at  the  village  of  Mulberry,  w’here  he 
carried  on  his  trade  for  eight  years,  after 
which  he  engaged  in  farming  on  rented  land 
until  1880.  In  that  year  ''e  purchased  his 
present  farm  of  eighty  acres  in  Washington 
township,  upon  w’hich  he  has  made  many 
substantial  improvements,  including  a good 
house  and  barn,  and  his  place  is  under  a 
very  successful  state  of  cultivation. 

Mr.  Covely  was  married  November  17, 
1872,  to  Mary  Freas,  daughter  of  John  and 
Rachel  (Brown)  Freas,  the  father  a native 
of  b'rance  and  the  mother  borii  in  Lehigh 
county.  Pa.  John  Freas  came  to  America 
w'hen  eighteen  years  old  in  company  with 
a brother  and  died  in  Clinton  county,  Ind., 
in  the  year  1888;  his  widow  is  still  living 
and  makes  her  home  with  the  subject  of 
this  sketch.  The  following  are  the  names 
of  the  nine  children  born  to  John  and  Rachel 
b'reas:  Samnel,  d'homas,  W'illiam,  John, 

Lary,  Lena,  wife  of  Henry  Gri'en;  Susan, 
wife  of  Henr\’  Gary;  bhnma,  wife'  of  ILhvard 


OF  CLINTON  COUNTY. 


029 


Lipp,  and  Ella,  wife  of  Walter  Suit.  To 
the  marriage  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Covely  have 
been  born  the  following  children:  William, 
Gertie,  Rachel  and  John.  Mr.  Covely  affili- 
ates with  the  democratic  party  and  belongs 
to  the  Improved  Order  of  Red  Men,  holding 
membership  with  Dakota  tribe.  No.  42,  of 
Frankfort.  He  is  a man  of  character  and 
high  social  standing  in  the  comunity,  popular 
with  his  neighbors  and  fellow-citizens,  and 
for  a number  of  years  has  been  an  active 
member  of  the  German  Reform  church.  Mrs. 
Covely  belongs  to  the  same  denomination 
and  is  esteemed  as  a lady  of  intelligence  and 
piety. 


ACOB  COYNER,  the  subject  of  this 
sketch,  one  of  the  leading  farmers  and 
a well-known  old  settler  of  Pei'ry  town- 
ship, Clinton  county,  Ind. , traces  his 
ancestry  back  through  several  generations  to 
Germany.  His  father,  Michael  Coyner,  was 
the  son  of  Jacob  Coyner,  whose  father,  also 
named  Jacob,  was  born  January  29,  1720,  in 
Germany,  where  the  family  name  was  known 
as  Kainath,  and  he  became  the  progenitor  of 
the  family  in  America.  In  the  records,  which 
the  pastor  of  the.state  church  at  Wurtemburg, 
Germany,  showed  to  Dr.  A.  J.  Coyner  in 
1877,  the  family  name  was  traced  back  to  the 
reformation,  a Jacob  Kainath  being  discovered 
in  the  fifteenth  century.  A Michael  Kainath 
was  born  in  1650,  and  Jacob  Kainath,  sup- 
posed to  be  his  son,  was  married  to  Anna 

M — , November  7,  1708,  Michael  Kainath 

alluded  to  at  the  beginning  of  this  sketch  being 
their  youngest  son.  The  family  was  quite 
numerous  in  Europe;  and  tradition  reports  a 
number  of  them  as  having  served  in  the  thirty 
years’  war  as  Protestants  in  the  armies  of  Gus- 
tavus  Adolphus.  On  coming  to  America,  the 
family  settled  in  Virginia,  where  numerous  de- 


scendants are  still  found.  Michael  Coyner,  the 
the  subject’s  father,  was  born  in  Augusta 
county,  Va.,  reared  on  a farm,  and  married 
Phoebe  Peterson.  He  reared  the  following 
children:  Jacob,  John,  David  D.,  Martin, 
William,  Mary,  Elizabeth,  Susan,  Fanny,  Jane 
and  Melissa.  He  emigrated  in  company  with 
his  brother  to  Greene  county,  Ohio,  where  he 
followed  agricultural  pursuits  until  1831,  at 
which  time  he  moved  to  Indiana,  locating  in 
the  county  of  Clinton,  where  he  purchased  a 
tract  of  land  consisting  of  320  acres.  He  was 
one  of  the  pioneers  of  Clinton,  and  became 
very  successful  financially,  owning  at  one  time 
over  400  aci-es  of  land,  which  became  quite 
valuable.  He  was  hard-working  and  indus- 
trious, a Methodist  in  his  religious  belief,  and 
died  in  the  year  1851;  his  wife  survived  him 
a number  of  years,  departing  this  life  in  Sep- 
tember, 1877. 

Jacob  Coyner,  the  leading  facts  of  whose 
life  are  here  set  forth,  was  born  in  Greene 
county,  Ohio,  January  20,  1820,  and  since  his 
eleventh  year  has  been  an  honored  resident  of 
Clinton  county,  Ind.,  of  the  rapid  growth  and 
development  of  which  he  has  been  a living 
witness.  He  recalls  the  journey  from  the  old 
Ohio  home  through  an  almost  unbroken  wil- 
derness to  the  new  home  in  the  forests  of 
Clinton,  and  recounts  with  pleasure  many  of 
the  stirring  scenes  and  incidents  of  the  early 
pioneer  times.  Game  of  all  kinds  was  quite 
plentiful  at  that  period,  especially  deer,  bear, 
wild  hogs  and  turkeys,  upon  which  the  family 
chiefly  relied  for  a large  portion  of  their  pro- 
vision for  several  years  following  their  first 
settlement.  Like  all  the  pioneer  boys,  the 
early  life  of  Mr.  Coyner  was  spent  in  clearing 
land,  working  in  the  field,  hunting  and  other 
athletic  sports  common  to  that  day.  In  the 
primitive  log  school-house,  with  the  puncheon 
floor,  large  fire-place,  mud  and  stick  chimney, 
he  acquired  the  rudiments  of  an  education 


GBO 


BIOGRAPHICAL  HISTORY 


which,  su))])leincnted  by  close  observation  and 
business  contact  with  his  fellows  in  after  years, 
has  made  him  an  intelligent  and  well-informed 
man.  Mr.  Coyner  was  married  in  Montgom- 
ery county,  Ind.,  October  1 8,  1842,  to  Han- 
nah Little,  daughter  of  Ezra  and  Elizabeth 
(Martin)  Eittle,  early  settlers  in  this  county, 
and  began  housekeeping  on  a forty-acre  tract 
of  land,  which  he  purchased  from  the  govern- 
ment. This  land  was  wholly  unimproved  at 
the  time,  and  he  was  compelled  to  work  hard 
for  one  year  in  order  to  obtain  sufficient  money 
to  pay  the  entry  price  of  the  same.  His  first 
residence  was  a diminutive  log  cabin,  in  which 
some  of  the  happiest  days  of  his  life  were 
passed,  and  with  the  assistance  of  his  good 
wife,  who  was  indeed  a true  helpmate,  he  soon 
succeeded  in  improving  his  condition  and  in 
due  season  had  a good  farm  in  cultivation  with 
an  additional  number  of  acres.  Mr.  Coyner 
proved  a successful  manager,  and  by  judicious 
investments  became  the  possessor  of  a large 
amount  of  land,  aggregating  500  acres,  the 
greater  part  of  which  he  has  since  generously 
divided  among  his  children,  giving  to  each  of 
them  forty  acres.  The  names  of  his  children 
are  as  follows:  William,  Joseph,  Pheebe,  Al- 
pheus,  john,  Etta,  Minnie,  Orlando,  and  Mor- 
ton. Of  the  above,  Alpheus  is  deceased,  dy- 
ing at  the  age  of  twenty-one;  he  was  an  ex- 
emplary young  man  and  consistent  member  of 
the  Methodist  church. 

Mr.  Coyner  has  a beautiful  home,  his  farm 
being  supplied  with  a fine  modern  residence 
and  other  buildings  in  keeping,  and  for  years 
he  had  been  looked  uiion  as  one  of  the  success- 
ful agriculturists  of  Perry  township.  In  the 
growth  and  development  of  the  county  he  has 
been  no  unimi)ortant  factor,  and  although  not 
a seeker  after  official  honors,  he  has  fre(]ucntly 
been  solicited  b\'  his  fellow-citizens  to  accept 
positions  of  trust  which,  with  the  exception  of 
trustee,  he  has  steadily  refused.  He  is  a mem- 


ber of  the  Methodist  church,  to  which  he  con- 
tributes liberally  of  his  means,  and  in  political 
matters  is  an  earnest  and  outspoken  supporter 
of  the  republican  party. 


ANIEL  E.  CKIPE,  M.  I).,  is  a native 
of  Indiana,  born  in  the  county  of 
Howard  on  the  fifth  day  of  May,  1850. 
His  grandfather,  Joseph  Cripe,  a na- 
tive of  Ohio,  was  one  of  the  earliest  pioneers 
of  Clinton  county,  Ind..  moving  here  as  long 
ago  as  1824,  and  locating  near  the  present  site 
of  Rossville,  where  he  entered  a large  tract  of 
land  and  became  a farmer  of  much  means.  In 
early  life  he  learned  the  cooper's  trade,  and 
worked  at  the  same  in  connection  with  agri- 
cultural pursuits  after  becoming  a resident  of 
Clinton.  He  was  a man  of  character  and  true 
worth,  and  died  on  the  home  place  a number 
of  years  ago.  His  son,  Isaac  Cripe,  the  doc- 
tor’s father,  was  born  in  Darke  county,  Ohio, 
January  6,  1815,  and  at  the  age  of  nine  years 
was  brought  by  his  parents  to  Clinton  county, 
Ind.,  where  he  grew  to  manhood  on  a farm. 
He  was  married,  in  1839,  to  Sarah  M.  Daniels, 
after  which  he  moved  to  Howard  county, 
where,  until  1876,  he  worked  at  his  trade,  that 
of  stone-mason.  He  was  a member  of  the 
German  Baptist  church,  and  from  the  above 
year  until  his  death,  which  occurred  April  17, 
1893,  was  an  acceptable  minister  of  the  same, 
making  his  residence  during  that  period  in  the 
county  of  ('arroll.  Isaac  Cripe  was  a man  of 
much  more  than  mental  endowments,  and  he 
was  (piite  successful  as  a farmer,  while  his 
work  in  the*  ministry  bore  gootl  results  in  the 
strengthening  of  his  church  and  in  leading  many 
people  to  the  higher  and  better  life.  Isaac 
and  Elizabeth  Gripe  were  the  parents  of  the 
following  children:  jonathan,  who  was  a mem- 
ber of  com|)any  IC,  One  Hundred  and  Ninth 
Indiana  volunteer  infantry;  George  B.,  a resi- 


D.  E.  GRIPE,  M.  D. 


LIBRARY 
OF  THE 

UKIVERSITY  OF  fLtINOI? 


OF  CLINTON  COUNTY. 


633 


dent  of  Carroll  county,  Ind. ; Lucy  E. , wife  of  J. 
Wagoner,  of  Carroll  county:  and  Daniel  E., 
whose  name  introduces  this  notice. 

Daniel  E.  Cripe  remained  with  his  parents 
until  his  tenth  year,  after  which  he  made  his 
home  with  Dr.  Crider,  of  Pyrmont,  Ind.,  until 
nineteen  years  of  age,  and  for  some  time 
thereafter  lived  at  the  same  place  with  Dr. 
Hall,  studying  medicine  in  the  meanwhile. 
He  pursued  his  studies  diligently  until  nearly 
twenty  years  of  age,  when  he  began  the  prac- 
tice at  Pyrmont,  Carroll  county,  Ind. , w'here 
he  remained  until  1872,  movihg  to  the  town 
of  Lexington  in  that  year.  Subsequently  he 
practiced  at  Kilmore,  same  county,  until  1877, 
at  which  time  he  located  at  Hillisburg,  Clin- 
ton county;  thence,  in  1884,  he  moved  to 
P'rankfort,  in  which  city  he  has  since  resided. 
The  doctor  traveled  for  two  years  in  special 
work  connected  with  his  profession,  and  his 
success  in  the  general  practice  and  in  surgery 
has  been  most  gratifying.  He  was  graduated 
from  the  Indiana  Medical  college  in  1893,  and 
the  same  year  received  his  diploma  from  the 
Orificial  college,  Chicago,  in  both  of  which  in- 
stitutions he  made  a creditable  record  as  a 
student.  Since  locating  in  Frankfort,  he  has 
built  up  a large  and  lucrative  practice  througlf- 
out  Clinton  county,  and  his  services  are  fre- 
quently sought  in  obstinate  and  critical  cases 
at  remote  distances  from  where  he  is  located. 
As  a physician,  he  is  careful,  conscientious 
and  capable,  and  he  is  characterized  by  integ- 
rity of  purpose  and  kindness  of  heart,  which, 
with  his  well  known  ability  in  his  profession, 
have  won  a permanent  place  in  the  regard  of 
his  fellow-citizens.  In  August,  1894,  he  was 
elected  dean  of  faculty  of  the  American  Med- 
ical college  of  Indianapolis,  and  also  has  two 
chairs,  viz  : pi'ofessor  of  general  and  clinical 
surgery  and  professor  of  orificial  surgery.  He 
is  also  vice-president  of  the  board  of  trustees. 
The  doctor  was  married  April  7,  1872,  to  Sa- 


rah E.  Mitchell  of  Tippecanoe  county,  daugh- 
ter of  Joseph  and  Melinda  Mitchell.  Dr. 
Cripe  is  a Mason,  a member  of  the  I.  O.  R. 
M.,  and  belongs  to  the  Knights  of  Maccabees. 


ILLIAM  ROSSER  CUNNINGHAM 
— The  success  that  has  accompanied 
the  career  of  the  subject  of  this 
sketch  is  such  as  should  encourage 
the  youth  whose  outset  in  life  may  not  be 
under  the  most  favorable  circumstances. 
Though  of  excellent  parentage,  Mr.  Cunning- 
ham was  not  born  nor  reared  in  the  luxuries  of 
wealth.  He  was  compelled  to  leave  school  at 
the  age  of  ten  years,  to  become  the  source  of 
his  own  support,  and  in  March  of  1869,  when 
just  past  the  age  of  fifteen  years,  he  began  to 
serve  an  apprenticeship  as  a machinist,  at 
La  Fayette,  Ind.,  his  home  and  birth  place. 
His  birth  took  place  January  4,  1854.  His 
»parents  were.^WjUiarn  Rufus  and  Mary  Ann 
(Rosser)  Cunningham.  The  father  was  a 
native  of  Augusta  county,  Va. , having  been 
born  there  October  8,  1818.  He  died  in 

La  Fayette,  Ind.,  July  24,  1880.  He  was  a 
son  of  William  Cunningham,  whose  wife  was 
Mary  Doak.  The  Cunninghams  are  of  Scotch- 
Irish  lineage,  and  belong  to  one  of  the  oldest 
families  of  Virginia.  The  mother  of  William 
R.  was  born  at  Springfield,  Ohio,  in  the  year 
1822,  and  died  at  LaFayette,  Ind.,  in  1855. 
She  was  of  Welch  origin.  Of  the  five  children 
she  bore  her  husband  two  died  in  early  life; 
those  living  are — William  R.,  Ella  J.,  and 
Fanny  D.  The  father  married  the  second 
time,  wedding  Elizabeth  Jordan,  who  had  by 
him  four  children,  namely — Edward,  Annie, 
Emma  and  Alice;  she  died  in  1882.  The  sub- 
ject’s father,  with  his  parents  and  family, 
emigrated  to  Ohio  from  Virginia  at  an  early 
date;  they  were  opjiosed  to  slavery,  though 
Virginians,  and  aided  in  operating  an  under- 


BIOGRAPHICAL  HISTORY 


filil 


ground  railroad  in  Ohio,  from  which  tronble 
arose,  and  because  of  this  trouble  William  K. 
Cumnngham,  Sen.,  left  Ohio  for  Indiana  in 
1833.  He  traveled  on  horseback  from  Cincin- 
nati to  Logansport,  and  thence  to  LaFayette, 
where  he  married  in  1842  and  settled  down  in 
life  to  his  occuj)ation  of  carpentering.  He  was 
a republican  in  politics,  but  but  never  sought 
office. 

After  serving  an  apprenticeship  of  three 
and  a half  years  in  the  Union  Machine  shops, 
at  La  Fayette,  the  subject  of  this  sketch  spent 
about  one  year  in  machine  shops  at  Lima  and 
Dayton,  Ohio,  and  thereafter  was  employed  at 
La  I'ayette,  till  the  year  1875,  when  he  be- 
came an  engineer  in  the  fire  department  of  the 
latter  city,  a position  he  held  two  years,  and 
then  for  one  year  was  engineer  at  the  water- 
works of  La  Fayette.  Thereafter  he  was 
foreman  at  the  Union  Machine  shops  at  La 
Fayette  till  1882.  During  the  ne.xt  four  years 
he  was  a member  of  the  firm  of  Cunningham  & 
Temple  in  the  general  foundry  and  machine 
business  in  the  same  city.  In  July,  1886, 
Mr.  Cunningham  came  to  Frankfort  and  be- 
came superintendent  for  the  Wallace  Manu- 
facturing company.  The  Wallace  Manufac- 
turing company  manufactures  a full  line  of 
hrick  and  tile  machinery,  including  the  “Lit- 
tle Wonder,”  the  “Big  Wonder,”  also  “Cun- 
ningham's Automatic  Cutting  Table.”  The 
machinery  manufactured  by  this  company  has 
won  a large  patronage,  and  is  shipped  all  over 
the  world.  The  business  of  the  comj)any  is 
under  the  sole  supervision  and  management  of 
Mr.  Cunningham,  the  secretary  and  superin- 
tendent of  the  company,  which  was  organized 
and  incorporated  as  a stock  eompany  in  1883. 
The  other  officers  are  K.  P.  Shanklin,  presi- 
dent; 1).  A.  Coulter,  vice-j)resident ; and 
Kolx'i't  McC.lamrock,  treasurer.  Mr.  Cunning- 
ham is  a mechanical  genius,  and  has  invented 
much  of  the  machinery  manufactured  by  the 


company.  He  is  very  deservedly  classed  among 
the  self-made  men  and  representative  citizens 
of  the  state.  In  politics  he  has  always  been  a 
stanch  republican,  and  fraternally  a prominent 
member  of  the  I.  O.  O.  F.  ; of  the  National 
Union;  and  of  the  Masonic  order,  being  a knight 
templar  Mason.  His  first  marriage  occurred  in 
1874,  July  25,  in  La  Fayette,  Ind.,  to  Mollie 
Grifton,  a native  of  La  P'ayette,  by  whom  he 
had  one  child,  Arthur  Steele  Cunningham;  the 
mother  died  in  August,  1876,  then,  in  1878  he 
married  Miss  Priscilla  E.  Moore  of  La  Fayette. 
Two  children,  Mary  E.  and  Auburn  Smith, 
have  been  born  unto  the  second  marriage. 


OHN  W.  DAILY  is  one  of  the  best 
known  railroad  men  in  the  employ  of 
the  Toledo,  St.  Louis  & Kansas  City 
company,  and  is  equally  as  well  known 
as  a citizen  and  highly  esteemed  resident  of 
the  city  of  Frankfort.  Mr.  Dail}'  was  born  in 
Tippecanoe  county,  Ind.,  April  19,  1850. 

His  parents  were  farmers  and  their  home  was 
on  the  old  battle  ground  of  Tijqoecanoe,  near 
the  city  of  La  P'ayette.  Their  names  were 
Peter  and  Mary  (Kenny)  Daily,  and  both  were 
natives  of  Massachusetts,  where  they  were 
reared  and  married.  Peter  Daily  was  a son 
of  John  Daily,  a native  of  Ireland,  who  emi- 
grated to  America  in  an  early  day  and  settled 
in  the  old  Bay  state.  Peter  was  an  early  pi- 
oneer of  Tipi)ccanoe  county,  his  settlement 
there  being  the  result  of  an  investigation  of 
that  fertile  section  of  Indiana  while  engaged 
as  a contractor  in  the  construction  of  the  old 
Wabash  A Erie  canal.  He  became  a resident 
of  Indiana  about  the  time  of  the  comi)letion  of 
the  canal,  and  located  upon  the  farm  near  the 
old  l)attle  ground,  u|)on  which  his  remaining 
years  were  j)assed,  dying  in  1866,  aged  fifty- 
live.  His  widow  is  now  seventy-six  years  old, 
and  makes  her  home  with  her  son  and 


OF  CTJNTON  COUNTY. 


635 


daughter  in  Chicago.  ' She  bore  her  husband 
four  children,  whose  names  are  as  follows  ; 
John  iMary  E.,  Edward  and  Catherine — 
the  last  named  deceased. 

Up  to  the  age  of  seventeen,  the  subject 
of  this  sketch  assisted  his  father  on  the  farm 
and  then  began  his  career  of  railroading, 
which  he  has  since  so  successfully  continued. 
His  early  education,  obtained  in  the  schools 
of  La  Layette,  was  supplement  by  a course 
in  the  Battle  Ground  collegiate  institute,  and 
his  first  work  in  railroading  was  in  construct- 
ing telegraph  lines.  After  a short  time  in 
that  capacity,  he  accepted  the  position  of 
brakeman,  and,  for  efficiency  in  that  line  of 
service,  was  soon  promoted  and  given  charge 
of  a train.  Erom  1868  to  1870  he  served  as 
brakeman,  and  from  the  latter  year  till  1875 
was  a conductor  in  the  employ  of  the  Wabash 
company.  In  1875  the  Wabash  railroad  ceas- 
ed to  control  the  Lake  Erie  & Western,  and 
at  that  date  Mr.  Daily  entered  the  employ 
of  the  latter  company  in  the  construction  de- 
partment. Later,  he  became  conductor  for 
this  road,  but  in  1 882  changed  his  employ- 
ment to  the  construction  department  of  the 
Toledo,  St.  Louis  & Kansas  City  railroad, 
continuing  in  that  position  about  one  year. 
He  then  engaged  with  the  Wheeling  & Lake 
Erie  company,  with  which  he  remained  un- 
til 1883,  in  August  of  which  year  he  ac- 
cepted the  position  as  conductor  on  the 
“Clover  Leaf,”  and  has  since  held  the  same. 
Upon  accepting  the  above  place  Mr.  Daily 
moved  to  Lrankfort,  and  has  since  made 
this  city  his  home.  Mr.  Daily  has  been  an 
active  worker  in  the  interest  of  his  fellow- 
railroad  men,  being  a prominent  member  of 
the  order  of  Railway  Conductors,  in  the  de- 
liberations of  which  he  takes  an  active  part. 
He  is  also  a knight  templar  Mason,  and 
stands  high  in  that  fraternity.  Politically  Mr. 
Daily  is  a stanch  democrat,  and  in  June, 


1894,  was  honored  by  his  party  with  the  nomi- 
nation for  the  office  of  sheriff  of  Clinton  county. 
Mr.  Daily  enjoys  great  popularity  in  railroad 
circles  and  among  the  people  generally,  and  a 
list  of  the  representative  citizens  of  Lrankfort 
would  be  incomplete  without  an  appropriate 
mention  of  his  name.  In  1872  Mr.  Daily  and 
Miss  Elizabeth  Company,  of  Detroit,  Mich., 
were  made  man  and  wife,  and  the  result  of  the 
union  is  three  children:  Edward  Bartholomew, 
Ella  M.  and  Homer  L. 


HOMAS  C.  DALBEY,  ex-postmaster 
of  Lrankfort,  is  a native  of  Greene 
county,  Ohio,  and  dates  his  birth 
from  the  twenty-second  day  of  Au- 
gust, 1837.  The  founder  of  the  Dalbey  family 
in  America  appears  to  have  been  one  Richard 
Dalbey,  a native  of  France,  who  emigrated  to 
the  United  States  sometime  prior  to  the  Rev- 
olutionary war,  and  settled  in  Frederick 
county,  Va.'  Among  his  children  was  Joel 
Dalbey,  father  of  Thomas  C.,  who  w'ent  in  an 
early  day  to  Greene  county,  Ohio,  and  there 
married  Nancy  Curry,  daughter  of  John  Curry, 
a Virginian  and  a pioneer  of  the  county  of 
Greene.  John  Curry  was  a son  of  Thomas 
Curry,  who  emigrated  from  his  native  country 
Ireland,  to  the  United  States  many  years  ago 
and  settled  in  Virginia.  He  was  a soldier  in 
the  w'ar  of  1812,  and  did  yeoman  service  for 
his  adopted  country  during  that  struggle.  The 
following  children  were  born  to  Joel  and 
Nancy  Dalbey;  Ellen,  deceased;  Jane,  de- 
ceased: Thomas  C.,  John  R.,  Daniel  M.  and 
Joseph  I.  They  removed  to  Clinton  county 
about  the  year  1850,  and  settled  on  a farm  a 
short  distance  northeast  of  Frankfort.  Here 
the  death  of  Joel  Dalbey  occurred  in  1859  at 
the  advanced  age  of  eighty-two  years.  He 
was  a man  of  many  excellent  parts,  a success- 


BrO(JRAPIITCA.L  HISTORY 


(‘m 


fill  fanner,  and  for  over  half  a century  was  a 
faithful  niinister  of  the  f^osj)el. 

Thomas  C.  Dalbey,  whose  name  introduces 
this  sketch,  was  a youth  of  thirteen  when  his 
l)arents  moved  to  Clinton  county.  ■ His  early 
years  were  spent  in  work  on  the  farm  and  in 
attending  brief  terms  of  school  in  the  winter 
seasons,  and  he  remained  under  the  parental 
roof  until  entering  the  army  in  1862.  Mr. 
Dalbey  entered  the  service  as  a private  in  com- 
pany I,  One  Hundreth  Indiana  infantry,  and 
upon  the  organization  of  the  company  was 
elected  second  lieutenant  of  the  same.  On 
the  twenty-third  of  November,  1863,  for  duty 
efficiently  performed,  he  was  promoted  to  the 
captaincy  of  the  compan}'  and  served  in  that 
capacity  until  1865,  in  March  of  which  year  he  [ 
was  commissioned  lieutenant-colonel  of  the  I 
One  Hundred  and  Fiftieth  regiment.  He  was 
the  trusted  leader  of  company  I,  One  Hun- 
dreth regiment,  on  many  a bloody  battle  field, 
among  which  may  be  enumerated — Black 
River,  Jackson,  Miss.,  Missionary  Ridge,  and 
the  numerous  engagements  of  the'Atlanta  cam- 
paign. He  was  with  Gen.  Sherman  in  the 
celebrated  march  to  the  sea,  and  from  Golds- 
borough,  N.  C. , was  sent  to  Virginia  to  become 
lieutenant-colonel  of  the  One  Hundreth  Indi- 
ana, serving  in  that  capacity  until  honoroably 
discharged  on  the  fifth  day  of  August,  1865. 

After  the  war  Mr.  Dalbey  engaged  in  agri- 
cultural pursuits  in  Clinton  county  and  con- 
tinued the  same  until  1878,111  which  year  he 
became  a citizen  of  Frankfort.  Since  moving 
to  the  county  seat  Mr.  Dalbey  has  devoted  his 
attention  to  business  affairs  of  diffei'ent  kinds, 
and  in  October,  1889,  was  ajipointed  post- 
master of  Frankfort,  the  duties  of  which  he 
dischai-ged  until  June  i,  1894.  As  an  official 
Mr.  Dalbey  was  popular  and  efficient,  and  he 
retired  from  the  office  enjoying,  in  the  highest 
degree,  the  esteem  of  his  fellow-citizens  of 
Frankfort  and  ('linton  county,  irrespective  of 


party  affiliations.  He  has  always  been  a pro- 
nounced republican  in  politics,  taking  an 
active  interest  in  behalf  of  his  party,  in  the 
councils  of  which  his  advice  and  influence 
have  contributed  no  little  to  its  success  in  a 
number  of  hotly  contested  elections.  He 
served  as  member  of  the  common  council  of 
Frankfort,  and  while  belonging  to  that  body 
proved  a true  guardian  of  the  interests  of  the 
municipality  liy  bringing  about  a number  of 
important  measures.  At  different  times  he 
has  been  called  to  fill  other  positions  of  trust, 
in  all  of  which  he  acquited  himself  in  a man- 
ner creditable  to  himself  and  satisfactorv  to  all 
concerned.  Dr.  Dalbey  is  a member  of  the 
G.  A.  R.  and  belongs  to  the  Masonic  order, 
and  the  Methodist  church  embodies  his  reli- 
gious creed.  He  was  married,  in  1869,  to 
Harriet  J.  Trowbridge,  a union  severed  by  the 
death  of  Mrs.  Dalbey  in  1887.  She  was  a de- 
vout member  of  the  Methodist  church,  a faith- 
ful wife,  a loving  mother  and  a most  devoted 
friend  Her  death  was  a sad  blow  to  her  hus- 
band and  family  and  was  felt  as  a personal 
loss  by  a large  circle  of  friends  in  Frankfort 
and  Clinton  county.  To  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Dalbey 
five  children  were  born  ; Lillie  F.  (deceased); 
Mary  E.  ; Paul  C. ; Winifred  (deceased);  and 
Leonard  (deceased). 


a APT.  LEWIS  H.  DANIELS,  of 
P'rankfort,  Clinton  county,  Ind.,  was 
born  in  Indianajiolis,  Ind.,  December 
7,  1839,  aiul  is  a son  of  Samuel  P. 
and  Barbara  (Hiid^le)  Daniels.  Samuel  P. 
was  a native  of  Philadelphia,  Pa.,  born  in 
1811,  and  a son  of  William,  who  came  from 
Ireland  when  a young  man  and  located  first  in 
Philadeli)hia,  and  later  in  Indianapolis.  Sam- 
uel P.  Daniels  was  reared  to  manhood  in 
Philadeli)hia,  learned  tailoring  there,  was  mar- 
ried in  1834,  and  in  1836  removed  to  Indian- 


OF  CLINTON  COUNTY. 


639 


apolis  and  opened  a shop  on  the  present  site 
of  the  Bates  House,  and  here  died  in  1885. 
His  wife  Barbara  Hinkle,  was  born  in  Phila- 
delphia in  1807,  and  became  the  mother  of 
three  children,  viz  : Benton  William,  de- 
ceased; Lewis  H.,  our  subject,  and  Hannah 
H.  ; wife  of  Leonard  Fatont,  a contractor  of 
Indianapolis.  Samuel  P.  was  a Methodist  in 
his  religion  and  in  his  politics  was  a strong 
democrat.  He  was  a prodigy  of  learning,  was 
for  four  years  connected  with  the  Indianapolis 
Sentinel,  and  was  the  first  postal  clerk  ever 
appointed  in  Indiana,  serving  in  this  capacity 
during  the  administrations  of  Pierce  and 
Buchanan;  he  was  state  librarian  one  term, 
and  city  assessor.  He  was  prominent  as  an 
Odd  Fellow  and  was  trustee  of  lodge  No.  44 
for  several  years,  and  was  also  a member  of  the 
encampment,  and  was  strictly  a self-made  man. 

Lewis  H.  Daniels  was  educated  in  the 
schools  of  his  native  city,  and  there  also 
learned  the  trade  of  carpenter,  serving  an  ap- 
prenticeship of  four  years.  He  then  worked 
as  a journeyman  until  his  enlistment,  in  April, 
1861,  in  company  H,  Twelfth  Indiana  volun- 
teer infantry,  but  in  June  was  transfered  to 
company  A,  Thirteenth  Indiana  volunteer  in- 
fantry, the  first  three-year  regiment,  with 
which  he  remained  until  July,  1864.  In  Octo- 
ber, 1861,  he  was  promoted  to  be  corporal;  in 
December,  1861,  he  was  made  second  duty 
sergeant;  October  17,  1862,  at  Suffolk,  Va., 
he  was  commissioned  second  lieutenant,  and 
promoted  to  first  lieutenant  June  3,  1863,  and 
at  Cold  Harbor  was  promoted  to  the  cap- 
taincy, July,  1863,  and  held  this  position  until 
his  discharge,  July  i,  1864,  at  Indianapolis. 
The  captain  has  never  applied  for  a pension, 
although  in  his  long  and  brilliant  career  he,  like 
thousands  of  others,  contracted  some  chronic 
trouble,  while  escaping  without  a wound. 

On  his  return  to  his  home,  the  captain  fol- 
lowed his  trade  two  years,  and  then  engaged 


in  contracting  until  1869;  then  passed  two 
years  as  superintendent  of  bridge  construction 
on  the  “Big  Four”  railroad  between  Indiana- 
polis and  Lawrenceburg,  and  in  1 87  i came  to 
Frankfort  and  resumed  bis  former  business  of 
contracting,  which  he  continued  until  1890, 
when  he  was  elected  township  trustee.  In  the 
meantime,  however,  in  1876,  he  went  to  Mich- 
igantown,  Clinton  county,  where  he  resided 
four  years,  and  then  returned  to  Frankfort  and 
resumed  contracting.  Among  the  other  edi- 
fices which  he  erected  may  be  mentioned  the 
Second  Ward  school-building,  I.  O.  O.  F. 
ball,  the  First  Ward  school-building,  the 
present  Masonic  hall,  a majority  of  the  busi- 
ness blocks  on  the  square,  the  residences  of 
Alexander  Given  and  James  Coulter  and  others. 

The  marriage  of  Capt.  Daniels  took  place 
in  Indianapolis  December  28,  1866,  to  Miss 
Mary  A.  Beam,  a native  of  Indianapolis,  born 
May  13,  1842,  and  a daughter  of  David  and 
Anna  (Hopkins)  Beam,  natives,  respectively, 
of  Pennsylvania  and  Kentucky.  David  Beam, 
father  of  Mrs.  Daniels,  was  an  enterprising 
business  man;  and  was  the  proprietor  of  the 
first  f)laning-mill  operated  in  Indianapolis;  in 
politics  he  was  a democrat,  and  in  religion  a 
Presbyterian.  Mrs.  Daniels  is  a Baptist  and 
her  husband  a Methodist.  In  politics  the  cap- 
tain is  a democrat,  and  was  elected  township 
trustee  by  a majority  of  thirty-eight  votes, 
overcoming  a prior  republican  majority  of  300. 
P'raternally,  he  is  a Free  Mason;  a past-grand 
of  the  Odd  Fellow  lodge,  and  a member  of  the 
encampment;  a charter  member  of  the  1.  O. 
R.  M.  tribe  of  Frankfort,  and  a member  of 
the  G.  A.  R.  post.  He  is  also  president  of 
the  association  formed  from  the  Thirteenth 
regiment,  Indiana  volunteer  infantry,  a social 
organization.  He  has  accumulated  much  val- 
uable real  estate  in  Frankfort  and  he  and 
family  are  highly  respected  by  the  entire  com- 
munity. 


BIOGRAl’IIICAL  HISTORY 


filO 


liW'TON  C.  DAVIS,  M.  1).,  a i)rotni- 
nent  physician  of  Frankfort  and  a 
man  of  national  reputation  as  a man- 
ufacturer of  proprietary  medicines, 
was  born  October  20,  1856,  in  Knox  county, 
Tenn.  His  father,  William  H.  Davis,  was 
born  in  .South  Carolina,  and  his  mother,  whose 
maiden  name  was  Caroline  Hefflin,  was  horn 
in  the  year  1839.  After  his  marriaj^e,  William 
1>.  Davis  located  in  Smith  county,  Tenn.,  and 
became  a jdanter  of  large  means,  owning  at 
one  time  330  acres  of  land  and  twenty-eight 
slaves.  He  resided  in  Smith  county  until  1855, 
thence  moved  to  the  county  of  Knox,  and 
after  a short  residence  there  returned  to  his 
former  home,  where  he  lived  until  the  emanci- 
pation of  his  slaves  in  1861.  In  the  latter  year 
he  emigrated  to  Fulton  county.  111.,  where  he 
followed  agricultural  pursuits  until  1 866,  at 
which  date  he  moved  to  the  city  of  Springfield, 
that  state,  where  he  still  lives.  Mrs.  Davis 
died  in  October,  1859,  and  subsequently  Mr. 
Davis  took  unto  himself  another  wife.  Three 
children  were  born  to  William  B.  and  Caroline 
Davis,  namely:  Amanda  L. , deceased,  Louisa 
A.,  wife  of  E.  W.  Altland  of  South  Bend,  and 
Newton  C.,  whose  name  appears  at  the  begin- 
ning of  this  notice.  William  B.  Davis  served 
with  distinction  in  the  Mexican  war  as  captain, 
and  was  wounded  in  one  of  the  battles  of  that 
struggle.  He  is  a man  of  marked  intellectual- 
ity, a democrat  in  politics,  and  takes  a ])romi- 
nent  part  in  the  affairs  of  Bie  city  where  he 
resides. 

When  five  years  of  age  the  sidqect  of  this 
sketch  went  to  live  with  John  Lancaster,  Es(]., 
of  h'ulton  county.  Ilk,  and  remained  under  his 
roof  until  1866,  when  he  accompanied  that 
gentleman  to  Kansas.  Wliile  in  the  west  Mr. 
Lancaster  engaged  in  farming  where  the  city 
of  Lawrence  now  stands,  and  after  two  years 
s])ent  there  changed  his  location  to  Kansas  City, 
where  he  died  in  the  s|)ring  of  1871.  His 


widow  then  returned  to  Fulton  county.  Ilk, 
throwing  the  subject  of  this  sketch  upon  his 
own  resources,  and  for  the  period  of  one  year 
young  Davis  worked  at  any  kind  of  honest  em- 
ployment that  his  hands  found  to  do.  Deter- 
mined to  adopt  something  definite  as  a means 
of  support,  the  doctor  learned  the  trade  of  car- 
riage painting  at  Astoria,  Ilk,  and  continued 
the  same  there  and  at  other  places  until  his 
twenty-third  year.  He  then  began  the  study 
of  medicine  with  Dr.  J.  A.  McGill,  of  South 
Bend,  Ind.,  where  he  remained  three  years, 
and  on  the  nineteenth  day  of  March,  1884, 
was  graduated  from  the  Cleveland  Homeopathic 
college.  After  completing  his  professional 
education.  Dr.  Davis  located  in  the  practice  of 
medicine  at  Frankfort,  Ind.,  and  has  since 
made  this  city  his  home.  He  did  a general 
practice  until  1890,  at  which  time  he  embarked 
in  the  manufacture  of  proprietary  medicines, 
which  he  has  since  carried  on  very  successfully, 
with  a constantly  increasing  reputation.  The 
medicines  bearing  his  label  are  known  all  over 
the  United  States  and  parts  of  Europe.  So 
rapidly  have  his  remedies  grown  in  popular  fa- 
vor that  the  doctor  has  established  an  agency 
in  the  city  of  New  York,  and  gives  steady  em- 
ployment to  four  traveling  salesmen.  Dr. 
Davis  was  married  in  the  city  of  Erankfort 
June  30,  1886,  to  Miss  Emma  L.  McCurdy, 
who  was  horn  April  22,  1864,  in  the  city  of 
Indianapolis — the  daughter  of  Hugh  aud  Martha 
J.  (Walker)  McCurdy.  They  have  one  child — 
Martha.  Politically  the  doctoris  a rei)ublican, 
and  fraternally,  belongs  to  the  Masonic  and 
Pythian  orders.  The  doctor’s  life  is  a com- 
numdable  example  of  what  may  be  accom- 
plished by  i)erseverance,  seconded  by  strong 
will  j)()wer  and  marked  intellectuality.  That 
he  has  been  successful  is  sufficiently  attested 
by  his  [uesent  conspicuous  standing,  at  which 
he  has  arrixc'd  without  any  assistance  save  the 
wt-11  formed  determination  to  make  the  best  ol 


OF  CLINTON  COUNTY 


very  discouraging  surroundings  and  to  over- 
come obstacles  that  to  the  majority  of  men 
would  have  appeared  practically  insurmount- 
able. I'inanciall}’,  as  well  as  professionally, 
the  doctor’s  success  has  been  assured,  and  he 
now  owns  valuable  property  and  does  an  an- 
nual business  of  over  $40,000. 


ILLIAM  DAVIS,  a prominent  farmer 
and  well-known  old  settler  of  Perry 
township,  Clinton  county,  Ind.,  is  a 
native  of  Ohio,  born  in  Ross  county, 
on  the  tw'elfth  day  of  September,  1824.  His 
ancestors  were  Germ.ans,  and  came  to  America 
a great  many  years  ago,  settling  in  Virginia,  in 
which  state  his  grandfather,  William  Davis, 
was  born  and  rtared.  John  Davis,  son  of 
W’illiam  and  father  of  the  subject,  was  a na- 
tive of  Albemarle  county,  Va. , where  he  re- 
sided until  his  twenty-second  year,  and  then 
moved  to  Ohio,  settling  in  Ross  county.  He 
married  Katharine  Stucky,  daughter  of  Abra- 
ham and  Eva  (Bush)  Stucky,  and  about  two 
years  thereafter  emigrated  to  Tippecanoe 
county,  Ind.,  and  settled  not  far  from  La 
Fayette,  where  he  purchased  eighty  acres  of 
government  land.  He  shortly  thereafter  dis- 
posed of  his  interest  in  Tippecanoe,  and  moved 
to  Clinton  county,  locating  where  his  son  now 
resides,  and  became  the  possessor  of  a large 
tract  of  land,  including  in  all  over  600  acres. 
He  was  one  of  the  early  luoneers  of  Clinton 
county,  and  at  the  time  of  his  settlement  the 
present  flourishing  city  of  F'rankfort  was  a 
mere  backwoods  hamlet  of  five  or  six  cabins. 
The  following  are  the  names  of  the  children 
born  to  John  and  Katherine  Davis;  William, 
Joel,  Lorena,  Abram,  Oza,  Avelina  G.,  Isaac, 
John  J..  Elam  and  Mary.  Mr.  Davis  took 
great  interest  in  religious  matters,  having  for  a 
number  of  years  been  an  elder  in  the  Christian 
church.  Politically,  he  was  a democrat  of  the 

31 


041 


orthodox  type,  and  is  remembered  as  a man  of 
many  excellent  qualities. 

The  immediate  sub  ject  of  this  sketch,  Will- 
iam Davis,  came  to  Clinton  county,  Ind., 
when  quite  young  and  passed  the  years  of  his 
youth  and  early  manhood  amid  the  stirring 
scenes  of  pioneer  times,  acquiring,  thereby,  a 
vigorous  constitution  which  served  him  well  in 
the  work  of  assisting  his  father  in  clearing  the 
farm.  He  has  witnessed  the  many  marvelous 
changes  through  which  Clinton  county  has 
passed  during  the  last  half  century  and  more, 
and  recalls  the  time  when  the  farmers  were 
compelled  to  go  to  La  Fayette  for  their  family 
supplies,  while  the  best  market  place,  at  that 
time,  for  the  sale  of  their  grain  was  the  far-off 
town  of  Chicago,  111.  To  make  a tirp  to  the 
latter  place  required  several  days,  and  the 
loads,  owing  to  the  almost  impassable  condi- 
tion of  the  roads  during  certain  seasons  of  the 
year,  were  of  necessity  very  small.  Mr.  Davis 
early  learned  the  lessons  of  industry,  and  his 
youth  was  without  any  striking  incidents  of 
note  except  as  would  naturally  be  met  with  at 
a time  when  everything,  in  a new  country, 
would  be  of  a somewhat  exciting  character. 
Mr.  Davis  attended,  during  certain  seasons, 
when  he  could  be  spared  from  home,  the  old- 
fashioned  country  school,  taught  in  an  insig- 
nificant cabin  constructed  of  logs,  supplied  with 
furniture  of  the  simplest  description,  consist- 
ing of  rough  long-legged  benches  and  a simple 
writing  desk  made  of  a single  board  resting 
upon  long  i)ins  fastened  in  the  wall;  the  floor 
of  the  building  was  made  of  split  puncheons, 
and  the  apartment  was  heated  by  a large  old- 
fashioned  fire-place  from  ten  to  twelve  feet 
wide,  and  the  light  was  allowed  to  enter  the 
room  through  an  opening  in  the  wall  made  by 
the  removal  of  a log,  into  which  oiled  paper 
was  fitted  instead  of  glass. 

Mr.  Davis  was  married  June  i,  1846,  to 
Elizabeth  'I'hrope,  daughther  of  James  Thrope, 


Cy\2 


BIOGRAPHICAL  HISTORY 


after  which  he  settled  on  his  present  farm  in 
Perry  township,  which  now  embraces  an  area 
of  205  acres,  which,  under  his  successful  man- 
af^ement,  has  been  hij^hly  improved.  Mr. 
Davis  is  a successful  farmer,  an  intelligent  and 
upright  citizen,  ami  has  borne  his  full  share 
toward  the  development  of  the  community  in 
which  he  has  for  so  many  jears  resided. 
Since  his  twenty-first  year  he  has  voted  the 
democratic  ticket,  and  while  not  identified  with 
any  church  organization  is  a believer  in  and 
liberal  supporter  of  all  moral  and  religious 
movements.  The  father  of  Mrs.  Davis  was  a 
native  of  Ohio  and  an  early  resident  of  Tipton 
county,  Ind.  ; her  mother  was  born  in  North 
Caiadina.  The  following  are  the  children  of 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Davis:  Sarah,  William,  Joseph, 
Llsie,  Zase,  Polly  and  Mahalia. 


ORTON  PERRY  DAVIS,  e.\-county 
auditor,  and  a representative  citizen 
of  Clinton  county,  Ind.,  of  which 
he  is  a native,  is  a son  of  Hueston 
and  |ane  (Linch)  Davis.  Hueston  Davis  was 
born  in  Lehigh  county.  Pa.,  September  14,  1823, 
and  married  in  Clinton  ccnmty,  Ind.,  .Vpril  10, 
1845,  fo  which  part  of  the  state  he  came  when 
a boy  with  his  mother,  and  who  settled  in 
Warren  township.  He  became  a large  land 
owner  and  successful  farmer  in  the  township 
of  Johnson,  where  at  one  time  he  had  an  es- 
tate of  over  800  acres.  By  his  marriage  with 
Jane  Linch,  he  had  a family  of  seven  children, 
whose  names  are  as  follows;  John  A.,  de- 
ceased; Morton  P ; Allen,  deceased;  Samuel 
M.,  an  enterprising  citizen  of  Clinton  county, 
killed  by  a vicious  horse  a few  days  after 
his  nomination  for  auditor;  \V.  H.,  trustee  of 
Johnson  townshi[),  Martha  E.,  wile  of  L. 
I'riend,  and  George  Ic  , of  Rokomo,  Ind. 
Alter  the  death  of  his  first  wifi',  Hueston  Davis 
married  Marv  Cowdry,  a union  bli'ssi'd  by  the 


! birth  of  four  children,  of  whom  two  are  now- 
living:  Laura  B.,  wife  of  W.' Dunn,  and  Orris 
C.  Hueston  Davis  w-as  a democrat  in  politics, 
a member  of  the  Masonic  fraternity  and  an 
active  worker  in  the  Methodist  church.  His 
death  occurred  February  2,  1879,  and  his  w'ife 
was  called  from  the  scene  of  her  earthly  labors 
on  the  eleventh  day  of  May,  1894. 

1 Morton  Perry  Davis  was  born  January  16, 
1849,  and  upon  the  farm  where  his  youth  was 
passed  he  learned  the  lessons  of  industry  which 
have  characterized  his  later  years  and  laid  the 
foundation  of  the  success  w'hich  has  crowned 
his  subsequent  life.  In  the  common  schools 
of  the  country  he  received  a practical  English 
education,  and,  having  selected  agriculture  as 
his  vocation,  engaged  in  the  same  upon  his 
own  resposibility  when  tw'i^nty  years  of  age, 
locating  on  a farm  of  ninety  acres,  given  him 
by  his  father,  to  wdiich  he  has  since  made  ad- 
ditions until  his  possessions  at  this  time  com- 
prise 389  acres  of  as  fine  land  as  is  to  be 
found  w'ithin  the  limits  of  Clinton  county.  Mr. 
Davis  has  always  had  a proper  conception  of 
the  true  dignity  of  agriculture,  and  it  is  praise, 
honorably  due,  when  he  is  classed  with  the 
most  intelligent,  enterprising,  and  progressive 
farmers  of  Clinton.  Immediately  after  his  re- 
tirement from  office  he  resumed  his  residence 
on  his  fine  estate  in  Forest  township.  By 
judicious  management  and  the  enqjloyment  of 
correct  business  methods,  he  has  succeeded  in 
accumulating  a competency,  and  a list  of  the 
county’s  representative  men  w'ould  be  incom- 
plete without  a mention  of  his  name. 

Mr.  Davis’s  first  marriage  w-as  solemnized 
December  24,  1869,  with  Sarah  Middleton,  of 
Illinois,  a union  blessed  w'ith  the  birth  of  one 
child  b'rances  M.  Mrs.  Davis  departed  this 
lif('  in  April,  1874,  and  subseipiently  Mr.  Davis 
was  united  in  marriage  to  Anna  Kathfon,  wdio 
w'as  born  Ai)ril  14,  1850,  in  .Adams  county. 
Pa.  Mrs.  Davis  is  the  daughter  of  John  and 


OF  CLINTON  COUNTY. 


045 


Lydia  (Spangler)  Rathfon,  and  she  has  borne 
lier  husband  tlie  following  children — Orrin, 
liarl,  Cleveland,  Clyde,  Cohee,  and  two  that 
died  in  infancy  unnamed. 

Samuel  M.  Davis,  brother  of  the  subject, 
was  the  nominee  for  county  auditor  in  1890, 
and  his  death,  which  resulted  fourteen  days 
after  his  nomination,  left  that  place  upon  the 
ticket  vacant.  At  the  earnest  solicitation  of 
the  central  committee,  Morton  P.  Davis  was 
induced  to  accept  the  nomination,  anJ  in  the 
ensuing  election  he  was  triumphantly  elected 
to  the  office,  the  duties  of  which  he  discharged 
in  an  able  and  satisfactory  manner,  being  one 
of  the  most  popular  officials  the  county  has 
ever  had.  He  looked  after  the  interests  of 
the  office,  in  which  he  was  ably  assisted  by  his 
deputies,  Pierce  Gaskill  and  L.  A.  Trambarger, 
and  he  also  gave  personal  attention  to  his 
farming  interests,  dividing  his  time  between 
the  country  and  city.  Since  1 86g  Mr.  Davis 
has  been  extensively  engaged  in  handling  live 
stock,  principally  cattle  and  hogs,  which  he 
ships  to  the  Indianapolis  and  Buffalo  markets, 
and  for  thirteen  years  he  has  operated  a thresh- 
ing machine  in  Clinton  and  adjoining  counties. 
Mr.  Davis  is  one  of  the  leading  democrats  of 
the  county,  and  as  such  has  contributed  much 
to  the  success  of  his  party.  He  is  a member 
of  the  1.  O.  O.  F.,  subordinate  lodge  and 
encampment,  is  a Knight  Templar  in  the  Ma- 
sonic fraternity,  and  belongs  to  the  Methodist 
church,  as  does  also  his  wife. 


AM  UEL  N.  DAVISON,  an  enterpris- 
ing merchant  of  Jefferson,  Clinton 
county,  Ind.,  post-master,  and  a 
gallant  ex-soldier,  was  born  in  Deca- 
tur county,  Ind.,  October  28,  1839,  the  son 

of  William  and  Clarissa  (Cythens)  Davison, 
the  father  a native  of  Pennsylvania  and  the 
mother  of  New  Jersey,  and  of  Irish  and 


English  lineage  respectively.  William  Davi- 
son, grandfather  of  our  subject,  was  born  in 
Dublin,  Ireland,  married  there  and  reared 
two  children  before  emigrating  to  America. 
On  reaching  the  United  States,  William  Davi- 
son settled  in  Pennsylvania,  thence,  a num- 
ber of  years  later,  moved  to  Butler  county, 
Ohio,  where  his  death  occurred.  The  fol- 
lowing are  the  names  of  his  six  children: 
Samuel,  Mary,  Esther,  Jane,  Betsy  and  Wil- 
liam— the  last  named  the  father  of  the  sub- 
ject of  this  sketch.  William  Davison,  Jr., 
was  ten  years  old  when  his  father  settled  in 
Butler  county,  Ohio.  He  learned  the  cooper’s 
trade  in  Butler  county,  worked  at  the  same 
there  and  in  various  places  in  Indiana,  and 
for  a couple  of  years  followed  farming  in  the 
state  of  Arkansas.  Later  he  was  a resident  of 
Madison  county,  Ind.,  thence  returned  to  Ohio 
and  in  1852  came  back  to  Indiana,  locating  on 
a farm  in  Clinton  comity.  In  1857  he  moved 
to  the  town  of  Jefferson  and  resumed  his  trade, 
and,  a few  years  later,  embarked  in  the  hotel 
business,  which  he  followed  with  fair  success 
until  about  1871,  when  he  retired  from  active 
life.  His  death  occurred  July  22,  1893;  his 
wife  died  on  the  second  of  January  preceding. 
They  were  the  parents  of  twelve  children: 
Elizabeth,  wife  of  William  Baker;  Jane,  Josiah, 
William,  DeWitt  C.,  Samuel,  Clarissa,  Marga- 
ret, wife  of  William  Campbell;  Charles  C., 
Henry,  John,  and  Esther,  wife  of  Frank  Doty. 

Samuel  N.  Davison,  the  subject,  remained 
with  his  parents  until  attaining  his  majority, 
and  when  a young  man  learned  the  cooper's 
trade  with  his  father,  purchasing  the  shop  at 
Jefferson  when  the  latter  engaged  in  the  hotel 
business.  He  worked  at  the  trade  until  the 
breaking  out  of  the  war,  when,  learning  of 
the  disastrous  defeat  at  Bull  Run,  he  decided 
at  once  to  tender  his  services  to  his  country 
and  so  notified  his  wife.  He  enlisted  Septem- 
ber II,  1862,  in  company  A,  Twentieth  Inch- 


BIOGRAPHICAL  HISTORY 


fiir, 


ana  X’oluntcer  infantry,  and  was  witli  tliat 
notc'd  regiment  in  all  its  varied  experiences  in 
the;  campaigns  and  bloody  battles  of  Virginia. 
At  the  second  battle  of  Bidl  Run,  he  with 
others  was  detailed  to  hnry  the  dead;  then 
went  to  Arlington  Heights,  near  Washington, 
where  the  force  was  increased,  after  which, 
with  his  company,  he  took  part  in  a forced 
march  through  \’irginia  t<j  Poolsville  and  other 
jdaces.  To  narrate  in  detail  the  various  inci- 
dents of  Mr.  Davison’s  army  experience  or  to 
follow  him  through  the  many  battles  in  which 
he  partieijiated  would  far  transcend  the  limits 
of  a sketch  of  this  character,  therefore  suffice 
it  to  say  that  during  the  entire  period  of  his 
enlistment,  and  when  placed  in  situations  most 
trying  and  dangerous,  his  conduct  was  that  of 
a brave  and  gallant  soldier,  whose  sole  aim 
was  to  perform  his  whole  duty  to  his  country. 
Among  the  battles  of  which  to  took  part  were 
Gum  Springs,  Fredericksburg,  Chancellorsville 
and  Gettysburg,  in  the  last  of  which  he  was 
wounded  and  fell  into  the  hands  of  the  enemy. 

A few  days  later  he  was  retaktm  and  sent  to 
Baltimore,  thence  to  Annapolis,  Md.,  w'h^re  he 
remained  in  the  hospital  for  some  time.  He 
also  received  a severe  wound  at  Chaiicellors- 
ville,  which  resulted  in  the  loss  of  one  of  his 
eyes.  Mr.  Davison  wais  discharged  May  ii, 
1864,  and  immediately  thereafter  returned 
home  and  took  up  his  old  trade  in  the  towm  of 
Jefferson,  continuing  the  same  until  1869,  at 
which  time  he  purchased  the  hotel  formerly  | 
owned  by  his  father.  He  was  proprietor  of 
this  house,  wdiich  he  remodeled,  until  1872, 
when  he  disposed  of  it  and  embarked  in  the 
mercantile  business,  which  he  carried  on  for 
some  time  (jiiite  successfully,  and  then  hegan 
buying  and  selling  staves  and  other  cooperage 
material.  After  following  the  latter  business 
about  five  years,  Mr.  Davison  again  engaged 
in  nuu'chandising  at  the  town  of  Jefferson, 
\s'hcre  he  has  since  continued  He  ('arries  a 


general  stock,  does  a thriving  business,  and  is 
one  of  the  prosperous  men  of  the  township  of 
Washington.  He  was  married  August  ii, 
i860,  to  Lucinda  Dilhnan,  daughter  of  Daniel 
Dilhnan,  and  has  a family  of  seven  children, 
whose  names  are  as  follows:  William  H., 
born  August  19,  1861;  Dilhnan,  born  October 
i7,  1871;  Flora  E , born  January  i,  1874; 

Lucia  B.,  Etta  and  Knssell,  the  last  three  de- 
ceased. Russell  accidently  shot  himself  Janu- 
ary I,  1894,  the  w’ound  resulting  in  his  death. 
In  politics  Mr.  Davison  is  a republican,  and  he 
has  been  postmaster  at  Jefferson  for  twelve 
years.  He  belongs  to  the  I.  O.  O.  E.,  Frank- 
fort lodge.  No.  108,  and  both  he  and  wife  are 
faithful  members  of  the  Methodist  church  at 
Jefferson. 


lELIAM  H.  DEAL,  general  store- 
keeper of  the  Toledo,  St.  Louis  & 
Ransas  City  railroad  at  Frankfort, 
and  chief  clerk  of  the  mechanical 
department,  is  descended  from  excellent  an- 
cestors that  settled  many  years  ago  in  the 
state  of  Pennsylvania.  His  grandfather, 
David  Deal,  a Pennsylvanian  hy  birth  and 
of  German  lineage,  was  a soldier  in  the 
war  of  1812,  and  an  early  settler  of  Som- 
erset, Perry  county,  Ohio.  David  Deal 
w'as  born  near  the  city  of  Lancaster  in 
1793,  and  departed  this  life  in  the  year  1882 
at  Fremont,  Ohio.  Paid  Deal,  the  subject’s 
father,  was  born  in  Somerset,  Perry  county, 
Ohio,  in  the  year  1818,  and  died  at  South 
Toledo  in  1880.  He  married  Lucinda  Chap- 
man, who  was  born  at  Putnam,  Muskingum 
county,  Ohio,  in  1819,  and  who  died  while 
visiting  a daughter  at  Birmingham,  Ala.,  in 
1892.  Her  father,  .Samuel  Chapman,  of  En- 
glish descent,  was  born  at  Hartford,  Conn., 
and  became  a i)ioneer  of  the  county  of  Mus- 
kingum, Ohio.  1 he  maiden  name  of  her 


OF  CLINTON  COUNTY. 


047 


niotlier  was  Letta  Orj^an.  To  the  marriage  of 
Paul  aiul  Lucinda  Deal  were  born  the  follow- 
ing children:  Endora,  deceased;  Caroline,  de- 
ceased; W'illiam  H.,  Addie  L. ; Agnes  A.,  de- 
ceased; Alice  S.,  and  Edwin  B.,  deceased. 
The  home  of  the  family  was  at  P'remont  and 
Zanesville.  Ohio.  In  September,  i86i,  Paul 
Deal  enlistetl  as  a jmivate  in  company  D, 
Third  Ohio  cavalry,  and  served  as  a brave  and 
gallant  soldier  throughout  the  entire  war.  He 
became  captain  of  his  company  by  reason  of 
niLritorious  conduct  in  battle,  and  received  an 
honorable  discharge  at  the  close  of  the  conflict. 

William  H.  Deal  was  born  at  Fremont, 
Ohio,  April  7,  1847,  and  in  the  public  schools 
of  that  town  and  Zanesville  received  his  edu- 
cational training.  He  began  life  for  himself 
as  a grocer's  clerk  in  Fremont,  was  similarly 
employed  for  some  time  at  Lima,  Ohio,  and 
then  learned  the  painter’s  trade.  He  worked 
at  his  chosen  calling  in  the  city  of  Toledo  un- 
til 1871,  at  which  time,  on  account  of  failing 
health,  he  again  secured  a clerkship,  in  which 
cajiacity  he  continued  until  1875,  studying 
bookkeeping  in  the  meantime  in  a night  school 
and  becoming  quite  proficient  in  the  same.  In 
1875  Mr.  Deal  accepted  the  position  of  assist- 
ant bookkeeper  for  the  Union  Manufacturing 
company,  of  Toledo,  with  which  he  remained 
four  years,  resigning  at  the  end  of  that  time 
for  the  purpose  of  embarking  in  the  grocery 
trade  at  the  town  of  Norwalk,  where  he  sold 
goods  two  } ears.  He  then  returned  to  Toledo 
and  became  bookkeeper  for  a wood  and  coal 
dealing  firm  of  that  city,  and  he  began  his 
career  as  a railroader  in  t883  as  storekeeper 
for  the  Toledo,  St.  Louis  & Kansas  City  rail- 
road company  at  Delphos,  Ohio.  In  October, 
1892,  Mr.  Deal  was  transferred  to  Frankfort 
and  assigned  his  present  position,  the  duties  of 
which  he  has  since  discharged  in  a manner 
highly  creditable  to  himself  and  satisfactory  to 
the  company  by  which  he  is  employed.  Mr. 


Deal  ajipears  to  have  inherited  the  martial 
spirit  of  his  ancestors,  and  was  one  of  the  brave 
boys  who  responded  to  the  country's  call  for 
volunteers  in  the  dark  days  of  the  rebellion. 
He  enlisted  June,  1863,  in  the  Twenty-second 
Ohio  battery  light  artillery,  with  which  he 
served  till  the  close  of  the  war,  being  discharged 
upon  the  thirteenth  day  of  July,  1865.  In 
1875,  Mr.  Deal  was  married  to  Miss  Minnie  B. 
Lischy,  of  Seneca  county,  Ohio,  a union  blessed 
with  the  birth  of  one  child,  a daughter—  Irene. 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Deal  are  members  of  the  Pres- 
b\terian  church;  he  is  a knight  templar  Mason 
and  a member  of  the  G.  A.  R. 


APT.  JOHN  S.  DETRICK,  of  Ross 
township,  is  one  of  those  old  soldiers 
whose  actual  record  of  battles  and 
services  to  his  country  is  excelled  by 
no  man  in  Clinton  county.  He  springs  from 
an  old  colonial  Maryland  family,  of  German 
origin.  Peter  Detrick,  great-grandfather  of 
the  captain,  was  a soldier  in  the  war  of  the 
Revolution.  He  settled  in  Virginia,  living  in 
both  Rockingham  and  Augusta  counties.  He 
was  the  father  of  the  following  children ; John, 
Phillip,  Jacob,  Peter,  Henry,  Abraham,  Fred- 
rick, Susan  and  Sarah.  Peter  Detrick  was  a 
prosperous  farmer.  He  came  to  Harrison 
county,  Ind.,  in  1818,  with  seven  families, 
sons  and  sons-in-law.  He  was  a member  of 
the  United  Brethern  in  Christ,  and  died  at  the 
age  of  eighty-seven  years.  Peter,  son  of  the 
above,  and  grandfather  of  the  captain,  was 
born  in  Maryland  and  married  Mar}’  Beird;  to 
them  were  born  ten  children:  Peter,  Jacob, 
John,  David,  Elizabeth,  Margaret,  Catherine, 
Martha  A.,  Polly  and  Sadie.  He  was  a sol- 
dier in  the  war  of  1812,  and  in  1818  he  moved 
to  Indiana,  settled  in  Harrison  county  with 
other  members  of  the  family,  and  cleared  his 
farm  from  the  virgin  forest.  He  was  a mem- 


BIOGRAPHICAL  HISTORY 


618 


bc!r  of  the  United  Brcthcrn  in  Christ  and  a 
straij^htforward,  honest  citizen,  and  died  on 
liis  farm,  af^ed  ei^hty-one  \’ears.  Jacob,  son 
of  above  and  father  of  Capt.  Detrick,  was  born 
July  3,  1805,  in  Anj^nsta  county,  \'a, , received 
a common  school  edncaticm  for  his  day  and  was 
ten  years  old  when  he  came  with  his  father  to 
Indiana.  He  became  a farmer  and  married, 
in  Harrison  comity,  Elizabeth,  danf,diter  of 
Joseph  and  Jane  (Steward)  Applegate.  Joseph 
Applegate  was  of  English  stock,  an  old  settler 
of  Harrison  conntv,  Ind.,  and  a substantial 
farmer.  He  was  the  father  of  seven  children; 
Stacy,  James,  John,  David,  Joseph,  Elizabeth 
and  Ellen.  i\Ir.  Applegate  lived  to  be  an  old 
man  and  died  on  his  farm  in  Harrison  count}'. 
Mr.  Detrick  settled  in  Harrison  county  and 
bought  and  cleared  up  160  acres  of  land.  In 
1868  he  moved  to  Pulaski  county,  Ind.,  and 
bought  100  acres,  but  sold  out  in  1873  and 
retired  from  active  business.  Mrs.  Detrick  died 
in  March,  1857,  in  Harrison  C(;)Wkui-ty;  Ind.,  a.nd- 
Mr.  Detrick  has  never  re-married.  Mrs. 
Detrick  was  a member  of  the  United  hfrethern 
in  Christ,  of  which  church  he  is  also  a valued 
member.  He  is  a republican  and  a strong 
union  man,  and  had  three  sons  in  the  civil 
war;  Joseph,  in  the  h'orty-ninth  Indiana  in- 
fantry, served  one  year  as  private  and  was  in 
several  battles;  Levi,  in  company  I',  Eighty- 
first  Indiana  infantry,  served  three  years  as 
private,  he  was  in  many  battles,  among  which 
were,  Perr}’ville,  Richmond,  K}-.,  Sterne  River, 
Chickamauga,  Lookout  Mountain,  Rocky  Faced 
Ridge;  was  also  in  the  Atlanta  cam])aign; 
he  was  wounded  at  V'}ning  Station,  and  on 
recovery  was  at  the  battles  of  Sjrring  Hill, 
Franklin  and  Nashville.  Jacob  Detrick,  father 
of  onr  subject,  has  throughout  been  a consci- 
encions  and  honorable'  man,  auel  has  ne>w 
reache'd  the  patriare'hal  age  e)f  ninety  years. 

('ajet.  Je)hn  S.  Detrick  was  beun  in  Harri- 
son cejunty,  Inel.,  I'ebruary  26,  1838.  He  re- 


ceived a commem  education,  learned  farming, 
and  when  si.xteen  years  of  age  went  to  New 
Albany  to  learn  the  ship  carpenter’s  trade,  at 
which  he  workeel  for  five  months.  He  then 
ran  e)n  steamboats  e)n  the  Ohio  and  Mississippi 
rivers  four  years.  Whesi  the  war  broke  out  in 
1861,  he  was  running  a wood-yard  about  thirty 
miles  above  Memphis,  Tenn.,  and  came  home 
with  considerable  difficulty,  concealed  on  board 
a steamboat.  He  was  offered  $200  in  gold  to 
enlist  in  the  rebel  army.  On  April  16,  1861, 
he  enlisted  in  company  A,  Twelfth  Indiana  in- 
fantry, for  the  three  months’  service,  at  New 
Albany,  Ind.,  under  ('.apt.  Thomas  J.  Morri- 
son, and  Col.  William  W'allace.  The  state 
(piota  being  filled,  his  regiment  was  mustered 
inio  the  twelve  months’  service,  and  did  guard 
dut}’  in  the  southern  part  of  this  state.  In 
July,  1861,  the  regiment  was  was  assigned  to 
the  Ihiited  States  service  for  the  remainder  of 
their  term;  and  arrived  at  Harper’s  Ferry  the 
'day  after  the  battle  of  Bull  Run.  He  was  in 
the  battles  of  Dam  No.  4,  ^’a. , Winchester 
and  several  skirmishes;  while  in  this  service, 
his  term  expiring,  he  was  honorably  discharged 
May  19,  1862,  at  Washington  city,  and  re- 
turned home.  He  then  rcceix'ed  a recruiting 
coTiimission  as  first  lieutenant  from  Gov.  Mor- 
ton under  the  state  adjutant  general,  and  re- 
cruited 400  men  in  Harrison,  P'loyd,  Craw- 
ford, Ciirauge,  DuBois  and  Clark  counties,  Ind. 
He  joined  the  Eighty-first  Intliana  infantry 
with  109  men  as  first  lieutenant,  and  was  in 
the  battle  of  Richmond,  his  regiment  arriving 
at  the  latter  part  of  the  engagement,  having 
double-quicked  the  distance  of  fourteen  miles 
from  Bear  Grass  ('amp,  K\’.,  man\’  men  falling 
out  of  ranks  exhausted  on  the  wa\-,  and  only  1 1 2 
of  the  regiment  reaching  the  field.  He  wasalso 
in  the  batik'  of  I’erryville,  J-fowling  Green, 
Ky.,  Edgefic'ld,  Tenn.,  Stone  River, 'J'ullahoma, 
Tenn.,  in  a sevt're  skirmish  at  Winchester; 
was  at  (idiickamauga,  and  was  under  fire  while 


LIBRARY 
OF  THE 

UNIVERSITY  OF  ILUNOIS 


OF  CLINJON  county. 


Of)  1 


supi)orting'  Hooker's  corps  at  Lookout  Moun- 
tain; he  was  at  Missionary  Ridge,  Ringgold, 
Rocky-faced  iMount;  in  the  Atlanta  campaign. 
Pumpkin  \nne  Creek,  Hoover’s  Gap,  Resaca, 
ILirnt  Hickory,  Renesaw  Mountain,  Vining 
Station,  Marietta,  Peach  Tree  Creek,  Atlanta, 
Jonesboro,  and  in  pursuit  of  Hood;  at  Atlanta 
Pass,  S])ring  Hill,  Franklin  and  Nashville,  and 
was  shot  by  a minie  ball  passing  through  his 
lelt  hip  and  splintering  off  part  of  the  bone 
just  below  the  joint.  He  was  in  the  Cumber- 
land hospital  at  Nashville  about  sixty-five  days, 
and  obtained  leave  of  absence  for  ten  days, 
which  was  extended  ten  days  longer.  After 
this  visit  home  he  reported  to  Gen.  Palmer, 
Louisville,  Ky.,  and  was  assigned  to  the  charge 
of  exchange  barracks.  No.  15,  at  Louisville,  as 
not  being  able  to  march.  He  remained  in 
this  charge  until  the  war  closed,  and  he  was 
honorably  discharged  at  Indianapolis,  June 
9.  i<S65. 

Mr.  Uetrick  was  promoted  at  Ringston, 
Ca.,  to  a captaincy  in  1864.  He  had  previ- 
ously commanded  his  company  from  the  battle 
of  Stone  River  for  the  reason  that  the  captain 
was  detached  for  other  services.  Capt.  Ue- 
trick was  in  all  the  battles,  skirmishes, 
marches  and  campaigns  in  which  his  regiment 
took  part,  until  disabled  by  his  wounds,  there 
being  only  two  small  battles  after  this  in 
which  his  regiment  was  engaged.  He  was  a 
gallant  and  efficient  officer  and  did  his  duty 
cheerfully.  He  remembers  the  forced  marches 
as  the  hardest  duty  in  which  he  was  engaged, 
notably  the  125-mile  march  from  Louisville  to 
Nashville  in  October,  the  troops  enduring 
much  suffering  on  account  of  heat,  dust  and 
scarcity  of  water,  and  many  soldiers  dropping 
out  of  the  ranks  from  exhaustion,  one-half  of 
Capt.  Detrick’s  company  being  disabled  in  this 
way. 

After  the  war  Capt.  Detrick  married  and 
settled  in  New  Albany.  His  wife  was  Caro- 


line, daughter  of  Jacob  and  fElizabeth  (Smith) 
Lutz.  Mr.  Lutz  was  an  old  settler  in  Harri- 
son county,  Ind.,  of  German  descent,  and  at 
one  time  a prosperous  farmer,  who  sold  out 
and  moved  into  New  Albany  and  engaged  in 
the  commission  business.  He  died  in  Tipton 
county,  Ind.,  aged  sixty-eight  years.  He  was 
the  father  of  four  children:  MaryJ.,  Caro- 
line, John  C. , and  David  H.  Capt.  Detrick 
left  New  Albany  in  1868,  lived  a short  time  in 
Evansville  and  Louisville,  and  located  in  Tip- 
ton  county,  Ind.,  in  1871,  on  a farm  residing 
there  twelve  years.  In  1882  he  settled  at 
Rossville  and  bought  property,  and  in  (887 
built  a substantial  and  tasteful  residence.  He 
was  one  of  the  early  members  of  the  G.  A.  R , 
becoming  a member  of  the  post  at  New 
Albany,  Ind.,  in  1866.  At  present  he  is  an 
honored  member  of  Oliver  Short  post.  No. 
390,  at  Rossville  and  has  filled  all  the  princi- 
l^al  offices,  including  commander.  In  politics 
he  is  a republican,  and  is  a respected  citizen. 


ON.  SAMUEL  H.  DOYAL. —As gen- 
eral history  is  written  for  the  future, 
so,  too,  in  a large  degree,  is  biogra- 
phy, and  to  place  in  substantial  form 
the  leading  facts  in  the  life  of  one  of  Clinton 
county’s  most  distinguished  citizens  is  the  ob- 
ject of  this  biographical  mention.  Books  are 
permanent  chronicles  which  transmit  to  future 
ages  the  lives  of  those  whose  lives  are  recorded 
within  their  pages;  and  when  the  subjects 
treated  are  as  worthy  as  the  honorable  gentle- 
man whose  name  heads  this  memoir,  they  be- 
come an  inspiration  for  good  both  to  the  pres- 
ent and  future  generations. 

Hon.  Samuel  H.  Doyal,  the  present  judge 
of  the  forty-fifth  judicial  circuit  of  Indiana, 
was  born  in  Lewis  county,  Ry.,  May  19,  1838, 
but  since  he  was  six  months  old  he  has  been  a 
resident  of  this  state,  Indiana,  The  first  of  his 


RIOGRAPIIICAL  HISTORY 


roi) 


ancestors  of  whom  anything  definite  is  known 
was  h'dward  Doyal,  his  ^n'eat-f^randfatluT,  a 
nati\'e  of  l.iverpool,  hhif^land,  who  came  to  the 
United  States  when  seventeen  years  of  age, 
and  located  in  Albemarle  comity,  Va.,  where 
he  became  a farmer.  Later,  he  emigrated  to 
I-cwis  county,  Ky.,  and  there,  in  the  pursuit 
of  his  chosen  calling,  agriculture,  continued  to 
reside  until  his  death,  which,  from  the  most 
reliable  information  obtainable,  occurred  in  the 
year  1820.  ladward  Doyal  was  the  father  of 
a large  family,  but  it  is  of  John  Doyal,  the 
grandfather  of  the  judge,  of  whom  we  wish  to 
make  mention.  John  Doyal  was  born  in  Al- 
bemarle county,  Va.,  Sejitember  20,  1760,  and 
arrived  at  manhood  during  the  stirring  scenes 
of  the  Revolutionary  war.  This  ancestor,  at 
eighteen  years  of  age,  enlisted  as  a soldier  in 
that  heroic  struggle.  His  first  hard  service 
was  with  Gen.  George  Rogers  Clark  in  his 
campaign  against  the  British  and  Indians  in 
the  northwest,  and  he  was  with  that  hero  in 
that  long  and  perilous  march  that  resulted  in 
the  cajiture  of  the  British  fort  on  the  Wabash  at 
\hncennes  February  24,  1 779,  and  was  also 
serving  his  country  at  the  close  of  the  war  for 
independence  Later,  he  took  part  at  differ- 
ent times  in  the  Indian  wars  under  Col.  Will- 
iam Crawford.  Gen.  Harmer,  and  Gen.  An- 
thony Wayne,  serving  under  the  latter  as  caji- 
tain  of  mounted  infantry.  He  was  also  in 
command  of  a company  at  the  battle  of  b'allen 
'I'imbers,  August  20,  1794.  In  1 786  he  removed 
from  Virginia  to  Kentucky  and  settled  near 
Maysville,  and  later,  founded  his  home  about 
twenty  miles  east  of  this  in  Lewis  county. 

Wdiile  th('  tt;rritory  now  composing  the 
state  of  Ohio  was  yet  a wilderness,  and  the 
home  of  the  hostile  and  warlik('  savag^xy  he 
was  ap))ointed  and  served  for  three-  years  as 
ca])tain  of  tin-  scouts  or  spies  (as  they  were 
called),  to  guard  the  Kentucky  side  of  the 
Ohio  river  from  Maysville  to  the  mouth  of  tlu; 


Scioto  river  against  the  ai)proaches  and  attacks 
the  Indians  so  freepienly  made  on  the  white 
settlements  of  the  interior  of  the  state.  In 
the  discharge  of  his  duty  he  had  many  thrill- 
ing adventures.  Later  he  was  a soldier  in  the 
war  of  1812,  and  took  part,  October  5,  1813, 
in  ihe  battle  of  the  Thames.  His  occupation 
was  that  of  a farmer,  and  he  was  closely  iden- 
tified with  the  citizenshi]')  of  his  adopted 
county  of  Lewis.  He  was  a strong  and  vigor- 
ous man  in  both  body  and  mind,  and  possessed 
in  a marked  degree  the  sterling  (jualities  of  a 
long  line  of  sturdy  ancestors,  and  left  as  a price- 
less heritage  ter  his  descendants  these  (pndities 
of  true  manhood,  which  have  characterized 
them  in  many  different  walks  in  life.  He  died 
in  Lewis  county,  near  Vanceburg,  in  1846,  at 
the  advanced  age  of  eighty-six  years,  revered, 
beloved  and  mourned  by  all  who  knew  him. 
His  son,  |ohn  W.  Doyal,  father  of  the  judge, 
was  born  in  Lewis  county,  Ky. , on  the  seven- 
teenth of  January,  1802,  and  remained  with 
his  parents  until  1838,  at  which  time  he  found 
his  way  to  Boone  county,  Ind.,  where  he  lo- 
cated a home  and  engaged  in  that  most  useful 
of  callings,  agriculture.  I le  married  in  his  na- 
tive county  and  state.  May  27,  1830,  Matilda 
Howard,  who  was  born  in  I'leming  county, 
Ky.,  October  28,  1805,  the  daughter  of  Sam- 
uel Howard,  a native  of  Maryland,  and  promi- 
nent settler  of  what  is  now  Howard  county, 
Md.  John  \\'.  Doyal  became  identified  with  the 
early  pioneer  interests  of  the  section  of  the 
country  in  which  he  located,  taking  an  active 
part  inall  the  business  enti-rpriscs of  the  coun- 
try, thereby  contributing  in  no  small  degree  to 
its  de\’eloi)ment.  He  reared  a family  of  four 
(dnldren:  Amanda,  widow  of  ('apt.  Aaron 
I'razee,  of  Boone  county;  Samuel  H.,  whose 
name  introduces  this  mention;  fohn  I,.,  a gal- 
lant soldiei-  of  the  late  war,  killed  in  the  bat- 
tle of  the'  W'ildenu'ss,  and  David  D , a wc'll- 
known  citizen  of  the  county  (ff  Boone. 


OF  CLINTON  COUNTY. 


053 


In  disposition  John  W.  Doyal  was  warm- 
hearted, genial  and  social,  ever  ready  to  assist 
as  innch  as  lay  in  his  power  the  poor  and  nn- 
fortiinate,  and  to  his  family  he  was  much  de- 
voted, being  an  affectionate  husband  and 
father.  He  early  interested  himself  in  the 
cause  of  religion,  uniting  with  the  Christian 
church,  for  the  support  and  growth  of  which 
he  contributed  liberally  of  his  means.  Politi- 
cally, he  was  a democrat  of  the  old  school, 
though  not  a partisan  in  the  sense  of  seeking- 
political  preferment  at  the  hands  of  his  fellow- 
citizens.  He  departed  this  life  on  the  eighth 
day  of  January,  1885,  and  in  June,  1^87  his 
devoted  wife,  who  had  been  his  faithful  com- 
panion during  so  many  years  of  trial  and  suc- 
cess, was  called  from  the  scenes  ofvher  early 
labors  to  the  great  bereavement  of  her  family 
and  friends. 

As  stated  at  the  beginning  of  this  biography. 
Judge  Samuel  H.  Doyal  was  but  six  months 
old  when  brought  by  his  parents  to  Indiana, 
from  which  early  age  until  arriving  at  man- 
hood’s estate  he  lived  in  the  county  of  Boone. 
He  secured  his  elementry  education  in  the 
common  schools,  and  later,  actuated  by  a 
laudable  desire  to  add  to  the  knowledge  thus 
obtained,  entered,  when  nearly  twenty  years 
old,  the  Northwestern  university  at  Indianapo- 
lis (now  Butler  university),  where  he  pursued 
his  studies  for  a period  of  three  years,  during 
which  time  his  progress  was  in  every  respect 
most  commendable  and  encouraging.  During 
the  two  succeeding  years  Mr.  Doyal  was 
engaged  in  teaching,  earning  in  the  meantime 
the  reputation  of  an  efficient  and  conscientious 
instructor,  and  then  began  the  study  of  law 
with  Messrs.  Cason  cS:  Harrison,  of  Lebanon, 
under  whose  instructions  he  continued  for  one 
year.  The  knowledge  of  the  profession  thus 
obtained  was  subsequently  increased  by  a full 
course  in  the  university  of  Michigan,  at  Ann 
Arbor,  from  which  noted  institution  he  was 


graduated  in  due  time,  after  which  he  began 
his  practice  at  Frankfort,  Clinton  county,  Ind., 
to  which  place  he  removed  in  the  month  of 
June,  1865.  He  rose  rajndly  in  his  profession; 
soon  took  a place  at  the  Frankfort  bar,  and  be- 
came one  of  the  best  known  and  most  success- 
ful lawyers  of  Clinton  county.  Mr.  Doyal  was 
in  continuous  practice  for  a period  of  twenty- 
five  years,  twenty-three  I'ears  of  which  period 
were  passed  in  partnership  with  the  late  Perry 
W.  Card,  during  which  time  he  had  the  con- 
fidence of  his  brother  attorneys,  of  the  court, 
and  of  the  people,  and  nobly  earned  the  repu- 
tation of  being  an  able  lawyer,  a wise  and  safe 
counselor,  and  most  worthy  and  high-minded 
man  of  affairs.  He  served  as  prosecuting  at- 
torney from  1867  to  1870,  inclusive,  and  in 
1890  was  complimented  by  being  elected  judge 
of  the  Clinton  circuit  court,  which  honorable 
position  he  holds  at  the  present  time. 

Mr.  Doyal  brought  to  the  bench  a mind 
well  fortified  with  intellectual  and  professional 
training,  and  his  knowledge  of  jurisprudence, 
together  with  his  impartial  rulings,  and  uniforni 
kind  treatment  of  lawyers  and  litigants,  have 
made  him  a most  popular  judge.  Mr.  Doyal's 
ambition  from  the  first  was  to  become  a good 
lawyer  and  this  desideratum  has  been  realized. 
While  devoted  to  his  profession,  he  has  occa- 
sionally been  drawn  into  the  political  arena, 
and  while  always  taking  an  active  interest  in 
the  cousels  of  the  republican  party  and  in  cam- 
paigns, he  is  by  no  means  a partisan  in  the 
sense  in  which  that  term  is  usually  understood. 
A number  of  years  ago  Judge  Doyal  became 
connected  with  the  Masonic  order,  and  has 
been  actively  and  prominently  identified  with 
that  body  every  since;  he  also  for  six  years 
acted  as  school  trustee  of  the  city  of  Frank- 
fort. He  was  united  in  marriage  May  2,  1865, 
in  Marion  county,  Ind.,  to  Sarah  J.  Cotton, 
daughter  of  John  and  Nancy  Cotton,  a union 
blessed  with  two  children:  John,  a resident  of 


BIOGRAPHICAL  HISTORY 


r.r,  1 


I'riuiklorl,  and  Roscoe,  one  of  the  rising  yonng 
physicians  of  Clinton  county,  and  also  a resi- 
dent of  l^'rankfort. 

judge  Doyal  is(jf  medium  size,  well  fcnaned, 
conijKictl}’  built,  of  gentlemanly  manners  and 
pleasing  address;  he  is  social  and  genial  by 
nature;  of  generous  impulses,  steadfast  in 
friendship,  and  most  charitable  in  his  inter- 
course with  his  fellow-men.  He  is  essentially 
a man  of  the  people,  jropular  with  all  classes, 
and  few  citizens  of  Clinton  county  stand  as 
high  in  the  estimation  of  the  public.  As  a 
lawyer,  he  has  ever  been  above  the  question- 
able practices  of  the  jiettifogger,  and  as  a 
judge,  is  blessed  with  the  thought  that  he  has 
dealt  fairly  and  honorably  with  his  constitu- 
ency, and  with  the  people.  He  has  been  true 
to  his  convictions  of  right,  true  to  the  dis- 
charge of  every  duty  which  has  devolved  upon 
him,  true  to  the  communit\'  in  which  he  lives, 
and  true  to  the  state.  Such,  in  brief,  ai'e  the 
facts  in  the  life  of  this  well-known  jurist,  and 
it  is  with  jrleasure  that  this  simple  tribute  is 
given  a place  in  this  volume. 


OSCOE  N.  DOYAL. — Conspicuous 
among  the  successful  medical  men  of 
Frankfort  is  Dr.  Roscoe  N.  Do3'al, 
who,  although  young  in  years,  has 
already  earned  an  honorable  reputation  in  his 
profession  and  stands  high  in  rank  among  the 
])hysicians  and  surgeons  of  Clinton  comity. 
Dr.  Doyal  is  the  son  of  Hon.  S.  H.  Doyal, 
judge  of  the  judicial  circuit,  and  was  horn  on 
the  I 8th  day  of  Febrnaiy,  1868,  in  the  city  of 
Frankfort,  Ind.,  where,  with  but  little  exce])- 
tion,  his  life  has  been  jiassed.  His  early  edu- 
cational training  embraced  the  course*  of  tin* 
Fraid<fort  schools,  which  he  com])leted  ly 
graduating  from  the  high  school  in  1885,  and 
then  accc])ted  a clerkship  with  a mercantile 
house,  where  he  remained  about  one  year.  In 


1887  he  entered  Butler  university,  near  Indian- 
apolis, where  he  pursued  his  literary  studies  un- 
til the  followingyear,  at  which  time  hebeganthe 
study  of  medicine  at  Frankfort,  with  Drs. 
Adams  & Knap[),  under  whose  instructions  he 
continued  until  after  his  graduation  from  the 
Ohio  Medical  college  at  Cincinnati,  in  1892. 

I Impressed  with  a strong  desire  to  increase  his 
knowledge  of  the  healing  art,  the  doctor  next 
took  a post-graduate  course  in  Chicago,  after 
which  he  began  the  practice  in  Frankfort, 
where  his  well  known  abilities  and  studious 
habits  and  close  attention  to  his  predession 
have  already  brought  him  into  prominent  no- 
tice, and  presage  for  him  an  honorable  and 
useful  career.  Dr.  Doyal  is  an  enthusiastic 
student,  and  posse.sses  the  reejuisite  qualifica- 
tions that  insure  success.  His  popularit}'  in 
Frankfort  and  thoronghont  Clinton  county  is 
greatl}'  in  his  favor  as  a practioner,  and  with 
a well-formed  determination  to  adhere  to  his 
profession  the  future  awaits  him  with  boun- 
teous rewards.  The  doctor’s  political  faith  is 
embodied  in  the  republican  part}-,  and  frater- 
nally he  is  a prominent  member  of  the  Pythian 
order,  and  also  of  the  college  Greek  fraternaty, 
“Mnu  Sigma  Mnn.”  Dr.  Doyal  and  Minne  B. 
Thomas,  of  Goodland,  Ind.,  daughter  of  John 
H.  and  Victoria  (Albee)  Thomas,  were  united 
in  the  bonds  of  wedlock,  October  19,  1892. 
Mrs.  Doyal  was  born  in  Newaygo  county, 
Michigan,  I'ebrnarv  1,  1872,  and  is  the  mother 
of  one  child,  Galen  T. , whose  birth  occurred 
on  the  4th  day  of  january,  1894. 


FORGE  DOI'Y,  an  old  citizen  of 
lackson  township,  Clinton  county, 
Ind.,  was  born  Jannary  20,  1821,  in 
Ross  county,  Ohio,  and  is  the  son  of 
William  and  Margaret  (Whley)  Doty,  natives 
j res])ectivcly  of  New  Jersey  and  V irginia.  'I'he 
I subject’s  father  located  in  Ross  county,  Ohio, 


OF  CLINTON  COUNTY, 


055 


as  early  as  i8i  i,  and,  after  a residence  in  that 
state  of  about  twenty-three  years,  came  to 
Clinton  county,  Ind.,  and  entered  130  acres 
of  land  near  the  present  site  of  the  town  of 
of  Mullberry.  Here  he  cleared  a good  farm, 
reared  his  family,  and  here  his  death  occurred 
in  1871,  aged  seventy-eight  years.  His  wife 
preceded  him  to  the  grave,  dying  in  1857, 
aged  51  years.  William  and  Margaret  Doty 
had  a large  family  of  children,  of  whom  the 
following  are  living  at  this  time:  William  S., 
of  La  Fayette;  George,  the  subject  of  this 
sketch;  Theodosia;  Joseph,  resides  in  Hanni- 
bal, Mo. ; and  Eunice.  The  following  are  the 
names  of  those  deceased:  Nancy,  James, 
Elizabeth,  Margaret  and  Robert. 

George  Doty  was  reared  to  manhood  on  a 
farm,  and,  on  attaining  his  majority,  learned 
the  cooper’s  trade,  which  he  follow'ed  for  eight 
years.  He  then  purchased  a small  tract  of 
land  in  Tippecanoe  county,  where  he  made 
his  home  for  some  time,  thence  moved  to  the 
county  of  Clinton  and  purchased  his  present 
farm  of  120  acres  in  Jackson  township,  where, 
with  the  exception  of  two  years,  he  has  since 
resided.  At  the  time  of  its  purchase,  Mr. 
Doty’s  land  was  in  an  unimproved  condition, 
covered  with  a dense  forest  growth,  which  he 
removed  through  years  of  hard  labor  with  his 
own  hands.  His  farm  is  under  a successful 
state  of  cultivation,  well  supplied  with  im- 
provements, and  the  general  appearance  of  his 
place  indicates  the  presence  of  a man  who 
understands  every  detail  of  agriculture.  In 
1888,  Mr.  Doty  removed  to  Erankfort,  where 
he  remained  two  years,  but  at  the  end  of  that 
time  returned  to  his  farm,  where  his  declining 
years  are  being  passed  in  comparative  retire- 
ment, thibugh  he  still  gives  personal  attention 
to  the  management  of  his  business  affairs. 

Mr.  Doty’s  first  marriage  was  solemnized 
in  1839  with  Elizabeth  Clark,  daughter  of 
Jonas  P.  and  Susannah  (Planner j Clark,  a 


union  blessed  by  the  birth  of  two  children — 
Mary  E.,  wife  of  James  Buck,  residing  in 
Texas;  and  Elizabeth,  wife  of  Henry  Roth,  a 
farmer  of  Clinton  county.  The  mother  of 
these  children  died  in  1842,  and  in  1855  Mr. 
Doty  entered  into  the  marriage  relation  with 
Sarah  Rogers,  the  union  thus  consummated 
resulting  in  six  children,  two  living  at  this 
time — Sarah  M.,  wife  of  David  Hardesty,  and 
Iva  H.,  wife  of  George  Regan.  The  deceased 
members  of  the  family  are  as  follows:  May 
N.,  Wiley  T.,  Lavinna  and  Asa.  Mr.  Doty’s 
home  was  again  visited  by  death  in  1870,  at 
which  time  Mrs.  Doty  was  called  from  the 
scenes  of  her  earthly  labor.  On  the  twentieth 
of  August,  1874,  Mr.  Dot}'  married  his  present 
wife,  Mrs.  Jane  Regan,  daughter  of  Obed  and 
Eliza  (Davis)  Hardesty,  natives  of  Ohio  and 
Pennsylvania  respectively.  Obed  Hardesty 
was  reared  in  Belmont  county,  Ohio,  and  when 
a young  man  located  in  Boone  county,  Ind., 
where  he  improved  a farm,  upon  which  his 
death  occurred  in  1870,  and  that  of  his  wife  in 
1868;  they  were  the  parents  of  six  children— 
Sarah  A.,  wife  of  Alexander  Hardesty;  Eliza- 
beth, deceased;  Jane,  wife  of  Mr.  Doty;  John 
R.,  of  Fountain  county,  Ind.;  Margaret  C., 
wife  of  \Vesley  Osborn,  and  Ellen,  deceased. 
By  a previous  marriage  with  Mr.  B.  Reagan,  in 
i860,  Mrs.  Doty  had  three  children — Lorenzo 
C. , of  Boone  county,  Margaret  M.,  wife  of 
Henry  Hodgen,  and  Oscar,  deceased.  The 
death  of  Mr.  Reagan  occurred  in  1879.  Mr. 
Doty  is  one  of  the  old  settlers  of  Clinton 
county,  highly  regarded  by  all  who  know  him, 
and  his  life  has  been  one  of  industry  and  use- 
fulness. Politically  he  is  a democrat  and  re- 
ligiously belongs  to  the  Presbyterian  church,  of 
which  his  wife  is  also  a communicant. 

Jackson  township  has  fewer  older  or  more 
successful  residents  than  Mr.  Doty,  and  surely 
not  one  who  has  been  more  willing  to  advance 
its  prosperity. 


650 


BIOGRAPHICAL  HISTORY 


11 1 UP  DORNICK,  a well  known  busi- 
ness man  of  Frankfort,  Clinton  county, 
Ind.,  is  a native  of  Germany,  born  in 
the  j^rand  duchy  of  Baden  December 
12,  1825.  His  father,  b'rederick  Dorner,  also 
a native  of  Germany,  and  his  mother,  Chris- 
tina (Schcjlder)  Dorner,  were  married  in  that 
country  and  became  the  parents  of  seven  chil- 
dren— Karl,  Heinrica,  Amelia,  Philip,  Theo- 
dore (deceased),  Adolph  and  I'red.  The  pa- 
rents died  in  the  fatherland,  and  one  daughter, 
Amelia,  and  two  sons,  Fred  and  Philip,  came  to 
the  United  States,  where  they  havesince  lived 
Philip  Dorner  remained  in  his  native  coun- 
try until  1852,  and  there  learned  the  trade  of 
tanning,  which  he  followed  with  fair  success 
until  coming  to  the  United  States  in  July  of  the 
year  mentioned.  On  coming  to  this  country 
he  made  his  way  to  Indiana,  for  a period  of 
fifteen  years  worked  at  his  chosen  calling  in 
La  Fayette,  and  in  1867  located  at  Frankfort, 
where  he  continued  his  trade  for  some  years. 
He  first  worked  in  the  tanning  business,  and 
is  now  engaged  in  handling  buggies,  carriages, 
harness,  etc.,  and  his  success  in  the  same  has 
been  most  encouraging,  he  being  now  consid- 
ered among  the  most  successful  business  men 
of  his  adopted  chy.  His  wife,  whose  maiden 
name  was  Magdaline  Sjutznagle,  a native  of 
Germany,  came  to  the  United  States  via  Liv- 
erpool in  1852,  and  they  were  married,  in  1854, 
in  the  city  of  La  Fayette.  The  following  are 
the  names  of  their  children;  b'retl,  Amelia, 
Lena,  William,  Bernhardt,  George,  Teany 
and  Fmma.  Mr.  Dorner  is  a member  of  the 
I.utheran  church,  to  wdiich  his  wdfe  also  be- 
longs, and  he  is  an  active  worker  in  tlu'  Odd 
b'ellows’  fraternity,  belonging  to  both  subordi- 
nate lodge  and  encampment.  His  life  has 
been  one  of  great  activity,  and  by  close  atten- 
tion to  his  business  and  good  judgment  in  the 
managenu'iit  of  his  affairs,  he  has  succeeded  in 
accumulating  a comfortable;  competence.  His 


sons  are  associated  wdth  him  in  business,  and 
the  firm  has  a wide  reputation  in  commercial 
circles  for  honorable  dealing.  He  is  essentially 
a self-made  man,  a good  citizen,  and  his  life 
may  be  taken  as  a notable  example  of  what 
can  be  accomj)lished  by  honest  endeavor,  in- 
dustry, and  the  exercise  of  correct  business 
principles. 


AMUEL  DOUGLASS,  M.  D.,  an  old 
and  reliable  physician  of  Frankfort, 
w'as  born  in  Butler  county,  Ohio, 
IMarch  7,  1826,  the  son  of  John  and 
Susan  (Byers)  Douglass,  both  parents  natives 
of  Pennsylvania.  John  Douglass  was  by  oc- 
cupation a farmer,  which  vocation  he  followed 
for  some  years  in  the  state  of  his  nativity,  and 
afterward  in  Ohio,  wdiere  he  resided  until  his 
removal  to  Clinton  county,  Ind. , in  1828.  On 
coming  to  Clinton,  he  located  in  what  w'as 
then  Jackson  township,  having  been  one  of  the 
first  pioneers  of  that  section,  and  he  resided 
there,  engaged  in  the  pursuit  of  agriculture, 
until  1844,  at  wdrich  time  he  moved  to  Frank- 
fort, where  his  death  occurred  in  1 864.  He 
was  a very  successful  man,  financially,  accumu- 
lated a handsome  projicrty,  and  was  one  of  the 
early  county  commissioners  of  Clinton.  He 
served  in  the  Indian  war  for  six  months,  and  is 
remembered  as  one  of  the  most  progressive 
and  intelligent  citizens,  identified  wdth  the 
early  history  of  the  county.  His  wife  died  in 
the  year  1852.  Mr.  Douglass  reared  a family 
of  nine  children,  namely:  Joseph,  a soldier  in 
the  Mexican  w'ar,  killed  at  Vera  (_'ruz;  John 
B.,  Ifcnjamin  F.  ; William  A.,  Jackson  A., 
Jacob  S.,  Samuel,  Nancy,  and  Kosanna,  wife 
of  |.  K.  Breckenridge. 

Dr.  Samuel  Douglass  was  but  two  years 
old  when  the  family  moved  to  Clinton  county, 
and  his  boyhood  days  were  spent  in  the  woods, 
ami  on  the  farm,  which  he  assisted  in  clearing 


OF  CLINTON  COUNTY. 


057 


and  fitting  for  cultivation.  He  remained  with 
his  father,  assisting  in  the  work  of  the  farm 
until  twenty-two  years  of  age,  and,  in  the 
meantime,  having  determined  to  devote  his 
life  to  the  medical  profession,  began  his  pre- 
paratory reading  with  Dr.  W.  J.  Byers,  of 
Frankfort,  under  whose  instructions  he  con- 
tinued for  three  years.  He  then  attended  the 
Ohio  Medical  college  at  Cincinnati  one  term. 
In  1850,  he  went  to  California,  where,  in  con- 
nection with  the  practice  of  his  profession,  he 
engaged  in  mining,  trading  and  various  kinds 
of  speculation  until  1853,  when  he  returned  to 
Frankfort,  Ind. , and  embarked  in  the  drug 
business.  The  doctor  was  identified  with  the 
drug  trade  for  a period  of  ten  years,  at  the  end 
of  which  time  he  resumed  the  practice  of  his 
profession,  and  has  since  given  it  his  entire  at- 
tention, being  now  one  of  the  oldest  and  most 
reliable  practitioners  in  Clinton  county.  The 
doctor  was  for  two  years  a soldier  in  the  late 
war  as  a member  of  company  G,  Eighty-sixth 
Indiana  volunteer  infantry,  in  which  he  held 
the  office  of  first  lieutenant  He  participated 
in  the  battles  of  Perryville,  Rural  Hill  and 
others,  and  was  severely  wounded  in  one  en- 
gagement by  the  explosion  of  a shell  near  his 
head,  the  effect  of  which  disabled  him  and 
caused  him  to  resign  his  commission.  In  his 
calling.  Dr.  Douglass  has  been  very  successful, 
and  has  the  reputation  of  being  a very  trust- 
worthy physician  and  surgeon.  He  is  public- 
spirited  and  liberal,  enjoying  the  universal  re- 
gard of  the  people  of  Clinton  county,  and 
looks  back  over  a life  well  spent  for  the  good 
of  his  fellow-men.  He  was  married  in  Frank- 
fort, May  8,  1856,  to  Louviar  Catterlin,  daugh- 
ter of  Ephraim  and  Clara  Catterlin,  of  Mont- 
gomery county,  Ind.,  to  which  union  two  chil- 
dren have  been  born — Erank  J. , a business  man 
of  Erankfort,  and  Paul,  a telegraph  operator. 
The  doctor  is  a Mason,  a democrat  in  politics, 
and  his  wife  belongs  to  the  Christian  church. 


BKANK  DOUGLASS,  son  of  Dr.  Sam- 
uel and  Louviar  Douglass,  was  born 
Ajiril  23,  1857,  in  Clinton  county,  Ind. 
The  first  four  years  of  his  life  were 
spent  in  Erankfort,  when  he  was  taken  by  his 
parents  to  California,  in  which  state  he  lived 
until  his  tenth  year;  thence  to  Leesville,  Mo., 
where  the  family  lived  for  a limited  period. 
He  returned  to  Clinton  county,  Ind.,  from 
Missouri,  resided  for  some  time  at  the  village 
of  Kilmore,  and  at  the  age  of  eighteen  went 
on  his  father’s  farm,  where  he  resided  until 
his  twenty-second  year.  He  followed  farming 
until  1879,  in  which  year  he  became  associated 
with  his  father  in  the  mercantile  business  at 
Kilmore,  where  he  carried  on  a successful 
trade  for  several  months,  when  he  disposed  of 
his  interest  in  the  store  and  again  engaged  in 
the  pursuit  of  agriculture,  continuing  the  same 
until  accepting  a position  as  traveling  salesman 
with  G.  Rice,  Esq.,  Frankfort,  in  1884.  He 
was  on  the  road  one  year  and  then  purchased 
an  interest  in  a cigar  store  at  P'rankfort,  which 
business  he  conducted  a short  time  and  then 
embarked  in  the  general  goods  trade  at  the 
town  of  Cambria.  After  remaining  at  that 
place  one  year,  Mr.  Douglass  returned  to 
Frankfort  and  engaged  as  assistant  in  the  car- 
riage business,  but  soon  purchased  an  interest 
in  a restaurant,  which  he  tonducted  less  than 
one  year.  During  the  three  succeeding  he  was 
associated  in  business  with  a Mr.  Rice,  followed 
the  grocery  business  for  some  time,  and  then 
traded  for  a farm,  upon  which  he  lived  for 
some  months.  Returning  to  Frankfort,  he 
accepted  a clerical  position  in  a business  house 
and  was  thus  engaged  for  two  years,  when  he 
embarked  in  business  for  himself,  which  he 
still  continues.  Mr.  Douglass  is  also  exten- 
sively engaged  in  the  buying  and  selling  of  real 
estate,  which  he  carries  on  with  success  and 
financial  profit,  and  he  owns  at  this  time  a 
good  farm  in  the  country  and  valuable  property 


BIOGRAPHICAL  HISTORY 


(•.r)8 


in  the  city  of  I'rnnkfort.  He  is  an  energetic 
man  of  affairs,  successful  in  his  various  enter- 
prises, and  is  a dcinocraf  in  politics.  He  be- 
longs to  the  I.  O.  R.  M.,  being  an  active 
worker  in  the  local  organization  of  Fraid^fort. 
Mr.  Douglass  was  married  at  Kilmore,  Clinton 
county,  December  i<S,  1877,  to  Nanev  M. 
Clark,  who  was  born  February  13,  1859,  the 
daughter  of  Samuel  and  Adeline  Clark.  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  Douglass  have  two  children  — Stella 
B.  and  Samuel  K. 


ISAAC  W.  DOUGL.ASS,  M.  D.,  the 
leading  physician  and  surgeon  of  Michi- 
gantown,  Clinton  county,  Ind.,  was 
horn  May  21,  [840,  in  the  county  in 
which  he  still  resides,  and  descends  from  one 
of  the  noblest  an  most  heroic  families  ef  Scot- 
land, of  whom  every  one  acquainted  with  the 
English  language  has  read.  The  coat  of  arms 
of  the  ancient  family  may  be  brielly  described 
as  follows;  Upon  a held  of  silver  a human 
heart  in  red;  beneath,  an  imperial  crown  in  its 
proper  colorings;  above  the  dividing  line,  upon 
a blue  ground,  three  stars  of  silver.  The  ear- 
liest American  descendant  of  this  noble  family 
was  the  great-grandfather  of  the  doctor,  Joseph 
Douglass,  who  was  born  in  Pennsylvania, 
March  7,  1759.  His  son,  John  Douglass,  was 
also  a native  of  Pennsylvania,  and  in  1828 
moved  to  Preble  comity,  Ohio.  He  was  a 
farmer  of  large  means  and  in  the  war  of  1812 
was  a courier.  h'rom  ( )hio  he  canu'  to  I inliana, 
was  one  of  the  earlier  settlers  of  I'rankfort, 
where  he  and  wife  were  charter  numibers  of 
the  Presbyterian  church  society,  and  where 
he  died  I'ehruary  14,  1864.  Benjamin  I'rank- 
lin  Douglass,  son  of  John  and  father  of  Dr. 
Isaac  W.,  was  born  in  Preble  comity,  Ohio, 
September  6,  1815,  and  came  with  his  jiarcmts 
to  Indiana  in  1828.  He  was  reared  a farmer,  1 
remaining  on  the  home  farm  till  reaching  his  1 


majority,  when  he  made  a trij)  through  the 
western  and  northern  parts  of  the  United 
States,  and  was  variously  employed  during  this 
time  in  Chicago,  Milwaukee,  St.  Paul,  and 
other  places,  being  absent  from  Clinton  county 
about  two  years,  after  which  he  clerked  in 
a mercantile  establishment  at  Frankfort  a year. 
While  in  Wisconsin,  in  1837,  he  was  elected  a 
clerk  of  the  committee  on  land  claims,  in  Mil- 
waukee county.  August  I,  1 839,  he  was  mar- 
ried in  Frankfort  to  Miss  Mary  C.  Thomas, 
daughter  of  Isaac  P.  Thomas.  Of  the  eleven 
children  born  to  this  union  six  are  living; 
Isaac  W. , a physician  of  Michigantown,  Ind.; 
William  E.,  deputy  clerk  of  Clinton  county; 
Virginia  E.,  wife  of  Elwood  Avery,  of  I'rank- 
fort; Sarah  Adelaide;  Martha  C.,  wife  of  Mil- 
ton  C.  Merrill,  a postal  clerk,  residing  at 
Erankfort;  Amy  V,,  wife  of  Charles  Ross,  of 
I'rankfort.  F'our  children  died  in  early  child- 
hood, and  a daughter,  Harriet  E.,  died  at  the 
age  of  eighteen  years,  December  25,  1861. 

In  1839  Mr.  Douglass  was  elected  assessor 
of  Clinton  county  for  the  term  of  two  years. 
The  same  year,  1839,  he  engaged  in  the  mer- 
cantile business  at  F'rankfort,  and  in  1843  re- 
moved his  business  to  Michigantown,  where 
he  followed  mercantile  pursuits  until  1884, 
when  he  retired  from  the  active  duties  of  busi- 
ness life  and  became  a resident  of  P'rankfort. 
In  his  political  views  Mr.  Dongla.ss  was 
democratic.  In  i860  he  was  commissioned 
to  take  the  census  of  the  eastern  half  of  Clin- 
ton county.  He  was  commi.ssioned  lirsc  lieu- 
tenant of  a militia  compau}',  and  in  i860  he 
received  a commission  of  notary  public.  In 
1861  he  was  a memhei'  of  the  relief  commit- 
tee of  Clinton  county  to  look  alter  the  families 
of  those  who  wert'  sc'rving  their  country  and 
tf)  distribute  funds  for  their  relicl.  In  1861, 
also,  he  was  elected  a trustee  of  Michigan 
township,  holding  that  office  for  several  terms 
by  re-election.  Mr.  Douglass  was  a memher 


LIBRARY 
OF  THE 

aWlVERSlTY  OF  ItklNGIS 


OF  CLINTON  COUNTY. 


OGl 


of  Clinton  lodge,  No.  184,  A.  F.  lS:  A.  M.,  of 
Michigantown,  of  which  he  was  past  master. 
He  was  a member  of  the  Odd  Fellows  order 
and  passed  all  the  chairs  in  both  lodge  and  en- 
campment at  Frankfort,  and  represented  both 
the  Masonic  and  Odd  Fellows  orders  in  the 
grand  lodges  of  the  state.  His  death  took 
place  October  31,  1888.  Mrs.  Douglass  is  a 
member  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  chnrch, 
and  yet  resides  in  Frankfort. 

Dr.  I.  W.  Douglass,  after  a preparatory 
education,  entered  the  Cincinnati  College  of 
Medicine  and  Surgery,  from  which  he  gradu- 
ted  with  honors  in  1862,  and  at  once  entered 
upon, the  practice  of  his  profession  at  Michigan- 
town, where  his  great  abilities  were  at  once 
recognized,  and  where,  with  the  exception  of  a 
few  months,  he  has  since  continuously  prac- 
ticed, winning  fresh  laurels  .every  day,  and 
now  standing  at  the  head  of  the  profession. 
He  is  the  owner  of  a very  extensive  and  valua- 
ble library  of  medical  works,  including  the 
latest  published,  and  also  has  a well  selected 
private  library.  He  is  a regular  contributor  to 
the  leading  medical  journals  of  the  Union,  and 
his  contributions  are  eagerly  read  by  the  pro- 
fession in  general.  The  doctor’s  military  rec- 
ord is  a brief  one  : He  enlisted,  in  1862,  in 
company  H,  Eighty-sixth  Indiana  volunteer 
infantry,  was  assigned  to  the  army  of  the 
Cumberland  under  Gen.  Thomas,  and  took 
part  in  the  battle  of  Perryville,  Ky.,  and  was 
in  the  pursuit  of  Bragg,  but  was  taken  sick  and 
sent  to  the  hospital,  from  which,  after  a tedi- 
ous illness,  he  was  honorably  discharged. 
Fraternally,  he  is  a member  of  Herman  lodge. 
No.  184,  F.  & A.  M.,  and  is  also  a K.  of  P. ; 
politically,  he  is  a democrat,  and  a member  of 
the  pension  board,  which  meets  at  Frankfort 
every  Wednesday.  The  doctor  married  Lill- 
ian Knight  September  ii,  1877,  the  daughter 
of  James  and  Anna  R.  Knight,  and  to  this 
union  have  been  born  Ithamer,  and  George  E. 


EORGIv  DUNN,  a substantial 

young  farmer  of  Forest  tow  iship, 
Clinton  county.  Inch,  was  born  in 
Lawrence  county,  Ohio,  October  9, 
1857,  and  is  of  Irish  extraction,  but  has  an 
American  pedigree  of  several  generations.  His 
grandfather,  Armstrong  Dunn,  was  a citizen 
and  farmer  of  Lawrence  county,  Ohio,  for 
some  years,  but  had  previously  been  a musi- 
cian on  board  of  one  of  the  steamers  plying 
the  Ohio  river;  rhe  latter  part  of  his  life,  how- 
ever, was  passed  in  Hamilton  county,  Inch,  as 
a minister  in  the  Baptist  church.  His  son,  Jos- 
eph Dunn,  was  also  born  in  Lawrence  county, 
Ohio,  in  1833,  and  married  Amanda  Murphy, 
daughter  of  Archie  and  Elizabeth  Murphy, 
this  union  resulting  in  the  birth  of  the 
following  children:  Jennie,  Isaac  E.,  George 
W.,  Robert,  Burton  E.,  Louisa,  Katy,  Joseph 

H. h'' EVa  and  .pertha.  By  trade  Joseph  Dunn 
was  a carpenter,  and,  on  moving  to  New 
Britain,  Hamilton  county.  Inch,  became  a con- 
tractor and  did  an  excellent  business.  He 
and  wife  were  members  of  the  regular  Baptist 
chnrch,  in  which  he  was  deacon  for  a number 
of  years.  His  death  took  place  February  22, 
1889,  but  he  had  been  preceded  to  the  silent 
land  by  Mrs.  Dunn  P'ebruary  22,  1879. 

George  W.  Dunn  learned  carpentering 
under  his  father,  and  for  a number  of  years 
worked  at  the  trade  in  Clinton  county.  He 
married  Miss  Laura  B.  Davis,  daughter  of 
Hueston  and  Mary  (Cowdrey)  Davis.  The 
children  born  to  George  W.  Dunn  and  wife  are 
five  in  number,  and  are  named  Loren  O.,  Olney 

I. ,  Neva  L.,  Mary  C.,  and  Marvel  C.  Mr. 
Dnnn  and  wife  own  a fine  farm  of  170  acres, 
highly  cultivated,  and  improved  with  a com- 
fortable dwelling,  and  a large,  new,  modern 
farm  barn,  and  Mr.  Dunn  is  happy  in  the  pos- 
session of  the  noted  draft  horse.  Hawk  Eye 
Pate.  Both  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Dnnn  are  members 
of  the  regular  Baptist  church,  which  they  aid 


BIOCtRAPIITCAL  history 


0()‘2 


liberally  with  their  means,  as  well  as  with  their 
moral  inthience.  In  jxhitics  Mr.  I turn  in 
stroiif^ly  repuhlican,  and  hy  this  party  has  been 
elected  a trustee  of  the  township,  and  at  pres- 
ent is  an  incumbent  of  the  office.  He  is  a 
member  of  Forest  lodffe,  K.  of  P. , and  is  highly 
respected  as  a useful  citizen  and  progressive 
farmer. 


HLFREI)  Z.  DUNN,  a substantial 
farmer  of  Michigan  township,  Clin- 
ton countv,  Ind.,  is  of  German-Irish 
descent.  Ambrose  Dunn,  his  grand- 
father, was  a native  of  Kentucky,  but  the 
major  part  of  his  life  was  spent  in  Bartholo- 
mew county,  Ind.,  where  he  carried  on  a tav- 
ern and  entertained  royally  for  that  day. 
Zethaniah  Dunn,  his  son,  and  father  of  Alfred 
Z.,  was  born  October  5,  1824,  in  Bartholomew 
count)-,  Ind..  and  married  Elizabeth  Pruitt, 
and  the  following  year,  1845,  the  couple  set- 
tled ill  Clinton  county,  Ind.,  then  a howling 
wilderness,  on  an  eighty  acre  farm.  Zethaniah 
Dunn  died  August  11,  1854;  his  widow  is  now 
past  eighty,  and  is  yet  hale  and  strong.  Her 
children  are  named  Rebecba  E. , Margaret  E. , 
William  A.,  Mary  M.,  John  M.  and  Alfred  Z. 

Alfred  Z.  Dunn  was  born  in  Clinton  count)-, 
Ind.,  February  ib,  1855,  and  has  always  lived 
on  a farm.  He  married  Eydia  \\hdker;  their 
only  child,  Eaurence  E.,  has  resided  with  his 
grandmother  Dunn  ever  since  he  lost  his 
mother,  when  he  was  but  a few  months  old. 
The  second  marriage  of  Mr.  Dunn  was  with 
Mrs.  Hattie  Beebout,  widow  of  Junius  C. 
P)eebout  and  daughter  of  )ames  ('.  and  Eliza- 
beth fParis)  Heaton.  To  this  union  the  fol- 
lowing children  ha\-e  been  born:  W'illiam, 
died  in  infancy;  Vernal  C.,  Kannie  ('.,  Clad)S 
I'.,  Truman  W.  and  Basil  C.  Mr.  Dunn  owns 
a fertile  and  well-improved  farm  of  eighty- 
acres,  with  modi'rn  residence  and  substantial 


farm  buildings,  and  makes  a specialty  of  Ches- 
ter White  hogs.  He  is  a dormant  member  of 
the  I O.  R.  M.,  and  in  politics  is  a democrat. 
He  is  able  to  say,  what  very  few  others  can 
say,  that  he  does  not  owe  a dollar  in  the  world. 


ASHINGTON  E.  DUNN,  a pros- 
perous farmer  of  Michigan  township, 
Clinton  county,  Ind.,  and  an  ex- 
soldier, was  born  in  Eawrence 
county,  Ohio,  February  12,  1844.  His  great- 
grandfather was  a soldier  in  the  war  of  the 
Revolution.  Armstrong  Dunn,  grandfather  of 
Washington  L. , was  born  in  Kentucky,  but 
abhored  the  institution  of  slavery,  and  emi- 
grated to  Eawrence  county,  Ohio,  where  he 
became  noted  as  a minister  in  the  Missionary 
Baptist  church.  Although  he  had  been  a dem- 
ocrat he  voted  for  Eincoln  and  was  thereafter 
a republican.  He  married  Mary  Brandon,  and 
his  death  took  place  in  1876.  |ohn  D.  Dunn, 
son  of  Armstrong  and  father  of  W'ashington  E. , 
was  born  in  Eawrence  county,  (.)hio,  and  was 
a carpenter  and  farmer.  He  married  Jane 
Murphy,  and  to  this  union  were  born  the  fol- 
lowing children:  \\'ashington  E.,  Henry  H., 
Eliza  J.,  Mary,  Manda,  Elizabeth,  John,  Joann, 
Eina,  Rosaline,  George  and  William.  Grand- 
father Murphy  was  a planter  aud  slave-holder 
ill  Kentucky,  hut,  as  he  did  not  aiijirovc  of 
slavery,  moved  to  Eawrence  county,  Ohio, 
johu  D.  Dunn  died  in  1875,  but  his  widow  is 
still  a well  preserved  lady. 

W'ashingtou  E.  Dunn  was  taught  the  car- 
lienter's  trade  aud  followed  it  for  a few  years, 
but  greatl)'  jireferred  farming.  b'ebruary  14, 
1864,  lie  enlisted  iii  company  !£,  One  Hundred 
and  h'ifty-iifth  Indiana  vohiuteer  infantry,  and 
was  assigned  to  the  army  of  the  Potomac,  and 
served  in  \’irginia  and  Delaware.  He  was 
honorably  discharged  in  August,  1864,  aud 
now  receives  a iiension  of  $ 1 2 jicr  month.  His 


OF  CLINTON  COUNTY. 


063 


{)atriotisin  prompted  him  to  enlist  at  the  be- 
ginninj;-  of  the  war,  but  on  account  of  an  injury 
caused  by  an  accident  in  his  youth,  and  his 
small  stature,  he  was  rejected.  Mr.  Dunn  was 
married,  January  2,  1874,  to  Sylvia  A.  Helms, 
a dauf^hter  of  William  and  Elizabeth  fHidy) 
Helms,  the  former  a well-to-do  farmer  of 
Hamilton  county,  Ind.,  and  a class  leader  in 
the  U.  B.  church  and  a steward  thereof. 
After  his  marriage,  Mr.  Dunn  rented  a farm  in 
Hamilton  county,  Ind.,  on  which  he  lived  until 
1888,  when  he  bought  his  present  place  in 
Michigan  township,  Clinton  county.  This 
farm  comprises  ninety  acres,  is  in  a high  state 
of  cultivation,  and  is  improved  with  a neat 
dwelling  and  a modern  barn,  all  earned  through 
his  own  industry.  Mr.  Dunn  is  a member  of 
Herman  lodge,  No.  184,  F.  & A.  M.  ; in  poli- 
tics he  is  a republican,  and  he  and  wife  are 
members  of  the  Baptist  church.  The  children 
born  to  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Dunn  were  named  Pearl 
M.,  Elda  (died  at  si.xteen),  Ethel,  Oscar  C., 
Claude,  William,  Electa  B.  and  Alvin,  decas- 
ed.  Pearl  M.,  the  eldest  son,  has  attended 
the  Michigan  high  school  and  Frankfort  nor- 
mal college,  and  is  now  thoroughly  prepared  as 
a teacher,  and  already  holds  a license  to  teach 
in  Clinton  county. 


EV.  CLAYTON  K.  DRUMHELLER, 
pastor  of  the  Lutheran  church  of 
Mulberry,  Ind.,  was  born  in  Chester 
county.  Pa.,  May  8,  1855,  and  is  of 
German  descent.  His  father,  George  M. 
Drumheller,  was  born  in  the  Keystone  state  in 
1822,  and  became  a shoemaker.  Having  ar- 
rived at  years  of  maturity,  he  married  Eliza- 
beth R.  Kulp,  a native  of  the  same  state,  and 
to  them  were  born  two  children — Clayton  K. 
and  George  W.,  of  Montgomery  county.  Pa. 
During  the  late  war  he  was  drafted  in  the  One 

Hundred  and  Seventy-Fifth  Pennsylvania  in- 
32 


fantry  and  served  for  about  ten  months.  His 
wife  is  still  living. 

The  gentleman  of  whom  we  write  spent 
his  early  youth  on  the  old  homestead  farm  and 
began  his  education  in  the  public  schools.  He 
afterward  attended  Kallegan  academy,  then 
received  private  instruction  of  Prof.  Elgrow, 
and  in  1876  entered  the  Theological  seminary 
of  Philadelphia,  where  he  took  a three  years’ 
course.  He  was  graduated  from  that  institu- 
tion in  the  spring  of  1880,  and  on  the  26th  of 
May  of  the  same  year  was  ordained  to  the 
Lutheran  ministry.  In  June  he  entered  upon 
his  work  as  pastor  of  the  church  at  Hamburg, 
Pa.,  where  he  remained  until  the  ist  of  April, 

1883.  The  following  year  was  then  spent  in 
Dauphin  county.  Pa.,  and  on  the  ist  of  April, 

1884,  he  removed  to  Tamaqua,  where  he  con- 
tinued until  1886,  at  which  time  he  became 
pastor  of  a church  in  Danville,  Pa.  His  labors 
at  that  place  were  carried  on  until  the  3rd  of 
December,  1889,  when  he  removed  to  Ring- 
town,  Pa.  On  the  ist  of  October,  1892,  he  ac- 
cepted a call  from  the  church  and  located  at  Mul- 
berry, where  he  has  since  made  his  home. 
While  at  Danville,  Mr.  Drumheller,  was  also 
manager  of  the  Central  Publishing  house,  and 
also  belonged  to  the  Star  Lecture  bureau  of 
New  York.  He  was  likewise  editor  and  pub- 
lisher of  the  L'amily  Visitor.  Since  coming 
to  Mulberry  he  has  laid  the  corner-stone  of  a 
new  church  at  Fair  Haven,  and  has  begun  the 
work  of  erecting  a new  house  of  worship  in 
Mulberry.  He  is  an  untiring  worker  and  his 
labors  in  the  church  have  been  productive  of 
much  good.  On  the  ist  of  June,  1882,  Rev. 
Drumheller  was  united  in  the  holy  bonds  of 
matrimony  with  Etta  A.  Wagner,  daughter  of 
Benjamin  B.  and  Amanda  E.  (Smith)  Wag- 
ner, natives  of  Hamburg,  Berks  county.  Pa. 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Wagner  now  have  three  children 
— Mary  M.,  wife  of  William  Bodenhorn  of 
Pennsylvania;  Sallie  A.,  wife  of  George  H. 


601 


BIOGRAPHICAL  HISTORY 


Spiiullcr;  and  Mrs.  Druinhcller,  who  was  born 
]annary  25,  1861.  Mr.  Waf^ner,  father  of  this 
family,  enlisted  in  the  Union  army  dnririf,"  the 
late  war  and  was  killed  May  10,  1864,  at  the 
battle  of  Spottsylvania.  His  wife  survived  him 
until  SeiTember  10,  1879,  when  she,  too,  was 
called  to  the  home  beyond.  When  Mrs. 
Drumheller  was  a child  of  nine  years  she  was 
sent  to  Chester  Springs,  Chester  county.  Pa., 
and  pursued  her  studies  in  the  Soldiers'  Orphan 
home  at  that  place  until  sixteen  years  of  age. 
She  then  spent  two  years  in  the  State  Normal 
at  Kutztown,  being  graduated  therefrom  in 
the  class  of  1879.  She  then  successfully  en- 
gaged in  teaching  for  three  years.  She  is  a 
highly  educated  lady  and  is  of  great  assistance 
to  her  husband  in  his  work.  This  worthy 
couple  have  one  child,  Luther  Earnest,  born 
March  14,  1886.  In  politics,  Mr.  Drumheller 
is  a democrat.  He  is  a faithful  laborer  in  the 
Master’s  vineyard  and  in  the  circles  of  the 
Lutheran  ministry  is  widely  known.  Qc^)ber2  i , 
1894,  he  dedicated  the  Zion  Lutheran  church 
at  Mulberry,  Ind.,  at  a cost  of  about  six 
thousand  dollars. 


ON.  HUGH  D.  DUNNINGTON, 
held  in  high  esteem  and  known  to 
poor  and  rich  alike,  is  one  of  the 
foremost  citizens  of  the  city  of  Lrank- 
fort.  Mr.  Dunnington  was  born  on  a farm 
near  Greencastle,  Putnam  county,  Ind.,  De- 
cember 15,  1841.  His  ancestral  history  is 
traced  to  old  families  of  Kentucky  and  Vir- 
ginia. His  father,  William  Dunnington,  was 
born  near  the  city  of  Richmond,  Va.,  and  was 
of  English  lineage.  His  mother,  whose  maiden 
name  was  Mary  Douglass,  was  born  near 
Shelbyville,  Ky.  1 ler  father,  Hugh  Douglass, 
W'as  an  early  settler  in  Putnam  county,  Ind., 
and  it  was  there  that  William  Dunnington  and 
Mary  Douglass  were  united  in  marriage.  To 


this  marriage  were  born  the  following  chil- 
dren ; John  N.,  deceased;  Dr.  A.  Dunnington, 
of  Thorntow'u,  Ind.;  Hugh  I).,  subject  of  this 
sketch;  hhnily;  William  W.,  of  Westfield, 
Ind.;  L.  M.,  of  Lrankfort;  and  Dr.  K.  C.,  of 
Darlington,  Ind.  After  their  marriage,  the 
parents  settled  on  a farm  in  Putnam  county. 
The  mother  died  in  1857,  aged  forty  years. 
The  father  died  in  1873,  at  the  age  of  sixty- 
four  years,  while  residing  in  Hendricks  coun- 
ty, Ind. 

Hugh  D.  Dunnington  remained  on  the  farm 
and  at  home  until  he  was  nineteen  years  of 
age,  when  he  entered  the  army,  becoming  a 
private  in  company  A,  Thirty-ninth  Indiana 
infantry,  on  the  sixteenth  day  of  August,  1861. 
The  company  was  subsequently  mounted,  and 
became  company  A,  Eighth  Indiana  cavalry. 
The  term  of  enlistment  was  for  three  years, 
and  after  serving  the  term,  Mr.  Dunnington 
re-enlisted  in  company  A,  Eourth  United 
States  veterans,  under  Gen.  W.  S.  Hancock. 
This  company  was  held  on  duty  one  year  after 
the  surrender  at  .Appomattox;  it  was  mustered 
out  of  the  service  at  Washington,  D.  C.,  in 
Eebruary,  1866,  after  being  discharged. 

Mr.  Dunnington  returned  to  his  home,  and 
having  a desire  to  take  up  a business  career,  he 
attended  Bryant  A Stratton’s  Commercial 
college  at  Indianapolis.  He  then  accepted  a 
clerkship  in  a hardware  store  at  Greencastle 
and  later  became  proprietor  of  a hardware 
store  in  that  place.  Lor  twelve  years  he  was 
in  business  at  Greencastle,  then  one  year  at 
farming,  and  during  the  three  succeeding  years 
was  in  the  drug  business  at  Bainbridge,  Ind. 
b'rom  Bainbridge  Mr.  Dunnington  went  to 
Cloverdalc,  where  he  was  in  the  drug  business 
for  three  years;  then  acce[)tcd  a clerkship  in  a 
hardware  store  at  Crawfordsville,  in  which 
city  he  resided  about  the  same  length  of  time. 
In  1883,  Mr.  Dunnington  became  a citizen  of 
Lrankfort.  On  coming  to  I'rankfort,  he  em- 


iimRY 

mmiTY  Tnuneis 


'6^ 


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OF  THE 

ONIVERSITY  OF  ILLINOIS 


OF  CLINTON  COUNTY. 


GG9 


barked  in  the  real  estate,  loan  and  insurance 
business,  in  which  he  has  since  continued.  In 
politics  Mr.  Dunnington  has  always  been  a 
stanch  republican,  and  as  such  was  elected 
mayor  of  Fratd^fort  in  1888,  and  re-elected  in 
1890.  He  made  a just  and  efficient  e.xecutive 
officer,  and  retired  from  the  office  with  a good 
record  behind  him.  Fraternally  Mr.  Dun- 
nington is  a member  of  the  Grand  Army  of  the 
Republic,  of  the  order  of  the  Knights  of 
Phythias,  and  is  a knight  templar  Mason. 
He  was  married,  in  1872,  to  Miss  Margaret  C. 
Corwin.  The  home  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Dun- 
nington has  been  blessed  by  the  birth  of  two 
children,  namely ; Carl  and  Alma. 


eM.  DUNNINGTON,  proprietor  of  one 
of  the  leading  grocery  houses  of 
Frankfort  and  one  of  the  city’s  enter- 
prising business  men,  was  born  on  the 
fifteenth  day  of  May,  1848,  in  Putnam  county, 
Ind.  He  is  a son  of  William  Dunnington,  a 
native  of  Virginia,  and  his  mother,  whose 
maiden  name  was  Mary  Douglass,  was  a Ken- 
tuckian by  birth.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Dunnington 
were  married  in  Putnam  county,  Ind.,  and  set- 
tled on  a farm,  where  they  brought  up  their 
family,  consisting  of  seven  children. 

E.  M.  Dunnington  attended  the  country 
schools,  in  which  he  obtained  a fair  knowledge 
of  the  branches  usually  taught,  and,  at  the 
age  of  nineteen,  commenced  life  for  himself 
in  the  drug  business  at  Greencastle.  He  was 
thus  engaged  with  good  success  for  a period 
of  twelve  years,  at  the  end  of  which  time  he 
disposed  of  his  interest,  and  during  the  four 
years  succeeding  represented  a stove  manufac- 
turing company  of  Troy,  N.  Y.,  as  traveling 
salesman.  Mr.  Dunnington  became  a citizen 
of  Frankfort  in  1884,  and  during  the  four 
years  prior  to  1891,  did  an  extensive  and  suc- 
cessful insurance  business  in  the  city  and 


throughout  Clinton  county,  representing  a 
number  of  the  leading  companies  of  the 
United  States.  In  1891,  he  closed  out  his 
office  to  other  parties  and  embarked  in  the 
grocery  trade,  to  which  he  has  since  devoted 
his  attention,  owning  at  this  time  a large  and 
well-equipped  store  on  west  Earner  street,  sup- 
plied with  a fine  line  of  goods,  including  all 
articles  usually  found  in  first-class  establish- 
ments of  the  kind.  Mr.  Dunnington  began 
his  business  career  with  but  limited  capital, 
but  by  close  attention,  sagacious  management, 
and  by  consulting  the  wishes  of  the  public,  he 
has  gained  a reputable  place  among  the  suc- 
cessful business  men  of  Frankfort,  and  his 
reputation  in  commercial  circles  is  by  no  means 
confined  to  the  city  in  which  he  lives.  Pro- 
gressive in  his  ideas,  genial  in  his  manner  and 
painstaking  in  his  efforts  to  please,  he  has 
gained  the  esteem  and  confidence  of  his  fellow- 
^£jti^,ens,  .apdffiis,  future  is  fraught  with  much 
jjfbmise.  JSr.  Dunnington  is  a member  of  the 
Pythian  fraternity  and  a friend  and  liberal 
patron  of  all  enterprises  having  for  their  ob- 
ject the  public  welfare  of  P'rankfort.  He  was 
happily  married  in  October,  1892,  to  Mrs.  Ma- 
tilda Rotherrner,  of  Clinton  county. 


TEPHEN  S.  EARHART,  one  of  the 
highly  respected  citizens  of  Madison 
township,  Clinton  county,  who  is  now 
engaged  in  farming  and  stock  raising 
on  the  old  Earhart  homestead,  is  a native  of 
Ohio.  His  birth  occurred  in  Butler  county, 
August  22,  1844,  and  he  is  a son  of  George 
and  Susanna  (Slipher)  Earhart,  who  were  also 
born  in  Butler  county,  and  are  of  German  de- 
scent. The  paternal  grandfather,  Andy  Ear- 
hart, was  likewise  a native  of  Ohio,  and  the 
maternal  grandfather,  Stephen  Silpher,  was 
born  in  Virginia  in  July,  1779.  He  married 
Elizabeth  Flenner,  who  was  born  in  Maryland, 


BIOGRAPHICAL  HISTORY 


()70 


A])ril  lO,  I 7H0,  and  was  a dauf^htcr  of  Rudolph 
and  Maf^dcdene  (Cashner)  Flenner.  I\udol])h 
I'lenner  died  in  1818,  liis  family  having  num- 
bered thirteen  children.  George  Karhart  was 
horn  Ajndl  5,  1815,  and  passed  away  on  the 
30th  of  November,  1875.  His-wifewas  born 
September  21,  1819.  In  their  family  were  six 
children,  all  yet  living,  namely:  Andrew]., 
Isaac  S.,  a leading  physician  of  Mulberry;  Syl- 
vester, Stephen  S.,  David  and  George.  The 
father  of  this  family  came  to  Clinton  county  in 
1850,  and  here  accumulated  valuable  property, 
including  480  acres  of  rich  land. 

Upon  the  old  homestead  farm  Stephen  S. 
Earhart  was  reared  to  manhood,  and  in  the 
public  schools  of  the  neighborhood  acquired  a 
good  English  education.  Upon  his  father’s 
death  he  took  charge  of  the  farm,  and  is  now 
the  owner  of  240  acres  of  rich  land,  which 
yields  to  him  a golden  tribute  in  return  for  the 
care  and  labor  he  bestows  upon  it.  Since 
1880  he  has  made  a specialty  of  raising  short 
horn  and  Durham  cattle  and  Poland  China 
hogs,  and  this  branch  of  his  business  has  proved 
very  profitable. 

Mr.  Earhart  was  married  |nne  27,  1867, 
to  Eliza  Miller,  daughter  of  Elias  and  Maria 
(Rex)  Miller.  To  them  were  born  three  chil- 
dren, and  they  also  reared  a grandson  Jan- 
etta, born  June  20,  1868,  is  now  the  wife  ol 

Jacob  Fleming;  Clora  E.  was  born  August  2, 
1872;  Allen  L.  S.  was  born  P'ebruary  16, 
1876.  The  grandson,  Earl  E,  tiled  August 
19.  >893.  The  son  has  also  passed  away.  Of 
him  it  w'as  written:  “On  the  i6lh  of  June, 
1894,  the  young,  the  promising,  the  heroic 
spirit  of  Allen  Earhart  saih'd  out  upon  the 
bttsom  of  that  great  ocmin  toward  that  peace- 
ful harhf)r  which  is  the  destiny  of  the  race. 
His  life  was  an  exemplary  one,  though  short. 
He  was  just  (Mitering  iqion  }'oung  manhood 
when  called  to  his  final  rest,  yet  his  (diaracti  r 
had  its  inllnence  on  the  commnnity,  an  I will 


long  be  felt.  He  was  respected  and  loved  by 
his  associates  of  his  own  age,  and  his  parents 
looked  upon  him  with  pride,  for  they  could  al- 
w'ays  dejiend  upon  him,  and  the  confidence 
they  reposed  on  him  w'as  never  betrayed.  He 
was  converted  to  Christianity,  and  on  the  28th 
day  of  P'ebruary,  1882,  joined  the  Methodist 
church,  but  his  en'-ire  life  was  that  of  a Chris- 
tian, and  he  was  devoted  to  the  interests  of 
his  church.  He  belonged  to  the  Young  Peo- 
ple’s society,  and  upon  his  death  that  organ- 
ization passed  the  following  resolutions: 

" Ri'so/i'cd,  That  as  a union  we  deeply  feel 
our  loss,  for  we  ever  found  in  him  a willing 
worker. 

" Rcsoli'cd,  That  we  cherish  his  memory 
and  strive  to  emulate  his  virtues  for  church 
and  temperance. 

■' Resolved,  That  we  tender  to  the  family 
upon  whom  the  shades  have  fallen  so  heavily, 
our  sincere  sympathy,  and  commend  them  to 
the  All-wise  I'ather,  who  doeth  all  things 
well.  ” 

Both  Mr.  and  Mrs.  P'arhart  are  members  of 
the  Methodist  Episcopal  church,  and  are  act- 
ive and  consistent  workers  therein.  Mr.  Ear- 
hart served  as  steward  for  about  nine  years, 
and  has  been  class  leader  for  a similar  period. 
In  politics  he  is  a prohibitionist.  All  worthy 
interests  and  enterprises  find  in  him  a friend, 
and  he  is  numbered  among  the  best  citizens 
of  Madison  township.  Mr.  Earhart  held,  on 
November  30,  1894,  his  sixth  annual  sale  of 

fine  Poland  China  swine,  he  owning  the  best 
strains  that  are  produced.  The  attention  of 
the  reader  is  res])ectfully  called  to  the  life-like 
portraits  accompanying  this  sketch,  portraying 
the  features  of  S.  S.  Pkirhart  and  wife  Eliza, 
and  those  of  their  deceased  son,  Allen  Ear- 
hart, all  three  works  of  art,  being  the  produc- 
tions of  lirst-cdass  artists,  and  in  every  resiiect 
true  to  nature.  'I'he  sad  bereavement  of  the 
paiMMits  is  here  somewhat  compensated  by  the 
(U'eseiwation  ol  the  likcmess  of  their  son. 


LIBRARY 
OF  THE 

UHIVERSITY  QF  \\Mm^ 


OF  CLINTON  COUNTY. 


673 


OSCAR  WILLIAM  EDMONDS,  M. 

1).,  one  of  the  prominent  yonng  phy- 
sicians of  Frankfort,  is  a native  of 
Montgomery  county,  Ohio,  and  son 
of  Kheuden  J.  and  Anna  Edmonds.  The  doc- 
tor’s grandfather,  Augustus  Edmonds,  was  a 
native  of  Berkshire,  England,  in  which  coun- 
try he  married  Elizabeth  Hines,  and  about  the 
year  i 789  immigrated  to  the  United  States, set- 
tling iii  Bucks  county,  Pa.  For  valuable  serv- 
ices rendered  to  the  American  cause  in  the 
war  of  the  Revolution,  he  obtained,  by  the 
assistance  of  Gen.  W^ashington,  500  acres  of 
land  near  the  present  city  of  Mauch  Chunk, 
which  he  subsequently  sold  for  fifty  cents  an 
acre,  and  resided  in  the  comity  of  Bucks  until 
his  death.  By  occupation  he  was  a gunsmith, 
and  for  a number  of  years  he  followed  civil 
engineering,  in  which  he  acquired  great  skill 
and  proficiency,  having  been  widely  known  as 
a profound  mathematician.  His  wife  died  in 
1869  and  his  death  occurred  in  the  year  1872 
at  an  advanced  age.  Augustus  and  Elizabeth 
Edmonds  were  the  parents  of  eleven  children 
— nine  sons  and  two  daughters — and  it  is  a fact 
worthy  of  note  that  the  sons  all  grew  to  man- 
hood and  took  part  in  the  late  great  rebellion. 
One  of  them,  Capt.  J.  H.  Edmonds,  was 
killed  at  the  battle  of  Parkersburg  in  1864, 
and  his  brother,  J.  J.,  lost  a leg  on  the  nine- 
teenth of  June  of  the  same  year.  P'ive  of  the 
brothers  held  officers’  commissions  while  in  the 
service,  the  rest  being  privates,  and  all,  with 
the  e.xception  of  the  two  mentioned,  went 
through  the  war  without  receiving  any  injury. 
At  this  time  Lewis  and  |ames  Pldmonds  are 
acceptable  ministers  of  the  Reform  church  and 
are  recognized  for  their  abilities  in  that  sacred 
calling.  R.  J.  Edmonds,  the  doctor’s  father, 
was  born  in  Bucks  county.  Pa.,  in  the  year 
1812,  and  in  early  life  learned  the  trade  of 
cigarmaker,  which  he  followed  for  a number  of 
years,  though  now  in  the  grocery  trade.  He 


married,  in  his  native  state,  Anna  L.  Moore, 
who  was  born  in  the  county  of  Bucks  in  1830, 
the  daughter  of  William  and  Anna  Moore. 
The  following  children  resulted  from  this  union: 
Clara,  wife  of  Dr.  Beaver;  Martha,  wife  of 
Oscar  Ciabbs;  Elizabeth  B.,  wife  of  Lewis 
Crissman;  Anna;  Oscar  W.  ; Laura,  wife  of 
Paul  Kochne;  Joseph,  deceased,  and  Phena, 
deceased.  Mr.  Edmonds  has  been  successful 
financially  and  is  a well  known  and  highly  re- 
spected citizen.  He  and  wife  have  been,  for 
many  years,  active  member's  of  the  Methodist 
church,  and  in  politics  he  affiliates  with  the 
republican  party.  Mrs.  Moore’s  ancestry  is 
traceable  to  Ireland,  and  the  family  connection 
with  the  old  nobility  of  that  counti'y  is  easily 
established. 

Dr.  O.  W.  Edmonds  was  born  Mai'ch  25, 
1861 ' in  Montgpmer-y  county,  Ohio,  and  spent 
his  boyhood  days  at  the  towns  of  Germantown 
and  West  Carrollton,  remaining  at  the  latter 
place  until  his  twentieth  year.  He  was  edu- 
cated in  the  schools  of  Carrollton,  and,  after  de- 
ciding to  adopt  the  medical  profession,  began 
his  preparatory  reading  in  the  office  of  his 
bi'other-in-law.  Dr.  E.  N.  S.  Beaver,  of  Al- 
bertus.  Pa.,  under  whose  instruction  he  con- 
tinued for  four  years,  making  substantial  prog- 
ress in  the  meantime.  The  further  to  increase 
his  professional  knowledge,  the  doctor  entered 
Starling  Medical  college  at  Columbus,  Ohio, 
from  which  he  w'as  graduated  in  1886,  and  im- 
mediately thereafter  began  the  practice  in  the 
city  of  Dayton,  where  he  remained  until  his 
removal  to  Albertus,  Pa.,  in  1888.  He  fol- 
lowed his  profession  successfully  in  the  latter 
place  for  si.x  months,  and  in  September  of  the 
above  year  located  at  Frankfort,  Ind.,  where 
he  has  since  resided,  actively  engaged  in  the 
practice  in  that  city  and  Clinton  county.  The 
doctor  has  filled  the  office  of  county  coroner 
for  the  past  two  years,  and  at  this  time  is  city 
health  officer,  and  also  vice-president  of  the 


071 


BIOGRAPHICAL  HISTORY 


C'oiinty  Me  lical  society.  In  i<S88  he  was  con- 
nected with  th:;  Dayton  Meiical  university  as 
professor  of  anatomy,  a'nl  while  actin'^  in  that 
capacity  delivered  a nninber  of  lectures  before 
the  college,  which  bianight  him  into  favorable 
notice  among  medical  circles  throughout  the 
state  of  Ohio,  ddie  doctor  has  devoted  him- 
self assiduously  to  his  profession  and  takes 
high  rank  among  the  most  successful  physicians 
and  surgeons  of  Frankfort,  which  city  has  for 
years  been  noted  for  the  ability  of  its  medical 
men.  His  practice,  which  is  large  and  con- 
stantly increasing,  is  confined  to  Clinton 
county.  The  doctor  was  married  at  Albertus, 
Pa.,  September  13,  1888,  to  Alice  J.  Hertzog, 
a native  of  the  same  town,  where  her  birth  oc- 
curred on  the  twenty-ninth  day  of  March,  1865. 
.Mrs.  Edmonds  is  a daughter  of  Nathan  and 
Mary  (Richardson)  Hertzog,  both  parents  na- 
tives of  the  Keystone  state.  Politically,  the 
doctor  is  a supporter  of  the  republican  party, 
and  fraternally,  is  identified  with  the  order  of 
Odd  Fellows.  In  religion  he  is  a Methodist, 
to  which  church  his  wife  also  belongs. 


IMEON  S.  ENGLhh  an  energetic 
farmer  and  stock  raiser  of  Washing- 
ton township,  Clinton  county,  Ind., 
is  a native  of  Hocking  county,  Ohio, 
and  is  a son  of  William  and  Sarah  (Vogt) 
Ivngle,  the  former  of  whom  was  born  in  Penn- 
sylvania and  the  latter  in  the  Buckeye  state, 
and  both  of  German  descent.  Simeon  S.  was 
born  January  21,  1846;  his  father  June  19, 
1814;  and  |ohn  Engle,  the  father  of  William, 
in  1783.  In  1818,  William  Engle  was  taken 
to  Ohio,  where  his  father,  John  Engle,  bought 
160  acres  of  land,  and  there  died  in  1830,  but 
bis  wid(jw  survived  until  1873.  d he  children 
born  to  John  I'higle  were  William,  Rachel, 
Barnhart,  hhizabeth,  Margaret,  Leah,  Hannah, 
h'annie,  Salome,  Phebe  and  an  infant,  of 


whom  three  are  now  living:  William,  Rachel 
and  Barnhart.  William  Engle  was  married 
October  26.  1835,  to  Miss  Vogt,  who  was 

born  in  Eebruary,  1809,  and  became  the 
mother  of  the  following  children:  Esther, 
John,  Elizabeth,  Mary  (deceased),  Simeon  S., 
Israel  W.,  Louisa,  and  an  infant  that  died  un- 
named The  mother  of  this  family  died 
March  27,  1874,  but,  as  stated  above,  the 
father  is  still  living. 

Simeon  S.  Idngle  was  reared  on  his  father’s 
farm  in  Ohio,  but  at  the  age  of  eighteen 
learned  the  trade  of  the  harness-maker.  In 
1867  he  came  to  Indiana  and  located  in  Elk- 
hart county,  at  Locke,  where  he  carried  on  a 
harness  shop  for  some  time,  and  then  moved 
to  Kosciusko  county  and  bought  1 10  acres  of 
land,  on  which  he  lived  until  1882,  when  he 
sold  and  bought  a farm  near  Marion,  in  Grant 
county,  on  which  he  lived  until  1888,  when  he 
again  sold  his  property  and  came  to  Washing- 
ton township,  Glinton  county  and  bought  his 
present  farm  of  160  acres,  on  which  he  settled 
in  1888.  August  8,  1867,  Mr.  Engle  married 
Miss  Susan  Davis,  daughter  of  Daniel  and 
Nancy  (Kimball)  Davis,  and  to  this  congenial 
union  four  children  have  been  born  and  named 
in  the  following  order:  William  H.,  October 
8,  1868;  John  E.,  March  8,  1871;  Ida,  Janu- 
ary 12,  1874  (now  the  wife  of  Thomas  Blinn), 
and  Elorence,  July  2,  1876,  now  the  wife  of 
Erank  Blinn;  Ida  and  Floren.'e  married 
brothers.  Mrs.  Engle  is  a devoted  member  of 
the  U.  B.  church  and  is  inost  attentive  to  her 
church  duties.  Mr.  Engle  takes  great  interest 
in  agricultural  matters  generally.  His  politics 
are  emiihatically  democratic.  While  in  Kos- 
ciusko county  he  was  township  assessor  and 
township  trustee  several  terms.  During  his 
residence  in  Grant  county  he  was  an  extensive 
breeder  of  fine  Poland  Ghina  swine  and  Short 
Horn  cattle,  and  in  this  vocation  nnuK'  a most 
emiable  re|)utation. 


OF  CLINTON  COUNTY. 


G75 


OSIAII  1<'EESP2R,  of  Michigan  town- 
ship, Clinton  county,  Ind.,  is  a sub- 
stantial fanner  of  German  descent, 
h's  great-grandfather  Feeser  being  the 
first  of  the  family  to  come  to  the  United 
States.  Henry  Feeser,  father  of  Josiah,  our 
subject,  was  born  in  Maryland,  reared  a 
farmer,  and  married  Rachel  Utz.  To  this 
marriage  were  born  the  following  children: 
Ephraim,  Darius,  Josiah,  Elnora,  William  and 
Elizabeth — the  first  two  being  deceased.  The 
father  was  an  elder  in  the  Lutheran  church 
and  died  while  some  of  the  family  were  yet 
young,  but  the  mother  kept  the  children  to- 
gether and  educated  them  until  her  marriage 
with  Jacob  Leister.  Mrs.  Leister  is  now  de- 
ceased. 

Josiah  Eeeser  was  born  in  Maryland,  Au- 
gust 17,  1848,  and  has  alwa3'S  lived  on  a farm. 
His  mother  gave  him  a fair  education  by  send- 
ing him  to  the  subscription  school  when  she 
was  able.  At  the  age  of  seventeen  he  and  his 
brother  William  came  to  Indiana  to  carve  out 
a fortune  from  what  was  then  known  as  the 
far  west.  February  28,  1869,  he  married 

Delia  A.  Davis,  daughter  of  Isaac  M.  and 
Susan  (Price)  Davis,  and  Mr.  Feeser  and  wife 
now  reside  on  the  farm  first  occupied  by  Mr. 
Davis  when  he  settled  in  Clinton  county.  Mr. 
Davis  was  an  elder  in  the  New  Light  church. 
He  enlisted  in  company  I.  One  Hundredth 
Indiana  infantiy,  served  over  two  years,  and 
died  in  the  hospital  at  Indianapolis.  His  chil- 
dren were  Delia  A.,  wife  of  Mr.  Feeser;  and 
Mary  L.  and  Clarissa  E.,  both  of  whom  died  in 
childhood.  At  their  marriage,  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
I'eeser  settled  on  the  farm  mentioned,  which 
now  comprises  eighty  acres.  It  is  improved 
with  a modern  dwelling,  elegantly  furnished 
for  a country  residence,  and  the  barn  and  other 
farm  buildings  are  commodious  and  substan- 
tial. Their  only  child,  William  P. , was  born 
December  12,  1861,  and  died  August  23,  1872. 


Mr.  and  Mrs  Feeser  are  members  of  the 
Christian  church,  in  which  he  was  once  a dea- 
con. In  politics  he  is  a democrat,  and  socially 
he  stands  very  high. 


BENNELL,  SHAW  & CO.,  of  Frank- 
fort. Ind.,  are  the  only  exclusive  deal- 
ers in  sporting  goods  in  central  nor- 
thern Indiana.  The  firm  was  organ- 
ized in  November,  1892,  by  C.  E.  Fennell  and 
C.  E.  Shaw,  who  then  handled  bicycles  and 
bicycle  repairs  only,  but  in  1894  John  Heim- 
bach  joined  the  firm,  and  it  now  deals  in  every 
variety  of  sporting  goods,  including  base  ball 
supplies,  guns,  revolvers,  cartridges,  d\mamite, 
fishing  tackle,  etc.,  together  with  doing  all 
kinds  of  repairs.  The  bicycle,  however,  claims 
a great  deal  of  their  attention,  and  they  make 
a specialty  of  the  “Ariel”  and  “Meteor,”  of 
which  they  carry  over  fift}' varieties.  In  1894, 
the  firm  produced  a lubricator,  which  is  de- 
nominated the  “Stuff,”  and  which  is  thought 
to  excel  in  efficienc}'  an}'  similar  production. 
In  bicycle  sundries  the  firm  keeps  on  hand  a 
constant  supply  of  locks,  lamps,  l)ells,  pants 
guards,  tape,  oil,  etc.,  with  special  prices  in 
lamps.  The  young  men  composing  the  firm 
are  gentlemanly  in  the  treatment  of  their  pa- 
trons, and  are  meeting  with  the  success  their 
courtesy  deserves. 


AMUEL  B.  FISHER,  M.  D.,  of 
Rossville,  Ind.,  is  one  of  the  leading 
physicians  of  Clinton  county  and  well 
known  as  one  of  the  early  practition- 
ers of  medicine  in  Tippecanoe,  Carroll  and 
Clinton  counties.  He  springs  from  an  old 
American  colonial  family  of  Revolutionary 
stcck,  his  maternal  grandfather  having  been  a 
I'rench  soldier  who  came  to  America  with 
LaEayette.  Jacob  Eisher,  great-grandfather 


670 


BIOGRAPHICAL  HISTORY 


of  the  doctor,  was  a farmer  in  Aufjusta  coun- 
ty, Va.  His  son  John  was  the  grandfather  of 
the  doctor,  was  born  in  Virginia,  and  married 
Hlizal)eth  Humbert.  The  doctor  has  a set  (jf 
silver  table-spoons — an  heirloom  in  the  family 
I 50  years — also  a silver  bull-eye  watch,  which 
was  given  to  john  Fisher,  the  father  of  the 
doctor,  by  his  grandfather  Humbert.  John 
Fisher  was  the  father  of  John,  the  father  of 
doctor,  and  the  only  child  by  the  marriage  to 
Flizabeth  Humbert.  She  died,  and  her  hus- 
band married  her  sister  Frances,  and  they 
were  the  parents  of  Daniel,  Jacob,  David,  Eli, 
George,  Joseph,  Mary,  Esther,  Susan,  and 
Catherine.  John  Fisher,  the  grandfather,  was 
a farmer  and  moved  to  Montgomery  county, 
Ohio,  settling  in  Dayton,  but  soon  after  mov- 
ing to  Preble  county,  near  where  Eaton  now  is, 
about  180901'  1810.  when  the  country  was  a 
wilderness.  He  cleared  up  and  improved  a 
section  of  land  and  became  wealthy.  He  was 
a man  of  prominence  but  took  no  interest  in 
office-holding.  He  was  a large,  strong  man, 
owned  several  large  farms,  was  the  largest 
stock  raiser  in  the  county,  was  a man  of  good 
business  ability,  and  reached  the  age  of  eighty 
years,  dying  in  1 864. 

John  P'isher,  son  of  above  and  father  of  the 
doctor,  was  born  in  1799  in  \'irginia  and  mov- 
ed to  Preble  county,  Ohio,  when  ten  years  old, 
grew  up  and  married  there,  Catherine,  daugh- 
ter of  Andrew  and  Elizabeth  (Eouj))  Charles. 
Andrew  Charles  was  born  in  P'rance  and  came 
to  America  with  Gen.  Lal'ayette  as  a conti- 
nential  soldier,  and  was  in  all  the  battles  in 
which  the  French  troops  took  jiart  in  the 
Revolutionary  war,  and  was  wounded  several 
times.  He  married,  in  Pennsylvania,  a Miss 
Elizabeth  I^oup  of  that  state.  The  I.oups 
were  of  German  descent  and  moved  to  High- 
land county,  Ohio,  among  the  iiioncers,  and 
there;  the  father  died  about  1820,  aged  eighty 
years.  fie  was  a man  of  industrious  habits,  in 


good  circumstances,  of  high  character,  was  a 
lover  of  liberty  and  a republican  form  of  gov- 
ernment, and  voluntered  his  services  to  assist 
the  Americans  to  gain  their  liberty.  John 
Fisher  settled  in  Montgomery  county,  Ohio, 
on  a farm,  and  built  a ffouring-mill  within 
seven  miles  of  Dayton,  but  in  1829  settled  in 
Preble  county.  To  him  and  wife  were  born 
four  children — John  C'. , Samuel  B.,  Andrew 
K.,  and  Barbara — all  born  in  Montgomery 
count}’,  except  Barbara,  who  was  born  in 
Preble  county,  Ohio.  He  had  been  a promi- 
nent man  during  his  lite,  of  excellent  character 
and  was  respected  by  all,  and  he  died  of 
typhoid  fever  at  about  forty  years  of  age. 

Dr.  Samuel  B.  Fisher  was  born  December 
31,  1825,  on  his  father’s  farm  in  Montgomery 
county,  Ohio,  and  was  four  years  old  when 
taken  to  Preble  county,  Ohio,  and  fourteen 
when  he  came  to  Carroll  county,  Ind.  He  re- 
ceived a good  common  education  for  his  day, 
and  began  the  study  of  medicine  in  1854  with 
Dr.  Crawford  of  Kossville.  He  had  married 
in  May,  1852,  Margaret,  daughter  of  Enos 
and  I^ydia  Cope.  Enos  Coi)e  settled  in  Mont- 
gomery county,  Ind.,  about  1828,  became  a 
prosperous  farmer,  and  reared  a family  of 
seven  children;  George,  Al)salom,  Enos, 
Lydia,  .\manda,  Lucinda  and  Margaret,  and 
died  abemt  seventy-five  years  of  age.  He  was 
a man  of  good  character  and  a substantial 
citizen.  .After  his  studies  with  Dr.  Crawford, 
Dr.  Fisher  engaged  with  him  as  a partner, 
and  so  continued  until  thedciath  of  the  former, 
who  had  married  Burbara  I'isher.  sister  oi  the 
doctor.  Dr.  I'isher  immediately  met  with  a 
siK'cessfiil  juactice.  .Vt  au  early  day  the  coun- 
try was  full  of  malaria,  and  his  practice  ke})t 
him  busv  day  and  night,  riding  all  over  this 
section  of  the  country  among  the  pioneers. 
He  has  been  a successful  jiractitioner  nearly 
forty  } ears,  and  is  widely  known.  d'o  Dr.  and 
Mrs.  Fisher  have  been  born  six  children:  Dr. 


OF  CLINTON  COUNTY. 


677 


John  J.,  I'reniont,  W'illiam  H.,  Loyal  B., 
Alonzo  and  Justice  C. 

Dr.  Fisher  is  a member  of  the  National 
Medical  association  and  Indiana  State  associa- 
tion, of  which  he  has  been  president  for  some 
time.  He  is  a patron  of  the  leading  medical 
journals  of  the  day,  and  has  a valuable  medi- 
cal library.  Politically,  he  is  a democrat.  He 
is  a member  of  the  Methodist  church,  as  was 
was  also  his  wife,  who  died  January  i2.  1892. 
Fraternally,  he  is  a member  of  Rossville  lodge, 
F.  & A.  M.,  and  is  treasurer;  he  is  also  a mem- 
ber of  the  I.  O.  O.  F.,  Rossville  lodge.  No. 
183,  and  has  held  all  the  offices  in  this  lodge, 
including  noble  grand.  Dr.  Fisher  has  always 
been  a public-spirited  man,  has  served  on  the 
school  board,  and  takes  an  active  interest  in 
educational  matters  generally,  and  in  the  pros- 
perity of  the  town.  He  is  president  of  the 
Rossville  bank,  and  displays  as  much  sagacity 
as  a financier  as  he  does  skill  as  a physician. 


ON.  EDWARD  R.  FLOYD,  mer- 
chant of  Middlefcrk,  Clinton  county, 
Ind.,  was  born  in  Rush  county,  Ind., 
December  7,  1848.  When  five  years 
of  age  his  parents  moved  to  Howard  county, 
Ind.,  where  he  w'as  reared  and  educated.  Be- 
fore he  reached  the  age  of  fifteen  he  joined  the 
Eleventh  Indiana  cavalry  and  served  two 
years.  After  his  return  he  spent  the  time  un- 
til twenty  years  of  age  upon  the  homestead, 
and  attending  school;  in  1872  he  located  at 
Middlefork  and  engaged  in  mercantile  businesss 
for  some  ten  years.  In  1882  he  established 
himself  in  the  boot  and  shoe  business  in  Frank- 
fort, and  after  a residence  of  four  years  here, 
he  moved  to  Chicago,  but  returned  to  Middle- 
fork  in  the  spring  of  1889,  and  established  his 
present  business  of  general  merchant.  Politi- 
cally he  is  a stanch  republican,  and  as  such 
was  elected  to  represent  his  county  in  the  state 


legislature  in  the  fall  of  1894.  Mr.  Floyd 
married,  in  1868,  Miss  Martha,  daughter  of 
Hon.  A.  T.  Wdiiteman,  of  Middlefork,  Ind., 
and  by  this  marriage  they  are  the  parents  of 
two  children;  Eugene,  who  is  associated  with 
his  father  in  business,  and  Alice,  wife  of  W. 
Wk  Holliday.  Mr.  Floyd  is  a member  of 
Stone  River  post.  No.  122,  G.  A.  R. , and  one 
of  Clinton  county’s  progressive  and  enterpris- 
ing citizens,  being  extremely  popular  with  his 
fellow-citizens,  who  never  hesitate  to  intrust 
him  with  their  interest  on  any  important  occa- 
sion or  in  any  responsible  position. 


AUL  I.  FRIEND,  farmer  and  ex- 
soldier of  Forest  township,  Clinton 
county,  Ind.,  is  of  English  descent. 
Ignatius  Friend,  his  grandfather,  was 
a native  of  Virginia,  where  he  married  Susanna 
Shafer  and  came  west,  locating  first  in  Ohio, 
whence  he  moved  to  Rush  county,  Ind. , and 
finally,  in  1848,  settled  in  Clinton  county, 
where  he  bought  a farm  in  the  wilderness. 
He  served  through  the  Mexican  war,  and  for 
meritorious  conduct  was  commissioned  captain; 
as  an  old  line  whig,  he  was  elected  justice  of 
the  peace.  John  J.  Friend,  son  of  above  and 
father  of  Paul  I. , the  subject  of  this  sketch, 
was  born  in  Ohio,  and  was  quite  small  when 
brought  to  Rush  county,  Ind.,  where  he  grew 
to  manhood.  In  1847  he  came  to  Clinton 
county  and  purchased  300  acres  of  land.  He 
married  Eliza  J.  Smith,  and  to  this  marriage 
were  born  the  following  childi'en : Vesper  E. , 
Leander  W.,  Elizabeth,  Paul  I.,  Christina, 
Joel  F.,  Viola  and  Eliza  J.  Both  father  and 
mother  died  in  August,  1858. 

Paul  I.  Friend  was  born  in  Rush  county, 
Ind.,  November  21,  1843,  and  was  reared  a 
farmer.  When  but  seventeen  years  of  age, 
August  13,  1862,  he  enlisted  in  company  H, 
Eighty-sixth  Indiana  infantry,  and  took  part 


078 


BIOGRAPHICAL  HISTORY 


ill  tlie  battles  of  Rural  Hill,  Chickaniauga, 
Missionary  Kid^^e,  Knoxville,  Rocky  Faced 
Ridge,  Resaca,  Peach  Tree  Creek,  Lost  Moun- 
tain, Kenesaw  Mountain,  Chattahoochee  River, 
Atlanta,  Jonesboro,  and  others.  At  Chicka- 
inauga  his  brother-in-law  was  dangerously 
wounded,  and  Mr.  Friend  assisted  him  from 
the  field,  and  returned  immediately  to  the 
point  he  had  left,  to  find  it  occupied  by  a reg- 
iment of  rebel  cavalry  instead  of  his  own  regi- 
ment. In  fleeing  from  capture,  a tuft  of  hair 
was  shot  from  his  head,  a bullet  passed  through 
his  coat  at  the  shoulder,  and  another  through 
his  clothing  at  the  hip;  at  Missionary  Ridge,  a 
piece  of  shell  struck  his  hand.  He  then  oper- 
ated with  Thomas  in  the  inirsnit  and  destruc- 
tion of  the  rebel  Gen.  Hood’s  army,  fighting 
constantly  for  one  hundred  days.  He  received 
an  honorable  discharge  June  6,  1865,  and  is 
now  a member  of  H.  C.  Coulter  post,  No. 

1 3 1,  G.  A.  R.,  at  Russiaville,  and  in  politics 
is  a democrat.  Mr.  Friend  married  Indiana 
Lucas,  daughter  of  Ruben  and  Nellie  (Daily) 
Lucas,  and  this  union  has  been  blessed  by  the 
birth  of  the  following  children;  Andrew  J., 
bdi/a  E.,  Aurora  G.,  Addie  M.,  William  T. , 
Matilda,  Lucy  M.  and  Bertha  M.  Mr.  Friend 
is  the  owner  of  a farm  of  sixty  acres,  nicely 
improved,  and  he  and  wife  are  members  of  the 
New  Light  church  and  are  much  respected  in 
the  community  in  which  they  live. 


b:ORGb:  YOUNG  FOWLER,  editor 
and  jtroprietor  of  the  Frankfort  Times 
(weekly)  and  Morning  Times  (daily) 
of  b'rankfort,  C'lmton  county,  Ind., 
was  born  in  Perry  township,  in  the  same 
ct)unty,  two  miles  north  of  Colfax,  March  ii, 
i860,  and  is  a son  of  William  A.  and  Sarah 
{Waz'Ac)  I'owler,  natives  of  Kentucky  and  Vir- 
ginia, respectively.  He  was  thrown  upon  his 


own  resources  at  the  tender  age  of  nine  years, 
but  a helping  hand,  however,  was  extended  to 
him  by  friends  and  relatives,  who  furnished 
him  a home  until  he  reached  his  fourteenth 
year,  when  he  entered  the  office  of  the  Cres- 
cent at  Frankfort  as  an  apprentice  under  L. 
H.  Staley,  with  whom  he  remained  until  1885, 
acting  in  every  capacity  from  devil  to  assistant 
manager.  In  1885,  at  the  age  of  twenty-five 
years,  in  conjunction  with  G.  H.  Hamilton 
and  his  own  brother,  Finley  J.  Fowler,  he 
started  the  b'rankfort  Times,  a weekley  jour- 
nal, the  initial  number  being  a complimentary 
edition  of  3,000.  After  having  occupied  two 
or  three  locations  for  three  3'ears,  the  Times 
established  its  headquarters  on  Clinton  street, 
near  the  fire  department  building,  and  about 
this  time  Mr.  Hamilton  sold  his  interest  in  the 
plant,  and  in  January,  1890,  George  Y.  Fow- 
ler became  sole  proprietor  of  the  journal. 
The  business  having  now  greatly  increased  in  all 
its  departments,  the  quarters  were  changed  to 
their  present  location,  next  door  east  of  the  fire 
department,  the  press  room  and  composition 
room  augmented  in  size  and  improved  with 
greater  conveniences,  and  equipped  in  a style 
considerably  above  the  ordinary.  The  weekly 
is  a seven-column  (piarto,  35x48  inches,  and 
the  daily,  which  was  first  issued  April  9,  1894, 
and  which  has  met  with  ])henomenal  success, 
was  at  first  a seven-column  folio,  24x36,  but 
on  October  28,  1894,  was  enlarged  to  an  eight- 
column  folio,  26x40  inches,  the  press-bed 
being  38x52  inches.  W'ithin  seven  months 
after  the  first  issue  of  the  daily  its  circulation 
had  reached  the  surjirising  figure  of  1,200  or 
more  copies,  and  the  weekly  has  long  had  a 
patronage  of  2,  500  subscribers  -a  number  un- 
excelled by  that  of  any  pai)er  |)ubhshed  in  any 
town  of  I'rankfort’s  ])opulation  in  the  state. 
The  establishment  is  one  of  the  most  bene- 
ficial industries  of  the  city,  affording  a li\-iug, 
as  it  does,  to  over  forty  persons. 


OF  CLINTON  COUNTY. 


670 


The  marriage  of  Mr.  Fowler  took  jilace  in 
h'rankfort,  Ind.,  October  ii,  1882,  to  Miss 
Christina  Kramer,  who  was  born  in  this  city, 
November  3,  1862,  and  is  a daughter  of 
Squire  Edward  and  Mary  Kramer,  and  this 
felicitous  union  is  now  blessed  by  the  birth  of 
three  children,  viz:  Raymond  Finley,  now  ten 
years  of  age;  George  Maxwell,  aged  five;  and 
Walter  Scott,  aged  four  years.  Mr.  Fowler  is 
a Knight  of  Pythias  and  a member  of  the  Im- 
proved Order  of  Red  Men,  and  with  his  ami- 
able lady  enjoys  the  respect  of  a large  circle 
of  friends  and  social  acquaintances. 


OHN  C.  FARBER,  city  attorney  of 
Frankfort,  Ind.,  and  prominent  as  a 
lawyer  and  politician,  was  born  in 
Xenia,  Ohio,  January  3,  1853,  and  is 
a son  of  Benjamin  T.  and  Mary  C.  (Buser) 
Farber.  Benjamin  T.  was  born  tn  Fairfax 
county,  A'a.,  in  October,  1824.  Christian  S. 
Farber,  father  of  Benjamin  T. , was  born  in 
Wetzler,  Germany,  in  1 776,  emigrated  to  the 
United  States  in  1786,  and  was  married,  in 
1810,  in  Washington  county,  Md. , to  Miss 
Jones,  a native  of  Maryland  and  related  to 
John  Paul  Jones,  of  historic  renown.  Soon 
after  marriage  they  settled  in  Virginia,  where 
Christian  S.  died  in  1831.  In  1833  the  family 
moved  from  Virginia  to  Xenia,  Ohio,  where 
Benjamin  T.  was  reared,  and  where  he  was 
engaged  in  the  manufacture  of  brick  over  fifty 
years.  In  1848  he  married,  in  Xenia,  Miss 
Mary  C.  Buser,  who  was  born  in  Maryland  in 
1830 — a daughter  of  John  and  Susan  Buser,  of 
Frederick  county  in  the  same  state.  To  the 
marriage  of  Benjamin  T.  and  wife  were  born 
eight  children,  of  which  the  following  still 
survive:  John  C.,  Anna,  James,  a physician 
of  Cincinnati,  Ohio,  and  Fannie,  wife  of  W. 
T.  Wolf,  chief  clerk  of  the  Panhandle  Rail- 
road company.  The  parents  are  members  of 


the  Methodist  Episcopal  church,  while  frater- 
nally Mr.  Farber  is  a member  of  the  I.  O.  O.  F. 
He  was  in  the  mines  of  California  in  1849  and 
1850,  and  was  also  a soldier  during  the  late 
Civil  war,  and  has  been  a most  successful  busi- 
ness man.  He  is  yet  living,  and  carries  his 
seventy  years  with  wonderful  vigor.  John  C. 
Farber  passed  his  childhood  and  youthful 
days  in  Xenia,  Ohio,  graduated  from  the 
public  schools  of  that  cit}',  and  in  1870  entered 
the  sophomore  class  of  the  Miami  university, 
at  Oxford,  Ohio,  from  which  renowned  insti- 
tution he  graduated  in  1873,  with  the  degrees 
of  A.  B.  and  A.  M. — the  latter  degree  earned  by 
taking  a post-graduate  course  during  his  senior 
year.  He  read  law  with  Judge  E.  H Munger, 
at  Xenia,  Ohio,  in  the  meantime  teaching 
school  two  terms,  and  on  January  4,  1876,  he 
was  admitted  to  the  bar,  after  an  examination 
before  the  supreme  court  at  Columbus,  Ohio; 
February  i,  1876,  he  located  in  Thorntown, 
Boone  county,  Ind.,  where  he  practiced  with 
flattering  success  until  his  coming  to  P'rankfort, 
September  3,  1884. 

While  a resident  of.  Thorntown,  he  was 
nominated,  in  1878,  by  the  republican  party, 
as  candidate  for  the  office  of  prosecuting  attor- 
ney for  the  counties  of  Boone  and  Clinton,  but 
was  defeated  by  a small  majority.  In  1884 
he  was  elected  as  alternate  delegate  from  the 
ninth  congressional  district  of  Indiana  to  the 
republican  national  convention,  held  at  Chi- 
cago that  year.  In  September,  1884,  he  se- 
cured a half  interest  in  the  stave  and  hardwood 
lumber  business  with  Mr.  Sims,  as  successor  to 
Mr.  Ue  Camp,  but  two  years  later,  February 
I,  1886,  sold  his  interest  in  this  business  to  his 
partner,  Robert  M.  Sims,  and  organized  the 
Frankfort  Cooperage  company,  of  which  he 
acted  as  treasurer  and  director  one  year,  when 
the  corporation  was  dissolved  by  mutual  con- 
sent and  the  stockholders  reimbursed.  March 
1,  1 886,  Mr.  Farber  established  his  law  office 


680 


BIOGRAPHICAL  HISTORY 


and  practiced  alone  until  July  i,  1891,  when 
he  was  joined  by  Hon.  Perry  W.  Gard,  and 
this  partnership  continued  until  dissolved  by 
the  death  of  Mr.  Gard  in  Angnst,  1893,  since 
which  time  Mr.  Farber  has  again  been  alone. 
In  Angnst,  1886,  Mr.  Farber  was  appointed 
city  attorney  of  Frankfort,  and  as  to  the  merit 
he  has  displayed  in  the  performance  of  the  du- 
ties of  this  responsible  office,  suffice  it  to  say 
that  he  has  filled  the  position  ever  since,  and 
has  been  reappointed  for  the  term  of  four  years, 
commencing  with  September,  1894.  His  pri- 
vate practice  has  been  very  extensive,  and, 
among  other  noted  cases,  he  managed  that  of 
the  city  water-works.  He  is  regarded  as  one 
of  the  best  city  attorneys  in  the  state,  and  his 
law  library  is  equal  to  any  other  in  the  county. 

The  marriage  of  Mr.  Farber  took  place  in 
Thorntown,  Ind.,  June  i,  1881,  with  Miss 
Maggie  R.  Sims,  who  was  born  in  Jackson 
township,  Clinton  county,  Ind.,  and  whose  par- 
ents, William  H.  and  Mary  Sims,  are  now  de- 
ceased. To  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Farber  have  been 
born  three  sons  viz.:  Benjamin  I'.,  in  July, 
1882;  William  S.,  in  March,  1885,  and  John 
C.,  Jr.,  in  March,  1893  The  parents  are 
members  of  the  Presbyterian  church  and  hold 
an  exalted  position  in  social  circles.  Mr.  Far- 
ber is  comfortably  situated,  owning  some  very 
valuable  real  estate,  the  result  of  his  enei'gy 
and  foresight.  He  earned  the  money  which 
paid  his  expenses  through  college,  and  when 
he  came  to  Indiana  had  nothing  worth  speak- 
ing of  in  the  way  of  worldly  possessions;  he  is 
therefore  entitled  to  great  credit  for  his  indus- 
try and  indomitable  perseverance. 


ONROh:  GANGWICK,  one  of  the 
leading  and  well  known  citizens  of 
Mulberry,  Madison  townshij),  (din- 
ton  county,  Ind.,  who  is  now  engaged 
in  the  lumber  business,  represents  that  class  of 


jirogressive  citizens  who  are  the  life  of  the 
town  and  are  ever  interested  in  its  promotion 
and  upbuilding.  He  was  born  in  Lehigh  county, 
Pa.,  on  the  3d  of  January,  1844,  and  is  a son 
of  Thomas  and  Esther  (Steckel)  Gangwer,  who 
were  natives  of  the  same  county.  The  father 
was  born  in  1 8 1 i , and  during  his  younger  years 
learned  the  stone  mason’s  trade,  which  he  fol- 
lowed for  some  time  and  then  turned  his  atten- 
tion to  farming.  The  fall  of  1852  witnessed 
his  arrival  in  Indiana.  He  then  came  to  Clin- 
ton county,  and  sulisequently  removed  to  Tip- 
pecanoe county,  where  he  died  in  1866.  His 
wife  passed  away  the  previous  year.  They 
were  the  parents  of  the  following  children: 
William,  who  resides  in  Frankfort;  George,  a 
resident  of  Mulberry;  Rebecca,  deceased;  Eliz- 
abeth, wife  of  Jesse  Weed;  Sarena,  wife  of 
Edwin  Shirer;  Charlotte,  wife  of  Nathan  Mil- 
ler; Debora;  Susan,  widow  of  Andrew  J.  Dar- 
land;  Thomas  and  Peter,  both  deceased;  and 
Even,  who  died  in  infancy.  The  paternal 
grandfather  of  Monroe  Gangwer  was  also  a 
native  of  the  Reystone  state  and  reached  the 
advanced  age  of  eighty-four  years.  His  fam- 
ily comprised  the  following  children,  namely: 
Daniel,  living;  Abraham,  Horace,  Ephraim, 
Thomas,  Charles  and  Polly,  who  are  now  de- 
ceased. 

Farm  work  became  very  familiar  with 
Monroe  Gangwer  during  his  boyhood,  for  his 
parents  lived  ujion  a farm  and  he  early  began 
work  in  the  fields.  His  education  was  ac- 
(piired  in  the  common  schools  of  the  neighbor- 
hood. He  remained  at  home  until  he  had  at- 
tained his  majority  and  then  started  out  in  life 
for  himself.  He  first  established  a saw-mill  in 
Carroll  county,  Ind.,  and  then  in  Clinton 
county,  and  operated  it  until  1879,  when  he 
came  to  Mulberry,  where  he  has  since  been 
connected  with  lumber  interests.  He  here 
carries  on  a saw-mill  and  also  buys  and  sells 
lumber,  ha\ing  been  engaged  in  the  retail 


OF  CLINTON  COUNTY. 


G81 


trade  since  1882.  In  connection  with  this  he 
has  a weaving  inacliine  to  weave  slat  fences, 
and  by  carrying  on  this  industry  adds  not  a 
little  to  his  income.  He  also  owns  forty  acres 
in  Washington  township,  beside  eight  houses 
in  Frankfort,  also  some  vacant  lots  and  six 
residences  in  Mulberry. 

Mr.  Gangwer  was  married  July  21,  1870, 
to  Madora  Parks,  who  was  born  January  3, 
1852,  and  is  a daughter  of  William  and 
Elizabeth  (Darling)  Parks,  natives  of  Butler 
county,  Ohio.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Gangwer  have 
an  interesting  family  of  five  children  : Addie, 
who  was  born  June  16,  1672,  and  is  now  the 
wife  of  George  H.  Miller;  Frank  P. , who 
was  born  October  16,  1873,  and  is  now  a 

member  of  the  firm  of  Miller  & Gangwer  of 
Mulberry;  Earl,  born  October  2,  1880;  Troy 
K.,  born  August  7,  1882;  and  Mary  I.,  born 
October  14,  1891.  Both  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Gang- 
wer are  member  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal 
church  and  also  belong  to  the  Good  Templars’ 
society.  In  politics  he  was  formerly  a demo.- 
crat,  but  now  votes  with  the  prohibition  party. 
He  is  a man  of  excellent  business  and  execu- 
tive ability,  and  as  the  result  of  good  manage- 
ment and  persevering  effort  has  acquired  a 
handsome  competence. 


ERRY  W.  GARD,  deceased  editor 
and  lawyer  of  F'rankfort,  Ind.,  the 
eldest  of  a family  of  ten  children  born 
to  Jesse  and  Amanda  (McHenry) 
Gard,  was  born  in  Switzerland  county,  Ind., 
November  30,  1833,  and  moved  with  his  par- 
ents to  Clinton  county  in  April,  1849,  his 
father  settling  on  a farm  in  Warren  township. 
After  his  revoval  to  this  county,  he  assisted 
his  father  in  clearing  up  and  preparing  for  th“ 
plow  a very  heavily  timbered  tract  of  land, 
and  performed  the  various  duties  incident  to 
farm  life.  During  the  winter  seasons,  he  at- 


tended such  schools  as  the  country  then  afford- 
ed. In  the  spring  of  1 85  i , he  accepted  a clerk- 
ship in  a country  store  at  Middlefork,  owned 
by  John  Evans,  then  the  contractor  for  build- 
ing the  Michigan  plank  road.  In  April,  1855, 
he  embarked  in  business  for  himself,  succeed- 
ing his  old  employer.  He  continued  in  the 
mercantile  business  at  Middlefork  for  a period 
of  ten  years — first  with  Jacob  C.  Bodkey,  then 
by  himself,  and  afterward  with  his  brother, 
Oliver  Gard.  In  September,  1865,  he  closed 
up  his  mercantile  career,  with  but  little  to 
show  for  ten  years’  hard  work,  except  a good 
stock  of  experience.  In  the  following  Decem- 
ber, he  purchased  of  James  Beard  the  Frank- 
fort Banner,  and,  as  editor  and  publisher,  con- 
ducted that  paper  until  the  spring  of  1867. 
The  campaign  of  1 866  was  a very  warm  one, 
especially  over  the  county  ticket.  The  “Ban- 
ner,” as  the  republican  paper,  took  an  active 
part  in  this  contest.  Mr.  Gard  was  nominated 
by  the  republicans  for  clerk  in  1867,  and  made 
the  race  against  D.  W.  C.  Bryant,  but  was 
defeated  by  a majority  of  157.  He  then  form- 
ed a partnership  with  S.  H.  Doyal,  Esq.,  in 
the  practice  of  law,  and  the  law  firm  of  Doyal 
& Gard  became  one  of  the  ablest  and  best 
known  in  the  county.  Mr.  Gard  was  a gradu- 
ate of  the  law  department  of  the  State  univer- 
sity— graduating  in  the  class  of  1870.  On  the 
organization  of  the  city  government  of  Frank- 
fort he  was  elected  mayor,  and  served  from 
January  i,  1876,  to  the  regular  election  in  the 
following  May  He  was  the  republican  can- 
didate for  senator  for  the  counties  of  Boone 
and  Clinton,  in  1876,  but  was  defeated  by 
Hon.  J.  V.  Kent,  by  a plurality  of  thirty- 
seven  votes. 

Mr.  Gard  was  a zealous  Mason  from  the 
time  he  was  old  enough  to  enter  the  portals  of 
a lodge,  having  been  made  a member  at  the 
age  of  twenty-one,  in  Burlington  lodge.  No. 
Ill,  at  Burlington,  Ind.  He  was  a charter 


082 


lUOCiRAPHICAL  HISTORY 


ineiiil)er  of  Middle  I'ork  Iodf,^e,  No.  304,  and 
it.s  lirst  senior  warden.  After  his  removal  to 
I'rankforl,  lie  served  three  terms  as  worshijiful 
master  of  (dinton  lodge.  Me  received  the 
chapter  degrees  in  Lebanon  chapter,  No.  39, 
at  Lebanon,  Ind.,  in  June,  1 HC9,  and  the 
council  degrees  in  Moone  council.  No.  54, 
April  12,  1H75.  He  was  a charter  member  of 
the  chapter  and  council  at  Frankfort,  and  was 
worthy  patron  of  the  chapter  of  the  order  of 
the  Eastern  Star;  worshipful  master  of  Clinton 
lodge.  No.  45,  b'.  A A.  M. ; high  priest  of  Clin- 
ton chapter.  No.  82,  R.  A.  M.  ; illustrious 
master  of  Frankfort  council.  No.  46,  R.  & S. 
M.,  and  illustrious  grand  master  of  the  grand 
council  of  the  state  of  Indiana.  He  was  a 
charter  member  of  Frankfort  commandery. 
No.  29,  Rnights  Templar,  and  was  the  third 
eminent  commander  of  that  body.  He  was 
lilieral  in  his  theology  and  radical  on  the  tem- 
perance question.  He  was  small  of  stature, 
yet  for  physical  ability  and  power  of  endurance 
was  probably  not  e.xcelled  by  any  member  of 
the  bar  in  Clinton  county.  Of  him.  Nelson 
Sizer,  the  noted  professor  of  phrenology,  said: 
“ His  organization  is  remarkable  for  its  inten- 
sity and  enthusiasm.  He  has  not  been  still, 
except  when  asleep,  since  he  got  out  of  his 
cradle.  He  will,  probably,  die  with  the  har- 
ness on,  with  something  half  fiidshed.”  I'hose 
who  were  accpiainted  with  him  will  recognize 
this  picture  as  true.  The  death  of  Mr.  Card 
took  i)lace  August  14,  1893,  and  Frankfort  has 
seldom  mourned  so  active  or  useful  a citizen. 

The  marriage  of  Mr.  Card  took  jdace  De- 
cember 10,  1854,  to  Miss  Cyntbia  A.  Crom- 
well, to  which  hai)py  muon  were  born  eight 
children,  live  of  whom  are  still  living;  Charles 
F.,  Rob  .Morris,  Wilbur  W.,  Walter  S.,  and 
Clarence  S.  'riu;  deceased  are  Luella,  who 
died  in  August,  1877,  aged  11  years;  'I'homas 
C.  who  died  in  b'lorida,  where  he  had  gone  in 
seaixdi  of  lujalth,  in  February,  188.4,  :iged 


twenty-three,  and  Lucy].,  who  likewise  died 
in  Florida,  where  she  had  gone  in  the  hope  of 
regaining  her  health,  in  I'ebruary,  1894,  aged 
twenty-three  years. 

Mrs.  Cynthia  Card  still  resides  at  the 
pleasant  family  residence,  358  South  Jackson 
street,  surrounded  by  her  surviving  children 
and  a host  of  genial  friends. 


OLIVER  CARD,  M.  I).,  a prominent 
physician  of  Frankfort  and  the  pres- 
ent efficient  clerk  of  the  Clinton 
circuit  court,  is  a native  of  Switzer- 
land county,  Ind.,  and  the  fifth  of  a family  of 
ten  children  born  to  Jesse  and  Amanda  (Mc- 
Henry) Card.  Jesse  Card  was  born  in  Hamil- 
ton county,  Ohio,  March  8,  1811,  the  son  of 
William  and  Sarah  (WAiodruff)  Card,  who 
moved  from  the  “Buckeye”  state  to  Indiana  a 
number  of  years  ago,  settling  in  the  county  of 
Switzerland.  William  Card,  son  of  Jeremiah 
and  Experience  Card,  was  born  June  8,  1788, 
in  Fayette  county.  Pa.,  and  was  a leading 
man  during  the  early  days  of  Switzerland 
county,  which  he  represented  in  the  first  legis- 
lature ever  assembled  in  Indiana.  It  was 
while  on  his  way  to  Corydon  to  attend  the 
legislature  that  he  contracted  a severe  cold, 
which  ultimately  brought  on  consumption, 
thus  causing  his  death  .\pril  14,  1827;  he  was 
buried  on  his  farm  in  York  townshi]),  Switzer- 
land county.  By  occupation  he  was  a tiller  of 
the  soil.  He  married  in  Ohio  aiul  became  the 
father  of  two  children — Jesse,  deceased,  and 
Elizabeth,  who  lives  near  the  old  home  farm 
in  Switzerland  county.  After  the  death  of  his 
first  wife,  Mr.  Hard  married  her  sister,  who 
bore  him  three  children:  William  P,  of  Ran- 
sas;  Julia,  deceased,  and  Sarah  J.,  of  vSwitzer- 
land  county. 

Jesse  Oard,  son  of  the  above,  and  father 
of  Oliver,  was  reared  on  tiu'  honu'  place  and 


LIBRARY 
OF  THE 

BNWERSITY  OF  1LUN0JS 


OF  CLINTON  COUNTY. 


685 


remained  with  liis  parents  until  the  death  of 
Ins  father,  which  event  threw  the  responsibility 
of  supporting  the  family  largely  upon  his 
shoulders,  he  being  the  eldest  child.  On  ar- 
riving at  manhood's  estate  he  married  and  took 
charge  of  the  home  place,  a portion  of  which 
he  subsequently  purchased,  and  continued  to 
manage  the  same  until  the  spring  of  1849, 
when  he  moved  to  Clinton  county,  and  located 
a home  in  the  township  of  Warren,  where  he 
resided  until  his  death,  which  occurred  October 
19,  1881,  his  remains  being  interred  in  the 

Sims  graveyard.  His  wife,  whose  maiden 
name  was  Amanda  McHenry,  was  born  Janu- 
ary 18,  1814,  in  Hamilton  county,  Ohio;  she 
bore  her  husband  ten  children:  Perry  W. , 
deceased;  Charlotte,  wife  of  D.  McKow'en  of 
Frankfort;  James,  deceased;  Oliver,  the  sub- 
ject of  this  notice;  Sarah,  deceased;  Cynthia, 
wife  of  J.  H.  Uronberger  of  Terre  Haute; 
Eliza,  wife  of  H.  C.  Conaway  of  Union 
county,  Ind. ; M.  H.,  a resident  of  Texas; 
Edward  E. , a farmer  residing  in  Wisconsin. 
Jesse  Card  was  a man  of  much  more  than 
the  ordinary  powers  of  mind,  very  conservative 
and  retiring  during  the  greater  part  of  his  life, 
and  an  exemplary  citizen  in  every  respect. 
He  left,  as  a heritage  to  a grateful  prosperity, 
the  record  of  a pure,  clean  life,  and  many 
sterling  qualities  of  manhood,  which  have  been 
reproduced  in  the  lives  of  his  descendants. 

Dr.  Oliver  Card  was  born  on  the  twelfth 
day  of  January,  1842,  in  Switzerland  county, 
Ind.,  moved  with  his  parents  to  Clinton 
county  in  1845,  and  spent  his  youthful  years 
on  the  farm,  with  the  rugged  duties  of  which 
he  early  became  inured,  and  where  he  was 
taught  those  lessons  of  industry  and  persever- 
ance by  which  his  subsequent  years  have  been 
characterized.  In  the  common  schools  he 
acquired  a rudimentary  English  education, 
and  afterward,  when  about  seventeen  years 
of  age,  h6  entered  an  academy  at  New  Lon- 


don, where  he  pursued  his  studies  very  as- 
sidiously  until  the  breaking  out  of  the  great 
rebellion.  In  September,  1861,  when  only 
nineteen  years  old,  the  doctor  responded  to 
his  country’s  call  for  volunteers,  and  enlisted 
on  the  tenth  of  that  month  in  company  H, 
Third  Indiana  cavalry,  with  which  he  served 
until  discharged  on  account  of  physical  disa- 
bility in  April,  1864,  acting  a part  of  the 
time  as  hospital  steward.  He  was  with  his 
command  in  a number  of  skirmishes  and  bat- 
tles— chiefly  at  Shiloh,  Chickamauga,  Jones- 
boro and  Perryville,  saw  much  service  and 
earned  the  reputation  of  a gallant  soldier  who 
was  never  known  to  shirk  duty,  however 
dangerous.  On  leaving  the  army  Dr.  Card 

returned  to  Clinton  county  and  formed  a 

partnership  with  his  brother  Perry,  carrying 
on  a very  extensive  mercantile  and  grain  trade 
at  the  town  of  Middlefork. 

'r'n:;i’866  Mr.  G4rd  began  the  study  of 

medicine  with  Dr.  M.  L.  Martin,  of  Middle- 
fork,  under  whose  direction  he  continued  a 
couple  of  years,  making  rapid  progress  in  the 
meantime.  He  entered  Rush  Medical  college, 
Chicago,  in  1867,  the  prescribed  course  of 

which  he  completed  February  3,  1869.  After 
receiving  his  diploma  he  located  at  the  town 
of  Middlefork  in  partnership  with  his  preceptor 
a,nd  practiced  there  with  the  most  gratifying 
success  until  March,  1882,  when  he  moved  to 
the  city  of  Frankfort,  where  he  soon  enjoyed 
a lucrative  practice;  in  1884  he  was  nominated 
by  the  republicans  to  represent  them  in  the 
state  legislature,  and  while  he  ran  two  hun- 
dred ahead  of  his  ticket  he  was  defeated  by 
forty-five  votes.  In  1886  his  party  unani- 
mously gave  him  the  nomination  for  clerk  of 
the  circuit  court,  and  he  was  elected,  receiv- 
ing more  votes  than  any  man  on  the  ticket, 
and  was  the  first  republican  clerk  the  county 
ever  had.  In  1890  he  was  re-elected  to  the 
same  position;  his  time  will  expire  November 


680 


R I( )(}  R A PI  1 1 C A L III  STORY 


I,  1895.  The  doctor  has  served  as  president 
of  the  Clinton  County  Medical  society  and  he 
also  belongs  to  the  State  Medical  society  of 
Indiana,  in  the  deliberations  of  which  he  takes 
an  active  part.  His  professional  reputation  is 
an  enviable  one,  and  he  combines  the  qualities 
of  the  true  healer  witli  those  of  the  courteous 
gentleman,  which  make  him  very  popular  with  I 
the  people  and  trusted  in  the  sick  room.  In 
matters  educational  the  doctor  has  always 
taken  the  greatest  interest,  and  as  township 
trustee  and  member  of  the  Frankfort  school 
board  he  has  made  his  influence  felt  in  behalf 
of  many  modern  improvements,  and  in  the 
selection  of  teachers  professionally  well  quali- 
fied for  their  work.  The  doctor  is  a politician, 
though  not  a partisan,  and  his  popularity  with 
the  people,  irrespective  of  party  affiliations,  is 
attested  by  the  very  decided  majorities  he  re- 
ceived in  a county  which  has  always  been  con- 
sidered reliably  democratic. 

He  is  prominently  identified  with  the 
Masonic  faternity,  belonging  to  Clinton  lodge. 
No.  54,  in  which  he  has  passed  all  the  chairs, 
and  he  also  belongs  to  the  council,  chapter 
and  commandery,  in  all  of  which  he  has  held 
the  highest  official  positions.  He  is  also  a 
a thirty-second  degree  Mason  and  a member 
of  the  mystic  shrine.  He  is  an  active  worker 
in  Stone  River  post.  No.  65,  G.  A.  R.,  and 
past  post  commander;  belongs  to  the  Red  Men 
and  Pythian  fraternities,  and  a member  of  the 
Indejiendent  Order  of  Odd  b'ellows,  and  has 
used  his  infiuence  j^retty  effectually  in  behalf 
of  the  cause  of  tenq)erance  in  Fraidxfort  and 
Clinton  county. 

In  religion  the  doctor  is  a Methodist,  and 
was  a lay  delegate  to  the  general  conference  held 
at  Omaha,  Neb.,  in  i 892,  and  for  the  jnist  sixteen 
years  has  been  the  efficient  siqierintendent  of 
the  Sunday-school  at  I'rankfort,  which  is  one 
of  the  largest  and  best  disciplined  in  the  state-, 
the  average  atte-ndauce  being  over  .jOO.  Ii 


this  work  the  doctor  is  enthusiastic,  and  to 
him  is  largely  due  the  credit  of  making  the 
F'rankfort  school  one  of  the  most  thorough 
in  all  its  a])pointments  in  the  west.  The  doc- 
tor has  a beautiful  home  in  Frankfort,  has 
other  valuable  property  in  the  county,  and  is 
classed  among  the  substantial  men  of  Clinton 
financially. 

Dr.  Card  has  been  twice  married;  the  first 
time  in  1864  to  Miss  Martha  Dunnell,  of  How- 
ard county,  daughter  of  Ezra  and  Susan  Bun- 
nell, to  which  union  three  children  were  born: 
j Minnie,  wife  of  Prof.  Lewis  Rettger,  of  the 
State  normal  school,  Terre  Haute;  Lennie, 

I wife  of  U.  S.  Haynes,  of  Tipton,  Ind.,  and 
Nina,  wife  of  Bruce  Pullen,  a resident  of  the 
county  of  Clinton.  The  mother  of  these  chil- 
dren was  called  from  the  scene  of  her  earthly 
labors  on  the  fourth  day  of  March,  1871,  and 
on  the  fourteenth  day  of  May,  1873,  the  doc- 
tor married  his  present  wife,  India  S.  Merrick, 
whose  birth  occurred  March  10,  1850,  in  Clin- 
ton county.  Mrs.  Card  is  a daughter  of  John 
and  Nancy  (Tyner)  Merrick,  and  has  borne 
her  husband  six  children;  Grace,  deceased; 
Rush,  deceased;  Helen  and  Russell,  and  two 
that  died  in  infancy.  Mrs.  Gard  is  a member 
of  the  Methodist  church,  and  a woman  of 
much  popularity  in  Frankfort.  Dr.  Gard  is  a 
man  of  fine  presence  and  attractive  person- 
ality, educated  and  refined,  and  he  impresses 
all  with  whom  he  comes  in  contact  as  a true 
type  of  the  j)olished  and  courteous  gentleman. 
In  the  enjoyment  of  ample  means  and  univer- 
sal confidence  and  esteem,  he  may  be  saiil  to 
have  acquired  the  best  success  in  life,  and  he 
has  the  best  wishes  of  his  fellow-citizens  of 
Frankfort  and  Clinton  county  for  his  future 
pros])crity  and  hapiuness. 

'I'he  prominence  of  the  Gard  family  has 
been  attained  by  tnu-  merit,  as  manifested  by 
the  lix’iug  members,  and  doubtless  will  be  sus- 
tained by  those  yet  to  come. 


OF  CIJNTON  COUNTY. 


087 


EW’TON  ].  GASKILL,  a prominent 
citizen  of  Frankfort  and  native  son  of 
Clinton  county,  Ind.,  was  born  on 
the  ninth  day  of  April,  1838.  He  is 
a worthy  descendant  of  an  old  New  Jersey 
family,  of  which  state  his  grandparents,  Sam- 
nel  and  Achsa  (Larkins)  Gaskill,  were  natives 
- the  old  family  homestead  being  near  the 
city  of  Camden.  By  occupation,  Samuel  Gas- 
kill was  a farmer  and  he  pursued  that  vocation 
in  New  Jersey  until  1811,  at  which  time  he 
emigrated  to  Warren  county,  Ohio,  where  the 
greater  part  of  his  family  was  reared.  He 
was  a soldier  in  the  war  of  1812  and  died 
April  T,  1838.  ^^rs.  Gaskill  survived  her  hus- 

band a number  of  years,  departing  this  life  in 
1852.  The  following  are  the  names  of  their 
eight  children  Mary,  William,  John  W. , 
Joseph,  Daniel,  James,  Samuel,  and  Elizabeth. 
John  W.  Gaskill,  son  of  the  above  and  father 
of  Newton  J.,  was  born  in  New  Jersey,  Octo- 
ber 31,  1808,  grew  to  manhood  in  Warren 
county,  Ohio,  and  there  married,  in  1833, 
Abigail  Rippey,  after  which  he  moved  to  Clin- 
ton county,  fnd.,  settling  in  the  woods  of  Cen- 
ter township,  where  he  purchased  160  acres  of 
government  land  and  developed  a farm.  He 
followed  agricultural  pursuits  for  a number  of 
years,  later  in  life  dealt  quite  extensively  in 
live  stock,  and  lived  on  his  place  until  1868, 
when  he  exchanged  it  for  city  property  in 
Frankfort.  He  became  a resident  of  Frank- 
fort in  February  of  the  above  year  and  departed 
this  life  on  the  nineteenth  of  the  following  Oc- 
tober. He  was  a successful  man  financially, 
and  took  an  active  interest  in  the  growth  and 
development  of  Clinton  county.  Politically, 
he  was  a democrat,  in  religion  he  subscribed 
to  the  liberal  creed  of  Universalism,  and  for 
some  years  was  prominently  identified  with 
the  Odd  Fellows’  fraternity.  His  wife  was  a 
member  of  the  Methodist  church.  John  and 

Abigail  Gaskill  were  the  parents  of  ten  chil- 
33 


dren,  of  whom  the  following  are  living:  Eliza- 
beth, wife  of  Samnel  Merritt;  Newton  J.;  Mar- 
tha J.,  wife  of  C.  R.  Pence;  Nancy  C.,  wife  of 
W.  H.  Jones;  Floretta,  wife  of  Dr.  W.  H. 
McGuire;  Mattie  A.,  wife  of  T.  J.  Steel;  and 
William  F.  P. 

Newton  J.  Gaskill  was  reared  to  agricul- 
tural pursuits  on  the  home  farm  and  remained 
with  his  parents  until  attaining  his  majority, 
at  which  time  he  began  farming  upon  his  own 
responsibility,  teaching  school  in  the  mean- 
time. He  followed  the  profession  of  teaching 
four  consecutive  terms,  and  in  1867  was  united 
in  marriage  to  Miss  Maria  Brandon  of  Frank- 
fort, daughter  of  Samuel  and  Maria  (Hill)  Bran- 
don, who  were  among  the  early  pioneers  of 
Clinton  county.  Mr.  Gaskill  continued  farm- 
ing until  1871,  in  September  of  which  year, 
he  moved  to  Frankfort  and  engaged  in  the 
marble  business,  continuing  the  same  for  a 
period  of  about  sixteen  months.  In  1873  he 
accepted  the  position  of  deputy  county  auditor, 
the  duties  of  which  he  discharged  until  the 
fall  of  1878,  when  he  was  elected  auditor, 
holding  the  office  two  terms  and  retiring  there- 
from in  1886.  Mr.  Gaskill’s  next  venture  was 
in  the  live  stock  business,  which  he  carried  on 
quite  successfully  for  one  year,  and  for  three 
years  thereafter  was  engaged  in  the  grocery 
trade  at  P'rankfort.  Disposing  of  his  mercan- 
tile interests,  he  lived  a life  of  retirement  until 
October,  1893,  when  he  accepted  the  position 
as  assistant  cashier  in  the  First  National  bank 
of  Frankfort,  which  he  still  holds.  Mr.  Gaskill 
occupies  a prominent  position  in  Masonic  cir- 
cles, in  which  he  has  taken  a number  of  de- 
grees, including  the  Scottish  rite  and  mystic 
shrine,  and  has  filled  the  highest  positions 
within  the  gift  of  the  local  lodge  with  which  he 
is  identified.  Financially  he  has  been  a good 
manager  and  has  cultivated  thrift  as  one  of  his 
chief  virtues,  the  result  being  a competency 
for  his  declining  years.  Mrs.  Gaskill  had  one 


RKXiRAPIIICAL  HISTORY 


()88 


cliild,  tliat  (lied  in  iidancy,  and  they  reared  a 
niece  of  Mrs.  Oaskill  /.  c. , Stella  llrandon, 
\v1k)  lived  until  her  twenty-first  year,  when  she 
died  with  consuinjition. 


I'.  P,  OASKILL.  brother  of  N.  J. 
Oaskill,  whose  biography  appears 
above,  is  a native  of  Indiana, 
born  on  the  fourth  day  of  july, 
1852,  in  the  county  of  Clinton.  Until 
his  fifteenth  year  he  remained  with  his  par- 
ents on  the  home  farm,  and  then  began  life 
for  himself  as  an  employee  of  his  brother,  N. 
J.,  with  whom  he  continued  sometime  after  the 
latter’s  removal  to  Frankfort.  He  worked  at 
the  marble  business  until  1873,  at  which  time 
he  embarked  in  the  mercantile  trade  at  the 
town  of  Scircleville,  where  he  sold  goods  with 
fair  success  for  about  one  year,  and  lat^r  found 
employment  at  different  locations  until  1875 
In  the  latter  year  Mr.  Caskill  went  to  the 
Pacific  slope,  where  he  was  variously  employed 
until  1876,  when  he  returned  to  Clinton  county 
and  accepted  the  position  of  deputy  auditor 
with  his  brother,  discharging  the  duties  of  the 
position  very  creditably  until  the  e.xpiration  of 
the  latter’s  term  of  office,  N(.)\'eml)er,  1886. 
His  next  venture  was  in  the  grocery  trade  as 
assistant,  in  which  he  met  with  gratif}'ing  re- 
sults in  I'raid-:fort  until  i8(po,  when  he  again 
became  deputy  county  auditor,  a position  he 
still  fills. 

Mr.  Caskill  pursued  his  studies  in  the  ))uh- 
lic  schools  of  Frankfort,  and  from  (]uite  an 
early  age  has  manifested  much  iiderest  in 
literary  mattcu'S.  As  an  official  he  is  kind  and 
obliging,  thoroughly  familiar  with  the  intricate 
duties  of  the  jilace  he  so  honorably  fills,  and 
as  a man  and  citizen  few  rc'sidents  of  I'rank- 
fort  enjoy  in  as  marked  a di-gree  the  candidence 
and  ('Steem  of  the  juddic.  In  his  I'eligious  be- 
lief Mr.  Caskill  is  an  Ljiiscopalian,  and  with  a 


truly  catholic,  sjurit  he  adheres  to  the  recog- 
nized creed  of  all  g(jo(.I  people,  to  do  right, 
and  treats  all  men  with  equal  considera- 
tion. Politically  he  is  a democaat,  and  while 
not  an  aspirant  for  official  honors,  has  ever 
been  an  ardent  worker  for  the  success  of  his 
party.  He  is  a member  of  the  Red  Men  and 
Masonic  fraternities,  and  takes  an  active  inter- 
est in  both  orders.  Mr.  Caskill  was  married, 
on  the  fifteenth  day  of  May,  1884,  in  Moore’s 
Hill,  Ind.,  to  Miss  Luella  Cault,  daughter  of 
Henry  Cault,  Es(].,  of  Dearborn  county. 


el)  A R D G A Y L O R , a prosperous 
farmer  of  Forest  township,  Clinton 
county,  Ind.,  was  born  in  Wayne 
count}',  of  the  same  state,  August  20, 
1846.  His  father,  Edward  H.  Caylor,  was 
horn  in  West  \’irginia  in  1801,  and  was  of 
English  descent.  He  worked  in  woolen  mills 
when  a young  man,  but  later  became  a farmer, 
married  Catherine  Fisher  and  came  to  Indiana, 
first  locating  in  M'ayne  county  and  later  mov- 
ing to  Clinton  county.  Edward  H.  Caylor 
owned  a farm  of  over  500  acres  of  good  land. 
He  was  a pious  member  of  the  United  Breth- 
ren church,  aTid  Mrs.  Caylor  was  especially 
active  in  church  work,  particularly  in  the  mis- 
sionary field.  Their  children  were  horn  in  the 
following  order:  Robert  Wk , John  F.,  Mar- 
tha, Morgan,  Madison,  h'rancis,  Eliza,  Ann, 
Ivdward,  Catherine,  William,  Theodore,  P'rank- 
lin,  and  Daniel  W.  The  father  of  this  family 
died  May  3,  1883,  and  the  mother  )anuary 
-I,  i8(J4. 

Edward  Caylor  enlisted  in  March,  1865,  in 
comjiany  K,  One  Hundred  and  Forty-seventh 
Indiana  volunteer  infantry,  and  was  assigned 
to  the  army  of  the  Cumberland,  under  General 
Sherman,  did  duty  in  the  Shenandoah  valley, 
and  was  honorahl}'  discharged  in  1865.  He 
had  attempted  to  enlist  at  the  early  age  of  six- 


OF  CLINTON  COUNTS'. 


teen  in  the  Tentli  Indiana  regiment,  but  his 
father  refused  to  give  Ids  consent.  Edward 
Oavlor  was  first  married,  in  1869,  to  Miss  Lu- 
cinda Paxon,  daughter  of  Aaron  and  Mary  Ann 
(Hradway)  Paxon,  wlio  bore  one  child — Em- 
mett, who  is  now  married.  Mrs.  Gaylor  died 
in  the  faitli  of  the  United  Brethren  church, 
and  was  sadly  missed  in  the  home  circle  and 
by  a large  acquaintance.  The  second  marriage 
of  Edward  Gaylor  was  to  Mary  J.  Kinder,  No- 
vember 26,  1 876 — daughter  of  Joseph  and  Eliza 
(Gifford)  Kinder,  the  former  a farmer  of  Forest 
township.  The  children  born  to  this  union  are 
Willis,  John,  P'rank,  William,  Clint  and  Carl, 
all  of  whom  are  being  well  educated.  Edward 
Gaylor  is  a stanch  republican,  but  not  an  office- 
seeker.  His  farm  of  lOO  acres  is  well  improved 
and  well  stocked;  his  dwelling  is  of  brick,  and 
his  barn  is  new  and  spacious.  Mr.  Gaylor  has 
won  what  he  has  through  his  own  hard  work, 
good  management  and  judicious  expenditure 
of  his  money  as  he  earned  it.  He  and  family 
stand  well  up  in  the  esteem  of  their  neighbors, 
and  none  are  more  worthy  of  it. 


BREDERICK  GEIGER,  one  of  the 
prominent  business  men  of  Edna 
Mills,  Ross  township,  Clinton  county, 
Ind.,  is  proprietor  of  the  mills  from 
which  the  village  takes  its  name.  He  was 
born  in  Wittemburg,  Germany,  and  is  the  son 
of  Jacob  and  Mary  (Snider)  Geiger.  His 
father  was  stage  driver  for  the  German  govern- 
ment, and,  soon  after  marriage,  came  to 
America,  first  settling  in  York,  Pa.,  and  then 
moving  to  Butler  county,  O.  He  came  to 
Indiana  in  1844,  and  settled  in  Tippecanoe 
county,  five  miles  south  of  Mulberry,  and 
bought  160  acres  of  land  and  there  passed  the 
remainder  of  his  days.  He  and  wife  were  the 
parents  of  Catherine,  Frederick,  George, 


f)89 


Jacob,  William  and  Mary;  of  these,  George 
was  in  the  Seventy-second  Indiana  volunteer 
infantry,  serving  nearly  four  years,  and  was  in 
many  battles;  he  is  now  deceased. 

In  politics  Mr.  Geiger  was  a democrat;  in 
religion  he  was  a member  of  the  Lutheran 
church,  to  which  his  wife  also  belonged.  He 
lived  to  the  age  of  seventy-two  years  and  died 
on  his  farm.  By  sterling  industry  and  thrift 
he  became  a substantial  farmer.  He  rode  to 
Indiana,  and,  refusing  to  settle  on  prarie  land 
near  Dayton,  at  $5.  50  per  acre,  located  in  the 
heavy  timber  of  Indiana,  paying  $10  per  acre, 
and  it  took  almost  the  remainder  of  his  life  to 
make  a home.  He  was  a man  of  integrity  of 
character  and  had  no  enemies. 

Frederick  Geiger  was  born  March  6,  1828, 
and  was  three  years  old  when  brought  to 
America  by  his  parents.  At  the  early  age  of 
thirteen  years  he  began  to  work  for  George 
Hoffman,  a miller  of  Middletown,  Butler 
county,  Ohio,  and  received  for  his  services  one 
dollar  per  week  and  his  board.  He  took  hold 
of  the  business  readily,  and  was  able,  by  the 
fall  of  1843,  to  operate  the  mill.  The  miller 
being  sick  at  that  time,  he  made  a boat  load  of 
flour  and  sent  it  by  river  to  Cincinnati,  and 
only  three  barrels  of  it  were  scratched,  which 
was  unusual.  He  saved  $160  of  his  wages, 
which  he  paid  to  his  father.  In  1844  he  came 
with  his  father  and  family  to  Indiana,  imme- 
diately went  to  work  in  the  LaFayette  mills  as 
a miller,  and  then  was  at  the  Weia  mills  for 
two  and  one-half  years,  and  then  leased  a mill 
in  Warren  county  in  the  fall  of  1848  and  re- 
mained until  the  fall  of  1852,  and  in  January, 
1853,  he  took  charge  of  the  Merchant  mills, 
afterward  the  Star  City  mills,  and  remained 
there  until  June,  1883.  He  bought  a half  in- 
terest in  this  mill  in  1855,  and  in  January, 
1867,  bought  the  entire  plant.  He  was  very 
j successful  during  and  immediately  after  the 
I Civil  war. 


IMOGRAPIirCAL  HISTORY 


fillO 


1)1  S('])teinl)L‘i',  1851,  lie  iiKiri'icd  Ivacluiel, 
(hui^htc)'  of  JiiiiK'S  Mc('oiiil),  a fai'iiier  of  'I'ip- 
jiecaiioc  coiiiity,  and  an  old  settle)'.  To  Mr. 
and  Ml'S,  ('ici^er  were  born  four  childi'en: 
I'rancis  J , Mai'v  K.,  I'rederick  and  John,  the 
latter  dying  young.  Mrs.  Geiger  is  a ineinber 
of  the  Methodist  church.  In  politics  Mr. 
Geiger  is  ;i  strong  I'epnblioin,  having  voted 
with  the  party  since  its  organization.  He  is  a 
I'espected  ineinber  of  LaFayette  lodge,  No. 
151,  I.  ().  O.  F.,  and  has  held  all  the  offices, 
including  noble  grand,  and  was  one  of  the 
charter  inenibers  of  the  I.  O.  R M.  of  La 
Fayette.  In  1885,  Mr.  Geiger  came  to  Edna 
Mills  with  a view  of  putting  in  order  the  mill 
property,  and  soon  engaged  in  milling  and  has 
since  remained,  doing  a prosperous  business. 
Mr.  Geiger  is  a thorough  miller  ami  under- 
stands the  business  fully.  He  did  a large 
business  in  La  Fayette,  averaging  for  several 
years  30,000  barrels  for  shipment,  and  is  the 
oldest  miller  in  this  part  of  the  state.  He  has 
always  been  well  and  widely  known  as  a man 
of  integrity  and  strictly  moral  character. 


HJMAM  H.  GHbZRF,  an  enter- 
prising farmer,  was  bi>rn  in  the 
city  of  Frankfort,  (diiiton  county, 
Ind.,  August  16,  1849,  and  is  a son 
of  Aaron  and  Elizabeth  (Lucas)  Ghen*,  being 
the  eldest  of  a family  of  four  children.  He 
attended  the  district  schools,  but  his  present 
comprehensive  education  was  acijuired  by  hard 
study  at  home.  He  was  reared  on  the  home 
farm,  and  until  the  age  of  tvvimty-three  made 
his  home  with  his  jiarents,  and  then,  October 
17,  1872,  married  Miss  ('yiithia,  daughter  of 
William  and  bdi/abeth  Gaskill,  and  a native 
of  Glinton  county.  The  result  of  this  hajipy 
marriage  has  bemi  two  children,  named  y\aron 
Roy  and  Perry  ( )li\'er.  |ust  after  his  marriage, 
Mr.  Gh ere  settled  on  a farm  about  live  miles 


north  of  Frankfort,  which  he  has  improved 
with  good  buildings  and  placed  under  a first- 
class  state  of  cultivation,  and,  although  he  be- 
gan with  nothing  to  speak  of,  in  a financial 
sense,  now  owns  140  acres  of  unexcelled  prop- 
erty. In  the  spring  of  1890,  Mr.  Ghere  took 
charge  of  the  county  farm,  which  he  still  man- 
ages with  admirable  judgment  and  with  satis- 
faction to  the  public.  Mr.  Ghere  is  an  ardent 
republican,  is  a member  of  the  Improved 
Order  of  Red  Men  and  of  the  Rnights  of  Mac- 
cabees. He  and  his  family  enjoy  the  esteem 
of  the  citizens  of  the  city,  township  and  county 
at  large,  being  noted  for  their  strict  integrity 
and  hospitable  disposition. 


AVID  GILBERT,  a leading  pho- 
tographer of  Frankfort,  is  a natjve 
of  Ohio,  born  in  the  county  of  Go- 
lurnbiana  on  the  twentieth  day  of 
August,  1850.  His  father,  David  Gilbert, 
was  born  in  the  same  county  and  state  in  the 
year  1812,  and  there  married  Catherine  Crum- 
backer,  who  bore  him  the  following  children; 
Samuel,  deceased;  Sarah,  deceased;  Emanuel, 
deceased;  Susan,  wife  of  |ohn  Lewis,  of 
Toledo,  Ohio;  Elizabeth,  wife  of  M.  Jackson, 
j of  Noble  county,  Ind.;  Solomon,  deceased; 
j David,  the  subject  of  this  biograjiliy,  and  Eli, 

I a well  known  citizen  of  the  county  of  Noble. 

David  Gilbert,  Sr.,  remained  in  his  native 
j state  engaged  in  farming  until  1832,  at  which 
time  he  migrated  to  Indiana,  settling  in  Noble 
county,  where  he  continued  to  reside  until  his 
death,  which  occurred  in  the  month  of  March, 
1874.  Mr.  Gilbert  was  a man  of  much  more 
than  ordinary  energy,  possessed  a well  bal- 
anced mind,  and  by  honorable  and  successful 
business  management  accumulated  a handsome 
competence,  owning,  at  the  time  of  his  death, 
a large  and  well  improved  farm  of  300  acres 
lying  in  one  of  the  finest  agricultural  districts 


OF  CLINTON  COUNTY. 


691 


of  northern  Indiana.  A Methodist  in  his  re- 
ligions belief,  a republican  from  conscientious 
convictions,  a kind  father,  an  indulgent  hus- 
band, and  a representative  citizen  of  his  neigh- 
borhood— such  in  brief  is  the  honorable  tribute 
which  the  world  pays  to  the  memory  of  this 
most  e.xcellent  man.  His  widow,  a woman  in 
every  resjtect  worthy  to  be  the  companion  of 
such  a husband,  is  still  living  in  Noble  comity, 
beloved  and  honored  by  her  descendants  and 
respected  by  all  who  know  her. 

David  Gilbert,  the  subject,  was  reared  on 
the  home  farm,  received  in  the  common 
schools  a practical  English  education,  and  re- 
mained with  his  parents,  looking  after  their 
interests,  until  twenty-four  years  of  age.  He 
then  entered  the  photograph  gallery  of  E.  W. 
Poston  at  Eort  Wayne,  where  he  remained 
two  years,  devoting  himself  assiduously,  in  the 
meantime,  to  the  study  of  photography,  in 
which  he  became  skillful  and  proficient. 
Shortly  after  leaving  Eort  Wayne,  he  located 
at  Frankfort,  Ind.,  in  1885,  in  which  city  he 
has  since  remained  actively  engaged  in  his 
chosen  calling  and  meeting  with  success  such 
as  few  attain  in  a much  longer  period  of  time. 
He  is  now  proprietor  of  a gallery  on  West 
Clinton  street,  and  his  place  is  extensively 
patronized  by  the  best  people  of  I'rankfort  and 
Clinton  county.  Mr.  Gilbert  is  a true  artist, 
keeps  abreast  of  the  times  in  all  the  latest  im- 
proved appliances  of  photography,  and  is 
thoroughly  familiar  with  every  detail  of  the 
profession.  Financially,  he  has  met  with 
most  encouraging  success,  doing  a large  busi- 
ness, and  socially  enjoys  great  popularity  in 
the  city.  He  was  married  at  Eort  Wayne, 
Ind  , May  7,  1885,  to  Anna  Myer,  who  was 
born  in  that  city  on  the  fourteenth  day  of  Oc- 
tober, 1864,  the  daughter  of  George  and  Anna 
Myer.  One  child  has  been  born  to  this  union 
— Catherine — a bright  girl  and  the  pride  of 
the  home.  In  politics  Mr.  Gilbert  is  a repub- 


lican, but  has  never  sought  for  official  honors 
at  the  hands  of  his  fellow-citizens.  Mrs.  Gil- 
bert is  a member  of  the  Lutheran  church,  be- 
longing to  the  Eort  Wayne  congregation. 


LI  JEFFERSON  GOAR,  the  leading 
druggist  of  Kirklin  and  one  of  its 
most  j)rominent  citizens,  comes  from 
sturdy  Irish  and  German  stock.  The 
first  member  of  the  family  of  whom  we  have 
any  record  is  Henry  Goar,  who  lived  in 
Shenandoah  county,  Va.  He  was  twice  mar- 
ried and  one  of  his  sons  for  seventeen  years 
represented  his  district  in  the  state  legislature. 
By  his  second  wife,  Catherine  Kelley,  he  had 
five  children:  The  eldest  of  these,  Joseph, 
married  Martha  Pine,  by  whom  he  had  eleven 
children;  the  remaining  fonr  were  Robert, 
Nancy,  James  and  Henry.  The  grandfather 
of  our  subject,  Joseph  Goar,  was  born  in  Aur- 
ginia,  in  1810,  and  freeing  his  slaves  removed 
to  Pennsylvania,  where  he  married  Catherine 
Goar,  a third  cousin.  They  afterward  emi- 
grated to  Tipton  county,  Ind.,  and  purchased 
300  acres  of  land.  Mr.  Goar  served  as  coun- 
ty judge,  and  was  a prominent  and  influential 
citizen.  The  family  numbered  fifteen  chil- 
dren, and  with  one  exception  all  are  living. 
They  are  James  M ; Sallie,  wife  of  John 
Epard;  Jefferson;  Martha,  wife  of  Jeremiah 
Batterton,  died  at  Bowling  Green,  Ky. , in 
1862;  Eli  J.,  born  March  20,  1839,  married 
Emily  Mott;  Levi  \k,  born  March  20,  1839, 
married  Delilah  Fisher;  Nancy  L. , born  Jan- 
uary 25,  1841,  married  Isaac  Paul,  who  died 
in  1893;  Benjamin  F.,  born  April  i,  1843, 
married  Laura  Thompson;  Amanda  J.,  born 
May  19,  1845,  is  the  wife  of  Curt  Parker; 
Louisa,  C.,  born  May  19,  1845,  is  the  wife  of 
John  Kelley  of  Harrisburg,  Ark.  ; Emily  M. , 
born  September  22,  1847,  is  the  wife  of  Aaron 
White;  William  H.,  born  March  31;  1849; 


BIOGRAPHICAL  HISTORY 


r)<)2 


Malt  A.,  1)0111  September  i,  i(S5i,  married 
Ada  b'lillertoii,  and  afti'r  her  death  wedded 
Hattie  Moses;  Jolm  Jessie,  born  November  15, 
1854;  and  Catherine  C. , married  July  4,  1883; 
to  Fred  Mekiim.  The  father  of  this  family 
was  a democrat  until  1856,  when  he  became 
a whig,  and  later  a rejniblican.  He  represent- 
ed his  district  for  one  term  in  the  state  legis- 
lature, and  since  [869  he  has  resided  in  Min- 
nesota. His  wife  died  in  1886. 

james  M.  Goar,  father  of  E.  f.,  was  born 
in  Tijiton  county,  Ind.,  and  lived  at  home  un- 
til twenty-two  }’ears  of  age,  when  he  went  to 
Iowa,  and  secured  property  with  land  warrants 
of  the  war  of  1812.  After  locating  1 60  acres 
he  returned  to  Indiana,  and  in  1858  married 
Priscilla  Hatterton,  who  was  born  in  Shelby 
county,  in  1840.  By  their  union  they  had  two 
children  : Joseiih  W. , who  was  born  Septem- 
ber 17,  1859,  and  married  Emma  Robbins; 
and  Eli  Jefferson.  On  the  twenty-seventh  of 
April,  1861,  James  M.  Goar  enlisted  in  com- 
pany B,  Seventy-fifth  Indiana  infantry,  and 
died  at  Murfreesboro,  F'chruary  6,  1863.  His 
remains  were  interred  in  Hill  cemetery  in  this 
county.  His  brother-in-law,  Jeremiah  Bat- 
terton,  also  died  in  the  army,  and  was  buried 
at  the  same  time.  Mr.  Goar  belonged  to  the 
Baptist  church,  was  a man  of  (juiet  and  gener- 
ous disposition,  a good  citizen,  and  had  the 
respect  and  confidence  of  the  entire  communi- 
ty. In  1872,  his  wife  wedded  A.  C.  Littleton, 
by  whom  she  had  one  son,  Thaddeus  S.,  who 
died  at  the  age  of  four  years.  Her  death  oc- 
curred in  October,  1887.  The  husband  is 
still  living  in  Sugar  Creek  township.  Her 
brother,  Jeremiah,  served  as  a second  lieuten- 
ant during  the  late  war  and  was  wounded  at 
Mill  .Springs,  Ky.,  from  the  effects  of  which 
he  afterward  died.  Her  brother  |ame.s  enlist- 
ed as  a juivate  in  1861,  served  throughout 
the  war,  and  was  twice  wounded  in  battle. 

I'di  J.  Goar,  whose  name  heads  this  record. 


was  born  in  Tipton  county,  Ind.,  April  27, 
1861,  and  remained  upon  the  farm  until  eight- 
een years  of  age.  He  attended  the  common 
schools  and  the  high  school  at  Frankfort,  then 
entered  the  Danville  Central  Normal  college, 
and  at  the  age  of  eighteen  began  teaching, 
which  he  successfidly  followed  for  a time.  In 
connectiem  with  his  brother  he  then  embarked 
in  general  merchandising  at  Pickard’s  Mill, 
where  for  three  years  they  carried  on  a suc- 
cessful business.  Mr.  Goar  was  married  March 
12,  1882,  to  Orpha  Louisa  King,  who  was 
born  July  23,  1861,  and  is  a daughter  of  James 
and  Polly  (Mary  Whnship)  King.  They  have 
three  children — James  Vernon,  born  December 
27,  1882;  Everett  Logan,  born  November  13, 
1886;  and  Edith  Lou,  born  December  2,  1891. 
In  1884,  Mr.  Goar  sold  his  store  and  removed 
to  the  farm  belonging  to  his  father-in-law, 
which  he  continued  to  cultivate  until  1891, 
when,  on  account  of  his  wife's  failing  health, 
he  left  the  farm.  During  the  succeeding  year 
he  taught  school  at  Forest,  and  in  1892  came 
to  Kirklin.  Being  appointed  deputy  county 
treasurer,  he  then  removed  to  Frankfort,  where 
he  remained  until  December,  1893,  when  we 
again  find  him  in  Kirklin.  Here  he  formed  a 
partnership  with  G.  T.  Williams,  under  the 
firm  name  of  Goar  & Whlliams,  and  purchased 
the  drug  stock  of  W.  W.  Wild.  They  have  a 
tinely  appointed  store,  handle  everything  found 
in  a first-class  establishment  of  the  kind,  and 
now  have  a large  business.  Mr.  Goar  also 
owns  a farm  of  ninety-two  acres,  under  a high 
state  of  cultivation  and  well  improved  with  all 
modern  conveniences.  He  is  a member  of  the 
Masonic  lodge,  and  of  thi'  camp  of  the  Sous  of 
Veterans,  both  of  Kirklin.  In  politics  he  is  a 
republican,  and  takes  a deep  interest  in  the 
success  and  growth  of  his  party,  but  has  never 
sought  office. 

William  King,  grandfather  of  Mrs.  Eli  J. 
Goar,  was  born  in  Rockbridge  county,  \ a., 


OF  CLINTON  COUNTY, 


693 


October,  i,  1777.  He  removed  from  \’irginia 
to  Rock  Castle  county,  Ky. , about  1795  and 
was  married  to  Mary  Evans  in  1 799  He  re- 
moved from  Kentucky  to  Rush  county,  Ind., 
in  1 833'  and  died  December  7,  1837.  Mary, 
wife  of  Wdliam  King,  was  born  in  North 
('arolina  April  16,  1785,  removed  to  Kentucky 
when  about  twelve  years  old,  there  married, 
and  removed  from  Kentucky  to  Rush  county, 
Ind.,  in  1833,  and  in  1839  to  Clinton  county, 
Ind. . and  died  April  10,  1 847.  The  children  born 
to  Mr.  and  Mrs.  William  King  were  named  as 
follows;  James,  born  December  20,  1808,  in 
Pulaski  county,  Ky. ; Mary,  born  in  Fayette, 
Ind.,  January  17,  1817.  James  and  Mary 

W'inship  were  married  March  5,  1835; 

Thomas  S.  born  January  25,  1836,  and  died 
.Ma}’  4,  1859.  William  L. , born  March  21, 
1838,  and  married  August  26,  1863.  Jesse 
W.,  born  June  10,  1841,  married  October  ii, 
1866.  died  December  16,  1890,  Celia,  born 
October  22,  1843,  and  was  married  May  4, 
1869  Mary  J.,  born  January  16,  1847,  mar- 
ried November  21,  1883.  Louisa,  born  De- 
cember 25,  1849,  married  October  4,  1874. 
Martha  A.,  born  Jmre  29,  1852,  died  Febru- 
ary I,  1853.  John  C. , born  November  15, 
1856,  married  November  9,  1879.  Orpha  L. 
is  now  Mrs.  E.  J.  Goar. 

Jesse  Winship,  the  maternal  grandfather, 
was  born  in  the  state  of  New  York,  April  22, 
1787,  and  moved  to  Br,)okville,  Ind.,  when 
about  twenty  years  of  age  and  married  Celia 
Leforge  in  181  i,  then  moved  to  Connersville, 
Ind  , and  in  1821  he  moved  to  Rush  county, 
Ind.;  died  November  18,  1854.  Celia  (La- 
forge)  Wmship,  born  in  New  Jersey,  May  23, 
1793,  died  August  12,  1854,  was  the  mother  of 
ten  children,  six  sons  and  four  daughters,  who 
were  living  at  her  death,  which  was  the  first 
broken  link  of  the  family  circle.  The  fam- 
ily always  stood  deservedly  high  in  the  com- 
munity. 


AVID  GOCHENAUER,  one  of  the 
prominent  farmers  of  Owen  town- 
ship, Clinton  county,  Ind.,  and  a re- 
spected citizen,  springs  from  sterling 
German  and  English  stock.  His  ancestors 
were  early  settlers  of  Pennsylvania,  and  mem- 
bers of  the  German  Baptist  church.  John 
Gochenauer,  grandfather  of  our  subject,  was  a 
f.irmer  of  Shenandoah  county,  Va. , his  farm 
being  on  the  banks  of  the  Shenandoah  river. 
His  wife  was  Miss  Fisher,  and  to  them  were 
horn  Katie,  Sallie,  Betsey,  Polly,  Levi,  |ohn, 
Benjamin  and  Whlliam.  Mr.  Gochenauer  had 
a good  farm  of  160  acres,  and  was  a sub- 
stantial farmer.  William  Gochenauer,  fatljer 
of  David,  was  born  in  Shenandoah  county, 
Va  , on  his  father's  farm,  and  received  a com- 
mon education.  He  married  in  Shenandoah 
county,  Va.,  Mary  A.  Hoffmann,  of  English 
descent,  and  to  them  were  born  six  children, 
who  lived  tomaturity:  Harrison,  Noah,  David, 
Cyrus.  Elizabeth  and  Polly.  Mr.  Gochenauer 
moved  to  Preble  county,  Ohio,  in  1837,  and 
resided  on  rented  land  until  1842,  when  he 
came  to  Indiana  and  settled  in  Clinton  county, 
Ross  township,  where  he  bought  eighty  acres, 
all  in  the  woods.  He  cleared  this  up,  and  by 
hard  work  and  great  industry,  earned  the 
means  to  buy  forty  acres  more,  thus  owming 
120  acres  in  all.  He  was  a very  honest  man, 
and  a consistent  member  of  the  German  Bap- 
tist church. 

David  Gochenauer  was  born  January  26, 
1832,  on  a farm  on  Cedar  Creek,  Shenandoah 
county,  Va.,  and  was  but  five  years  old  when 
he  first  left  Virginia,  yet  he  can  still  remember 
the  old  homestead  and  the  journey  through 
the  wilderness  from  Ohio  to  Indiana  when  ten 
years  of  age,  the  trip  being  made  with  horses 
and  wagons — he  driving  the  cattle.  He  was 
brought  up  a farmer,  was  a school-teacher 
when  a young  man,  and  married,  at  the  age  of 
twenty-three  years,  Mary  Revis,  daughter  of 


RTOGRAPHICAT.  HISTORY 


()0  I 


I'-nocli  Kcvis,  of  Ross  tovvnsliip,  and  to  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  Oot'henaner  were  born  seven  chil- 
dren, who  lived  to  rea<di  manhood  and  w'oinan- 
hood:  Levi,  Mary,  Harrison,  W.  L.,  Susan  C. 
(died  a married  woman,  aged  twenty-seven 
yens),  Josejdi  Me.  and  Jeremiah.  After  mar- 
riage Mr.  Oochenaner  settled  in  Ross  town- 
ship, on  his  father's  old  homestead,  and  there 
remained  until  he  bought  a farm  of  eighty 
acres  to  the  east,  on  which  he  settled  in  Sep- 
tember, 1864,  it  then  consisting  of  160  acres, 
and  which  he  has  since  cleared  and  improved. 
Mrs.  Gochenauer  died  February  17,  1874,  and 
Mr.  Gochenauer  married,  December  25,  1877, 
Margery  H.  Hurley,  daughter  of  Thomas  and 
Elizabeth  (Daniels)  Hurley.  Thomas  Hurley 
was  of  English  descent,  was  an  old  settler  of 
Washington  county,  Ind.,  and  he  and  wife 
were  the  parents  of  two  children,  who  lived  to 
maturity — Sarah  C.  and  Margery  H.  Mr. 
Hurley  died  at  middle  age,  and  his  widow  many 
years  later  married  Henry  H.  Baxter  of  Mar- 
shall county,  Ind.  To  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Gochen- 
auer has  been  born  one  child,  Annie  E.,  and 
both  parents  are  members  of  the  Gonservati\'e 
German  Baptist  church.  He  is  a democrat,  is 
resjiected  by  the  people,  and  has  been  super- 
visor and  township  assessor  two  terms  in  Ross 
township.  He  is  noted  for  his  honest  purpose 
in  life  and  sterling  character,  and  it  may  w'cll 
be  said  of  him  that  his  w'ord  is  as  good  as  his 
bond. 

Eevi  Gochenauer,  the  son,  now  assisting 
liis  father  in  the  management  of  the  home 
farm,  received  a good  common  education  and 
married  Amanda,  daughter  of  Buran  and  Mary 
j.  (Lenon)  W^yatt,  to  whom  were  born  four 
children:  Ada  J.,  IR'ssie  M.,  Ethel  T. , and 
David  B.  Mr.  Gochenauer  has  taken  an  act- 
ive interest  in  liaving  good  schools,  and  was 
school  director  three  years.  Both  father  and 
son  arc'  puhlic-spirited  men  and  stand  high  in 
their  townshij). 


ARRISON  GOCHENOUR  is  one  of 
the  old  settlers  of  Boss  township, 
^ * Clinton  countv,  Irnb,  and  a promi- 

nent farmer,  and  springs  from  sterling 
Pennsylvania-German  stock.  His  grandfather, 
John,  brought  his  wife  with  him  from  German}', 
first  settling  in  Pennsylvania,  then  moving  to 
Shenandoah  county,  Va.,  where  he  died  an  aged 
man,  in  the  faith  of  the  German  Baptist  church, 
of  which  his  wife  was  also  a member  To 
himself  and  w'ife  were  born  seven  children — 
John,  Eevi,  Benjamin,  Elizabeth,  Sally,  Polly 
and  Mary.  John  was  a substantial  farmer  on 
the  Shenandoah  river,  owning  a farm  of  160 
acres.  In  1889  this  farm  was  visited  by  our 
subject,  Harrison  Gochenour.  John  Gochen- 
our,  the  progenitor  of  the  family  in  America, 
was  a heavy-set,  strong  man,  and  his  son  John 
was  considered  the  strongest  man  in  Shenan- 
doah county.  Whlliarn  Gochenour,  the  father 
of  our  subject,  was  born  in  \hrginia  and  re- 
ceived the  common  education  of  his  day.  He 
was  a farmer  and  married  Maiy  Gochenour, 
and  they  were  the  parents  of  seven  children — 
Sarah  (died  at  live  years),  Harrison,  Noah, 
David,  Cyrus,  Polly  and  Elizabeth.  After 
marriage,  Mr.  Gochenour  settled  in  Shenan- 
doah county,  on  the  Shenandoah  river,  and  all 
the  children  were  born  there  except  l£lizabeth 
and  Polly.  He  moved  to  Preble  county,  Ohio, 
in  1841,  and  settled  on  a large  farm.  In  1846 
he  came  to  Ross  township,  Clinton  count}', 
Ind  , settled  on  a farm  and  here  passed  the 
remainder  of  hisclays.  He  ownetl  a good  farm 
of  120  acres  and  was  a good  farmer  and  re- 
s))ected  citizen,  and  brought  up  an  excellent 
family.  He  fr('(|uently  served  on  the  grand 
jury,  and  was  well  known  for  his  integrity  of 
character,  and  was  also  super\’isor  of  his  town- 
ship for  several  years.  He  died  at  the  age  ol 
lifty-three  years,  a devout  member  of  the  Ger- 
man Baptist  church,  his  wife  also  bi'longing  to 
the  same  denomination. 


OF  CLINTON  COUNTY. 


G95 


Harrison  Gochenoiir,  son  of  above,  was 
born  in  Shenandoah  county,  Va.,  April  i, 
about  i<S27,  received  a common  education,  and 
can  well  remember  the  old  home  on  the  Shen- 
andoah river.  He  went  with  his  parents  to 
Preble  county,  Ohio,  in  1841,  and  later  came 
to  Ross  township,  Clinton  county,  Ind.,  where 
he  has  since  lived.  He  taught  school  in  Owen 
township  one  term,  then  learned  the  carpen- 
ter’s trade,  and  still  works  at  it.  He  has  huilt 
many  of  the  houses  and  barns  throughout  this 
vicinity,  and  has  built  more  barns  than  any 
man  in  the  county,  having  put  up  seven  in  one 
summer.  When  he  first  began  to  work  saw- 
mills were  scarce,  and  he  was  obliged  to  hew 
the  frames  and  even  the  ties  and  braces.  He 
married  Elizabeth,  daughter  of  John  and  Lydia 
(Nehr)  Skiles.  John  Skiles  moved  from  Vir- 
ginia to  Ross  township,  and  was  of  sturdy 
Pennsylvania  Dutch  stock.  He  reared  a fam- 
ily consisting  of  Henry,  John,  Daniel,  David, 
Catherine,  Elizabeth,  Lydia  and  Amr.  Mr. 
Skiles  owned  a fine  farm,  was  a good  farmer  and 
an  excellent  citizen.  He  was  a member  of  the 
German  Baptist  church,  and  was  quite  aged  at 
his  death.  After  marriage,  Mr.  and  Mrs.Goche- 
nour  bought  and  located  on  forty  acres  of  land 
in  the  woods  three  and  one-half  miles  west  of 
their  present  home.  This  they  cleared  up  by 
patient  labor,  and  by  thrift  were  able  to  add 
forty  more.  In  1862  Mr.  Gochenour  moved 
to  his  present  farm,  which  then  consisted  of 
160  acres,  but  he  now  owns  204  acres.  He 
cleared  much  of  his  farm  from  the  virgin  woods 
and  has  erected  a substantial  brick  house,  two 
stories  high,  has  built  good  barns  and  other 
outbuildings,  and  is  now  a prosperous  citizen. 
He  and  wife  are  members  of  the  Conservative 
German  Baptist  church,  in  which  he  has  been 
deacon  twenty  years.  To  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Goch- 
enour have  been  born  ten  children — Lydia 
A.  (deceased,  aged  forty  years),  Carl,  Cather- 
ine, Mary,  Susannah,  Isaac,  Manda,  Eliza, 


Ann  and  Amos,  who  died  in  infancy.  Mr. 
Gochenour  gave  all  his  children  good  common 
educations.  He  has  been  a prominent  con- 
tractor in  Ross  townshij)  for  many  years  and 
still  follows  the  business.  His  family  are  set- 
tled near  him  and  are  among  the  valued  citi- 
zens of  the  county.  Mr.  Gochenour  has  al- 
ways been  a hard-working  and  straightforward 
man,  respected  for  his  sterling  worth  and  in- 
tegrity. 


HMOS  P.  GOFF,  an  enterprising  young 
farmer,  was  born  in  Johnson  towm- 
ship,  Clinton  county,  Ind.,  December 
7,  1850,  and  this  is  his  present  place 
of  business.  His  great-grandfather,  George 
W.  Goff,  was  a native  of  Ireland,  and  a resi- 
dent of  Kentucky;Amos  Goff,  son  of  George  M’. 
was  born  in  Kentucky,  but  came  to  Indiana 
when  a young  man,  and  first  located  in  Ham- 
ilton county,  but  later  came  to  Clinton  county 
and  entered  300  acres  of  swamp  land  at  fifty 
cents  per  acre.  The  money  he  earned  for  this 
purpose  by  working  on  the  canal  in  Tippe- 
canoe county,  Ind.  He  was  a class  leader  in 
the  Methodist  church,  and  married  Rosanna 
Smith.  Charles  W.  Goff,  son  of  Amos,  and 
father  of  Amos  P. , our  subject,  was  born  in 
Hamilton  county,  Ind.,  June  8,  1827.  He 
married  Hester  Carey,  daughter  of  Jonathan 
and  Rebecca  Carey,  and  to  this  marriage  have 
been  born  the  following  children:  Rebecca, 
Rosanna,  P.  P. , Jonathan  C..  Charles  W., 
Mary  A.  and  our  subject.  After  marriage 
Charles  W.  Goff  settled  on  a farm  in  Johnson 
township,  and  was  closely  identified  with  the 
township  and  county  of  Clinton  until  his  death, 
April  6,  1864,  aged  thirty-six  years,  nine 

months,  and  twenty-eight  da3'S. 

Amos  P.  Goff  was  educated  in  the  old  log 
school-house  near  the  place  where  he  resides. 
He  first  married  Miss  Mary  J.  Brown,  daugh- 


BIOGRAPHICAL  HISTORY 


GOC) 


ter  of  l):ivi(I  aiul  Marj^aret  (Baker)  Brown. 
Their  son  Lllsworth,  now  a yoniif;'  man  of 
twent\',  survives  his  inotlicr,  who  was  a model 
wife  as  well  as  mother,  and  who  died  in  Feb- 
ruary, iH/  t-  Mr.  Goff  married  for  his  second 
wife  Amanda  Spnr<(eon,  widow  of  josiah  Spur- 
geon, and  daughter  of  Newton  and  Delila 
(Gano)  Tnll,  the  former  of  whom  died  in  the 
army.  Mr.  Gcjff  resides  in  his  wife’s  modern- 
bnilt  house  on  her  farm  of  fifty-one  acres, 
which  farm  is  well  improved  in  all  respects. 
He  also  owns  forty-three  acres  on  the  Indian 
Prairie,  which  land  is  very  fertile.  He  is 
stroiyr;'  in  his  democratic  jirinciples,  and  works 
hard  for  his  party.  He  is  a member  of  the 
church  .of  Christian  Holiness,  and  is  much 
respected  for  his  upright  walk  through  life. 


BKANCIS  M.  GOLDSBFKRY,  one  of 
the  most  industrious  mendiers  of  the 
Clinton  county  bar,  with  his  residence 
at  Colfax,  was  born  in  Boone  county. 
Indr,  April  20,  1844,  and  descends  from  an 
old  colonial  family  of  Virginia,  where  the 
grandfather,  Jonathan  Goldsberry,  a soldier  of 
the  Revolution,  was  born  and  reared.  Jona- 
than, however,  lived  for  some  years  in  Ross 
county,  (3hio,  and  then  came  to  Indiana  in 
1829:  he  located  in  what  is  now’  Boone 
county,  then  a primitive  wilderness,  and  took 
a prominent  part  in  the  organization  of  the 
county;  later  he  scjld  his  land  in  Boone  and 
settled  in  (ackson  township,  ('linton  county, 
where  he  owned  a large  tract  of  land.  He 
marric'd  Ruth  Butler,  of  Virginia,  and  both 
were  strict  members  of  the  Methodist  church. 
Nelson  B.  Goldsberry,  son  ol  |onathan  and 
fathc-r  of  I'rancis  .M.,  onr  subject,  was  born  in 
Ross  county,  Ohio,  in  1824,  and  was  I'eared  in 
Boone  county,  Ind.,  on  the  home  farm.  At 
the  age  of  thirty  he  removed  to  Iowa,  where 
he  still  resides,  and  w'as  for  years  engaged  in 


ministerial  work  in  the  New'  Light  church,  but 
is  now'  living  in  retirement  at  DesMoines. 

Francis  M.  Goldsberry  received  his  pre- 
liminary education  at  a pioneer  school-house 
in  Boone  county.  November  27,  1863,  he 
married  Miss  Ida  Doyal,  of  Clinton  county. 
Although  of  a remarkably  healthy  constitution, 
this  lady  w’as  called  away  three  months  later, 
February  25,  1864,  and  Mr.  Goldsberry  w'as 
left  disconsolate.  She  w'as  a most  lovable 
woman,  and  w'as  sadly  missed  by  a w’ide  circle 
of  devoted  friends. 

February  27,  1865,  Mr.  Goldsberry  enlist- 
ed in  company  K,  One  Hundred  and  Fiftieth 
Indiana  infantry,  under  Capt.  E.  H.  Langhan. 
The  regiment  w'as  assigned  to  the  army  of  the 
I Potomac,  W’as  drilled  for  active  service  at  Har- 
per’s Ferry  and  in  the  Shenandoah  valley,  and 
had  some  little  skirmishing  w’ith  Moseby’s 
guerrillas;  but  the  w’ar  soon  came  to  an  end, 
and  August  5,  1865,  Mr.  Goldsberry  was 

honorably  discharged,  reaching  his  home  on 
the  first  day  of  September  following.  He 
then  married  Eliza  J.  Blacker,  daughter  of 
Augustus  and  Fannie  (Coyner)  Blacker,  the 
former  of  whom  lost  his  life  on  the  field  at 
Jonesboro.  To  this  union  w'cre  born  Lillie 
E.,  Melvin  (died  at  the  age  of  tw'entv),  Chaun- 
cey  L.  (died  at  the  age  of  twenty-tw’o),  Willie 
I R.  and  Erancis  M.  The  third  marriage  of 
i Mr.  Goldsberry  took  place  July  21,  1878,  to 
Mahala  |.  Isenberger,  daughter  of  George  and 
Annie  (Arnett)  Iseidrerger,  and  this  union  has 
been  blessed  by  the  birth  of  five  children,  viz: 

I Nellie  (died  when  three  months  old),  Goldie, 

^ Silvia  (died  at  two  months),  Flossie  1'.  and 
Ida  M.  (dic'd  wdu'u  three  years  old).  The 
I two  survi\'ors,  Goldie'  and  b'lossie,  aged  re- 
I sjcectively  twelve  and  ten  years,  have  a w'ide 
I rc'juitation  for  the  crxccllence  of  their  recita- 
tions in  public,  and  their  sc'rvices  are  in  con- 
I staid  demand  at  entertainments  for  miles 
I around;  the}'  w'cre  chosen  as  orators  at  the 


OF  CLINTON  COUNTY. 


097 


national  encainpinent  of  the  G.  A.  K.  at  In- 
(lianai)olis,  and  were  also  received  with  imich 
enthusiasm  at  the  recent  state  encampment  of 
(■he  G.  A.  R.  at  LaFayette. 

Mr.  Goldsberry  is  past  post  commander  of 
Stilwell  post,  No.  375,  G.  .\.  R.,  and  is  still 
an  honored  member  of  the  post.  In  politics 
Mr.  Goldsberry  is  a democrat,  and  in  1888 
was  nominated  by  acclamation  as  the  candi- 
date of  his  party  for  the  office  of  prosecuting 
attorney  for  Clinton  county,  and,  although  de- 
feated, he  had  the  satisfaction  of  leading  the 
entire  democratic  ticket — township,  county, 
state  and  national.  President  Harrison  car- 
ried the  township  by  a majority  of  fifty-two 
republican  majority,  but  Mr.  Goldsberry  re- 
ceived a majority  of  107,  thus  leading  Harrison 
fifty-five  votes.  No  better  evidence  of  Mr. 
Goldsberry’s  popularity  could  be  offered.  Mr. 
Goldsberry  has  a large  and  const  antly  increas- 
ing practice  as  an  attorney,  and  has  already 
acquired  a comfortable  competence,  owning, 
as  he  does,  a handsome  dwelling  in  the  city 
and  a fine  farm  in  the  township.  In  the  ac- 
cumulation of  his  property  his  own  legal  ability 
has  been  aided  by  the  good  management,  econ- 
omy and  sound  judgment  of  his  amiable  wife, 
and  they  are  mutually  entitled  to  deserved 
praise.  Mr.  Goldsberry  is  attorney  for  the 
“Big  Four”  Railway  company,  has  a fine  law 
library,  and  holds  a high  position  in  his  pro- 
fession as  well  as  in  social  life. 


OBERT  GOODNIGHT,  junior  mem- 
ber of  the  firm  of  J .W.  Hedgcock  & 
Co.,  general  merchants,  Michigan- 
town,  Clinton  county,  Ind.,  was  born 
August  21,  1859,  and  was  reared  on  a farm  in 
this  county.  He  descends  from  a German 
family,  wdiose  advent  in  this  country  took  place 
before  the  Revolutionai'y  war.  Wdliam  Good- 
night, father  of  Robert,  was  born  in  Hardy 


county,  Va. , August  28,  1828,  and  when 

twenty  years  of  age  came  to  Indiana  and  lo- 
cated in  Montgomery  county,  where  he  married 
Mary  Moss,  daughter  of  John  and  Sarah  (West) 
Moss,  and  by  this  marriage  became  the  father 
of  the  following  children:  Reptia,  an  infant 
now  deceased;  John,  Robert  and  Alice.  Robert 
Goodnight’s  paternal  grandfather,  Jacob  Good- 
night, came  to  Indiana  with  his  family  and 
made  the  settlement  in  Montgomery  county. 

The  maternal  grandfather,  Alec  West,  was 
born  close  to  Spartanburg,  N.  C , and  subse- 
quently settled  in  Marion  county,  Ind.  John 
Moss  the  paternal  grandfather  on  the  mother’s 
side,  was  also  a native  of  North  Carolina,  and 
was  born  close  to  Spartanburg.  He  also  set- 
tled in  Marion  county,  Ind.,  and  later  removed 
to  Montgomery  county,  where  he  spent  the 
balance  of  his  life.  Mary  Goodnight’s  grand- 
father’s name,  on  her  father’s  side,  was  Wil- 
liam Moss,  who  came  from  England  to  North 
Carolina,  settled  near  Raleigh,  and  his  wife’s 
name  was  Malinda  (Fry)  Moss.  Mary  Good- 
night’s grandfather’s  name,  on  her  mother’s 
side,  was  Daniel  West,  and  his  wife’s  name 
was  Mary  (Loften)  West. 

Robert  Goodnight  was  reared  a farmer  in 
Clinton  county,  and  received  a very  good  com- 
mon school  education.  At  the  age  of  twenty 
he  entered  the  profession  of  teaching,  which  he 
followed  five  years  consecutively,  making  an 
entire  success.  His  present  business  interests 
are  indicated  at  the  opening  of  this  biographi- 
cal notice,  and  he  is,  beside,  the  owner  of  a 
handsome  cottage  in  the  village  of  Michigan- 
town.  The  first  marriage  of  Mr.  Goodnight 
took  place  January  i,  1885,  to  Rebecca  White- 
man,  daughter  of  Samuel  B.  and  Elvina  (Rich- 
ardson) Whiteman — the  former  a farmer  of 
large  means,  and  to  this  union  was  born  Ruby, 
the  father’s  idol.  But  Mr.  Goodnight  was  be- 
reaved of  his  wife  January  25,  1891.  She  had 
a loving  spouse,  and  died  in  the  faith  of  the 


008 


BIOGRAPHICAL  HISTORY 


('liristiaii  church  on  March  14,  1893.  Mr.  (iood- 
nif.;ht  took  for  his  second  companion  tlirough 
life  Isabel  I'iskin,  daughter  of  John  Fiskin, 
who  had  done  ^ood  service  during  the  late 
w'ar.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Goodnight  are  members 
of  the  ('hristian  church,  and  in  politics  he  is  a 
democrat.  Fraternally  he  is  a K.  of  P. , Ku- 
bien  lodge,  No.  340,  and  is  als(.)  a dormant 
member  of  the  I.  O.  R.  M. 


ERRV  TODD  GORHAM,  w-ho  served 
his  country  during  the  late  war  and  is 
a leading  and  influential  citizen  of 
Kirklin,  Clinton  county,  and  promi- 
nently connected  with  its  business  interests, 
comes  from  and  old  English  family,  a branch 
of  which  was  founded  in  America  by  two 
brothers  w’ho  crossed  the  Atlantic  in  colonial 
days,  one  settling  in  New  Hamjishire  and  the 
other  in  Virginia.  George  Gorham,  grand- 
father of  Perry  T. , was  descended  from  the 
latter  and  was  born  in  Kentnck}'.  He  fol- 
lowed merchandising,  supported  the  whig 
party,  and  met  his  death  by  the  caving  in  of 
the  walls  of  his  store  room.  George  Littleton 
f'lorham;  father  of  Perry,  was  born  in  Ken- 
tucky in  1803,  and  married  Fannie  C.  Wollen, 
who  was  born  April  6,  1805.  She  died  Seji- 
tember  23,  1828,  leaving  a son,  William  H., 
born  March  30,  1826.  Mr.  Gorham  w'as 

afterward  married,  September  2,  1832,  to 

Mrs.  Nancy  Hanna,  daughter  of  Henry  and 
Mary  Todd.  Their  children  are;  Thomas  J., 
born  August  2,  1833:  )ohn  M.,  born  October 
“7.  >835;  George  W.,  born  [anuary  11,  1838; 
Perry  T.,  born  August  17,  1840;  Mary  E., 
born  March  8,  1843;  Smiford  d'.,  horn  [uly  4, 
1846;  and  George  I,.,  born  ( fctober  24,  1849. 
The  mother  of  this  family  died  |uly  6,  1851, 
and  on  the  first  of  july,  1852,  Mr.  Gorham 
wedded  Mary  Cook,  who  was  born  October  5, 


1813,  and  (lied  December  24,  1887.  The 

father  was  called  to  the  home  beyond,  August 
4,  1864. 

Perry  T.  Gorham,  the  gentleman  whose 
name  heads  this  record,  is  a native  of  Indi- 
anapolis. At  the  time  of  his  mother’s  death 
he  was  a lad  of  nine  years.  He  then  began 
earning  his  own  livelihood,  and  when  a youth 
of  fifteen  began  learning  the  blacksmith’s  trade, 
which  he  followed  until  August  2,  1862,  when 
he  entered  his  country’s  service,  being  mustered 
in,  at  Indianapolis,  on  the  fourth  of  Septem- 
ber as  a member  of  company  A,  Eighty-sixth 
Indiana  infantry.  The  regiment  went  to  Ken- 
tucky, took  part  in  the  battle  of  Perryville  and 
in  others  of  that  campaign,  driving  Gen.  Bragg 
from  the  state.  At  the  battle  of  Stone  River 
Mr.  Gorham  acted  as  first  sergeant  and  gave 
out  rations  for  thirty-three,  but  in  the  evening 
had  to  supply  only  five  men.  He  was  wounded 
by  a musket  ball  in  the  left  thigh.  At  that 
place  he  was  commissioned  second  lieutenant, 
but  on  account  of  his  wound  was  forced  to  re- 
main in  the  hospital  for  eight  months.  With 
his  regiment  he  then  went  to  Chattanooga, 
where  he  continued  six  weeks,  and  was  in  the 
center  of  the  charge  at  Missionary  Ridge. 
With  the  command  he  went  to  the  relief  of 
Gen.  Burnside,  and  afterward  took  part  in  the 
entire  Atlanta  camjtaign,  including  the  battles 
of  New  Hope  Cluirch,  Resaca,  Kenesaw 
Mountain,  Peach  Tree  ('reek,  I'ranklin,  Nash- 
ville and  Overton  Hill.  After  the  battle  of 
Missionary  Ridge  he  was  made  first  lieutenant, 
and  during  the  Atlanta  campaign  was  commis- 
sioned captain.  After  a long  march  through 
Tennessee,  he  was  musten'd  out  at  Nashville, 
)une6,  1865,  was  paid  off  at  that  place,  and 
his  was  the  first  regiment  from  Indianapolis 
to  return  home. 

Caj>tain  Gorham  at  once  came  to  Kirklin 
and  purchased  a blacksmith  shop,  which  he 
carried  on  for  five  years.  He  was  married 


OF  CLINTON  COUNTY. 


099 


August  7,  1865,  to  Parinelia  Hazelrigg,  who  was 
born  in  Kentucky  May  7,  1843,  and  is  a daugli- 
ter  of  Eli  and  Nancy  (Harney)  Hazelrigg,  of 
that  state.  Their  children  are  Richard  C., 
horn  July  3,  1866;  Bernard  H.,  born  January 
I,  1868;  Nancy  E.,  born  September  15,  1872; 
Mary  R.,  born  in  December,  1876,  and  Millie 
M.,  born  October  12,  1883;  Nancy  and  Mary 
are  both  now  deceased.  Selling  his  shop,  Mr. 
Gorham  purchased  a farm  of  eighty  acres, 
upon  which  he  lived  nine  years.  He  then 
clerked  nine  months  for  W.  A.  Huffine,  and 
was  with  C.  H.  Beach  for  three  years.  In 
September,  1884,  he  was  appointed  by  Presi- 
dent Cleveland  as  postmaster,  and  served  with 
much  credit.  In  1887  he  bought  the  stock  of 
C.  H.  Beach,  entered  into  partnership  with 
his  sons  Richard  and  Bernard,  and  has  since 
successfully  carried  on  business  as  a general 
merchant.  He  also  organized  the  Kirklin 
bank,  October  20,  1892,  of  which  he  is  still 

president,  bnt  on  account  of  failing  eyesight 
he  is  now  practically  living  retii'ed.  In  1890 
he  was  elected  county  commissioner,  and  served 
one  term.  He  has  a beautiful  home,  fitted  up 
with  all  .modern  conveniences  and  supplied 
with  many  of  the  luxuries  of  life.  He  has 
prospered  in  his  undertakings  and  his  success 
is  well  merited. 


ERNARD  HAZELRIGG  GORHAM, 
a banker  and  merchant  of  Kirklin,  is 
a self-made  man,  whose  success  in 
life  is  due  entirely  to  his  own  efforts, 
his  perseverance  and  his  enterprise.  He  has 
the  honor  of  being  a native  of  this  city,  his 
birth  having  here  occurred  January  i,  1868. 
Bernard  H.  attended  the  public  schools  until 
seventeen  years  of  age,  from  which  he  gradu- 
ated in  1885.  He  then  became  a student  in 
Bryant  & Stratton’s  business  college  of  Indi- 
anapolis, received  his  diploma,  and  then  re- 


turned to  Kirklin.  Mr.  Gorham  entered  upon 
his  business  career  as  a clerk  for  G.  E.  Miller, 
a general  merchant  of  Terhune,  Ind.  He 
worked  in  the  store  and  also  looked  after  the 
stave  and  grain  buying  business.  In  the  fall 
of  1886,  his  father,  Perry  T.  Gorham,  his 
brother,  Richard  C. , and  himself  entered  into 
partnership  in  the  sale  of  boots  and  shoes,  dry 
goods,  hats  and  caps,  groceries  and  notions, 
buying  ont  C.  H.  Beach  and  putting  in  a stock 
of  some  $2,000.  They  began  business  on  the 
same  block  where  the  bank  and  store  are  now 
located.  In  1891,  Mr.  Gorham  entered  the 
First  National  bank  of  Frankfort,  Ind.,  where 
he  did  general  work,  as  he  was  desirous  of 
learning  the  business,  and  was  thus  employed 
for  six  months.  In  February,  1892,  the  mer- 
cantile business  had  grown  to  such  proportions 
that  it  became  necessary  to  secure  more  com- 
modious quarters,  so  they  went  into  the  room 
on  the  south,  putting  in  a hardware  stock  and 
also  moving  into  it  the  grocery  store,  so  that 
more  space  was  thus  secured  for  their  shoe 
department.  On  the  twentieth  of  October  of 
the  same  year  they  opened  the  bank  at  Kirk- 
lin, and  this  business  has  developed  until  they 
now  keep  exchange  in  New  York,  Indianapo- 
lis and  Frankfort.  Its  officers  are  P.  T.  Gor- 
ham, president;  B.  H.  Gorham,  cashier;  and 
R.  C.  Gorham,  assistant  cashier.  This  is  the 
only  bank  in  the  vicinity  of  Kirklin,  and  it  re- 
ceives a large  patronage  from  farmers  of  the 
community  and  has  the  confidence  of  all. 

Mr.  Gorham  was  married  June  21,  1893, 
to  Mary  Holmes,  who  was  born  in  Sugar  Creek 
township,  and  is  a daughter  of  Dr.  W.  A.  T. 
and  Eliza  (Boulden)  Holmes  of  this  county. 
The  lady  attended  the  common  and  high 
schools  and  graduated  with  honor  from  the 
latter.  She  possessed  a bright  and  cheery 
disposition,  an  intellect  of  more  than  ordinary 
ability,  and  was  an  excellent  musician,  being 
a fine  performer  on  the  piano  and  having  a 


7()0 


lilOGRAPlIICAL  HISTORY 


voice  of  f^reut  ])o\vcr  and  sweetness.  She 
taught  tliree  terms  of  school  and  was  very 
successful.  After  their  marriage,  they  went  to 
Chicago,  visiting  the  World’s  fair,  and  then 
returned  to  their  pleasant  home  in  Kirklin, 
which  was  sup])lied  with  all  the  comforts  and 
many  of  the  lu.xuries  of  life.  On  the  twenty- 
second  of  March,  1894,  their  daughter,  Mary 
Ruth,  was  born,  and  on  the  twenty-sixth  the 
mother  died.  She  was  an  active  and  earnest 
worker  in  the  church  and  her  loss  was  deef)ly 
mourned  throughout  the  community.  Mr. 
Gorham  is  also  a faithful  member  of  the 
Christian  church  of  Kirklin,  and  from  its  or- 
ganization until  the  past  year  served  as  treas- 
urer and  deacon.  He  was  one  of  the  building 
committee  who  erected  the  present  hue  l>yck 
edifice,  which  was  dedicated  in  1889,  and  for 
some  three  years  has  served  as  superintendent 
of  the  Sunday-school.  In  politics  he  is  a 
democrat,  and  has  filled  the  offices  of  town 
treasurer  and  clerk  -now  serving  his  third 
term  in  the  latter  office.  He  is  one  of  the 
most  valued  citizens  of  this  place  and  his 
honorable  and  well-spent  life  has  won  for  him 
universal  confidence  and  esteem. 


OHX  TAYLOR  GREGG,  who  devotes 
his  time  and  energies  to  agricultural 
pursuits,  his  home  being  in  Sugar  Creek 
township,  Clinton  county,  Ind.,  has  the 
honor  of  being  a native  of  the  Hoosier  state. 
He  was  born  on  the  farm  where  he  yet  resides 
August  8,  1849.  'file  family  is  of  English 
origin.  The  grandfather,  ]ohn  Gregg,  a na- 
tive of  Kmitucky,  served  as  a soldier  in  the  war 
of  1812.  He  made  farming  his  life  occupation 
and  bc'came  the  owner  of  120  acres  in  Howard 
county,  Ind.  His  wife,  Mary  Grc^gg,  was  a 
native  of  Kentucky,  and  to  them  were  born  six 
children  Matthew,  Nancy,  Lucy,  Sarah,  Jane 


and  James.  The  father  died  at  the  age  of 
seventy;  his  wife  at  seventy-five  years.  James 
Gregg  was  a native  of  Kentucky,  and  a farmer 
by  occupation.  He  married  Miss  Redwine, 
by  whom  he  had  a daughter,  Elizabeth,  and 
after  her  death  wedded  Eliza  M.  Thurman, 
who  was  born  June  25,  1825,  and  was  a daugh- 
ter of  Elijah  and  Mary  Thurman.  Nine  chil- 
dren, beside  John  E.,  graced  their  union — 
Joseph,  Ruth,  Viola,  Alziua,  James  O.,  Zora 
E. , Lincoln  H.,  Mary  and  Sarah  A.  James 
Gregg  received  from  his  father  eighty  acres  of 
heavy  timber  land,  which  he  cleared  and  im- 
proved, making  it  a valuable  farm.  He  after- 
ward became  owner  of  210  acres.  He  and 
wife  belonged  to  the  Christian  church,  and  in 
politics  he  was  a republican.  He  died  at  the 
age  of  sixty-one,  and  his  widow  is  still  living. 

On  the  old  homestead  John  T.  Gregg  was 
reared,  and  in  the  public  schools  his  education 
was  acquired.  He  remained  with  his  parents 
until  he  had  attained  his  majority,  and  then 
led  to  the  marriage  altar  Miss  Mary  Scott,  who 
was  born  I)ecend)er  26,  1853,  and  is  a daugh- 
ter of  Isaac  and  Elizabeth  (Rector)  Scott. 
Thev  began  their  domestic  life  u]-)on  the  farm, 
Mr.  Gregg  purchasing  forty  acres  of  the  old 
homestead,  on  which  he  erected  a cabin.  Six 
children  came  to  bless  their  home;  Heber, 
Vanrosco,  James  L. , Ethel  M.,  Victor  and 
Hern.  The  family  now  has  a pleasant  home 
on  a good  farm  of  fifty  acres,  on  which  is  a 
thrifty  young  orchard.  Mr.  Gregg  juays  con- 
siderable attcuition  to  raising  small  fruits,  and 
in  this  business  is  meeting  with  goc’id  succexss. 
In  politics  he  is  a stalwart  and  active  republi- 
can, and  has  served  as  delegate  to  the  county 
conventions  of  his  party.  His  industr)’  and 
enterprise  are  numbered  among  his  chief  char- 
acteristics, and  have  beiui  the  means  of  secur- 
ing for  him  the  farm  which  he  now  occupies. 
His  entire  life  has  been  passed  in  this  com- 
munity, and  all  who  know  him  esteem  him 


OF  CLINTON  COUNTY. 


701 


hij;hly  for  liis  sterling  worth  and  strict  integ- 
rit\-.  lie  well  deserves  mention  among  the 
leading  farmers  of  this  community. 


aHARLESG.  GUENTHER,  one  of  the 
prominent  attorneys  of  Frankfort, 
was  born  in  Jefferson  City,  Mo., 
February  3,  1853,  and  is  a son  of 

Charles  H.  W.  and  Anna  (Kramer)  Guenther. 
Charles  H.  W.  Guenther  was  born  in  Dres- 
den, Saxony,  Germany,  in  June,  1826,  and  ,at 
the  age  of  twenty-two  (or  in  1848)  came  to  the 
United  States  and  first  located  in  Madison, 
Wis.,  whence  he  went  to  Chicago,  111.,  then 
to  St.  Louis,  Mo.,  and  about  1850  settled  in 
Jefferson  City,  where  he  engaged  in  contract- 
ing and  building,  although  he  had  been  a boot 
and  shoe  merchant  previously.  He  was  mar- 
ried in  Jefferson  City  in  1852,  his  wife  being  a 
native  of  Ashendorf,  then  in  the  kingdom  of 
Hanover,  and  a daughter  of  Gerhardt  A. 
Kramer,  who  came  to  America  in  1836,  and 
located  in  Jefferson  City,  where  he  died.  To 
the  marriage  of  Charles  H.  W.  and  Anna 
Guenther  five  children  were  born,  viz:  Charles 
G.,  Theckla,  Rosina,  Ida,  and  Anna — the  three 
last  named  being  deceased.  Mrs.  Anna  Guen- 
died  January  i,  i860,  and  in  1863  Charles  H. 
W.  married  Rosina  Kramer,  a sister  of  his 
first  wife,  and  a nativg  of  Jefferson  City.  To 
this  union  were  born  four  children,  named 
Gerhardt  A. ; Anna;  Oscar,  deceased,  and  Eu- 
gene. These  children  all  reside  in  Jefferson 
City.  Their  father  was  a lieutenant  in  the 
Union  army,  and  in  politics  was  a republican. 
He  was  a great  reader,  was  very  popular,  and 
died,  most  highly  respected,  at  Jefferson  City 
in  1883. 

Charles  G.  Guenther  was  reared  to  man- 
hood in  his  native  city  and  was  there  educated. 
His  first  employment  was  in  1867  as  page  in 
the  state  senate,  which  position  he  filled  for 


two  years;  he  was  then  appointed  senate  mes- 
senger for  two  years;  but  after  the  expiration 
of  the  first  year  of  this  service  was  appointed 
assistant  state  librarian  of  Missouri,  and  after 
doing  duty  in  this  position  for  two  years,  he 
entered  the  law  office  of  Lay  & Belch,  of  Jef- 
ferson City,  and  read  with  that  firm  for  three 
years — or  from  1872  to  1875  — and  in  October 
of  the  latter  year  was  appointed  first  deputy 
of  the  supreme  court,  which  position  he  held 
until  1882,  when  he  entered  the  law  depart- 
ment of  the  Wabash  Railroad  company  at  St. 
Louis,  with  which  he  remained  until  1885,  and 
then  accepted  a position  in  the  law  department 
of  the  Monon  road,  located  at  Chicago;  was 
its  chief  clerk  until  the  latter  part  of  1886,  and 
then  came  to  Frankfort  and  engaged  with  S. 
O.  Bayless  until  January,  1889,  when  he  he- 
bame  a partner  and  stdl  so  remains.  The 
marriage  of  Mr.  Guenther  took  place  in  Chi- 
cago, June  II,  1887,  to  Miss  Viola  J.  Derby, 
who  was  born  in  Eorreston,  111.,  June  ii, 
i860,  a daughter  of  Elmer  and  Laura  (Ken- 
nedy) Derby.  Two  children  have  been  born 
to  Mr.  Guenther  and  wife,  viz:  Carl  and  Helen 
Irene,  who  are  still  living.  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Guenther  are  members  of  the  Presbyterian 
church  and  highly,  tespected  members  of  so- 
ciety. • Mr.  Guenther  is  a stanch  democrat,  and 
during  the  time  he  was  deputy  clerk  of  the 
supreme  court  held  the  office  of  public  admin- 
istrator of  Cole  county.  Mo.  (six  years),  and 
at  one  time  was  nominated  by  his  party  for 
mayor  of  Frankfort  against  James  W.  Collins, 
but  the  opposition  party  were  in  too  great  a 
majority  for  his  success.  Mr.  Guenther  has 
displayed  ability  in  every  position  he  has  held, 
has  been  successful  in  his  profession,  and 
has  accumulated  some  property. 

In  his  social  and  domestic  relations  Mr. 
Guenther  has  been  mo.st  fortunate,  and  he  has 
no  reason  to  complain  of  his  business  af- 
fairs. 


BIOGRAPHICAL  HISTORY 


7()2 


I'ORGIC  ('.  IIARISAL'GH,  the  gen- 
tlciiKuily  postmaster  at  Colfax,  Clin- 
ton comity,  Ind  , anti  ex-soldier,  was 
liorn  in  Covington,  Miami  comity, 
Oliio,  Novemlier  24,  1H39,  and  is  a son  of 
Whishington  G.  and  Sarah  (Freeman)  Har- 
haiigh,  wild  an'  natives  respectively  of  Mary- 
land and  Ohio,  and  were  married  in  Miami 
comity,  ()hio,  where  the  father  followed  his 
trade  of  harness  maker  until  1H47,  when  he 
moved  to  Harrisburg,  Ohio,  where  he  resided 
until  1851,  and  then  lived  in  Dayton,  Ohio, 
until  1^54,  when  he  came  to  Indiana  and  lo- 
cated at  P'rankfort,  where  he  enlisted  in  the 
Fortieth  Indiana  volunteer  infantry,  and  where 
he  died,  while  at  home  on  a furlough,  in  Feb- 
ruar\',  1863.  He  was  the  father  of  two  chil- 
dren, George  C.  and  Mary  F.,  the  latter  of 
whom  is  deceased.  The  mother  of  George  C. 
died  when  the  latter  was  but  four  years  of  age, 
and  he  was  reared  by  a stepmother,  who  had 
borne  the  maiden  name  of  Rachael  Lancaster, 
whom  his  father  married  in  Harrisburg,  Ohio. 
In  I 860,  our  subject  went  to  Livingston  county. 
Ilk,  and  was  there  engaged  in  farm  work  until 
April,  1861,  when  he  enlisted  in  comjiany  D, 
Twentieth  Illinois  insantry,  for  three  years 
or  during  the  war,  served,  four  years,  three 
months  and  twenty-seven  days  in  the  same 
comjiany  and  regiment,  took  part  in  twenty- 
seven  general  engagements,  was  never  wound- 
ed, but  was  once  taken  jirisoner  and  held  at 
.Vndersonvilk'  and  Florence,  S.  C.,  nine 
months;  he  was  discharged  |nly  16,  1865, 

at  Chicago,  Ilk,  w hence  he  returned  to  I'rank- 
fort,  Ind.,  and  engaged  in  harness  making 
until  1874,  when  he  moved  to  Colfax  and  re- 
entered the  same  business,  which  he  followed 
live  \-ears;  then  was  employed  in  a saw-mill 
six  ycuirs,  and  then  re-eiigaged  in  the  harness 
trade,  which  lu’  has  since  successfully  con- 
ducted. d'he  marriage  ol  Mr.  Harbaugh  took 
place  in  Glinton  county,  Ind.,  Nov.  23,  1865, 


to  Miss  Annie  Benjamin,  who  was  born  in  New 
Jersey  in  February,  1842,  a daugnter  of  John 
and  Eliza  Benjamin,  and  to  this  union  have 
been  born  nine  children,  viz:  Fannie  B , 
wife  of  George  Musgrove,  of  Clinton  county; 
Maggie,  married  to  Elias  Wagner,  clerk  in  a 
general  store;  Ida  May,  deceased;  W.  B., 
John  W.,  George  C.,  Mary,  Winfield  H.  and 
Ada,  deceased.  In  religion,  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Harbaugh  are  members  of  the  Methodist  Epis- 
copal church.  In  politics,  Mr.  Harbaugh  is  a 
democrat,  and  was  postmaster  at  Erankfort  in 
1867  and  1868,  and  has  been  justice  of  the 
peace  in  Colfax  ten  years  and  town  clerk  five 
years.  December  i,  1893,  Nvas  commis- 
sioned postmaster  of  Colfax,  and  has  since 
filled  the  office  to  the  entire  satisfaction  of  the 
public.  He  is  an  Odd  Eellow,  and  a member 
of  the  G.  A.  R.,  and  he  and  family  stand  very 
high  in  the  esteem  of  the  ])eople  of  Colfax. 


EORGE  W.  HALSTEAD,  proprietor 
of  the  Earhart  hotel  of  Mulberry, 
Clinton  county,  Ind.,  has  been  a 
resident  of  this  place  but  a short 
time,  yet  his  progressive  spirit  has  made  him 
recognized  as  one  of  the  leading  citizens.  He 
w'as  born  in  Fayette  county,  hub,  September 
12,  1843,  and  is  the  son  of  Hickson  and  Eliza 
(}ones)  Halstead,  the  former  a native  of  New 
^'ork,  and  the  latter  of  this  state.  Hickson 
Halstead  kvas  born  in  1803,  and  at  the  age  of 
five  years  was  brought  by  his  ]5arents  to  In- 
diana, the  family  settling  in  I'ayette  county. 
His  father,  Robert  Halstead,  there  secured  a 
farm,  upon  which  Hickson  was  reared  to  man- 
hood. He,  too,  became  a farmer  and  owned 
and  oiterated  198  acres  of  highly  im])roved 
land,  in  addition  to  which  he  carried  on  stock 
farming.  Eliza  (Jones)  Halstead  was  born  in 
1814.  Her  father  was  also  an  Indiana  farmer 
and  had  a valuable  tract  of  land  of  400  acres. 


library 

OF  THE 

university  of  llrUfW^IS 


OF  CLINTON  COUNTY. 


705 


To  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Hickson  Halstead  were  born 
ten  cliililren,  three  of  whom  are  yet  living — 
Llizabeth,  witlow  of  Jacob  Stevens  of  Rush 
county,  Ind. ; Louisa,  wife  of  James  Tate;  and 
George  \V.  Those  deceased  are  Delilah  J., 
Thomas  J.,  Lucinda,  Mary  P. , and  Hickson. 
The  father  of  the  family  died  November  19, 
1886,  and  the  death  of  his  wife  occurred 
March  13,  1863. 

George  W.  Halstead  was  reared  on  his 
father’s  farm  in  Fayette  county,  and  received 
such  educational  privileges  as  the  common 
schools  of  the  neighborhood  afforded.  At  the 
age  of  twenty-two  he  began  life  for  himself. 
For  three  years  he  rented  a farm  and  then 
purchased  160  acres  of  land  in  Benton  county, 
Ind.,  which  he  owned  and  operated  for  eight 
years.  On  selling  out  he  bought  170  acres  in 
johnson  county,  111. ; he  made  his  home  until 
1894  in  Benton  county,  Ind.,  when  he  again 
sold  and  embarked  jn  the  lumber  business  in 
Talbot,  where  he  continued  until  1894,  when 
he  purchased  his  hotel  and  removed  to  Mul- 
berry. While  engaged  in  the  lumber  business 
he  also  handled  tile  and  coal.  In  Talbot. 
Benton  county,  Ind.,  he  has  four  lots,  upon 
which  is  a good  house  and  barn.  Hr.  Hal- 
stead has  been  twice  married.  On  the  twen- 
ty-first of  December,  1865,  he  wedded  Susan 
E.,  daughter  of  John  I.  and  Clarissa  I). 
(Utter)  Thomas.  The  father  died  in  1867, 
but  the  mother  is  still  living.  Mrs.  Halstead 
passed  away  December  19,  1884,  and  was  laid 
to  rest  in  the  cemetery  in  Oxford.  Mr.  Hal- 
stead was  again  married  October  10,  1888,  his 
second  union  being  with  Mary  Stembel,  daugh. 
ter  of  Theophilus  and  Martha  (Justus)  Stembel, 
the  former  a natiye  of  Maryland,  ami  the  lat- 
ter of  Ohio.  They  were  of  Scotch  and  Ger- 
man ancestry  respectively.  The  father  was 
born  December  ii,  1813,  the  mother  July  3, 
1828,  and  they  still  reside  in  Benton  county. 
In  their  family  were  twelve  children  : Eleanor, 

34 


deceased;  Jane,  wife  of  Henry  C.  Harris;  Aus- 
tin, deceased;  Mary;  Frank;  Elbert  of  Maine; 
Isabel,  wife  of  W.  R.  Phares;  Jerome  of  Salt 
Lake  City,  Utah;  Perry;  Walter;  Basil  and 
Oliver.  The  father  of  this  family  is  a physi- 
cian and  in  former  years  was  one  of  the  most 
prominent  doctors  in  the  state,  but  for  some 
time  he  has  lived  retired.  Mrs.  Halstead  was 
born  May  ii,  1853,  and  by  her  marriage  has 
one  son,  Theophilus  S.,  who  was  born  Jan- 
uary 3,  1890.  Our  subject  and  his  wife  are 
both  members  of  the  Christian  church,  and  in 
his  political  views  Mr.  Halstead  is  a democrat. 


AMES  B.  HALL,  one  of  the  old  and 
honored  citizens  of  Clinton  county,  who 
now  resides  near  Mulberry,  was  born 
in  Montgomery  county,  Ind.,  on  the 
28th  co^-'.p'eeem.bej,  ,48^3.  His  parents,  Mat- 
thew and  Barbara  (Brown)  Hall,  w'ere  both 
natives  of  North  Carolina,  and  were  of  Irish 
descent.  The  grandparents  on  both  sides  were 
natives  of  the  Emerald  isle  and  crossed  the 
Atlantic  to  America  in  an  early  day.  Matthew 
Hall,  who  was  born  in  1806,  emigrated  west- 
ward, in  1828  located  in  Montgomery  county, 
Ind.,  entered  160  acres  of  land,  and  improved 
it  until  1839.  In  that  year  he  sold  out  and 
came  to  Clinton  county.  Here  he  settled  on 
the  farm  now  owned  by  fosej)!!  Heavilon,  and 
at  one  time  there  owned  400  acres  of  rich  and 
arable  land.  Both  he  and  his  wife  are  now 
deceased.  A family  of  eight  children  graced 
their  union,  namely:  James  B.,  Margaret, 
Elizabeth,  William,  Jane  and  John,  all  of 
whom  are  yet  living,  and  Mary  and  Nancy  now 
deceased. 

James  B.  Hall,  whose  name  heads  this 
record,  spent  the  days  of  his  boyhood  and 
youth  upon  his  father’s  farm.  He  was  a child 
of  only  ten  years  w'hen  he  was  brought  by  his 
parents  to  Clinton  county,  and  here  he  was 


7(H) 


BIOGRAPHICAL  HISTORY 


reared  and  reci'i\'ed  a very  liniit('d  education, 
lie  attended  the  sul)script ioii  schools,  but 
nevc'r  was  a student  in  the  ])ublic  schools. 
After  reacdiiiif^  his  majority  he  purchased  i6o 
acres  ol  land  in  White  county,  Ind.,  and  upon 
that  farm  made  his  home  for  three  years,  de- 
votiiif(  his  time  and  attention  to  its  cultivation. 
On  the  exi)iration  of  that  period  he  returned 
to  this  county,  where  he  and  his  wife  own  i6o 
acres  of  j.;o()d  land.  It  is  well  improved,  bein^^ 
sui)plied  with  all  the  accessories  and  conveni- 
ences of  a model  farm.  The  Helds  are  well 
tilled  and  Mr.  Hall  has  put  upon  the  place  a 
large  and  comfortable  brick  residence  and  a 
good  barn.  The  farm  is  neat  and  thrifty  in 
appearance  and  indicates  to  the  passer-by  the 
enterprise  of  the  owner.  In  1866,  Mr.  Hall 
married  iMiss  Nancy,  daughter  of  Isaac  and 
jane  (Miller)  Fickle,  and  by  their  union  have 
been  born  three  children:  Letta  |.,  John  C. 
and  William  I.  Both  parents  hold  membership 
with  the  United  Presbyterian  church,  and  Mr. 
Hall  belongs  to  Stone  River  jinst,  G.  A.  K. 
During  the  late  war  he  eidisted  in  August, 
1861,  as  a member  of  company  C,  Tenth  Indi- 
ana infantry,  under  Captain  Miller,  but  after 
ten  months  was  honorably  discluirged  on  ac- 
count of  i)hysically  disability.  He  e.xercises 
his  right  of  franchise  in  support  of  the  demo- 
cratic party.  All  who  know  him  esteem  him 
highly  for  his  sterling  worth  and  strict  integ- 
rity, and  he  well  deserves  re})ia'sentation  in 
this  volume. 


UGH  K.  HAMILTON,  prominent 
fai  rner  and  stock  raiser  of  Washing- 
ton township,  Clinton  county,  was 
born  in  Preble  county,  Ohio,  Septem- 
ber 8,  1824,  the  son  of  Ah'xander  and  Fli/a- 
beth  Hamilton.  Alextinder  was  the  sou  of 
Samuel  Ibamiltou,  whose  father,  Alexander,  a 
native  of  tlu'  north  of  Ireland,  served  seven 


years  in  the  Revolutionary  war.  From  the 
most  reliable  information  obtainable  the  Ham- 
iltons  appear  to  have  been  originally  from 
Scotland,  and  it  is  learned  that  one  Archibald 
Hamilton,  father  of  the  above-named  Alexan- 
der, moved  from  Scotland  to  the  north  of  Ire- 
land a number  of  years  before  the  dawn  of  the 
present  century.  His  son,  Alexander,  emi- 
grated to  America  in  the  time  of  the  colonies 
and  died  a number  of  years  ago  in  Preble 
county,  Ohio.  The  subject’s  grandfather, 
Samuel  Hamilton,  was  born  in  South  Caro- 
lina, later  removed  to  Rentucky,  thence  moved 
to  Ohio,  where  his  death  occurred.  Alexander 
Hamilton,  father  of  Hugh  R.,  was  a native  of 
South  Carolina,  born  November  8,  1796,  and 
his  wife,  whose  maiden  name  was  Elizabeth 
Ramsey,  was  born  September  19,  1793,  in 

the  state  of  Virginia.  Mrs.  Hamilton  was  the 
daughter  of  John  and  Elizabeth  (Lackey)  Ram- 
sey, natives  of  Virginia,  and  of  Irish  and  Scotch 
descent,  resj)ectively.  John  Ramsey  was  the 
son  of  William  Ramsey,  who  was  born  in  Ire- 
land. Mrs.  Elizabeth  Hamilton  died  January 
31,  1861,  and  her  husbaml  departed  this  life 
on  the  fourth  day  of  March,  1879.  They  were 
the  parents  of  ten  children,  only  one  of  whom, 
the  subject  of  this  sketch,  is  now  living.  The 
names  of  the  other  members  of  the  family  are 
as  follows:  John  L. , Samuel,  Jauc,  Eliza, 
James,  I'raucis  R,,  Mary,  David  R.  and 
George  C. 

Hugh  R.  Hamiltou  was  reared  on  the  farm 
and  received  what  was  termed  in  those  days  a 
fi'ood  common-school  education.  He  came  to 
Clinton  county,  Ind.,  with  his  father  in  1839, 
and  remained  under  the  parental  roof  until  his 
twenty-seventh  ycxir,  at  which  time,  on  the 
eleventh  day  of  December,  1845,  he  entered 
into  the  marriage  relation  with  Mary  B.  Coul- 
ter, daughter  of  James  and  Mary  (Brown) 
Coulter.  'I'lie  father  of  Mrs.  Hamilton  was  a 
native  of  Ireland  and  an  early  settlerof  North 


OF  CLINTON  COUNTY. 


707 


Carolina.  His  wife  was  born  in  South  Caro- 
lina,-and  Mrs.  Hamilton  was  their  only  child, 
the  date  of  her  birth  beinj^-  February  25,  1824. 
Seven  children  have  blessed  the  marriage  of 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Hamilton,  the  following  of  whom 
are  living;  Martha  E.,  wife  of  John  J.  Rich- 
ards, born  August  22,  1853;  Hugh  A.,  born 
I'ebruary  21,  1856;  Jessie,  born  November  1 i, 
1861;  Charles  C.,  born  September  15,  1863, 
and  Marbara  J.,  born  September  i,  1867.  The 
following  are  the  names  of  those  deceased: 
Elizabeth,  born  September  15,  1846,  died 

June  12,  1871;  and  James  B.,  born  November 
II,  1849,  died  April  26,  1850.  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Hamilton  have  acquired  a comfortable  compe- 
tence of  this  world’s  goods,  owning  a fine 
farm  of  340  acres  in  W'ashington  township, 
upon  which  Mr.  Hamilton  has  erected  a fine 
brick  residence — one  of  the  best  farm  dwell- 
ings in  his  part  of  the  county.  Politically, 
Mr.  Hamilton  is  a republican,  aiid  as  such 
was  twice  elected  to  the  office  of  county  com- 
'inissioner,  the  duties  of  which  responsible  posi- 
tion he  discharged  with  ability  and  commend- 
able fidelity.  He  is  a member  of  the  United 
Presbyterian  church,  in  which,  since  1852,  he 
has  been  an  elder.  Mrs.  Hamilton  belongs  to 
the  same  church,  and  is  an  earnest,  active  re- 
ligious worker. 


EV.  THOMAS  M.  HAMILTON.— 
The  paternal  ancestors  of  the  gentle- 
man whose  name  introduces  this  no- 
tice were  Scotch,  and  his  grandfather, 
John  Hamilton,  left  the  old  country  a number 
of  years  ago,  immigrating  to  America  in  colonial 
times,  and,  after  the  Revolutionary  war,  set- 
tling in  Kentucky,  where  his  death  occurred. 
He  held  a major’s  commission  in  the  American 
army  during  the  war  of  independence  and  took 
a courageous  part  in  that  struggle  from  the  be- 
ginning to  the  end,  and  distinguished  himself 


on  many  a bloody  battle-field.  He  was  the 
father  of  nine  children,  named  as  follows — 
Abner,  Alexander,  Ferdinand,  John,  Archibald, 
Andrew,  Peggy,  Betsy  and  Catherine.  Andrew 
Hamilton,  father  of  Thomas  M.,  was  born  in 
Virginia,  and  when  young  was  taken  by  his 
parents  to  Kentucky,  where  he  subsequently 
married  Mary  Miller.  He  was  a soldier  in  the 
war  of  1812,  came  to  Boone  county,  Ind.,  in 
1832,  entered  land  and  became  a well-to-do 
farmer,  and  died  November  23,  1855.  His  sec- 
ond wife  was  Betsy  Randolph,  who  died  in 
1834,  and  in  1837  he  was  united  in  marriage  to 
Jane  Richardson,  whose  death  occurred  in  the 
year  1878.  Andrew  Hamilton  was  the  father 
of  two  children — John  R.,  who  died  in  Febru- 
ary, 1840,  and  Thomas  M.,  the  subject  of  this 
sketch,  who  first  saw  the  light  of  day  May  i, 
1822,  in  Montgomery  county,  Ky. 

Thomas  M.  Ha’milton  was  about  ten  years 
old  when  brought  by  his  parents  to  Boone 
county,  Ind.,  and  he  grew'  to  manhood  on  a 
farm,  attending,  in  the  meantime,  the  sub- 
scription schools  of  the  country,  in  which  he 
obtained  a fair  knowledge  of  the  branches 
usually  taught.  On  arriving  at  manhood’s  es- 
tate he  chose  agriculture  as  a pursuit,  and  con- 
tinued the  same  about  twelve  years,  purchas- 
ing his  first  land,  consisting  of  seventy-five 
acres,  in  1843.  Subsequently  he  purchased 
additional  land  and  now  owns  120  acres  in  the 
township  of  Jackson,  although  for  a number 
of  years  he  has  not  been  actively  engaged  in 
farming,  merely  giving  his  attention  to  the 
management  of  his  place.  From  early  life 
Mr.  Hamilton  took  deep  interest  in  religious 
matters,  and  in  1852  entered  the  ministry  of 
the  United  Brethren  church,  with  which  he 
has  since  been  prominently  identified.  His 
first  circuit  had  twenty-one  appointments, 
w'hich  he  filled  once  every  three  weeks,  and 
it  is  a fact  worthy  of  note  that,  the  first  year 
of  his  ministry,  he  was  constantly  on  the  go 


708 


BIOGRAPHICAL  HISTORY 


and  pri'achcd  tna'i'  400  sermons.  W'ithin  the 
ciia  nit  to  whieh  he  ministered  as  re^nlar  pas- 
tor\V(;re  tlu‘  following  congregations:  Lebanon, 
Ladoga,  ('hamhersl)m<(,  Green  Hill,  Concord 
and  ('rawfordsx'ilh'.  In  1857  Mr.  Hamilton 
was  elected  ])residin4'  elder,  and  he  has  held 
that  important  position  for  a period  of  twenty- 
S(‘ven  years,  ha\in;4'  been  re-elected  eight  dif- 
ferent times  to  the  general  conference.  He  is 
still  actively  engaged  in  the  work  of  the  min- 
istry, and  bids  fair  to  be  of  effective  service 
hn-  a number  of  years  to  come  in  the  good 
work  to  which  so  many  years  of  his  life  have 
been  devoted.  While  not  a politician  in  the 
sense  in  which  that  term  is  generally  under- 
stood, Mr.  Hamilton  has  ever  manifested  a 
dee]>  interest  in  public  affairs  and  has  always 
maintained  that  politics  should  be  made  a 
careful  study  by  every  true  .\merican  citizen, 
fie  is  a republican  and  as  such  was  elected  a 
meinber  of  the  state  senate  in  1868,  serving 
four  years,  and  in  1880  was  elected  to  repre- 
sent B(jone  county  in  the  lower  house  of  the 
general  assembly. 

Mr.  Hamilton  was  married,  December  8, 
1840,  to  Prudence  Larkin,  daughter  of  Jona- 
than and  Keziah  (Antrim)  Larkin,  natives  of 
New  Jersey  and  of  Irish  descent.  The  family 
of  .Mrs.  Hamilton  can  be  traced  back  many 
generations  in  the  old  country  to  Lord  Antrim, 
one  of  the  old  nobility  of  the  Emerald  isle. 
Her  grandfather,  John  Larkin,  came  to  Amer- 
ica a number  of  years  ago  and  reared  a family, 
anu)ng  whom  was  Jonathan,  father  of  Mrs. 
Hamilton.  He  died  in  1830  and  his  wife  in 
185G.  'Idle  following  are  the  names’of  thcnr 
(diildren;  William,  Elisha,  Sarah,  Mariah, 
Josejih,  John  and  Prudence,  the  last  named 
being  the  only  member  of  the  family  living  at 
this  time.  d'o  the  marriage  of  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Hamilton  the  following  children  liave  been 
born:  John  R.,  born  August  9,  i8.|i,  is  a law- 
yer ol  Norton,  Kansas;  Maria  P. , born  No\'em- 


ber  25,  1843,  married  Samuel  West  and  died 
in  the  year  1883:  George  W.,  l)orn  March  25, 
1847,  died  August  22,  1849;  Matilda,  born 
August  24,  1849,  died  May  28,  1876;  Larkin 
P. , born  December  10,  1852;  Andrew  A.,  born 
September  8,  1857;  Abraham  L. , born  Sep- 
tember 29,  i860;  RosellaM.,  born  January  24, 
1868.  John  R.  Hamilton,  the  oldest  son, 
served  in  the  late  war  in  company  D,  Seven- 
teenth Indiana  infantry,  and  took  part  in  a 
number  of  battles,  including  Greenbriar,  Howes 
Gap,  Chickamauga,  and  was  discharged  in 
June,  1864.  He  is  now  a prominent  lawyer  of 
Norton,  Kan. 


OSEPH  HEAVILON,  a representative 
citizen  of  W'ashington  township,  Clin- 
ton county,  Ind.,  was  born  in  Wiscon- 
sin, when  that  state  was  a territory,  on  ' 
the  twenty-ninth  day  of  May,  1840,  and  is  the 
son  of  Taylor  and  Sallie  (Potter)  Heavilon, 
Taylor  Heavilou  came  to  Clinton  county,  Ind., 
in  the  fall  of  1829,  in  company  with  his  brother- 
in-law,  Samuel  Young,  and  was  joined  the  fol- 
lowing fall  by  his  parents,  from  Butler  county, 
Ohio,  who  settled  on  a farm  now  owned  by  the 
subject  of  this  sketch.  His  first  purchase  of 
land  consisted  of  125  acres,  and  later,  in  part- 
nership with  his  brother,  entered  a tract  of  320 
acres  about  a mile  and  a half  southeast  of  the 
present  site  of  Jefferson  village,  all  of  which 
subsecpiently  came  to  his  possession.  By  oc- 
cupation Taylor  Heavilon  was  a carpenter, 
and  in  1832  he  worked  at  liis  trade  in  Chicago, 
in  which  city  he  erected  the  first  Catholic 
church.  In  the  fall  of  1836  he  went  to  Mil- 
waukee, Whs.,  where  he  worked  at  his  trade 
one  year,  and  Juik'  17,  1837,  he  was  united  in 
marriage  to  Sallie  Potter,  daughter  of  Abel  and 
Cynthia  (Lathro]))  Potter,  natives  of  Rutland 
conntv.  Vt.  Mrs.  Ileavilon  was  born  Ma}'  9, 

1 8 I <y  and  when  eight  }’e:u's  of  age  was  taken 
by  her  parents  to  Little  P'alls,  N.  thence 


OF  CLINTON  COUNTY. 


700 


to  Ksse.x  county,  in  the  same  state,  where  she 
lived  until  her  fourteenth  year.  After  residing 
at  several  other  points,  she  went  to  Milwau- 
kee, where  her  marriage  occurred,  as  above 
stated.  During  the  three  years  following  his 
marriage.  Taylor  Heavilon  followed  his  trade 
in  Milwankee  and  then  laid  claim  to  a tract  of 
government  land  in  Washington  county,  Wis. , 
before  that  part  of  the  state  was  open  for  set- 
tlement. He  became  the  possessor  of  640 
acres,  upon  which  he  lived  for  some  time,  be- 
ing among  the  early  settlers  there,  his  nearest 
neighbor  for  the  first  six  months  living  at  a dis- 
tance of  four  miles  away.  He  was  elected  re- 
corder at  the  first  election  held  in  Washington 
county,  and  held  the  office  as  long  as  he  re- 
mained in  Wisconsin.  Disposing  of  his  inter- 
ests there,  he  returned  to  Clinton  county,  Ind  , 
and  was  for  some  years  engaged  in  general 
merchandising  in  the  village  of  Jefferson,  which 
business  he  conducted  in  connection  with  a ho- 
tel, both  ventures  proving  financially  success- 
ful. In  the  meantime  he  improved  the  land 
which  he  had  purchased  previous  to  going 
west,  and  in  1859  moved  to  the  place  where 
the  w'idow^  now  resides.  Taylor  Heavilon  was 
born  July  17,  1808,  in  Monmouth  county,  N, 
J.,  and  died  in  Clinton  count}',  Ind.,  Decem- 
ber 25,  1874.  He  was  a very  successful  busi- 
ness man,  and  left  a large  estate.  The  follovv- 
ing  of  their  twelve  children  are  living:  Lydia, 
wife  of  Harmon  Aughe;  Josc-ph,  subject  of  this 
sketch;  Mrs.  Cha-dotte  Kyger,  Abel,  Franklin 
and  Orin.  The  following  are  the  names  of 
those  deceased;  PhebeA.,  Ellen,  Sophronia, 
Fanny,  Sallie  and  William. 

As  stated  at  the  beginning,  Joseph  Heavi- 
lon is  one  of  the  representative  men  of  Clinton 
county  and  ranks  among  the  most  successful 
farmers  and  stock-raisers  in  the  township  of 
Washington.  When  five  years  old,  he  came 
to  Clinton  county  with  his  parents,  in  the  com- 
mon schools  of  w'hich  county  he  received  his 


primary  education  and  later  was  graduated  from 
Bryant  & Stratton’s  Commercial  college  at  In- 
dianapolis. The  training  thus  received  was 
supplemented  by  a scientific  course  at  the 
Battle  Ground  institute,  after  w’hich  he  was 
engaged  in  teaching  for  a period  of  eight  years, 
working  on  the  farm  in  the  meantime.  For 
some  time  he  carried  on  the  general  mercantile 
business  in  the  village  of  Jefferson,  but  for  a 
number  of  years  has  devoted  his  attention  ex- 
clusively to  farming  and  stock  raising,  being 
now'  one  of  the  most  successful  men  in  those 
lines  in  the  county.  He  has  a farm  of  300 
acres,  w'ell  improved,  and  is  largely  engaged  in 
raising  fine  cattle,  horses  and  sheep,  and  also 
breeds  and  deals  in  fine  Shetland  ponies.  Mr. 
Heavilon  is  also  engaged  in  shaving  notes,  and 
is  one  among  the  largest  stockholders  of  the 
First  National  bank  of  Frankfort,  Ind.  Mr. 
Heavilon  was  elected  secretary  of  the  Clinton 
county  P'air  association  in  1880,  and  has  served 
in  that  capacity  ever  since.  Politically,  he  is 
a republican,  and  as  such  has  been  an  active 
worker  in  behalf  of  his  party  in  a number  of 
local  and  general  campaigns.  On  the  twenty- 
third  day  of  I'ebruary,  1865,  Mr.  Heavilon  and 
Virginia  P.  Carter  were  united  in  the  bonds  of 
wedlock,  a union  severed  by  the  death  of  Mrs. 
Heavilon,  after  she  had  borne  three  children, 
namely:  Sallie,  born  F'ebruary  5,  1866;  Jesse, 
born  September  22,  1871;  and  Jennie,  whose 
birth  occurred  October  22,  1873.  For  his 
second  wife,  Mr.  Heavilon,  on  the  fourteenth 
of  March,  1876,  married  Jessie  A.  Carter,  a 
sister  of  his  first  wife.  Mrs  Heavilon  was  born 
in  Clinton  county,  Ind.,  November  8,  1856, 
and  is  a daughter  of  Richard  J.  and  Ellen 
(Byers)  Carter.  The  following  childreir  have 
been  born  of  this  marriage:  Richard  M.,  stu- 
dent at  Purdue  university,  born  December  28, 
1876;  Harry  A.,  March  2,  1878;  Joseph,  De- 
cember 22,  1880;  Franklin  C,  October  10, 
1883;  Julia  E.,  November  9,  1885;  Mary  J., 


710 


BTOGRAPIIICAL  HISTORY 


June  13,  1HS7;  Daisy,  August  13,  1890;  Fanny 
O.,  Sc])teuil)ur  30,  1892;  and  Potter,  Septem- 
ber 30,  I 894. 


OIIX  S.  HFD('i('0('K,  a retired  citizen 
of  I'rankfort,  Ind.,  was  born  in  Asli- 
ford,  Kent  count}',  England,  January 
24,  1826,  and  is  a son  of  Vane  and 

Marie  (West)  Hedgcock,  a family  of  some  note 
in  the  old  countr}'.  The  youthful  days  of 
jolui  S.  were  \'ariously  pursued  until  he  came 
to  America  in  1849  Here  he  first  located  in 
Sy  racuse,  N.  Y. , but  shortl}' afterward  moved 
to  Dresden,  Ohio,  where  he  prosperously  en- 
tered the  bout  and  shoe  business,  and  May  30, 
1852,  married  Miss  Nancy  Ross,  daughter  of 
fames  and  Nancy  Ross.  Two  years  later, 
1854,  he  came  to  Indiana  and  located  at 
Michigantown,  Cdinton  county,  where  he  fol- 
lowed the  retail  shoe  business  until  the  fall  of 
1864,  when  he  patriotically  enlisted  in  the  de- 
fense of  his  adopted  country  in  company  (i. 
Fifty-first  Indiana  volunteer  infantry,  and 
served  until  the  close  of  the  war.  Returning 
to  Michigantown  he  resumed  his  business,  but 
finally  retired  to  I'rankfort,  where  he  is  living- 
in  peace  and  comfort.  Unto  him  and  his  ad- 
mirable wife  were  born  the  fullowung  children, 
all  of  whom,  that  are  living,  being  an  honor  to 
his  advanced  years;  fames  A.,  John  \\k 
Charles  Oliver  P.,  Lula  Marie,  Jennie  P, 
and  Nellie  (tlu’  last  named  deceased. J Hav- 
ing had  the  misfortune  of  losing  his  first  help- 
meet, Nanc}',  b'ebruary  7,  1879,  Mr.  Hedgcock 
married,  August  23,  1880,  Miss  Elizabeth 

Hubbard,  who  came  from  Huntington,  ICn- 
gland,  abcnit  one  year  before  her  marriage. 
.Mrs.  lledgcocjs.  is  a consistent  member  of  the 
E|)isco|)al  church,  while  her  husband  is  a de- 
vout Methodist.  Put  at  the  same  time  it  may 
be  mentioned  that  Mr.  Hedgcock  is  a I'rce- 
mason  as  w'ell  as  a member  of  the  (irand 
;\rmy  of  the  Rt'public. 


AMES  A.  HEDGCOCK,  juesident  of 
The  J E.  Scroggy  Manufacturing  com- 
])any  of  Frankfort,  Ind.,  and  a mem- 
ber of  the  firm  of  Ross  & Hedgcock  of 
the  same  city,  was  born  in  Dresden,  Ohio, 
Ajiril  6,  1853,  and  is  the  son  of  John  S.  Hedg- 
cock, of  whom  mention  has  been  made  above. 
James  A.  received  a fair  education  in  the  com- 
mon schools  and  early  learned  the  shoe- 
makers’ trade  of  his  fatiier.  At  the  age  of 
twenty,  James  A.  started  out  in  life  for  him- 
self, going  to  Danville,  Ilk,  where  for  a year 
he  carried  (Ui  a retail  trade  in  making  and 
selling  boots  and  shoes;  tiienc'e  he  returned  to 
Indiana  and  became  a member  of  the  dry- 
goods  firm  of  Smith  A Hedgcock,  at  Michigan- 
town; one  year  later  the  firm  came  to  Frank- 
fort, where  the}'  did  a leading  business  until 
late  in  the  year  1880,  when  Mr.  Hedgcock 
withdrew,  in  order  to  enter  upon  the  duties  of 
county  recorder,  to  which  position  he  had 
been  elected  in  the  fall  of  the  same  year,  by 
the  democratic  part}'.  So  satisfactorily  did 
he  perform  the  duties  of  this  office  that  he  was 
re-elected  for  another  term  of  four  years,  in 
1884.  He  then  formed  a ))artnership  with  John 
A.  Ross  in  the  general  cont racting  business,  un- 
der the  firm  name  of  Ross  lS:  Hedgcock,  and 
a grand  success  was  acdiieved.  (b'urther  men- 
tion of  this  e.xtensivc  firm  will  be  humd  under 
the  biography  of  John  A.  Ross,  on  another  page 
of  this  volume.)  The  details  of  Mr.  Hedg- 
cock’s  entering  iuco  ))artnership  with  Mr. 
Scroggy,  and  the  ft)rmation  of  the  J.  E. 
Scroggy  Manufact ruing  comjiauy,  will  also  be 
found  on  another  page.  It  may  be  here  re- 
marked, that  Mr.  Hedgcock  is  a shrewd  busi- 
ness man,  and  while  a close  calculator,  is  a 
man  of  very  liberal  \'iews  and  generous  disjx)- 
sitiou  as  well  as  of  a markedly  progressive 
s[)irit,  as  has  been  evidenced  in  all  of  the  acts 
of  his  life. 

Tlu‘  mairiagt'  of  Mr.  Ih'dgcock  was  nK)st 


LIBRARY 
OF  THE 

UNIVERSITY  OF  ILLINOIS 


OF  CLINTON  COUNTY. 


713 


happily  consuniated  on  the  sixth  of  Ajnil, 
1881,  with  Miss  Lena  A.  Lydick,  who  bore 
two  children  ; Archie  and  Mary.  Mrs,  Lena 
A.  Medgcock  is  the  daughter  of  George  Ly- 
dick, a gallant  soldier,  who  exj)ired  Fehrnary 
3,  1863,  at  Mnrfreeshoro,  Tenn.,  from  sick- 
ness caused  hy  exposure  while  serving  as  first 
lieutenant  of  company  I,  Fourth  Indiana 
cavalry.  Mr,  and  Mrs.  Hedgcock  are  mem- 
bers of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  church,  v\hile 
Mr.  Hedgcock  holds  membership  and  affilli- 
ates  with  a number  of  brotherhoods;  chief 
among  all  is  that  of  the  Masonic  order,  in 
which  he  ranks  as  past  eminent  commander  of 
Frankfort  commandery.  No.  29,  knights  temp- 
lar; a member  of  Indiana  consistory,  S.  P.  R. 
S.,  in  which  organization  he  has  attained  to 
the  thirty-second  degree,  beyond  which  very 
few  members  of  the  A.  A.,  Scottish  rite,  can 
hope  to  advance.  He  is  also  a noble  of  the 
mystic  shrine  in  Murah  temple,  Indianapolis, 
Ind.,  and  is  a member  of  the  I.  O.  R.  M., 
the  K.  of  P. , and  Sons  of  Veterans.  Mr. 
Hedgcock  has,  likewise,  been  officially  con- 
nected with  the  First  National  bank,  of  Frank- 
fort, Ind.,  for  tha  past  ten  years,  and  holds  a 
social  position  excelled  by  few  in  his  thriving 
city,  than  whom  no  one  has  a greater  interest 
in  its  prosperity  and  advancement. 


OHN  W.  HEDGCOCK,  general  mer- 
chant of  Michigantown,  Clinton  county, 
and  senior  member  of  the  firm  of  J.  \V. 
Hedgcock  & Co.,  was  born  February 
II,  1856,  in  Clinton  county,  Ind.,  and  from 
his  youth  has  been  associated  with  mercantile 
affairs  He  is  of  English  descent,  his  father, 
John  S.,  having  been  born  in  Ashford,  Kent, 
Eng.,  but  married  in  Ohio,  and  in  1854  hav- 
ing become  a resident  of  Clinton  county.  To 
him  and  his  wife,  Nancy  Ross,  have  been  born 
the  following  children;  James  A.,  John  W., 


Chailes  , Oliver  P. , Lula,  Nellie,  an  infant 
deceased,  and  Jennie.  John  W.  Hedgcock 
began  his  business  life  with  no  capital  but  en- 
ergy and  ambition,  but  he  has  succeeded  in 
accumulating  many  hundred  dollars’  worth  of 
property,  including  a handsome  residence,  and 
a large  and  well  selected  stock  of  general  mer- 
chandise. He  first  married  Luella  Barnes, 
daughter  of  John  A.  and  Rachtjel  (Robinson) 
Barnes,  the  former  one  of  the  most  noted  phy- 
sicians of  Clinton  county.  But  he  had  the 
misfortune  to  lose  his  wife.  May  17,  1881, 
and  September  2,  1882,  ISIr.  Hedgcock  mar- 
ried Miss  Nuna  Whiteman,  daughter  of  Joseph 
and  Margaret  (Hineman)  Whiteman,  and  this 
union  has  been  made  happy  by  the  birth  of 
three  children;  Gladys,  Ralph  S.  and  Ruth. 
In  politics,  Mr.  Hedgcock  is  a stanch  demo- 
crat, but  has  declined  every  offer  of  nomina- 
tion for  office.  He  and  wife  are  prominent  as 
mcwl?e-i,’s  ;of  the  Metjiodist  church,  of  which  he 
was  formerly  a steward  for  a number  of  years, 
and  is  now  a trustee;  he  is  also  superintendent 
of  the  Sabbath-school.  Fraternally,  he  is  a 
memlier  of  Herman  lodge.  No.  184,  F.  & A. 
M.,  of  which  he  was  worshipful  master  four 
years,  and  also  several  times  its  representative 
in  the  grand  lodge.  He  is  a memher  of  Dakota 
tribe.  No.  42,  I.  O.  R.  M.,  and  in  this  he  has 
passed  all  the  chairs,  except  the  highest;  like- 
wise a member  of  Rubicon  lodge.  No.  340,  K. 
of  P. , in  which  he  has  passed  all  the  chairs 
and  which  he  has  also  represented  in  the  grand 
lodge.  He  has  been  identified  with  the  inter- 
ests of  Michigantowm  since  his  youth,  and  is  a 
self-made  man  in  the  full  sense  of  the  term  as 
usually  applied  to  business  men.  Socially  the 
standing  of  himself  and  family  is  a most  envi- 
able one.  Although  still  a young  man,  Mr. 
Hedgcock  has  met  with  unusual  progress,  both 
in  his  career  as  a member  of  fraternal  as- 
sociations, as  well  as  his  social  relations  gen- 
erally. 


714 


BIOGRAPHICAT>  HISTORY 


HMOS  LINCOLN  HIATT,  one  of  the 
inominent  citizens  nnd  the  principal 
of  the  liigh  school  of  Kirklin,  was 
born  near  I'rankfort  on  the  fifteenth 
of  Sejitcmber,  1861,  and  comes  of  sturdy 
b'rench  and  Scotch  ancestry.  His  great-grand- 
father was  Tennyson  Hiatt,  a farmer,  who 
removed  to  Ohio  from  North  Carolina  with  his 
famil}’  and  died  when  less  than  forty  years  of 
age.  The  grandfather,  Christopher  Hiatt,  was 
the  youngest  of  the  family  and  was  born  March  j 
27,  1805,  in  Crayson  county,  Va.  He  was 
married  A]iril  i,  1824,  to  Martha  Stanley, 
whose  birth  occurred  on  the  tenth  of  March, 
1803,  and  they  became  the  parents  of  seven 
children,  namely;  Amos,  who  was  born  June 
8,  1825;  Susan,  born  July  i,  1826;  Lydia, 
born  October  15,  I828;  Emily,  born  Novem- 
ber 18,  1830;  Samuel,  born  October  10,  1832; 
Priscilla,  born  March  17,  1836;  and  Christo- 
pher T.,  born  Nov^ember  1 8,v,-'i838.  Tlie' 
father  of  this  family  was  a man  of  five  feet  and 
eleven  inches  in  height,  weighing  170  pounds. 
He  was  acti\’e,  strong  and  agile,  reached  the 
age  of  seventy  }’ears,  and  was  a man  of  con- 
siderable learning,  acquired  by  home  reading.  | 
His  wife  passed  away  at  the  age  of  six’ty-three. 
Loth  were  Friends  in  religious  views. 

Christopher  T.  Hiatt  was  born  in  Henry 
county,  Ind.,and  eighteen  when  he  removed 
to  Center  township,  Clinton  county,  settled 
near  I'rankfort.  His  educational  privileges 
were  quite  limited,  as  during  his  early  child- 
hood, he  suffered  much  with  his  eyes,  and 
therefore  could  not  attend  school,  but  in  later 
years,  by  reading,  experience  and  observation, 
has  become  well  informed,  and,  seeing  the 
advantages  of  a good  education,  he  has  pro- 
vided his  childrmi  with  j)rivileges  adapted  to 
that  (Mid.  On  the  sixth  of  November,  i860, 
he  wedded  Martha  Pyatt  who  was  born  h'eb- 
ruar\'  20,  1842,  and  is  the  daughter  of  An- 
drew [.  P\att,  but  whose  mother  died  when 


she  was  quite  a small  child.  To  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Hiatt  have  been  born  five  children:  Amos  L. ; 
Ceorge  A.,  who  married  Mary  Moon;  Edwin 
Ci  ; Lydia  J. : and  Nellie  F.,  who  died  at  the 
age  of  five  years. 

In  the  usual  manner  of  farmer  lads  the 
subject  of  our  sketch  spent  the  days  of  his 
boyhood  and  youth,  and  to  his  father  gave  the 
benefit  of  his  services  until  he  had  attained  his 
majority.  He  worked  at  corn  husking,  hay 
making,  harvesting  and  other  farm  pursuits, 
and  spent  about  three  months  of  each  year 
I attending  school.  M'hen  eighteen  he  spent 
ninety-one  days  in  school  and  then  received  a 
license  to  teach.  During  the  winter  seasons 
he  would  follow  this  profession,  and  in  the 
summer  months  would  aid  in  the  work  of  the 
farm.  On  the  first  of  June,  1883,  he  entered 
the  United  States  Military  academy  at  M'est 
Point,  having  passed  a competitive  examina- 
’tion  and  been  appointed  by  Congressman  G. 
S.  Orth.  Here  he  remained  until  January, 
1884,  when  he  returned  home  and  resumed 
his  work  at  farming  and  teaching.  On  the 
fourteenth  of  September  of  the  same  year,  Mr. 
Hiatt  wedded  Zorodah  C.  Lucas,  who  was 
born  April  22,  1862,  and  is  a daughter  of  Will- 
iam and  Mary  (Dlackj  Lucas.  They  had 
three  children : Cassius  E. , born  July  i o,  1885; 
Ormsby  T. , who  was  born  March  1,  1887; 
and  Nellie  O.,  who  was  born  August  18,  1889, 
and  died  March  6,  1892.  Mr.  Hiatt  came  to 
Kirklin  as  teacher  in  the  grammar  depart ment, 
but  for  the  last  two  jears  has  been  principal 
of  the  schools  of  this  place.  He  is  an  able 
educator,  and  his  excellent  success  has  won 
him  a high  reputation.  His  wife  is  a member 
of  the  United  Drethnm  church.  In  politics  he 
is  an  active  rcqaiblican,  and  has  served  as  dele- 
gate to  both  the  congressional  and  county  co  1- 
ventions,  but  has  never  sought  office  for  him- 
self. b'raternally  he  is  a member  of  Kirklin 
lodge.  No.  443,  1'.  N A.  M. 


library 

OF  THE 

wtos/tvofiw,*,,, 


/ft. 


'J.'O . 


OF  CLINTON  COUNTY. 


717 


jKSSIC  HILL.  — Few  men  of  cen- 
tral Indiana  are  as  widely  and  favor- 
abh'  known  to  both  young  and  old  as 
the  subject  of  this  sketch,  whose 
venerable  form  for  a number  of  years  past  has 
heen  a familiar  figure  on  the  streets  of  Frank- 
fort. Rev.  Jesse  Hill  was  born  in  Randolph 
county,  S.  C.,  September  8,  1819,  the  son  of 
Thomas  and  Sarah  (Wright)  Hill,  both  natives 
of  the  state  named.  The  year  that  Mr.  Hill 
first  saw  the  light  of  day  witnessed  the  emi- 
gration of  his  parents  to  Putnam  county,  Ind., 
where  the  father  died  a few  years  after  locating 
his  family  in  their  new  home,  in  what  was  then 
a comparatively  unsettled  country.  The 
mother,  a most  excellent  lady  of  much  more 
than  ordinary  intellectuality,  reared  the  seven 
dependent  children  to  maturity,  although  some 
years  after  her  husband’s  death  she  became  the 
wife  of  Judge  John  Sigley,  of  Greencastle.  She 
departed  this  life  in  the  year  1844,  honored 
and  lamented  by  all  who  knew  her.  Thomas 
Hill  was  a successful  man  for  that  day,  and  a 
most  exemplary  member  of  the  old  Christian 
church,  of  which  his  wife  was  also  a communi- 
cant. The  following  are  the  names  of  the 
children  of  Thomas  and  Sarah  Hill:  Eliza- 
beth, Rebecca,  Martha,  Mary,  Celia,  Gillie  and 
Jesse,  the  last  named  being  the  youngest  mem- 
ber of  the  family,  and  all  but  him  have  long 
since  been  called  from  the  scenes  of  their 
earthly  life. 

The  early  years  of  Jesse  Hill  were  spent  in 
Putnam  county,  and  while  still  quite  young, 
owing  to  the  death  of  his  father,  he  was 
obliged  to  contribute  of  his  small  earnings,  as 
a common  laborer,  to  the  support  of  his  sis- 
ters and  widowed  mother.  F'rom  his  youth  he 
manifested  a profound  interest  in  religion,  and 
early  became  identified  with  the  Methodist 
church,  the  local  ministry  of  which  he  entered 
before  his  twenty-first  year,  and  shortly  there- 
after engaged  in  the  active  work  of  the  itiner- 


ancy in  the  Northwestern  conference.  His 
first  regular  work  as  an  itinerant  was  on  the  old 
North  Salem  circuit,  which  he  served  one  year, 
and  from  there  he  was  transferred  to  the  Vigo 
circuit,  over  which  he  exercised  pastoral  con- 
trol for  the  same  length  of  time.  Additional 
to  the  above,  Mr.  Hdl,  during  the  course  of 
his  long  and  useful  miinstry,  extending  over  a 
period  of  fifty  years,  had  charge  of  the  fol- 
lowing circuits:  Rock  Creek,  Burlington, 

Frankfort,  Camden,  Lebanon,  Darlington  and 
Dayton,  in  all  of  which  his  work  was  most  ac- 
ceptable, resulting  in  the  building  up  of  local 
congregations,  and  in  inducing  hundreds  of 
persons  to  abandon  the  ways  of  sin  and  seek 
the  higher  way  leading  to  peace  and  holiness. 

Mr.  Hill  was  married  in  Frankfort  on  the 
twenty-eighth  of  August,  1853,  to  Mary  E. 
Earner,  who  was  born  in  the  county  of  Clin- 
ton in  the  year  1836,  the  daughter  of  John 
Earner — a union  blessed  with  the  birth  of  four 
children:  Emma,  Earl,  Maria  and  William, 
all  deceased  but  the  last  named,  who  is  a boot 
and  shoe  merchant  of  Frankfort,  and  ex- 
county surveyor.  While  a resident  of  Pine 
Village,  Warren  county,  Ind.,  when  an  order 
came  from  Gov.  Morton  to  a couple  of  resi- 
dents of  that  place  to  recruit  a company  for 
the  Union  service,  and  whose  efforts  in  that 
direction  resulted  in  failure,  Mr.  Hill  took 
charge  of  the  matter,  and  within  three  days 
had  one  hundred  men  enrolled  and  in  readiness 
to  go  forth  and  battle  for  the  nation’s  honor. 
These  men  were  organized  into  a company  at 
La  P'ayette,  and  Mr.  Hill  was  unanimously 
elected  captain,  a position  he  held  a short  time, 
being  compelled  to  resign  his  commission  in 
about  two  months  by  reason  of  an  injury  re- 
ceived by  a fall.  He  was  then  chosen  chap- 
lain of  the  regiment,  and  as  such  served  about 
seven  months,  when  he  resigned  and  returned 
to  his  home,  fn  every  relation  of  life.  Rev. 
Hill  has  been  characterized  by  integrity  of  pur- 


718 


BIOGRAPHICAL  HISTORY 


pose  and  kindness  of  heart,  thus  chaining  to 
him  h\-  his  genial  traits  those  witli  whom  he 
lias  come  in  contact.  His  work  in  the  minis- 
tr\'  was  marked  by  an  enthusiasm  which  showed 
him  to  be  fully  alive  to  the  resjionsibility  of 
the  sacred  calling;  his  pulpit  efforts  were  able 
and  convincing,  and  the  amount  of  good  ac- 
complished during  the  years  consecrated  to  the 
service  of  the  Master  will  only  be  known  in 
that  Great  Day  when  every  man  will  be  re- 
warded “according  as  his  works  shall  be.”  Mr. 
Hill  was  also  a remarkable  singer,  and  he  at- 
tributes a portion  of  his  success  in  the  ministry 
to  this  fact. 


.WIl)  T.  HILL,  the  efficient  sheriff 
of  Clinton  county,  was  born  July  25, 
1854,  in  Sbelby  county,  Ind.,  and  is 
a son  of  William  C.  and  and  Erne- 
line  Hill.  His  paternal  ancestors  Were  of  En- 
glish origin  and  settled  many  years  ago  in  \''ir- 
ginia,  from  which  state  his  grandfather,  Philip 
Hill,  came  to  Indiana  in  an  earh’  day  and  lo- 
cated in  Barthohnew  county.  Philij-)  Hill  re- 
mained in  that  county  until  1857,  at  which 
time  he  emigrated  to  Kansas,  where  his  death 
occurred  the  latter  part  of  the  same  year.  He 
was  a man  of  means  and  an  influential  citizen 
where\’er  his  lot  was  cast.  His  son,  William 
C'.  Hill,  father  of  the  subject  of  this  sketch, 
was  born  in  \'irginia,  accomjianied  the  family 
to  Barthohnew  county,  Iiuk,  \\here  he  lived 
under  the  parental  roof  until  1850,  at  which 
time  he  located  at  Norristown,  Shelb\'  county, 
and  engaged  in  the  blacksmithing  trade.  He 
married,  in  Shelby  county,  Emeline  McCain, 
daughter  of  Absalom  and  Mary  ( Winterowd) 
McCain,  and  became  tin-  fatlu'r  of  four  chil- 
dren - Peter  C. , merchant  of  I'rankfort,  Ind.; 
Ifmeline,  deceased;  David  T. , and  one  that 
died  unnamed.  'I'he  father  died  in  the  year 
1855,  and  the  mother’s  death  occurred  on  Oc- 
tober 18,  of  the  year  previous. 


I David  T.  Hill  was  but  an  infant  when  his 
parents  died,  ‘after  which  he  w'as  taken  by  his 
grandmother,  Mary  McCain,  with  whom  he 
made  his  home  until  twenty  years  of  age.  He 
attended  the  common  schools,  in  which  he  ob- 
tained a fair  education,  and,  at  the  age  of 
twenty-one,  began  life  for  himself  as  a farmer, 
renting  land  in  Shelby  county,  where  he  lived 
until  1877.  In  February  of  the  above  year, 
Mr.  Hill  changed  his  residence  to  Clinton 
county,  Washington  township,  where  for  three 
years  he  cultivated  a farm  for  a part  of  the 
proceeds,  and  in  1879  opened  a meat  market 
in  the  city  of  Frankfort,  which  business  proved 
highly  satisfactory  financially.  He  continued 
the  butcher  business  until  1892,  in  November 
of  which  year  he  was  elected  by  the  republican 
party  sheriff  of  Clinton  county,  after  which  he 
disposed  of  his  meat  market  and  gave  his  en- 
tire attention  to  the  duties  of  his  office.  Mr. 
Hill  was  married  in  Shelby  county,  Ind.,  Oc- 
tober 16,  1875,  to  Mary  Phillipp,  the  result  of 
which  union  was  one  child;  William  C.,  whose 
! death  occurred  February  16,  1879.  Mrs.  Hill 
died  April  15,  1878,  and  on  the  twentieth  of 
October,  1881,  Mr.  Hill  entered  into  the  mar- 
riage relation  with  Miss  Alloda  Phillipp,  a sis- 
ter of  his  former  wife.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Hill  are 
members  of  the  U.  B.  church  ami  fraternally 
he  belongs  to  the  I.*  O.  O.  1'.,  1.  O.  R.  M. 
and  the  order  of  Maccabees.  Politically  he  is 
a republican  and  takes  an  active  interest  in  the 
ileliberations  of  his  party  in  Clinton  county. 
Mr.  Hill's  f)fficial  record  is  without  blemish, 
ami  his  [popularity  is  great  with  all  classes  of 
[People  in  Clinton  county,  irres[Pective  of  party 
atfiliaticpu.  IF'  has  1w(p  dc[putics,  viz:  J.  W. 
Burrough,  and  F.  T.  Michaels.  Mr.  Hill  has 
removed  to  within  one-half  mile  of  tcpwn  cpii  a 
farm  which  he  had  [purchased,  and  is  now  act- 
ively engaged  in  making  a comfortable  and 
beautiful  home  fcpr  the  future.  He  is  essen- 
tially a self-made  man  and  had  but  little  of 


LIBRARY 
OF  THE 

UNIVERSITY  OF  IkUfWfg 


JESSE  HINDS. 


HARRIET  L,  HINDS. 


LIBRARY 
OF  THE 

UNIVERSITY  OF  ILfeUWIS 


or  CLINTON  COUNTY. 


728 


tlie  world’s  floods  with  which  to  begin  the 
struggle  of  life.  His  efforts  have  been  very 
successfnl  and  he  is  now  in  comfortable  finan- 
cial circumstances,  with  a promising  future 
before  him. 


ESilAMIN  F.  HILLIS,  the  wealthiest 
resident  land  owner  in  Johnson  town- 
ship, Clinton  county,  Ind.,  his  place 
of  birth,  was  born  December  26, 
1857.  His  grandfather,  John  Hillis,  was  a 
resident  of  Fayeite  county,  Ind.,  and  his  son, 
.^nderville  Hillis,  the  father  of  Benjamin  F., 
was  born  in  Fayette  county,  March  27,  1827. 
Anderville  Hillis  was  educated  in  the  old-fash- 
ioned log  school-house,  and  in  turn  taught  a 
year  ni  a house  of  the  same  description.  He 
married  Mary  A.  Frazier,  a daughter  of  Will- 
iamson and  Clarissa  (Thatcher)  Frazier.  To  this 
union  the  following  children  were  born:  John, 
Flizabeth,  Benjamin  F.,  George  and  Clara 
Belle,  of  whom,  Benjamin  F.  and  Clara  Belle 
alone  are  living.  Anderville  Hillis  was  a 
member  of  Herman  lodge,  No.  184,  F.  & A. 
M.,  was  a Methodist  in  religion  and  a demo- 
crat in  politics.  At  the  time  of  his  death, 
which  occurred  in  1878,  he  was  the  owner  of 
over  800  acres  of  land,  which  he  had  acquired 
with  the  aid  of  his  industrous  and  economical 
helpmate,  who  is  still  living  on  the  old  farm. 

Benjamin  F.  Hillis  has  been  closely  identi- 
fied with  the  progress  of  Johnson  township 
ever  since  he  has  been  old  enough  to  form  a 
conception  of  the  meaning  of  the  word.  He 
married  Caroline  McDora  Pruitt,  daughter  of 
John  and  Nancy  (Stewart)  Pruitt,  whose  his- 
tory appears  on  another  page,  and  this  union 
has  been  made  the  happier  by  the  birth  of 
four  childi'en,  viz;  Mabel  D.,  Myrl  A.,  Maud 
F.  and  Colonel.  The  farm  of  Mr.  Hillis  com- 
prises 670  acres  of  very  fertile  land,  which  is 
in  a very  high  state  of  cultivation,  and  is  im- 


proved with  three  good  farm  residences  and 
])roper  outbuildings.  He  has  made  a specialty 
of  breeding  registered  short-horned  cattle,  and 
during  the  past  fifteen  years  has  done  more  to 
elevate  the  grade  of  cattle  in  his  township 
than  any  other  breeder  within  its  limits.  He 
does  not  breed  for  mere  pleasure  or  stock- 
show  pride,  but  from  a business  point  of  view. 
Mr.  Hillis  is  a stanch  democrat,  but  is  in  no 
sense  an  office  seeker.  It  may  be  incidentally 
remarked  that  Hillisburg  is  named  for  his 
uncle,  John  E.  Hillis.  The  family  is  one  of 
the  oldest  and  most  opulent  in  the  township 
and  is  most  highly  respected. 


ESSE  HINDS,  one  of  Frankfort’s  most 
popular  citizens,  and  a representative 
gentleman  of  the  old  school,  is  an 
Ohio  man,  and  a descendant  of  sturdy 
aiicestors  who  settled  at  a very  early  period  in 
Vermont,  of  which  state  his  parents,  Solomon 
and  Mary  (Ward)  Hinds,  were  both  natives. 
Solomon  Hinds  and  wife  were  married  in  Rut- 
ledge county,  Vt.,  and  later  emigrated  to 
Muskingum  county,  Ohio,  where  Mr.  Hinds 
followed  the  blacksmith’s  trade  until  he  re- 
moved, in  the  year  1819,  to  Clark  county, 
Ind.  After  settling  in  Indiana  he  purchased 
town  property  and  engaged  in  various  kinds  of 
speculation,  which  he  carried  on  until  1843, 
when  he  became  a resident  of  the  county  of 
Jefferson,  where  his  death  occurred  ten  years 
later;  his  wife  died  at  the  same  place  in  1866. 
They  were  the  parents  of  a large  family,  thir- 
teen children  in  all,  only  two  of  whom  are  liv- 
ing; Fovissa,  of  Mt.  Vernon,  Ohio,  and  Jesse, 
whose  name  appears  at  the  head  of  this  men- 
tion. The  following  are  the  names  of  those 
deceased;  James  W. , Elizabeth,  William, 
Sarah  J.,  Solomon,  Hugh,  Rufus,  and  four 
that  died  in  infancy. 


724 


BIOGRAPHICAL  HISTORY 


)c‘S.S('  Hinds  was  born  No\’C!nl)er  ly,  1817, 
in  Lickinj;'  count}',  Ohio,  and  ^rcnv  to  inanliood 
in  (dark  ronnty,  link,  wliere  liis  parents  mov- 
ed wlien  lie  was  less  than  two  years  of  age. 
lie  remained  on  the  home  jilace  until  his 
eighteenth  year,  received  an  education  such  as 
was  usual  1}'  imparted  1)\'  the  common  schools 
of  that  time,  and  began  life  upon  his  own  re- 
sponsiblit}'  as  a brick-layer,  which,  with  vari- 
ous other  kinds  of  employment,  he  followed 
until  1865.  In  the  meantime  he  turned  his 
attention  to  the  mercantile  business  for  some 
wars,  and  dealt  very  e.xtensively  in  cooperage 
material,  lumber,  etc.,  in  all  of  which  his 
success  was  most  gratifying,  his  earnings 
enabling  him  to  retire  from  active  life  in  the 
above  year,  and  devote  some  time  to  leisure 
and  travel.  In  1892  he  was  elected  justice  of 
the  peace  in  I'rankfort,  of  which  city  he 
became  a resident  in  1874,  and  has  since  filled 
the  office  in  a manner  most  satisfactorv  to  the 
public  and  creditably  to  himself.  Mr.  Hinds 
possesses  a well  balanced  miml,  e.xcellent  judg- 
ment, and  by  years  of  contact  wdth  all  classes 
of  men  in  business  and  other  capacities,  has 
become  the  possessor  of  a vast  fund  of  practi- 
cal knowledge,  which  makes  him  one  of  the 
best  informed  and  most  intelligent  men  of  the 
city  where  he  resides.  His  political  views  are 
in  harmony  with  the  re])ublican  party,  and  he 
stands  high  in  Masonic  circles,  having  been  an 
active  member  of  that  order  for  a number  of 
}cars.  Mr.  Hinds  was  finst  married  in  1843, 
in  Zanesville,  (dhio,  to  johanna  ('o])e,  a native 
of  New  York,  who  died  in  the  }ear  1883.  She 
bore  tin;  following  children:  Robert  M.,  a con- 
tractor and  builder  of  Nobh'sville,  Ind.  ; Trank 

K. ,  a builder  of  Trankfort;  Sible\',  wifo  of  II. 
II.  I'reedly,  of  Indianapolis,  and  jesse,  wife 
of  James  McNicde.  In  tlie  year  1888,  Mr. 
Hinds  was  muted  in  marriage  t(;  Mrs.  Harried 

L.  b'edter,  who  was  born  in  March,  1830,  in 
the  city  of  Traidsfort,  the  daughter  of  John 


Pence,  and  the  widow  of  the  late  Peter  Fetter. 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Hinds  are  members  of  the 
Methodist  church. 


^^^ILLIAM  R.  HINES.  —No  more  con- 
a a M spicuous  or  highly  honored  charac- 
ter  ever  formed  a factor  in  the  his- 
tory of  Frankfort  or  Clinton  county 
than  the  gentleman  whose  name  introduces 
this  biographical  mention.  William  R.  Hines 
was  born  in  the  city  of  New  York,  September 
4,  1849,  and  is  a son  of  William  and  Julia 
Hines,  both  parents  natives  of  Ireland.  The 
father  came  to  the  Lbiited  States  when  about 
fifteen  years  of  age,  and  met  in  the  above  city 
Miss  Julia  Redmond,  who  also  came  from  the 
Emerald  isle  when  young,  and  they  were  mar- 
ried in  the  year  1843.  Soon  after  coming  to 
the  new  world,  Mrs.  Hines  when  about  sixteen 
years  old  became  a member  of  the  family  of 
Cen.  Winfield  Scott,  commander-in-chief  of 
the  Enited  States  army,  as  waiting  maid  to  his 
daughter,  which  place  she  retained  for  three 
and  a half  years,  and  until  her  marriage  to 
William  Hines,  the  father  of  our  subject,  who 
was  a ship  carpenter  of  a packet  line  between 
New  York  and  New  (drleans,  and  in  1851  met 
with  an  accident.  Mr.  Hines,  shortly  after  his 
injury,  returned  to  Ireland,  and  died  there 
among  his  friends  in  the  year  1851.  Mrs. 
Hines  then  made  her  home  in  New  York.  To 
Mr.  and  Mr.  Hines  were  born  four  children, 
vi^:  Daniel,  killed  in  a railroad  accident 
while  acting  as  conductor  on  the  Pennsylvania 
line;  Thomas,  William  R.,  and  Julia,  deceased. 
Mrs.  Hines,  after  three  and  one-half  years  of 
widowhood,  married  Janu'S  Harrigan,  of  Phila- 
delphia, a well-known  landscape  gardener,  w'ho 
in  1861  enlisted  in  a New  'N'ork  regiment  and 
i lost  his  life  in  the  service  of  his  adopted  coun- 
try. Mrs.  Harrigan,  in  the  caiiacity  of  nurse, 

I accompanit'd  the  comj)any  of  which  her  hus- 


'7'h  ^ 


UBRARY 
OF  THE 

UNlVERSiTY  OF  lkUNOI'5 


OF  CLINTON  COUNTY. 


727 


band  was  a member,  and  for  one  year  devoted 
her  attention  to  alleviating  the  sufferings  of  the 
sick  and  wounded  soldiers.  She  remained  in 
New  York  city  until  1888,  at  which  time  she 
was  brought  to  Frankfort  by  her  son,  the  sub- 
ject of  this  sketch,  and  here  her  last  years 
were  sj)ent,  surrounded  by  everything  which 
loving  hands  could  devise  for  her  comfort,  and 
laid  to  rest  in  the  beautiful  Green  Lawn  ceme- 
tery of  Frankfort,  of  which  the  subject  has 
been  president  since  its  organization. 

William  K.  Hines,  at  the  tender  age  of  two 
and  one-half  years,  was  placed  under  the  charge 
of  the  aid  society  of  New  York  city,  then  lo- 
cated on  Randall's  island,  in  the  East  river, 
near  Long  Island,  and  was  thus  cared  for  until 
i860,  at  which  time,  being  then  ten  years  of 
age,  he  w'as,  with  many  others  as  unfortunate 
as  himself,  sent  westward  and  found  his  home 
at  Frankfort,  Ind. ; where  he  secured  a place 
with  one  Adam  Blinn,  with  whom  he  remained 
until  attaining  his  majority.  Mr.  Blinn  did 
well  by  his  young  charge  and  gave  him  a good 
education,  by  means  of  which  Mr.  Hines  was 
enabled  to  secure  a license  entitling  him  to 
teach  in  the  common  schools  of  Clinton  county. 
He  followed  the  teacher’s  profession  during 
winter  seasons  about  four  years,  worked  at 
anything  to  which  he  could  turn  his  hand  dur- 
ing the  rest  of  the  year,  and  at  the  age  of 
twenty-five  became  a resident  of  Frankfort,  of 
which  city  he  was  soon  afterw'ard  elected  clerk 
by  the  republican  party.  He  discharged  the 
duties  of  his  office  very  creditabl}^  for  four  years 
and  four  months,  and  in  the  meantime  devoted 
his  leisure  to  the  study  of  law,  with  the  princi- 
ples of  which  he  soon  became  familiar.  He 
was  regularly  admitted  to  the  Clinton  county 
bar  during  his  official  term,  and  immediately 
thereafter  engaged  in  the  practice  of  his  profes- 
sion in  partnership  with  O.  E.  Brumbaugh, 
which  firm  lasted  for  a period  of  five  years. 
Mr.  Hines’s  next  venture  was  contracting  rail- 


roads, and  street  constructing,  and  gravel  road 
building,  to  which  he  has  since  devoted  the 
greater  part  of  his  attention,  and  in  which  his 
success  has  been  most  flattering,  the  reputa- 
tion being  accorded  him  at  this  time  as  one  of 
the  most  prominent  contractors  of  the  county. 
Since  engaging  in  this  line  of  work  Mr.  Hines 
has  been  interested  in  the  construction  of  thirty- 
two  miles  of  the  Clover  Leaf  railroad  in  Indi- 
ana and  Illinois,  also  ten  miles  of  Iron  Moun- 
tain system  in  Arkansas;  the  Frginkfort  & Mid- 
dle Fork  gravel  road  and  other  contracts  in 
Indiana  and  other  states.  He  has  made  over 
$100,000  worth  of  street  improvements  in  the 
city  of  Frankfort;  about  $20,000  worth  in  Al- 
exandria, and  $102,000  in  Anderson,  these  last 
being  brick  pavement,  and  at  this  time  he  is 
engaged  in  constructing  the  sanitary  sewerage 
system  -at  Indianapolis,  which  work  represents 
a'Sa^r'i’ta'I  of  :;.Spia?ftf4i90,ooo.  He  also  has  on 
hand  a number  of  other  contracts  in  different 
places,  both  of  a public  and  private  nature, 
and  keeps  in  daily  communication  with  the 
leading  cities  of  the  countiy,  in  which  such  im- 
provements are  likely  to  be  needed.  In  1884, 
in  partnership  with  John  L.  Young,  Esq.,  Mr. 
Hines  opened  a real  estate,  abstract  and  pro- 
bate office  in  Frankfort,  a business  which 
proved  financially  remunerative,  and  which  is 
still  continued,  the  business  being  very  exten- 
sive, and  not  confined  to  the  limits  of  Clinton 
county  alone,  but  extends  to  other  jiarts  of  the 
state  as  well. 

In  the  growth  and  develojiment  of  Frank- 
fort Mr.  Hines  has  ever  been  prominently 
identified,  and  the  city  has  no  more  energetic 
and  public-spirited  citizen  than  he.  He  is 
connected  with  the  Frankfort  Improvement 
company,  of  which  he  has  been  a director  since 
its  organization.  Politically,  Mr.  Hines  wields 
an  influence  for  the  republican  part}',  with 
which  he  has  been  connected  ever  since  attain- 
ing his  majority.  He  was  the  last  nominee  of 


728 


BIOGRAPPIICAL  HISTORY 


tlic  r('i)iil)Iic-:ui  j)arty  for  prosecuting  attorney 
of  tlu'  counties  of  Boone  and  Clinton  while 
they  yet  comprised  the  Twenty-second  judicial 
circuit,  and  was  defeated  with  the  remainder 
of  the  ticket.  The  following  winter,  when 
Clinton  count)-  was  made  a separate  circuit  by 
the  legislature,  he  was  appointed  by  Governor 
Porter  prosecutor  of  Clinton  comity,  being  the 
first  to  hold  that  office.  He  was  a candidate 
for  elector  in  the  Ninth  congressional  district 
in  1892,  but  failed  to  secure  the  honor. 

In  all  business  and  professional  relations, 
iMr.  Hines  has  ever  been  actuated  by  motives 
of  the  highest  integrity,  and  by  strictly  honor- 
able methods  he  has  met  with  success  such  as 
few  attain  in  a much  longer  life.  P'inancially, 
he  is  (pioted  as  among  the  most  substantial  and 
reliable  men  of  Clinton  county;  his  accumula- 
tions of  real  estate  and  other  property  going- 
far  up  in  the  thousands  in  value.  His  business 
has  freipiently  called  him  to  many  and  remote 
parts  of  the  United  States,  having  made  si,\ 
trips  to  New  York  city,  and  at  one  time  he 
went  to  California,  and  also  spent  nearly  a 
year  in  the  state  of  Kansas.  Fraternally,  Mr. 
Hines  is  a prominent  member  of  the  Masonic 
order,  in  which  he  has  taken  a number  of  de- 
grees, including  that  (jf  Sir  Knight.  He  ac- 
companied his  commandery  to  Washington 
city  in  1889,  to  Denver,  Colo.,  in  1892,  and 
his  activity  in  behalf  of  the  fraternity  has 
brought  him  into  favorable  notice  throughout 
the  state  of  Indiana.  The  Presbyterian  church, 
of  which  he  has  been  an  earnest  member  for 
some  years,  represents  his  religions  creed,  and 
at  this  time  he  holds  the  ofhee  of  deacon  in 
the  congregation  worshi|)ing  in  I'rankfort. 

Ml',  lliiu's  was  hajipily  married  in  Clinton 
county  (Jit  the  4th  day  of  September,  1877,  to 
Miss  Uliza  |cnkins,  the  accomi)lished  daughter 
of  William  and  Clara  (Pauley)  Jenkins,  a mnon 
blessed  with  the  birth  of  three  children,  vi;^.  ; 
Lilah  L.,  b'rank  j.  and  llarr\.  Mrs.  Hines 


was  born  June  24,  1854,  in  the  county  of  Clin- 
ton, and  is  one  of  the  ])opular  ladies  of  Frank- 
fort. In  his  various  relations  of  domestic, 
civil  and  professional  life,  Mr.  Hines's  actions 
have  been  characterized  by  the  same  intelli- 
gence and  cordiality  which  have  deservedly 
gained  for  him  a high  position  in  the  regard  of 
the  community,  and  measured  by  the  usual 
standard  his  life  has  indeed  been  a most  grati- 
fying success.  He  is  a true  type  of  the  pol- 
ished gentleman,  and  his  career  affords  a strik- 
ing example  of  what  a young  and  friendless 
boy,  without  means  and  surrounded  by  obstacles 
very  discouraging  in  their  nature,  can  accom- 
plish when  endowed  with  the  proper  powers  of 
mind  and  heart  and  actuated  by  pure  and  ex- 
cellent motives. 


ACOB  HODGEN,  retired  farmer  and 
highly  respected  old  citizen  of  Frank- 
fort, was  born  July  9,  1831,  in  Clinton 
countv,  Ind.,  of  which  he  is  now  one 
of  the  oldest  native  residents.  His  father, 
William  Hodgen,  was  of  Scotch-Irish  descent 
and  grew  to  manhood  in  Kentucky,  where  he 
was  married  a number  of  years  ago  to  Mary 
Magdalene.  Whlliam  Hodgen  was  a farmer  and 
followed  that  uselul  calling  in  Kentucky  until 
his  removal  to  Daviess  county,  Ind.,  of  which 
he  was  one  of  the  pioneers.  In  1828,  he  be- 
came a resident  of  the  county  of  Clinton  and 
entered  a trach  of  goverment  land,  from  which 
he  develoiied  a farm  and  upon  which  he  resid- 
ed until  his  death  in  1831.  His  wife  survi\'ed 
him  a number  of  years,  departing  this  life  in 
1864.  William  and  Mary  Hodgen  had  a 
familv  of  ten  children,  only  two  of  whom  are 
living  at  this  time  — Pleasant,  who  was  born 
March  12,  1827,  aiul  Jacob,  whose  name  ap- 
pears at  the  head  of  this  sketch.  'I'he  names 
of  those  deceased  are  as  follows  : James, 


OF  CLINTON  COUNTY. 


720 


john,  Sarah,  Harrison,  Joseph,  and  Eliza; 
two  also  died  that  were  unnamed. 

Jacob  IIodj;en  spent  his  boyhood  days  as- 
sisting- with  the  farm  work,  and  his  education, 
by  no  means  elaborate,  was  obtained  in  the 
subscription  schools  of  the  township  where  he 
resided.  He  remained  with  his  mother  until 
after  attaining  his  majority,  and  in  1853  went 
to  California,  making  the  trip  to  that  far  away 
country  by  water,  the  journey  requiring  twen- 
ty-seven days.  While  there  he  followed  min- 
ing, a part  of  the  time  in  the  employ  of  other 
parties,  and  for  two  years  operated  a claim  of 
his  own  with  very  successful  results.  After 
remaining  in  California  for  a period  of  three 
and  one-half  years,  he  returned  to  Clinton 
county  and  purchased  a farm,  which  he  made 
valuable  by  good  improvements  and  upon 
which  he  resided  until  1890,  in  which  year  he 
moved  to  Frankfort  and  purchased  a grocery 
store  and  meat  market.  He  continued  in 
business  for  about  eighteen  months,  disposing 
of  his  interest  at  the  end  of  that  time  and  re- 
tiring from  the  active  duties  of  life.  He  sold 
his  farm  in  1 893  to  his  son  and  is  now  enjoy- 
ing that  rest  and  quietude  so  nobly  earned  by 
a long  life  of  activity. 

Mr.  Hodgen,  on  the  eighth  of  April,  1857, 
was  united  in  marriage  to  Mary  McKinzie, 
daughter  of  Mercer  and  Sarah  (Elmore)  McKin- 
zie, natives  of  Ohio  and  of  Scotch  lineage.  The 
following  are  the  names  of  the  brothers  and  sis- 
ters of  Mrs.  Hodgen;  Jacob,  Mary,  Catherine, 
Noah,  Patrick,  Hale,  Juliana  (deceased),  Mel- 
vina.  Job  (deceased),  Thomas,  and  Emeline. 
To  the  union  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Hodgen  have  been 
born  six  children,  namely:  Laban  C.,  born 
June  I,  1861;  Henry  H.,  October  3,  I862; 
Oscar,  July  9,  1864,  died  February  19,  1865; 
Josie,  wife  of  D.  V.  Lucas,  born  January  18, 
186/;  Anna  E.,  born  August  27,  1869,  died 
February  14,  1892,  and  Magdalene,  who  was 
born  July  27,  1876. 


Mr.  and  Mrs.  Hodgen  are  faithful  members 
of  the  old  Christian  church.  Originally  he 
was  a republican  and  as  such  served  one  term 
as  trustee  of  Jackson  township.  Of  late  years 
he  has  affiliated  with  the  prohibition  party, 
the  principles  of  which  he  believes  to  be  for 
the  best  interest  to  the  country.  By  close  ap- 
plication and  successful  management  he  has 
gained  for  himself  and  family  a comfortable 
competence,  and  he  deserves  mention  as  one 
of  the  representative  citizens  of  the  county  of 
Clinton. 


R.  HORATIO  L).  HOLMES,  of 
Scircleville,  Clinton  county,  Ind., 
and  the  leading  physician  in  the 
eastern  part  of  the  county,  descends 
from  good  old  Irish  stock  and  a generation  of 
American  ancestors,  his  paternal  grandparents 
coming  from  the  Emerald  isle  in  1795.  After 
residing  twenty  years  in  \'irginia  they  went  to 
Pulaski  county,  Ky. , wher^ they  both  died.  His 
grandfather  was  a school-teacher  for  thirty-five 
years  after  reaching  America,  and  his  ability  is 
attested  by  the  fact  that  he  taught  seven  con- 
secutive 3ears  in  one  district.  Col.  John  M. 
Holmes,  the  father  of  our  subject,  was  born 
in  Virginia,  November  4,  1796,  and  was 

reared  on  the  home  farm,  and  followed  farm- 
ing all  his  life  to  a greater  or  less  degree. 
His  education  was  far  beyond  the  average. 
He  married,  in  Kentucky-,  Jerusha  Hill, 
daughter  of  Johii  and  Delilah  (Cooper)  Hill, 
the  former  of  whom  came  from  Kentucky  to 
Clinton  county,  Ind.,  while  it  was  yet  a wil- 
derness. He  was  a minister  of  the  Baptist 
church,  and  organized  the  Hill  church,  the 
first  church  of  that  denomination  in  the  county. 
Before  coming  to  Clinton  county,  he  had  rep- 
resented Pulaski  county,  in  the  legislature 
of  Kentucky  as  a democrat.  Col.  John  M. 
Holmes,  after  marriage,  remainetl  a few  years 


BIOGRAPHICAL  HISTORY 


TJIo 


ill  Kentucky  and  then  came  to  Indiana,  stop- 
ped  a wliilo  in  J<>nninj,^s  county,  and  tlien 
moved  to  Tipton  county,  wliere  he  entered  | 
103  acres  in  the  “f^jreen”  amoiif^  the  Indians. 
He  was  an  active  democrat,  and  was  the  first 
ek'ction  clerk  of  Tipton  county;  later,  lie  was 
elected  comity  commissioner,  and  at  the  ex- 
piration of  his  term  w'as  re-elected.  Mrs. 
Holmes  was  a devout  Baptist,  and  was  very 
careful  in  rearing  her  children,  of  whom  she 
had  nine,  viz:  David,  who  died  in  Kentucky, 
an  infant;  Polly  Ann,  deceased;  William; 
Amanda  J.  ; John  H. ; James,  deceased;  Theo- 
dore; Telemachns  Polk  and  Horatio  1).,  twins. 

Dr.  Horatio  D.  Holmes  was  born  in  Tip- 
ton  county.  Inch,  July  24,  1845.  He  remain- 
ed on  the  home  farm  in  all  twenty-two  years, 
securing  his  education  meantime.  At  the  out- 
break of  the  Civil  war  he  offered  his  seiadces 
to  his  countrw  but  on  account  of  his  youth, 
they  were  not  accepted.  The  family  was  rep- 
resented, however,  by  his  brother’^ohh,  ‘who 
was  wounded  at  Kenesaw  Mountain  and  died 
from  the  effects  of  the  injury ; his  brother  Will- 
iam also  did  gallant  service  in  the  field. 

Dr.  Holmes  commenced  the  practice  of  his 
profession,  in  1872,  at  Hillisburgh,  where  he 
was  very  successful,  but  changed  his  location 
to  Scircleville  in  1887,  where  he  has  as  large  a 
jiractice  as  any  physician  in  the  county,  out- 
side of  I'rankfort.  He  has  a most  valuable 
medical  library  and  is  a close  reader  of  all  the 
medical  journals  of  the  United  States,  and 
keejis  well  abreast  with  the  j)rogress  of  the 
jirofession.  He  is  a man  of  generous  im- 
pulses, and  was  never  known  to  refuse  aid  or 
advice  to  a sick  lamily  or  i)erson  on  account 
of  ])overty.  He  is  a mendier  of  the  Masonic 
fraternitv  at  Kirklin,  and  of  Sugar  Creek  lodge, 
No.  321,  I.  ().  ().  1'.,  in  which  he  has  filled 
all  the  chairs  and  which  he  has  represented  in 
tlu'  grand  lodgiv  In  jiolitics  he  is  a stanch 
democrat,  and  is  acti\'e  in  the  support  of  his 


I party.  The  doctor  w'as  married  January  5, 
1877,  '■o  Miss  Charlotta  Neal,  daughter  of 
[ Thomas  Neal.  This  lady  was  born  April  19, 
1862,  and  is  a member  of  the  Baptist  church, 
which  the  doctor  liberally  aids,  as  well  as  all 
the  local  churches.  Two  children  are  the  re- 
sult of  this  happy  union,  and  are  named 
Thomas  and  Iva.  The  doctor  and  his  family 
stand  deservedly  high  in  the  estimation  of  those 
who  have  the  honor  of  being  socially  acquainted 
with  them. 


HBRAHAM  H0LLCR.\TT,  a promi- 
nent farmer  and  one  of  the  largest 
land  owners  of  Kirklin  township  and 
of  Clinton  county,  Ind.,  as  well,  is 
descended  from  sturdy  Ivnglish  and  Irish  an- 
cestry. His  paternal  grandfather  emigrated 
from  England,  and  was  a resident  of  Washing- 
ton county.  Pa.,  at  the  time  of  his  death. 
The-.'father,  James  Hollcratt,  w’as  married  in 
that  county  to  Elizabeth  Lyttle,  and  on  a flat- 
boat  he  and  his  family  went  down  the  Ohio 
river  to  Warren  county,  Cfliio,  where  they 
lived  for  four  years.  Their  next  })lace  of 
residence  was  Clinton  county,  Ohio.  Mr. 
Hollcratt  secured  160  acres  of  land  from  the 
government  and  purchased  another  quarter 
section.  He  went  through  all  the  hardships 
of  pioneer  life,  but  his  earnest  efforts  were  at 
length  successful,  and  the  land  which  he  pur- 
chased at  $1.25  jier  acre  is  now  valued  at  $60. 
He  belongetl  to  the  Christian  church,  and  was 
a democrat  in  ])olitic.s.  II is  death  occurred 
at  the  age  of  sixty  years.  B\'  his  first  mar- 
riage were  born  eight  children:  Robert,  who 
wedded  Susan  Kimbaiigh;  John,  who  died  at 
the  age  of  tvvenly-oiu';  Abraham;  Ann,  wife 
of  Abner  Luddington ; Eli/a,  wife  of  George 
Woodmansee;  Lucinda,  wife  of  Ambrose 
Whittaker;  Melinda,  wife  of  Seth  Cook;  and 
Ilarve}-,  deceased.  The  mother  died,  and  Mr. 


UBRARY 
OF  THE 
UNIVERSITY  OF 


LIBRARY 
OF  THE 

URIVERSITY  OF  ILLINOIS 


OF  CLINTON  COUNTY. 


781 


Hollcratt  afterward  wedded  Mrs.  Rachel  (Cook) 
Spaulding,  by  whom  he  became  father  of  three 
children — William,  Samuel  and  Mary. 

The  record  of  Abraham  Hollcratt  will 
prove  of  interest  to  the  readers  of  this  volume, 
for  he  is  both  widely  and  favorably  known  in 
this  county.  He  was  born  in  Washington 
county,  Pa.,  October  5,  1807,  and  in  his 

younger  years  he  \vorked  at  splitting  rails  for 
$8  per  month.  As  a companion  and  helpmate 
on  life’s  journey  he  chose  Polly  McGill,  whom 
he  married  November  12,  1832.  He  then 

traded  his  stock  and  his  crops  to  a man  who 
was  to  bring  him  to  Indianapolis,  and  in  No-  j 
vember,  1833,  arrived  in  this  county,  after  a 
journey  of  eleven  days.  They  had  a four- 
horse  team  and  Mrs.  Hollcratt  rode  on  horse- 
back. When  the  e.xpenses  of  the  journey 
were  met  our  subject  had  only  $22.  50  remain- 
ing. The  year  previous  he  had  here  pur- 
chased 100  acres  and  entered  forty  acres  ad- 
ditional, and  on  the  second  of  December,*- 
1833,  moved  into  the  little  log  cabin  which  he 
built  upon  his  farm.  His  wife  was  taken  sick 
and  there  were  many  hardships  and  trials  to 
be  borne.  They  also  had  two  little  children: 
Elizabeth  Jane,  now  the  wife  of  Robert  Mc- 
Clamroch;  and  one  wno  died  early  in  life. 
Deer  and  other  wild  game  were  plentiful,  and 
wolves  were  frequently  seen.  Mr.  Hollcratt 
at  once  began  to  clear  and  improve  his  land, 
and  worked  very  hard  during  those  days.  At 
this  time  a rich  firm  was  buying  all  the  coon 
skins  in  the  county,  having  a monopoly  on  the 
same,  when  a Mr.  Fury  made  a contract  with 
Nathan  Kirk,  telling  him  to  buy  all  the  skins 
he  could  possibly  obtain,  and  get  others  to  do 
the  same.  Mr.  Hollcratt,  who  had  sold  a 
horse  and  saddle  for  $65,  was  advised  by  Mr. 
Kirk  to  buy  coon  skins  with  the  cash,  and  this 
he  did,  purchasing  them  for  fifteen  cents  each 
and  selling  for  eighty-one  cents  each,  thereby 

making  a good  profit.  This  proved  of  great 
35 


benefit  to  him  and  gave  him  a start  in  other 
directions.  All  other  experiences  of  frontier 
life  are  known  to  Mr.  Hollcratt,  and  he  can 
relate  many  interesting  incidents  of  those 
pioneer  da3^s. 

In  1868,  he  was  called  upon  to  mourn  the 
loss  of  his  wife,  who  died  in  the  month  of  Jan- 
uar}’.  On  the  twelfth  of  November,  following, 
he  married  Mrs,  Harriet  (Campbell)  Kersey, 
who  was  born  May  30,  1817,  in  Bath  county, 
Ky.,  a daughter  of  Williamson  and  Nancy 
(Cashaw)  Campbell.  She  is  a member  of  the 
Christian  church,  to  which  Mr.  Hollcratt  for- 
merly belonged.  In  early  life  he  was  a Jack- 
son  democrat,  but  subsequently  became  a re- 
publican. He  has  given  to  each  of  his  seven 
grandchildren  a good  house  and  lot  and  owns 
fifteen  houses  and  lots  in  Kirklin,  and  the  same 
number  in  Frankfort,  together  with  a number 
of  welkirnproved  farms,  comprising  840  acres, 
on  which  are  1,200  rods  of  wire  fence  with 
Ttbh'posts  aai'd'  IfDany  rods  of  tiling.  He  has 
$5,000  in  stock  in  the  Farmers’  bank  at  Frank- 
fort, and  is  now  a wealthy  man,  owing  to  his 
own  earnest  labor,  economy  and  perseverance. 
He  has  a very  pleasant  home,  supplied  with  all 
modern  improvements  and  lighted  with  natural 
gas,  and  there  he  is  spending  his  remaining 
days,  enjoying  the  rest  which  he  has  so  truly 
earned  and  richly  deserves. 


AMUEL  A.  HOOVER,  deceased,  was 
a native  of  Indiana,  and  was  born  in 
Fulton  count}',  near  Rochester,  March 
16,  1848,  a son  of  Enos  and  Rhu- 
anna  (Shaw)  Hoover,  both  of  German  parent- 
age. In  his  boyhood  days  Samuel  A.  was 
brought  by  his  parents  to  Frankfort,  where  he 
was  educated  in  the  common  schools,  and 
wh  ire  he  passed  his  vacations  in  the  tin  shop 
of  his  father,  learning  the  trade.  At  the  early 
age  of  fourteen  he  began  clerking  in  the  cloth- 


BIOGRAPHICAL  HISTORY 


iug  liouse  (jf  Givens  Bros.,  with  whom  he  re- 
mained several  years;  later  he  clerked  for  sev- 
eral tirms,  and  linally,  in  the  fall  of  1869,  he 
hej^an  business  on  his  own  account,  handling 
clothing  and  gents'  furnishing  goods,  in  which 
trade,  ha\  ing  become  ver}'  popular,  he  contin- 
ued until  his  untimely  death,  January  24,  1887. 
He  was  always  courteous  and  obliging,  made 
hosts  of  friends  and  customers,  and  rose  from 
a jrosition  comparatively  at  the  bottom  of  the 
ladder  to  one  of  comfort  and  leadership  among 
his  fellow-merchants.  He  was  fraternally  an 
Odd  Fellow  and  Red  Man  of  Frankfort;  in 
politics  was  a republican,  and  in  religion  was 
an  adherent  of  the  Methodist  church. 

Mr.  Hoover  w'as  married  May  10,  1871, 
to  Miss  Mary  Elizabeth  Lee,  daughter  of 
George  R.  Lee  and  one  of  the  able  lady 
teachers  in  the  county  of  Clinton.  This  lady 
was  born  April  i,  1852,  and  is  the  eldest  daugh- 
ter in  the  family  of  four  children  born  to  her 
parents.  The  union  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Hoover 
was  blessed  by  the  birth  of  five  children,  as 
follows:  josie  Lee,  mnv  a teacher  in  mie  of 

the  city  schools  of  Frankfort;  Homer  L.,  Li- 
bert L.,  Bertha  R.  and  Helen  |.  Mrs.  Hoo- 
ver, since  the  death  of  her  husband,  has 
reared  her  children  in  a most  genteel  manner, 
and  is  quite  comf''rtably  situated  at  her  home 
on  North  Main  strert,  where  she  is  surrounded 
by  a large  circle  of  devoted  friends.  She  is  a 
worthy  member  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal 
church,  and  is  also  a mend)er  of  Rebecca 
lodge.  No.  77,  which  is  held  under  the  aus- 
pices of  the  1.  G.  O.  F. 

George  R.  Lee,  father  of  Mrs.  Hoover,  and 
a retired  merchant  ol  I'raid^fort,  Ind  , was 
born  in  Whirren  county,  Ohio,  Scpt('nd)cr  29, 
1835,  and  is  the  son  of  Robert  and  Marv 
(Jack)  Lee,  the  former  of  Scotch-bhiglish 
descent  and  the  latter  of  Scotch  extraction. 
Mr.  Lee  at  the  age  of  thirteen  years  came  to 
Indiana  with  his  widowed  mother  and  resided 


near  Frankfort  for  three  years,  and  then  began 
learning  the  shoemaker’s  trade  in  Frankfort 
where  he  has  lived  ever  since. 

The  marriage  of  Mr.  Lee  took  place 
September  25,  1847,  to  Miss  Nancy  Aughe, 

daughter  of  John  F.  I.  and  Elizabeth  (Bran- 
ard)  Aughe.  This  lady  was  born  in  Montgom- 
ery county,  Ohio,  near  Dayton,  October  25. 
1858,  and  came  with  her  parents  to  Lrankfort, 
Ind.,  in  1831.  To  the  marriage  of  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Lee  were  born  the  following  children  ; 
John  Wilson  Lee,  Mary  Elizabeth,  Eunice  B., 
and  Emma  J.  Mrs.  Lee  is  a member  of  the 
Methodist  Episcopal  church,  and  has  never 
missed  a service  for  the  last  ten  years;  her 
husband,  however,  is  not  a communicant.  In 
politics,  Mr.  Lee  is  a stanch  republican. 


ISAAC  HORN,  one  of  the  old  soldiers 
of  Rossville  and  a retired  farmer,  de- 
scends from  an  old  American  family. 
Jacob  Horn,  grandfather  of  Isaac  Horn, 
was  a farmer  of  Cumberland  county.  Pa. 
Lrederick  Horn,  father  of  Isaac,  born  in  Penn- 
sylvania near  Harrisburg,  became  a farmer  and 
married,  in  Ohio,  Debora  Green,  of  Massillon. 
Frederick  Horn  moved  to  Elkhart  county,  Ind., 
about  1854,  and  settleil  on  a farm  seven  miles 
southeast  of  Goshen,  where  he  passed  the  re- 
mainder of  his  tlays;  he  was  a substantial 
farmer,  owning  140  acres  of  land.  To  him  and 
wife  seven  children  were  born:  W'illiam,  James, 
Isaac,  Jacob,  Jonas,  IMneline  and  - - . Mr. 
and  Mrs.  Horn  were  members  of  the  General 
Baptist  church,  in  the  faith  of  which  Mr.  I loin 
died  on  his  farm  at  eighty-four  years  of  age. 
Politically,  he  was  a democrat  and  a strong 
Union  man  during  the  war,  in  which  he  had 
two  sons — Isaac  and  lames-  -both  in  company 
b'.  Seventy-fourth  regiment,  Indiana  volunteer 
infantry.  [ames  served  more  than  three 


OF  CLINTON  COUNTY. 


788 


3e:irs,  was  in  many  battles  named  below,  which 
were  also  participated  in  by  his  brother  Isaac. 

Isaac  Horn  was  born  May  23,  1844,  in 
Ashland  county,  Ohio,  and  was  about  ten 
years  of  age  when  he  came  with  his  parents 
to  Elkhart  county,  Ind.  He  received  a good 
common  school  education  in  the  district 
schools  and  became  a farmer.  He  enlisted  at 
the  age  of  nineteen  years,  August  8,  1862,  in 
company  E,  Seventy-fourth  regiment  Indiana 
volunteer  infantry,  at  Goshen,  under  Capt. 
William  B.  Jacob  and  Col.  Myron  H.  Baker, 
and  was  in  the  following  battles;  Rolling 
Fork,  Hoover's  Gap,  Dug  Gap,  Chickamauga, 
(ihattanooga  (missed  being  in  the  battle  of 
Missionary  Ridge  by  being  sick  with  small-pox), 
Buzzard’s  Roost,  Kingston,  Kenesaw'  Moun- 
tain, Lost  Mountain,  Dallas,  Chattahoochee, 
Peach  Tree  Creek  and  Atlanta — where  he  was 
shot  through  the  face  by  a minie  ball,  which 
came  out  under  the  left  ear,  destroying  the 
roof  of  his  mouth.  He  here  fell  on  the  held, 
was  taken  to  the  rear,  and  was  in  hospital 
from  August  8,  1864,  to  February  27,  1865  — 
hrst  in  held  hospital  at  Chattanooga  and  then 
at  Nashville.  He  was  at  hrst  reported  to  be 
mortally  wounded,  not  being  able  to  talk  or 
get  anyone  to  write  a letter  to  his  friends;  he 
hnally  returned  home  to  Elkhart  county,  ar- 
riving in  the  dark,  at  two  o’clock  in  the  morn- 
ing, taking  his  people  completely  by  surprise, 
as  they  had  given  him  up  for  dead.  He 
weighed  but  ninety-six  pounds,  and  when  w^ell 
had  weighed  180  pounds.  He  was  from  nine 
o’clock  p.  m.  until  two  o’clock  a.  m.  walking 
home  from  Millersburg,  a distance  of  three 
miles.  It  was  one  year  before  he  recovered 
his  speech.  He  took  an  active  part  in  all  the 
battles,  skirmishes  and  marches  of  his  regi- 
ment, except  when  sick  with  small-pox.  Be- 
side the  serious  w'ound  mentioned,  he  also  re- 
ceived a slight  scalp  wound  at  the  battle  of 
Chattanooga,  and  in  addition,  from  the  ex- 


plosion of  a cap  on  his  gun,  his  sight  was 
gradually  destroyed.  He  married  Sarah  Simp- 
son, daughter  of  George  and  Margaret  (Justice) 
Simpson.  George  Simpson  was  an  old  settler 
in  Elkhart  county,  Benton  township,  where 
he  entered  his  land,  and  where  he  lived  until 
his  death,  which  occurred  in  May,  1895,  ^.t  the 
age  of  seventy-five  years.  He  was  from  Knox- 
ville, Tenn.,  and  the  father  of  ten  children; 
Mary,  Thomas,  Lucinda  and  Matilda,  twfins; 
Frank,  Sarah,  Ella,  Edward,  Achsa  and  Nor- 
man. Mr.  Simpson  was  well  known  to  all 
the  old  settlers  and  well  respected. 

After  marriage  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Horn  settled 
on  a farm  in  Elkhart  county,  where  they  lived 
thirteen  years,  and  in  1881  moved  to  Carroll 
county,  Ind.,  remaining  there  until  he  retired 
from  active  farming,  in  1884,  to  Rossville. 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Horn  are  members  of  the 
Methodist  church,  in  which  he  has  held  the 
office  of  steward.  He  is  a republican  in  poli- 
tics, is  a member  of  the  G.  A.  R.,  and  has  held 
the  office  of  senior  and  junior  vice-commander ; 
also  a member  of  Bringhurst  lodge,  F.  & A. 
M.,  Carroll  county.  Mr.  Horn  has  a splendid 
soldier’s  record — one  of  the  best  in  the  county 
— and  stands  high  as  a citizen. 


ILLIAM  A.  HUMBLE  is  one  of  the 
old  soldiers  of  the  Civil  war,  in 
which  he  lost  his  left  leg,  and  is 
prominent  as  a liveryman  of  Ross- 
ville,  Ind.  Philip  Humble,  his  father,  was 
born  in  Indiana,  where  he  married  Sarah  Mc- 
Farland, and  by  her  became  the  father  of 
seven  children  ; Malinda,  Lucinda,  Martha, 
Rebecca,  James,  John  and  William.  Mr. 
Humble  eventually  moved  to  Vermillion  coun- 
ty, Ills.,  where  he  died  at  sixty-three  years  of 
age.  He  was  a Unionist  and  had  three  sons 
in  the  Civil  war — James,  John  and  W'illiam 
A. — all  in  company  B,  Twenty-fifth  Illinois 


lilOGRAPIIICAL  HISTORY 


volunteer  infantry.  |aines  served  one  year 
and  )ohn  served  from  the  beftinninj^'  to  the 
end  of  the  war.  Tlie  military  record  of  Will- 
iam , is  given  below. 

W’illiam  A.  Humble  was  born  August  24, 
1845,  in  Iowa.  He  received  bnt  liitle  educa- 
tion, not  having  the  (opportunity  to  attend 
school,  and  he  early  began  to  work  at  farming. 
He  enlisted  November  5,  1863,  for  three 

years  or  during  the  war,  under  Capt.  Jeff. 
McGibben  and  Col.  Houston.  He  was  in  the 
battle  of  Charleston,  Tenn.,  on  the  Atlanta 
camjoaign,  also  in  the  battle  of  Kenesaw  Mount- 
ain. He  was  taken  sick  with  erysipelas  be- 
fore Atlanta  and  was  sent  to  hopsital  No. 
15,  at  Nashville,  Tenn.,  thence,  to  Cairo, 
where  he  remained  a month.  He  was  then 
sent  home  on  a furlough  of  fifty  days,  then  re- 
turned to  Nashville,  thence  was  sent  to  Te.xas, 
where  he  served  until  honoraldy  discharged  at 
Victoria,  September  21,  1865,  on  account  of 
the  close  of  the  war.  He  returned  home  com- 
pletely disabled,  and  for  years  struggled  ahuig 
without  applying  for  a pension.  He  engaged 
in  teaming  and  farming  at  Danville,  111.,  re- 
maining there  until  1875,  when  he  moved  to 
Kossville,  Ind.  He  married  in  Vermillion 
county.  111.,  February  1,  1866,  Amy,  daugh- 
ter of  Abraham  and  Druscilla  (Willisj  Haney, 
and  to  him  and  wife  were  born  three  children  : 
Ella  (died  aged  thirteen  years),  Josie  and  Al- 
bert. Mr.  Humble,  having  an  independent 
character  and  feeling  able  to  care  for  himself, 
made  no  application  to  the  government  for  a 
pension  up  to  that  time.  Hc'  has  been  a con- 
tinual sufferer  from  the  effects  of  army  life, 
the  erysii^elas  settling  in  his  Icdt  leg  on  the  At- 
lanta cam])aign  troubling  him  ever  after.  In 
I 886  he  became  completely  disabled,  and  his 
leg  was  amputated  below  the  knee.  He  a])- 
plied  for  a pension  this  yc'ar,  but  it  was  not 
granted  until  1888.  He  now  receives  thirty 
(hdlars  jicr  month,  formerly  receiving  seven- 


teen dollars  per  month;  he  also  received  about 
$1,300  back  pay,  and  is  now  in  comfortable 
circumstances,  owning  a house  and  lot  and 
livery  stable.  Politically  he  is  a republican. 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Humble  are  members  of  the 
Church  of  God,  and  he  is  a member  of  Oliver 
Short  post.  No.  490,  G.  A R.,  of  Kossville. 
Mr.  Hnmble’s  daughter  married  Albert  Fife,  and 
she  is  now  the  mother  of. three  children.  Mr. 
Humble  has  always  been  an  industrious  man 
and  only  applied  for  his  rightfully  due  pension 
when  compelled  to  by  disability.  He  is  high- 
ly respected  by  his  old  comrades  and  likewise 
enjoys  the  full  confidence  and  high  respect  of 
his  neighbors. 


IMON  P.  IRBY,  ex-soldier  and  fariner 
of  P'orest  township,  Clinton  county, 
Ind.,  is  of  sturdy  Anglo-Saxon  stock, 
his  great-great-grandfather,  Joseph 
Irby,  having  come  from  England  in  company 
with  his  brothers,  and  made  his  settlement  in 
Virginia.  Joshua  Irby,  his  son,  and  great- 
grandfather of  our  subject,  was  born  in  Vir- 
ginia and  was  a planter  and  slave-owner. 
Charles  Irby,  grandfather  of  Simon  P. , was 
born  in  Virginia  May  10,  1770,  married  Re- 
becca Lewis,  and  emigrated  to  Tennessee, 
where  he  reared  a part  of  his  family,  then 
moved  to  Switzerland  county,  Ind.,  in  1827, 
and  thence  to  Tipton  county  in  1850.  Wylie 
R.  Irby,  the  father  of  our  subject  aud  son  of 
Charles  Irby,  was  born  in  Tazewell  county, 
Tenn.,  |anuary  24,  1 8 1 (j),  and  married  Rebecca 
Smith,  daughter  of  Peter  and  Susanna  (Line- 
back)  Smith,  and  to  their  marriage  had  born 
the  following  children ; Simon  P.,  Eliza  Ann,' 
('.olumbns,  Elizabeth  J.,  Mary  M. , Joseph  W., 
Lucinda  ('.,  Wylie  R , Silas  M.,  Rebecca  S. 
and  Matilda  IF  The  parents  of  this  large 
family  aix'  now  seventy-live  and  seventy-three 
years  of  age  respectively,  d'he  father  has  been 


OF  CLINTON  COUNTY. 


785 


;i  deacon  in  the  New  Light  church  for  many 
years,  and  is  well  read  in  the  Scriptures.  It 
is  worthy  of  remark,  incidentally,  that  not  a 
nail  was  used  in  the  erection  of  the  first  log 
cabin  that  Mr.  Irby  built  on  his  present  farm. 

Simon  P.  Irby  was  born  in  Switzerland 
countv,  Ind.,  December  2,  1842,  and  married 
Mary  M.  Suit,  December  6,  1863.  This  lady 
is  a daughter  of  Ale.xander  and  Abigail  (Pike) 
Suit,  the  former  of  whom  was  an  early  settler 
and  a renowned  hunter  of  Clinton  county;  he 
was  also  apioneer  school-teacher  and  a farmer ; 
he  was  twice  elected  township  trustee  on  the 
democratic  ticket,  and  w'as  a deacon  in  the 
New  Light  church.  After  their  marriage  Simon 
P.  Irby  and  wife  lived  for  some  time  on  a farm 
in  Tipton  county,  and  have  been  living  twent}’ 
years  on  their  present  farm  of  eighty-two  acres 
of  very  fertile  land,  which  they  have  realized 
through  their  joint  industry  and  economy — 
clearing  and  improving  nearly  the  whole  of  it. 
To  the  marriage  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Irby  five 
children  have  been  born,  in  the  following 
order:  Lewis  S.,  John  A , Lucinda  A.,  Isaac 
M.  and  Harvey  A.  Mr.  Irby  enlisted  Novem- 
ber 2,  1864,  in  company  B,  F'ortieth  Indiana 
volunteer  infantry,  and  fought  in  the  cam- 
paigns of  Kentucky,  Tennessee,  Missouri, 
Arkansas,  Mississippi,  Louisiana,  Texas  and 
Alabama,  the  most  prominent  battles  in  which 
he  took  part  having  been  those  of  Columbia, 
Spring  Hill,  Franklin,  Nashville,  and  the  seven 
days’  fighting  in  pursuit  of  Hood.  He  was 
honorably  discharged  November  13,  1864,  and 
is  now  a member  of  H.  C.  Coulter  post.  No. 

1 3 1,  G.  A.  R.  He  and  wife  are  members  of 
the  Christian  church,  in  which  he  is  a deacon. 
Lucinda  A.  Irby,  the  third  child  born  to  Simon 
P.  and  his  wife,  married  James  H.  Jones,  who 
is  now  deceised,  and  became  the  mother  of 
the  famous  Jones  twins.  These  children  were 
united,  like  the  renowned  Siamese  twins, 
Chang  and  Eng,  by  a cartilagenous  tissue; 


they  were  strong  and  healthy,  lived  many 
months,  but  were  attacked  by  the  measles, 
then  the  bronchitis,  and  so  perished. 


OBERT  S.  IRWIN,  now  living  in  re- 
tirement in  Frankfort,  Ind.,  was  born 
in  Ross  county,  Ohio,  January  14, 
1818,  a son  of  Samuel  and  Esther 
(Dean)  Irwin,  of  whom  further  details  are 
given  later  on.  Samuel  Irwin  was  born  in 
Maryland  January  i,  1782,  and  was  but  two 
years  of  age  wh.en  taken  to  Kentucky,  and  but 
a few  years  later  to  Ohio.  He  there  grew  to 
maturit}'  and  was  married  in  Ross  county  to 
Esther  Dean,  who  bore  fourteen  children,  viz; 
Catherine,  Abigail,  Jessup,  Mesner,  Gustin, 
Jared,  William,  Samuel  K.,  John,  Robert  S., 
Price,  Asa,  Nancy  J.and  James  L. , all  born  in 
Ross  county,  Ohio.  In  1829  the  parents  of 
Robert  S Irwin  came  to  Indiana  and  settled 
in  Montgomery  county,  where  the  father  died 
August  18,  1834,  in  the  Presbyterian  faith — 
the  mother  surviving  until  January  27,  1865. 

Robert  S.  Irwin  was  reared  to  manhood 
in  Montgomery,  county,  Ind.,  and  there  made 
his  home  until  he  reached  his  majority;  he  then 
attended  school  in  jefferson  county,  and  taught 
for  three  years  in  Tippecanoe  and  Clinton 
counties  and  elsewhere;  in  1843  he  rented  a 
farm  in  Clinton  county,  on  which  he  resided 
as  a tenant  for  six  years,  and  then,  1850,  he 
bought  a farm  of  eighty  acres,  under  a good 
state  of  cultivation,  in  Twelve  Mile  Prairie,  on 
which  he  lived  until  1892,  when  he  came  to 
the  city  to  live,  on  account  of  the  great  con- 
venience of  natural  gas,  although  he  is  yet  the 
owner  of  240  acres  of  excellent  land.  The 
marriage  of  Mr.  Irwin  was  solemnized  in 
Clinton  county,  Ind.,  September  24,  1840, 

with  Miss  Rebecca  Gray,  who  was  born  in 
Hamilton  county,  Ohio,  a daughter  of  John 
and  Sarah  (Douglass)  Gray.  The  unign  of 


BIOGRAPHICAL  HISTORY 


7n() 


Mr.  iuul  Mrs.  Irwin  was  blessed  with  the  fol- 
lowing children:  Sarah  M.,  wife  of  J.  Boyd, 
a fanner  of  C'linton  comity;  John  S.,  deceased; 
Isaac,  of  Kirklin;  Simon  of  Clinton  county; 
Rebecca,  deceased;  Jane,  wife  of  |.  E.  Ball,  a 
merchant;  and  Robert  W. , an  attorney.  The 
inotherof  these  children  died  December  50^55, 
a member  of  the  Presbyterian  church  and  greatly 
mourned  by  all  who  knew  her.  In  1856  Mr.  Ir- 
win was  remarried, choosing  for  his  second  help- 
meet Elizabeth  M.  Smiley,  who  became  the 
inotherof  the  following  children,  viz;  Mary,  wife 
(jf  James  Waite;  Elizabeth, deceased;  Rosa,  wife 
of  J.  Gentry;  William,  deceased;  and  Clara 
B.,  w'ife  of  Charles  Ward,  of  Erankfort.  Mrs. 
Elizabeth  M.  Irwin,  also,  w'as  called  away  from 
earth,  dying  April  13,  1878.  Robert  S.  Ir- 

win is  a republican,  politically,  and  has  served 
as  township  trustee  tw'o  terms  and  as  justice, 
of  the  peace  four  years,  and  has  been  a 
farmer  since  1843. 

Robert  W.  Irwun,  son  of  Robert  S.  and 
Rebecca  (Gray)  Irwin,  was  born  November  15, 
1853,  and  reared  to  manhood  in  Jackson  town- 
ship, Clinton  county,  Ind.,  and  aided  his  father 
on  the  farm  until  1873,  when  he  entered  the 
Wabash  college,  where  he  studied  three  years, 
and  then  engaged  in  farming  three  years;  he 
was  next  employed  in  traveling  through  Indi- 
ana for  Wdiitely,  Eoster  A Kelly,  of  Spring- 
held,  Ohio,  five  years,  and  then  engaged  in  the 
manufacture  of  ax  and  jiick  handles  for  three 
years  in  Erankfort.  March  5,  1890,  he  com- 
menced reading  law  with  ex-Senator  Kent, 
W'as  admitted  to  the  bar  in  December,  1890, 
and  has  been  a partner  with  his  former  pre- 
ceptor since  January,  1892.  The  nuptials  of 
Mr.  Irw'in  were  celebrated  in  Jackson  town- 
ship, Clinton  county,  September  7,  1876,  with 
Miss  Marietta  Berry,  who  was  born  in  Preble 
county,  Ohio,  July  29,  1854  — a daughter  of 
James  and  Louisa  Berry  -and  this  union  has 
been  blessed  with  one  child,  named  Vernie  S. 


Mr  and  Mrs.  Irwin  are  members  of  the  Pres- 
b}  terian  church,  and  are  prominent  members 
of  soe'ety. 


r’ I ELI  AM  L.  JACKSON,  one  of  the 
prominent  business  men  of  Rossville, 
Clinton  county,  Ind.,  is  a skillful 
manufacturer  of  cairiages,  and  also 
an  old  soldier.  William  Jackson,  his  grand- 
fatlier,  was  born  in  London,  Ping.,  came  to 
America  when  a boy  of  fifteen,  running  aw'ay 
from  home,  having  been  apprenticed  to  a book- 
seller, but  not  liking  the  business.  He  gained 
a good  education,  however,  and  was  for  years 
a school-teacher  in  New  York  state  and  Penn- 
sylvania. He  was  a line  penman  and  teacher 
of  that  art.  He  married  a Miss  Livingston, 
and  there  were  born  to  him  five  children — 
Janms,  David,  William,  Samuel  undone  daugh- 
ter, whose  name  is  not  remembered.  Mr. 
Jackson  finally  moved  to  Pickaway  county, 
Ohio,  where  his  oldest  son,  James,  was  also 
one  of  the  pioneers.  James  and  his  brother 
David  built  the  locks  on  the  Miami  canal  at 
Lockport.  Mr.  Jackson  was  an  old  man  when 
he  moved  to  Pickaw'ay  county,  and  there  he 
and  his  wife  died.  He  probably  came  to  Amer- 
ica right  after  the  Revolutionary  war.  He  w'as 
a school-teacher  all  of  his  active  life,  w’as  suc- 
cessful and  an  honorable  man.  William  Jack- 
son,  son  of  above,  and  father  of  our  subject, 
was  born  in  Eraid-ilin  county.  Pa.,  in  1800. 
He  received  a good  common  education,  was  a 
stone-cutter  by  trade',  and  became  a contractor 
early  in  life.  He  married  in  1822,  in  Ean- 
nettsburg,  I'ranklin  county.  Pa.,  Isabel,  daugh- 
ter of  Joseiih  Witherow,  and  to  them  were 
born  live  cbildren  John,  Margaret  J.,  James, 
Eveline'  anel  W’illiam  L.  He  livcel  at  P'annetts- 
burg.  Pa.,  until  1836,  when  he  went  to  build 
the  abutments  for  the  elams  freun  No.  4 tei  Ne). 
9,  on  the  Peitomac  river  feir  the  canal.  He 


OF  CLINTON  COUNTY 


7B7 


sickened  from  exposure  in  this  work  aiul  died 


at  McConnellsburg.  Pa.,  January  5,  1H39,  at 
about  thirty-nine  years  of  aj^e.  He  was  a man 
of  integrity  and  great  energy  and  perseverance 
and  was  well  known.  He  was  reared  a mem- 
ber of  the  church  of  England,  while  his  wife 
was  a devout  member  of  the  Presbyterian 
church.  She  was  left  with  a family  of  five 
children  to  rear,  the  eldest,  John,  being  about 
sixteen  years  of  age.  At  the  age  of  fourteen, 
before  the  death  of  his  father,  John  was  sent 
to  Harper’s  Ferry  with  a cart  and  horse,  for 
scrip,  with  which  to  pay  the  men  at  work  on 
the  dam.  This  money  was  paid  out  to  the 
men,  but  the  bank  broke  the  day  before  and 
all  was  lost 

William  L Jackson,  son  of  above,  was  born 
at  Fannettsburg,  Pa.,  July  18,  1834,  received 
a good  common  education  and  was  but  five 
years  old  when  his  father  died.  He  moved 
with  his  mother  and  family  to  Carroll  county, 
Ind.,  in  1846,  and  worked  at  his  present  trade. 
He  enlisted  at  Delphi  in  August,  1862,  at  the 
age  of  twenty-six  years,  as  a bugler  in  the 
Twenty-fourth  Indiana  battery  light  artillery, 
and  was  enrolled  September  15,  1862,  under 
Capt.  Joseph  A.  Sims,  being  the  first  man  to 
enlist  in  the  battery.  He  was  in  the  battle  of 
Horse  Shoe  Bend.,  Ky. , May  ii,  1863;  Mar- 
row Bone,  Ky, , July  2,  1863;  they  were  after 
Morgan  through  Kentucky,  then  were  engaged, 
October  24,  1863,  at  Sweet  Water,  Ky.  He 
was  then  detailed  and  sent  to  Indianapolis  to 
recruit  soldiers  to  fill  up  the  battery.  He  re- 
turned six  months  later  and  joined  the  battery 
at  Red  Clay,  Tenn.,  May  2.  on  the  eve  of  the 
Atlanta  campaign.  His  battery  was  assigned 
to  Gen.  Hovey’s  division.  Twenty-third  army 
corps,  under  Gen.  Schofield,  and  marched  with 
this  division.  May  3 i , to  join  Sherman’s  army, 
and  participated  in  the  battle  of  Resaca,  and 
was  attached  July  i,  to  Gen.  Stoneman’s  coin- 
man  I and  engaged,  July  1 1 - 1 2-1  3- 14  and  17, 


at  Campbellstown,  Moore’s  bridge  and  Sun- 
tlown,  on  the  Chattahoochee  river.  He  left 
Atlanta  November  5,  in  jiursuit  of  Hood,  and 
was  engaged  at  Columbia,  Tenn.,  November 
28,  in  the  battle  of  Nashville;  then  returned  to 
Louisville,  Ky. , and  saw  no  more  fighting.  He 
was  honorably  discharged  at  Indianapolis, 
.August  3,  1865,  and  returned  home.  He  was 
always  an  active  soldier.  His  position  as  bugler 
obliged  him  to  be  at  the  captain's  or  command- 
ing officer’s  side,  and  he  w'as  under  fire  and  ex- 
posed in  every  action.  He  was  in  all  the  actions 
of  his  battery  and  in  all  the  marches  and  cam- 
paigns, except  when  on  detail  duty  six  months, 
during  which  time  he  recruited  thirty-one  men 
and  w'as  commissioned  first  lieutenant,  but  was 
not  mustered,  as  there  was  no  vacancy.  He 
had  both  feet  injured  in  a railroad  collision. 
He  served  nearly  three  years  and  did  his  duty 
cheerfully  and  promptly. 

He  had  been  in  business  for  himself  at 
Dephi  for  three  years  before  his  enlistment 
and  came  immediately  after  the  war  to  Ross- 
ville  and  established  his  present  business.  He 
married  one  year  later,  July  4,  1866,  Sarah 
M.,  daughter  of  John  Harrison  and  Catherine 
(Dukes)  Calloway.  John  Harrison  Calloway 
was  an  old  settler  and  farmer.  He  was  the 
father  of  ten  children:  )ohn  M.,  William, 
Leander,  Benjamin  D.,  Mary  E , Isaac  (died 
young),  Martin,  Sarah  A.,  Delia  C.  and  Laura 
V.  Mr.  Calloway  was  born  in  1806,  and  died 
January  7,  1853,  aged  forty-seven  years.  He 
was  a substantial  farmer  and  reared  a respected 
family  of  children.  To  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Jackson 
have  been  born  four  children,  now  living, 
Frank  W.,  M’alter  G.,  Delbert  O.,  and  John 
Herbert.  Mr.  Jackson  is  well  known  for  his 
skillful  work  in  making  all  kinds  of  buggies, 
spring  wagons,  and  carriages,  for  the  surround- 
ing country,  and  for  the  wholesale  trade.  His 
carriages  are  made  in  the  best  style  and  con- 
tain the  best  of  stock.  Mr.  Jackson  is  a mem- 


7nH 


HIOGRAPHICAL  HISTORY 


ber  of  th(  (T  A.  K.,  Oliver  Short  i)Ost,  No. 
390,  and  has  held  the  offices  of  senior  and 
junior  vice-commander,  and  acted  for  a long 
time  as  adjutant.  lie  is  a member  of  1.  O. 
().  1'.  lodge,  No.  183,  Rossville,  and  had  held 
all  the  offices,  including  noble  grand,  and  has 
been  representative  to  the  grand  lodge,  of 
which  he  is  also  a member.  He  has  taken  an 
active  interest  in  having  good  schools  in  Ross- 
ville and  has  been  on  the  school  board  several 
years.  His  children  are  all  well  educated, 
and  his  son,  Delbert  O.,  is  attending  a busi- 
ness college  at  La  Fayette.  His  son,  John  H. , 
is  attending  school  at  Rossville  and  assisting 
his  father  at  carriage  making.  Mr.  Jackson 
was  a good  soldier  and  is  an  excellent  citizen, 
and  stands  high  in  the  community.  In  poli- 
tics he  is  a democrat. 


OWARD  JENKINS,  a substantial 
farmer  of  Michigan  township,  Clin- 
ton county,  Ind.,  was  born  here 
September  23,  1842.  His  grand- 
father, Benjamin  Jenkins,  was  a native  of  \hr- 
ginia,  and  served  in  the  Revolutionary  army 
eight  years.  He  was  a leader  and  steward  in 
the  U.  B.  church,  and  died  in  Virginia  at  the 
remarkable  age  of  one  hundred  years.  His  son, 
M'illiam  G.  Jeid<ins,  was  born  in  Hardy 
county,  \’a.,  in  1811,  and  saw  the  first  railway 
in  the  United  States — on  the  line  between 
Baltimore  and  Winchester.  He  married  Bar- 
bara Shafer,  daughter  of  Adam  and  Rosanna 
Shafer,  the  union  resulting  in  the  birth  of  the 
following  children ; Harrison,  Ho\sard,  Lydia, 
William  and  Ella.  In  1834,  Mr.  Jeid<ins  and 
his  father-in-law,  Mr.  Shafer,  canu,' to  Indiana 
together  in  a two-horse  wagon  and  located  in 
Marion  county.  William  J.  Jenkins  was  a 
charter  member  of  Herman  lodge  No.  184,  I'. 
A A.  M.,  and  died  May  7,  1887;  Mrs.  Barbara 


Jenkins  was  a member  of  the  U.  B.  church 
and  died  in  March,  1894. 

Howard  Jenkins  was  educated  in  the  old- 
fashioned  log  school-house  and  reared  on  a 
farm.  He  married  Melissa  Clark,  daughter  of 
Lewis  Clark,  a native  of  Pennsylvania  and  a 
miller,  who  came  to  Clinton  county  in  its  early 
history,  bought  sixty  acres  and  now  resides  in 
Johnson  township.  The  children  born  to  Mr. 
and  Mrs  Jenkins  are  named  Manda,  Martin, 
Laura,  Milford,  Omer,  Lydia,  Bertha,  Elmore, 
and  Luther — all  living.  When  first  married, 
Mr.  Jenkins  settled  on  a farm  of  twenty  acres, 
which  he  has  since  eidarged  to  320  acres,  all 
in  the  highest  state  of  cultivation  at  the  pres- 
ent time.  Mrs.  Jenkins  is  a devout  member  of 
the  Christian  church.  Mr.  Jenkins  is  a re- 
publican and  has  been  elected,  as  such,  county 
commissioner,  running  ahead  of  his  ticket. 
Mr.  Jenkins  is  an  old  soldier.  He  enlisted 
August  18,  1862,  for  three  years,  in  company 
H,  Eighty-sixth  Indiana  volunteer  infantry, 
and  was  in  the  campaigns  in  Kentucky,  Tennes- 
see, Alabama,  Georgia,  North  Carolina,  South 
Carolina  and  \'irginia.  He  fought  at  Perryville 
and  Stone  River,  and  was  then  tletailed  as 
teamster  for  the  remainder  of  the  war;  he  was 
at  Resaca,  Buzzard’s  Roost,  Chattahoochee 
River,  Peach  Tree  Creek,  Knoxville,  Mission- 
ary Ridge,  Chickamauga,  Jonesboro,  Pulaski, 
Spring  Hill  and  Franklin.  He  was  honorably 
discharged  at  Nashville,  in  June,  1865.  He 
now  receives  a pension  of  eight  dollars  per 
month.  He  is  a member  of  Stone  River  i)ost. 
No.  45,  G.  A.  R.,  and  as  a citizen  he  is  highly 
c;steenn'd  in  the  community  in  which  he  lives. 


ENRY  C.  JOHNSON  is  a prosperous 
farmer  of  Union  township,  Clinton 
county,  Ind.,  of  which  county  he  is  a 
native.  He  was  born  August  12, 
1853,  and  is  the  son  of  Joseph  S.  and  Sarah 


OF  CLINTON  COUNTY 


780 


A.  (Perry)  Johnson,  natives  of  New  Jersey  and 
of  Scotch- Irish  descent.  Joseph  Johnson  was 
born  November  17,  1806,  and  when  a lad  was 
brought  west  by  his  father,  John  Johnson,  to 
Butler  county,  Ohio.  John  Johnson  was  a 
weaver  and  a farmer,  settled  in  Butler  county, 
Ohio,  and  died  about  the  year  1850.  He  was 
the  father  of  six  children,  all  of  whom  are  now 
deceased,  and  were  named  John,  Catherine, 
Ann,  William,  Joseph  S.  and  Mary  J.  The 
father  of  Henry  C.  Johnson  learned  the  trade 
of  weaving  with  his  father,  which  trade  he 
followed  until  1838,  when  he  came  to  Clinton 
county,  Ind.,  and  here  entered  160  acres  of 
land,  which  he  had  increased,  before  his  death, 
October  24,  1890,  to  440  acres.  The  marriage 
of  Joseph  Johnson  took  place  in  1836;  his  wife 
was  born  July  25,  1813,  and  died  in  Septem- 
ber, 1882.  To  Joseph  Johnson  and  first  wife 
were  born  the  following  children:  Martha, 
Peter  S.,  David,  Garrett  S.,  Francis  M., 
Henry  C.,  John  F. , all  living,  and  John,  Will- 
iam and  James,  deceased. 

Henry  C.  Johnson  was  well  trained  to  his 
vocation  of  agriculture  on  his  father’s  farm,  on 
which  he  resided  until  October  10,  1875,  when 
he  married  Miss  Martha  McAdams,  who  bore 
him  five  children,  of  whom  two  are  living,  viz: 
Leroy  B.,  born  September  6,  1879;  and 

Earley  O.,  born  February  25,  1882.  Those 
deceased  were  named  Ida,  Daisy  and  Arett. 
Mr.  Johnson  took  for  his  second  helpmate, 
March  15,  1894,  Anna  Cadle,  daughter  of 
James  and  Francis  (Avery)  Cadle.  James 
Cadle  was  born  in  Mercer  county,  Va.  (now 
West  Virginia),  March  4,  1822,  and  was  a son 
of  Nathan  and  Sarah  (Neddons)  Cadle.  He 
married  Miss  Francis  Avery  October  10,  1865. 
This  lady  is  a daughter  of  Andrew  and  Martha 
(West)  Avery,  natives  of  North  Carolina,  and 
was  born  May  17,  1869.  Mr.  Johnson  is  now 
well  located  on  his  farm  of  seventy  acres,  en- 
joys the  esteem  of  all  his  neighbors,  and  with 


his  present  bright  prospects  before  him  has 
much  to  hope  from  the  future.  In  politics  he 
is  a stanch  democrat. 


OHNSON  & KERRICK. — Prominent 
among  the  successful  business  men  of 
P'rankfort  are  Messrs.  Johnson  & Ker- 
rick,  proprietors  of  a large  livery  barn 
and  sale  stable  on  the  corner  of  Columbia  and 
Washington  streets,  their  place  being  one  of 
the  largest  and  most  extensively  patronized  of 
the  kind  in  the  city.  They  do  a business 
second  to  that  of  no  other  livery  firm  in  the 
county,  keep  on  hand  constantly  most  excel- 
lent stock,  and  in  addition  to  their  general 
livery  business,  buy  and  sell  horses,  in  which 
their  success  has  been  of  a most  gratifying  na- 
ture. Their  building  is  well  equipped  in  all 
its  departments,  and  their  aim  has  ever  been  to 
please  the  public,  and  how  well  they  have  suc- 
ceeded is  sufficiently  attested  by  the  large  and 
constantly  increasing  patronage  which  they 
now  enjoy. 

W.  F.  Johnson  was  born  in  Edgar  county, 
Ilk,  May  31,  1859,  the  son  of  W.  F.  and  Mar- 
garet (Mays)  Johnson,  natives  respectively  of 
Illinois  and  Ohio.  The  father  died  when  the 
subject  of  this  sketch  was  scarcely  more  than 
a year  old,  and  the  widowed  mother,  with  her 
son  and  two  daughters,  continued  to  reside  on 
the  home  farm  in  Illinois  until  the  subject  had 
reached  the  age  of  nineteen  years,  when  the 
family  moved  to  Rush  county,  Ind. , where  the 
mother  still  resides.  W.  F.  Johnson  was 
reared  to  agricultural  pursuits,  educated  in  the 
public  schools  and  began  life  for  himself  as  a 
tiller  of  the  soil  in  Rush  county,  where  he  lived 
until  his  removal  to  Frankfort  on  the  fifteenth 
of  July,  1893.  On  coming  to  this  city  Mr. 
Johnson  purchased  an  interest  in  the  Porter 
Bros,  livery  stable,  and,  later,  became  sole 
proprietor  of  the  business,  continuing  the 


710 


BIOGRAPHICAL  HISTORY 


same  until  |anuary  of  the  following  year,  when 
his  brother-in-law,  L.  H.  Kerrick,  became  his 
partner  nnder  the  firm  name  of  Johnson  & 
Kerrick.  In  iSSy  Mr.  johnson  was  united  in 
marriage  to  Miss  Lima  Kerrick  of  Decatur 
county,  Ind.  Mr.  Johnson  has  fully  demons- 
trated his  abilities  as  an  .active  and  successful 
business  man,  and  he  enjoys  a full  measure  of 
the  confidence  and  esteem  of  the  public.  He 
is  a member  of  the  Masonic  order  and  in  every 
respect  a most  reputable  and  praiseworthy 
gentleman. 

L.  H.  Kerrick,  junior  member  of  the  firm 
of  Johnson  & Kerrick,  is  an  Indianian  by  birth 
and  a native  of  the  count)'  of  Decatur.  He 
was  horn  October  26,  1874,  the  son  of  Nim- 
rod and  Sarah  Ann  (Humphrey)  Kerrick,  high- 
Iv  respectable  citizens  of  Decatur  county,  and 
grew  to  manhood  amid  the  active  scenes  of 
farm  life.  Mr.  Kerrick  remained  with  his 
father,  who  is  one  of  the  most  extensive  and 
successful  farmers  of  the  county  of  Decatur, 
until  1894,  in  January  of  which  year  he  came 
to  Frankfort,  and,  as  already  stated,  purchased 
an  interest  in  the  livery  business  with  which  he 
is  now  identified.  He  is  well  (pialified  to  con- 
duct the  business  to  which  his  attention  is  now 
being  devoted,  and  since  becoming  a resident 
of  Frankfort  has  won  a conspicuous  place  in 
the  estimation  of  its  citizens. 


FNRY  J.  KFFDY,  a well  known  farm- 
er and  stock  raiser  and  prominent 
resident  of  Perry  townshi]),  C'linton 
county,  Ind  , was  born  in  Ross 
county,  Ohio,  June  9,  1832.  John  Keedy  his 
grandfather,  a native  Germany,  married 
Martha  Hinkle,  also  of  German  birth,  and  set- 
tled in  Baltimore,  where  he  followed  the  trade 
of  cabinet-making;  later  he  emigrated  to  Vir- 
ginia, settling  in  Morgan  comity,  where  his 
his  death  occurred.  Henry  Keedy,  son  of  the 


above  and  father  of  the  subject  of  this  sketch, 
was  born  in  Baltimore,  Md.,  and  followed 
agricultural  pursuits  for  his  life  work.  He 
married  Nancy  Bailey,  daughter  of  Thomas 
Bailey,  of  Virginia,  to  which  state  he  had 
previously  removed,  and  afterward  became  a 
resident  of  Ross  county,  Ohio,  where  he  con- 
tinued to  resid“  for  a period  of  six  years.  In 
1837  he  moved  to  Clinton  county,  Ind.,  and 
entered  an  eighty-acre  tract  of  land  in  Perry 
township,  a part  of  which  is  now  in  possession 
of  the  subject  of  this  mention.  Henry  Keedy 
was  a man  of  great  industry  and  a successful 
financier.  He  accumulated  a handsome  prop- 
erty, including  200  acres  of  land,  and  became 
one  of  the  best  known  and  popular  citizens  of 
the  township  of  Perry.  He  was  a prominent 
member  of  the  Methodist  Protestant  church, 
in  which,  at  different  times,  he  held  official 
positions,  and  he  was  chiefly  instrumental  in 
establishing  a number  of  local  congregations 
in  various  parts  of  the  county.  The  following 
are  the  names  of  the  children  born  to  Henry 
and  Nancy  Keedy:  Hannah  M.,  Elizabeth, 
George  \\k,  Henry  ].,  Matthew  T.,  Sarah  J., 
Harrison,  Uriah  (deceased),  Lucinda  R., 
Margaret;  two  infants  (deceased)  also  were 
born  to  them. 

The  immediate  subject  of  this  mention  was 
reared  a farmer,  to  which  useful  calling  he  has 
since  devoted  his  life,  and  he  came  to  Clinton 
county  with  his  [larents  when  but  six  years  of  age. 
He  received  an  education  in  the  old  log  school- 
house,  common  in  the  pioneer  jieriod  of  Indi- 
ana, and  began  life  for  himself  on  attaining  his 
majority  as  a farmer  in  Perry  townshij  . \\dien 
In'  first  came  to  the  county  the  settlements 
were  few  and  far  between,  market  ))laces  were 
remote,  and  the  pre.sent  thriving  city  of  h'rank- 
fort  was  a mere  hamlet  of  a few  log  huts.  He 
remembers  when  the  early  settlers  were  com- 
pelled to  haul  their  grain  and  other  produce  to 
La  b'ayettc  and  Chicago,  where  they  disposed 


OF  CLINTON  COUNTY. 


741 


of  the  same  for  insignificant  prices.  He  has 
watched,  with  interest,  the  gradual  develop- 
ment of  the  country,  and  seen  Clinton  take  a 
prominent  place  among  her  sister  counties  of 
the  state.  ^fr.  Keedy  has  a fine  farm,  in  the 
cultivation  of  which  he  diplays  e.xcellent  judg- 
ment, and  he  ranks  among  the  best  agricultur- 
ists of  Perry  township.  Politically,  he  is  a 
democrat,  and  as  such  has  been  active  in  be- 
half of  his  party’s  interest  in  a number  of  cam- 
paigns. In  the  estimation  of  his  neighbors 
and  friends  he  stands  deservedly  high,  and  few 
peojile  of  Perry  township  are  as  widely  and 
favorably  known. 

Wblliam  Henry  Keedy,  well  known  farmer 
of  the  township  of  Perry,  is  a native  of  Clin- 
ton county,  Ind.,  and  dates  his  birth  from  the 
first  day  of  May,  1855.  His  wife,  whose 
maiden  name  was  Sarah  F.  Wolf,  has  borne 
him  two  children — Pearly  M.,  and  Ennis  Ray. 
Mr.  Keedy  is  the  proprietor  of  a large,  well- 
tilled  farm,  and  occupies  a front  rank  among 
the  successful  self-made  men  of  Clinton  county. 


AMES  KELLY,  a wealthy  and  promi- 
nent citizen  of  Michigantown,  Clinton 
county,  Ind.,  and  one  of  the  oldest 
settlers,  is  of  sterling  Irish  descent. 
His  grandfather,  James,  came  to  America  an- 
terior to  the  Revolution.  At  the  outbreak  of 
that  heroic  struggle  he  cheerfully  forsook  his 
farm,  and  for  eight  years  bore  arms  against 
Albion,  the  perfidious,  in  the  war  for  Ameri- 
can independence;  when  the  war  of  1812  was 
declai'ed,  his  patriotic  blood  was  again  aroused, 
and  he  was  among  the  first  to  volunteer  in  the 
defense  of  his  adopted  country,  and  died  in 
battle  in  1813.  His  son,  David,  was  but  six 
years  old  when  he  lost  his  father,  and,  accord- 
ing to  the  law  of  the  time,  was  bound  out,  and 
learned  the  baker's  trade  in  Cincinnati,  Ohio, 
then  a backwoods  village,  composed  of  a few 


log  cabins.  After  completing  his  apprentice- 
ship, he  married  Nancy,  the  daughter  of  John 
and  Elizabeth  (Shaffer)  Whiteman,  of  Virginia, 
and  of  English  descent.  In  1829  Mr.  Kelly 
came  to  Indiana  and  settled  in  what  is  now 
Clinton  county,  which  he  later  assisted  in  or- 
ganizing. To  the  union  of  David  and  Nancy 
Kelly  were  born  eleven  children,  viz:  James, 
Catherine,  Henry,  Elizabeth,  Rebecca,  John 
Jacob,  William,  Mary,  and  two  that  died  in 
infancy. 

James  Kelly,  the  subject  proper  of  this 
sketch,  was  the  seventh  child  born  in  Clinton 
county,  and  the  third  in  Michigan  township. 
His  birth  took  place  August  6,  1832,  and  this 
township  has  been  his  residence  until  the  pres- 
ent hour.  He  was  reared  on  his  father’s 
homestead  and  farming  has  been  his  vocation 
ever  since.  His  education  was  acquired  at 
one  of  the  most  primitive  of  log  school-houses, 
an  uncouth  structure  as  compared  with  the 
modern  brick  of  to-day.  It  had  a clap-board 
door,  a puncheon  floor  and  greased  paper 
for  window-lights,  together  with  rude  slabs  for 
seats.  A huge  fire-place  occupied  one  end  of 
the  room,  the  chimney  being  constructed  from 
mud  and  sticks.  They  burned  small  saw-logs 
in  this  fire-place — some  five  or  six  feet  in 
length  and  afoot  and  a half  in  diameter,  which 
it  took  all  the  large  boys  all  the  noon  to  roll 
on  the  fire.  The  master  made  the  pens  from 
the  quill  of  a goose,  and  this  was  one  of  his 
principal  tasks,  as  the  old  pioneer  fathers  in- 
sisted that  their  children  should  all  write  well. 
The  teacher  boarded  around  from  house  to 
house,  not  having  any  permanent  abiding 
place.  July  25,  1858,  Mr.  Kelly  married 

Miss  Sarah,  daughter  of  James  and  Jane  Scott 
— early  settlers  and  prominent  residents  of  the 
township.  In  1859,  Mr.  Kelly  settled  on  his 
present  farm,  comprising  270  acres,  to  which 
he  has  largely  added  and  which  he  has  so  im- 
proved as  to  make  it  unexcelled  by  any  other 


742 


BIOGRAPHICAL  HISTORY 


in  the  county.  The  children  horn  to  Mr. 
Kelly  by  his  wife  Sarah  were  named  Thomas 

J. ,  John  S.,  James  S.,  and  India  M.  Mrs. 
Kelly  died  on  December  24,  1869,  and  May 
25,  1871,  Mr.  Kelly  married  Christina  J. 
I'isher,  dauf,diter  of  David  and  Christina 
(Shields)  Fisher,  and  by  this  marria^^e  the  fol- 
lowing children  have  been  born;  William  I)., 
Laura  J.,  Ellis  O.,  Daisey  IM.,  Omer  T. , Arta 

K.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Kelly  are  members  of  the 
Christian  church,  and  in  politics  he  is  a 
populist. 


ILLIAM  KELLY  was  b(un  in  Mich- 
igan township,  Clinton  county,  Inch, 
February  6,  1846,  and  his  ancestral 
history  will  be  found  in  the  biogra- 
phy of  his  eldest  brother,  James  Kelly,  printed 
in  con  junction  with  this  notice.  William  Kelly 
first  married  Eunice  B.  Layton,  daughter  of 
Israel  and  Sarah  (Grant)  Layton.  Mrs.  Lay- 
ton  was  a distant  relative  of  Gen.  Grant,  and 
Mr.  Layton  came  from  Penn.sylvania,  located 
first  in  Ohio  and  then  came  to  Clinton  county, 
Ind.,  where  he  followed  his  vocation  as  farmer. 
The  children  born  to  William  and  Eunice  B. 
Kelly  were  named  Alvin  U.,  Lois  D.,  Iva  A., 
Nora  G.,  Perry  L. , Clara  R.  and  Arthur  D. 
Mrs.  Kelly  had  been  a school-teacher,  and  had 
also  taught  Sabbath-school  in  the  Baptist 
church,  in  the  faith  of  which  she  died  March 
18,  1879.  The  second  marriage  of  Mr.  Kelly 
was  with  Amanda  M.  Landis,  daughter  of  Sam- 
uel Landis,  a farmer  from  Pennsylvania.  Mrs. 
Amanda  M.  Kelly  bore  her  husband  two  chil- 
dren— Charles  and  Mattie-  -the  latter  dying  at 
the  age  of  five.  Mrs.  Kelly  died  in  the  Luth- 
eran faith  Augest  24,  1887.  Mr.  Kelly  chose 
for  his  third  wife  Mrs.  Rachel  Philippe,  widow 
of  George  Philip])e,  and  daughter  of  Jeremiah 
and  Malinda  Snider.  d'his  lady  is  a mcmbc'r 
of  the  Methodist  church,  while  Mr.  Kelly  is  a 


member  of  the  Northwestern  Adventists’ 
church.  He  is  a strong  republican  in  politics, 
and  fraternally,  he  is  a member  of  Herman 
lodge.  No.  184,  P'.  & A.  M.  ; Clinton  lodge. 
No.  165,  I.  O.  O.  E.,  in  which  he  has  passed 
all  the  chairs;  Rubicon  lodge.  No.  340,  K.  of  P. , 
and  of  the  Grange  and  the  Horse-thief  detect- 
ives. His  farm  of  eighty-three  acres  is  one  of 
the  best  of  its  si^e  in  the  township  or  county. 
It  is  well  stocked  with  all  kinds  of  farm  ma- 
chinery, and  he  has  erected  a modern  farm  res- 
idence, and  a barn  66x40  feet,  with  a stone 
foundation,  forming  a basement  for  horses  and 
cattle.  The  farm  is  finely  situated  on  the 
I'rankfort  and  Michigantown  turnpike.  He  is 
a public-spirited  gentleman  and  a great  advo- 
cate of  advanced  education. 


EORGE  LEONARD  KEMPE  was 
born  in  the  grand  dukedom  of  Hesse- 
Darmstadt,  Germany,  May  6,  1823. 
His  parents  were  Andrew  and  Bar- 
bara (Keil)  Kempf,  both  natives  of  the  above 
country,  where  the  father  died  in  1850  at  the 
age  of  sixty-eight  years.  He  was  a free-holder 
and  for  many  years  was  engaged  in  the  manu- 
facture of  Hour,  but  at  the  time  of  his  death 
was  practically  retired  from  business.  Mrs. 
Kempf  came  to  America  with  her  son  John  in 
1852,  and  died  at  the  home  of  the  subject  of 
this  sketch  in  Clinton  county,  two  months 
after  her  arrival  in  the  United  States,  aged 
seventy-three  years.  Andrew  and  Barbara 
Kempf  were  the  luirents  of  thirteen  children, 
all  deceased  excej)!  George  L. ; two  of  thesons 
and  two  of  the  daughters  came  to  the  United 
States,  and  the  rest  died  in  their  native  land. 

George  Leonard  Kempf  gained  a fairly  good 
education  in  Germany,  and,  like  his  father, 
early  became  a manufacturer  of  Hour.  For 
seven  ycuirs  prior  to  coming  to  the  United 
States  Mr.  Kempf  was  engaged  in  selling  Hour 


OF  CLINTON  COUNTY. 


743 


and  grain,  and  did  a fairly  remunerative  busi- 
ness. In  1848  he  came  to  America,  landing  in 
New  York  on  the  twenty-third  day  of  May  of 
that  year,  and  after  a brief  sojourn  in  that  city 
went  direct  to  Pittsburg,  Pa.,  where  he  sj)ent 
a little  less  than  a year  among  friends,  who 
had  previously  come  from  the  old  country. 
From  Pittsburg  he  went  to  Cincinnati,  thence 
to  Springfield,  Ohio,  where  he  remained  about 
one  year,  spending  the  greater  part  of  the  in- 
terim in  a flouring  mill.  Mr.  Kempf’s  ne.xt 
move  was  via  the  Erie  canal  to  La  Fayette, 
Ind.,  where  he  remained  but  a few  days,  ow- 
ing to  his  inability  to  secure  employment;  then 
came  to  Clinton  county,  Ind. , and  accepted  a 
position  in  a flouring  mill,  about  three  miles 
north  of  Frankfort,  operated  by  a Mr.  Beyers. 
Later  he  started  a new  mill  for  Mr.  Beyers, 
and  remained  with  that  gentleman  in  the  ca- 
pacity of  miller  about  one  year.  On  the  nine- 
teenth of  February,  1850,  Mr.  Kempf  w'as 
united  in  marriage  to  Sarah  Jane  Gray,  daugh- 
ter of  John  and  Sarah  Gray,  and  about  six 
months  thereafter  moved  to  Wyandotte,  Tippe- 
canoe county,  where,  for  a period  of  about  six 
months  he  had  charge  of  a large  flouring  mill. 
Severing  his  connection  with  his  employer, 
Mr.  Kempf  next  purchased  a mill  near  Ross- 
ville,  which  he  operated  five  years,  and  after- 
ward exchanged  the  property  for  a mill  near 
Frankfort,  which  he  ran  very  successfully  fora 
period  of  fifteen  years,  it  being  the  first  mill 
of  the  kind  in  the  vicinity  of  Frankfort.  He 
operated  it  first  by  water,  and  afterward  sup- 
plied machinery  by  which  steam  could  be  used 
as  motive  power.  In  the  meantime,  Mr. 
Kempf  embarked  in  the  grocery  business  at 
Frankfort,  and  for  a number  of  years  did  a 
fairly  successful  trade  with  a miscellaneous  as- 
sortment of  merchandise,  except  dry-goods, 
closing  his  career  as  a merchant  in  1870. 
During  the  war  he  was  largely  engaged  in 
handling  livestock,  packing  pork,  etc.,  and 


shipping  the  same  to  the  eastern  markets.  In 
1870,  he  erected  a large  flouring  mill  in  the 
western  part  of  Frankfort,  on  the  Vandalia 
railroad,  which  he  operated  for  ten  years,  dis- 
posing of  his  interest  at  the  end  of  that  time 
on  account  of  failing  health  and  practically  re- 
tiring from  business  life. 

By  reference  te  the  foregoing  facts,  it  will 
be  seen  that  Mr.  Kempf  has  had  a very  active 
career,  and,  like  the  majority  of  men,  he  has 
had  his  successes  and  met  with  about  the  usual 
number  of  financial  reverses.  He  owns  a com- 
fortable home  on  West  Clinton  street,  and 
while  not  wealthy  in  the  sense  in  which  the 
term  is  usually  understood,  is  possessed  of  suf- 
ficient means  to  enable  him  to  spend  his  re- 
maining days  in  comfort,  owing  no  debts  and 
being  no  one’s  creditor.  He  is  a faithful  mem- 
ber of  the  Presbyterian  church,  of  which  his 
wife,  a most  faithful  companion  and  kind 
mother,  is  also  a communicant.  They  have 
the  following  children;  Andrew  B.,  William 
L.,  Dora  B.,  Fanny  and  Ella. 


HNDREW  B.  kempf,  son  of  George 
L,  and  Sarah  Jane  Kempf,  and  senior 
member  of  the  firm  of  Kempf  Bros., 
proprietors  of  the  leading  bakery  and 
restaurant  of  Frankfort,  was  born  December 
29,  1850,  in  Clinton  county,  Ind.  When  he 
was  six  years  old,  his  parents  removed  to 
P’rankfort,  in  the  schools  of  which  he  pursued 
his  studies  until  his  sixteenth  year,  and  then 
accepted  a position  in  the  grocery  business 
with  his  father,  and  was  "hus  employed  until 
1870.  From  the  latter  year  until  1872  he 
managed  a boot  and  shoe  store  in  Frankfort 
for  Mr.  Ki  Hoover,  and  from  the  latter  year 
to  1876  was  employed  by  his  father  in  the 
milling  business.  In  1876  Mr.  Kempf  engaged 
in  his  recent  business,  and,  as  already  stated, 
is  now  one  of  the  proprietors  of  one  of  the 


714 


B I C) ( 4 K A P 1 1 1 C A L 1 1 1 ST( ) R Y 


larj^^cst  and  best  e(iuip])ed  bakeries  and  restau- 
rants of  I'rankfort,  and  his  success  ever  since 
embarking  in  the  enterprise  has  been  most 
encouraging  and  fully  up  to  his  expectations. 
'I'he  place  of  business  is  on  west  Washington 
street,  a short  distance  from  the  public  square, 
and  by  carefully  studying  the  wants  of  the 
public  and  sparing  no  pains  or  expense  in  meet- 
ing the  same,  he  has  sncceeded  in  l)uilding  uj) 
a very  extensive  business,  which  is  constantly 
increasing.  As  a business  man,  Mr.  Kempf 
has  been  directed  and  controlled  by  wise  fore- 
thonght,  and  success,  such  as  few  attain  in  a 
much  longer  career,  has  attended  his  efforts. 
Ide  was  married  in  1873  to  Miss  Julia  Milani  | 
of  Frankfort,  which  union  has  been  blessed  by 
the  birth  of  two  daughters:  Lizzie  and  June. 
Politically  Mr.  Kempf  is  a republican  and  as 
such  was  elected  to  represent  his  ward  in  the 
common  council  of  Frankfort  in  May,  1894. 
Since  becoming  a member  of  that  body,  Mr. 
Kempf  has  been  active  in  promoting  import- 
ant municipal  legislation  and  is  proving  him- 
self a true  guartlian  of  the  interests  of  the 
people.  He  is  a member  of  the  Presbyterian 
church  and  belongs  to  the  Pythian  order,  in  the 
latter  of  which  he  is  an  honest  and  enthusiastic 
worker. 


AMES  V.  Kh'NT,  ex-state  senator,  a 
lawyer  of  more  than  local  fame,  with 
residence  at  Frankfort,  Ind.,  was  born 
May  29,  1847,  within  the  limits  of  (din- 
ton  county,  Ind.,  and  is  a son  of  (ieorge  A. 
and  Sarah  1 Boyle)  Kent,  the  former  of  whom 
was  born  in  Connecticut,  in  1819,  and  was  a 
son  of  Anson  and  Lucinda  (Starkweather)  Kent. 
In  1832  Anson  Kcmt  came  to  (dinton  county, 
Ind.,  located  near  .M ichigantown,  and  was  of 
great  assistance  in  pushing  the  stale  road 
through  the  woods.  He  was  there  engaged  in 
agriculture  until  his  death,  in  1846,  on  a farm 


of  160  acres,  of  which  he  was  the  owner.  His 
widow  survived  until  a good  old  age,  when  she 
died  in  the  state  of  Iowa,  in  1864,  at  the  home 
of  a daughter.  George  A.  Kent  was  reared  a 
farmer,  and  at  the  age  of  twenty-five  years 
married  and  engaged  in  farming  in  Johnson 
township,  Clinton  county,  on  a farm  of  160 
acres,  which  he  had  entered  on  his  first  arrival, 
and  here  he  died  in  March,  1859  His  widow, 
Sarah  A.,  now  residing  with  her  son,  James  V., 
is  a daughter  of  William  and  Anna  (Vencil) 
Boyle,  natives  of  Virginia,  who  early  settled  in 
Clinton  county,  Ind  , where  they  passed  away 
their  remaining  years  in  peace  and  comfort. 
Their  eight  children  are  named  Byron,  a farmer 
of  Nebraska;  William,  of  Wdiite  county,  Ind.; 
Hon.  James  V.  ; Mary  E , deceased;  Martha  J., 
wife  of  John  I).  Frazier,  attorney  of  Burling- 
ton, Kas. ; Emma  L. , married  to  I).  P.  Dow, 
of  Nebraska;  Minerva  .A.,  wife  of  William  Jen- 
kins, Clinton  county,  Ind.;  and  Adrian  B.,  a 
farmer  of  Clinton  county,  Ind. 

James  V.  Kent  received  a very  good  public 
school  education.  In  1864  he  entered  the 
Lebanon  Presbyterian  academy  for  one  term; 
in  1865  studied  one  term  in  I)a3-ton,  Ind.; 
when  but  seventeen  years  of  age  he  commenced 
teaching,  and  for  fourteen  terms  was  a peda- 
gogue. At  the  age  of  twenty,  however,  he  be- 
gan the  study  of  law  under  Morrison  A Palmer 
and  read  until  1867.  In  1869  he  opened  an 
office  in  Michigantown,  Inch,  and  in  1 870  was 
elected  district  attorney  for  Ifoone  and  Clinton 
counties  by  the  democratic  part}',  of  which  he 
is  one  of  the  stanchest  adherents,  d'he  district 
at  that  time  was  strongly  republican,  but  Mr. 
Kent  was  so  very  iiojuilar  that  he  was  elected  by 
388  majority.  He  then  took  up  his  permanent 
residence  in  I'rankfort.  In  i 872  he  was  candi- 
date for  the  office  of  prosecuting  attorney,  but 
although  he  ran  far  ahead  of  his  ticket,  the 
stronger  republican  faction  succeeded  in  dc- 
fi'ating  bim.  .About  this  time  he  was  in  the 


OF  CLINTON  COUNTY. 


745 


active  practice  of  liis  profession  in  partnership 
with  1).  S.  Holman  and  the  Hon.  H.  Y.  Mor- 
rison, hut  a year  later  he  withdrew  from  tins 
firm  and  joined  the  Hon.  Leander  McClurg  in 
a law  partnership,  hut  this  firm  was  dissolved 
ten  years  later.  In  1876  Mr.  Kent  was  elected 
to  the  state  senate  over  the  Hon.  Perry  W. 
Card,  republican.  At  that  time  Mr.  Kent  was 
the  youngest  member  of  the  honorable  body  to 
which  he  had  been  elected,  but  he  performed 
the  duties  of  the  responsible  position  with  as 
much  tact  and  wisdom  as  were  manifested  by 
the  most  venerable  senators,  and  became,  in 
fact,  a leader  and  a decided  factor  in  controll- 
ing legislative  affairs  and  legislative  action. 

The  marriage  of  Judge  Kent  took  place 
May  8,  1873,  in  Frankfort,  with  Miss  Jannett 
E Steele,  a native  of  the  city,  born  Novem- 
ber 27,  1853,  and  a daughter  of  Joseph  K.  and 
Mary  A.  (Shortle)  Steele,  natives,  respectively 
of  North  Carolina  and  Virginia.  This  union 
has  been  blessed  by  the  birth  of  three  chil- 
dren, viz:  ‘Ada  M.,  Cora  J.,  and  Frederick 
S.,  of  whom  the  last  named  is  deceased.  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  Kent  are  sincere  members  of  the 
Methodist  Epicopal  church,  of  the  Sunday- 
school  of  which  Mr.  Kent  has  been  a teacher 
of  the  same  class  for  over  twenty-three  years. 
Theology,  also,  has  been  a favorite  study  of 
his  for  at  least  twenty-five  years,  and  his  pro- 
fundity in  both  theology  and  legal  lore  are 
seemingly  equal.  In  his  capacity  as  a jurist 
he  has  been  appointed  special  judge  to  preside 
over  what  is  known  as  the  Paris  case,  quite  a 
famous  bank  embezzlement  trial  at  Frank- 
fort, in  September,  1894.  Fraternally,  Judge 
Kent  is  a bright  Mason;  is  a K.  of  P.  and  a 
member  of  the  I.  O.  R.  M.  At  one  time  he 
was  an  Odd  Fellow,  but  does  not  now  affiliate 
with  that  fraternity.  At  the  early  age  of  tw-en- 
ty-two  he  was  made  vice-grand  of  his  lodge  in 
the  latter  order,  and  was  elevated  to  this  office 
the  night  after  his  initiation.  He  was  only 


twenty-two,  likewise,  when  he  represented  his 
lodge  in  the  grand  at  Indianapolis.  Mr.  Kent 
is  in  a substantial  condition,  financially  speak- 
ing, owning,  as  he  does,  much  valuable  proper- 
ty in  the  city  of  Frankfort  and  farms  inside 
the  limits  of  Clinton  county. 

^ 

AVID  HORLACHER. — Among  the 
successful  men  of  Clinton  county  who 
have  overcome  serious  obstacles,  and 
by  industry,  skillful  management  and 
sheer  force  of  character  succeeded  in  gaining 
a competence  and  establishing  an  honorable 
reputation  in  the  community,  the  subject  of 
this  mention  occupies  no  second  place.  David 
Horlacher  was  born  April  22,  1838,  in  Butler 
county,  Ohio,  and  is  the  son  of  Levi  and  Re- 
becca (Brelsfoard)  Horlacher,  natives  respect- 
ively of  Pennsylvania  and  Ohio  and  of  German 
descent.  Levi  Horlacher  was  born  in  the 
year  1814,  early  learned  the  tailor  trade,  and, 
going  to  Ohio  in  his  youth,  remained  in  that 
state  until  his  removal  to  Clinton  county,  Ind., 
in  1839.  On  coming  to  this  county  he  opened 
a tailor’s  shop  at  the  town  of  Jefferson,  at 
that  time  a very  flourishing  place,  and  worked 
at  his  trade  for  some  years  in  connection  with 
the  hotel  business.  He  disposed  of  his  shop 
in  1849  and  purchased  a piece  of  land,  which 
he  cleared  and  improved  and  upon  which  his 
death  occurred  in  1890;  his  wife  died  in  1893. 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Horlacher  were  the  parents  of 
six  children,  namely — David,  John,  Ephriam, 
Daniel  C.,  Levi  (died  in  1849),  and  Ann, 
whose  death  occurred  in  1876. 

David  Horlacher  being  the  eldest  of  the 
family,  was  early  initiated  into  the  work  of  the 
farm,  and  he  assisted  his  father  right  manfully 
until  thirty  years  of  age.  In  1865  he  purchas- 
ed a tract  of  ninety'  acres,  and  by  hard  work 
succeeded  in  bringing  the  greater  part  of  it 
under  cultivation  in  due  season,  and  from  time 


BIOCJRAPHICAL  HISTORY 


71() 


to  time  added  to  his  place  until  he  became  the 
owner  of  383  acres,  all  of  which  was  the  fruit 
of  his  own  industry.  He  has  devoted  his  en- 
tire life  to  agricultural  ])ursuits  and  ranks  with 
the  most  intelligent  and  successful  farmers  of 
Washington  township.  Mr.  Horlacher  has 
been  a liberal  promoter  of  all  public  enterprises 
and  has  taken  much  interest  in  the  internal 
improvement  of  the  county,  especially  in  the 
matter  of  gravel  roads,  having  at  one  time 
served  as  superintendent  of  one  of  the  princi- 
pal thoroughfares  leading  to  Frankfort. 

In  early  life,  Mr.  Horlacher  attended  the 
common  schools,  and  with  such  assiduity  did 
he  pursue  his  studies  that,  when  a young  man, 
he  was  enabled  to  secure  a license  entitling 
him  to  teach.  He  taught  one  term  in  his 
neighborhood  and  earned  the  reputation  of  a 
successful  instructor,  and  had  he  continued  in 
the  profession  he  no  doubt  c*6uld  have  gained  ' 
distinction  as  an  educator.  On  the  twenty- 
second  of  September,  1868,  Mr.  Horlacher 
entered  into  the  marriage  relation  with  Lavinia 
B.  Watt,  daughter  of  James  and  Elizabeth  H. 
(Boguej  W'att,  the  result  of  which  union  was 
live  children:  James  L.,  born  May  27,  1870; 
Mary,  born  August  29,  1871;  David  B.,  born 
February  24,  i874;Syvia  L. , born  June  22, 
1879,  and  Alby,  born  February  22,  1881. 

Politically  Mr.  Horlacher  is  a democrat,  and 
as  such  has  represented  his  township  on  the 
county  central  committee.  He  has  been 
frecpiently  importuned  by  his  friends  to  accept 
official  honors,  but  has  always  refused  to  enter 
the  arena  of  partisan  politics.  He  is  a mem- 
ber of  Jefferson  lodge,  No.  136,  F.  A A.  M., 
and  also  belongs  to  an  association  the  object 
of  which  is  the  detection  of  horse-thieves.  Mr. 
Horlacher,  having  reaped,  to  an  advantage, 
the  harvest  resulting  from  his  assiduity  in  pur- 
suing his  own  early  studies,  has  seen  to  it  that 
his  children  have  not  been  bacd'iward  in  the 
pursuit  of  knowledge  for  their  own  profit. 


AMES  S.  KEYS  is  a native  of  Indiana 
and  was  born  August  30,  1836,  in  the 
county  of  Clinton.  His  father,  Joseph 
Keys,  was  born  in  Delaware,  of  Scotch- 
Irish  parentage,  and  was  married  in  that  state 
to  Ann  Sparks,  soon  after  which  he  emigrated 
to  Ohio,  where  he  w'as  engaged  in  agricultural 
pursuits  until  his  removal  to  Indiana  in  1835. 
On  coming  to  the  Hoosier  state  Joseph  Keys 
located  in  Montgomery  county,  where  he  re- 
mained three  years,  at  the  end  of  which  time 
he  became  a resident  of  the  county  of  Clinton, 
locating  first  in  Washington  township  and  later 
moving  to  what  is  now  Center  township,  where 
he  departed  this  life  in  the  year  i860.  Mrs. 
Keys  died  in  1850  and  is  remembered  as  a 
woman  of  many  excellent  traits  of  character. 
To  Joseph  and  Ann  Keys  were  born  eight 
children,  whose  names  are  as  follows;  Rachel, 
wife  of  \Vm.  Ostler;  John,  a resident  of  Boone 
county;  Benjamin,  who  resides  at  Frankfort; 
Rebecca,  widow  of  John  Fruits,  of  Wayne- 
town,  Ind.,  Thomas,  a citizen  of  P'rankfort; 
James  S. , whose  name  introduces  this  sketch, 
Mary,  deceased,  and  job,  who  lives  in  the 
town  of  Enterprise,  Kan.  Joseph  Keys  was 
a man  well  respected  by  all  who  knew  him, 
a democrat  in  politics,  ami  while  not  as  suc- 
cessful as  some  in  the  accumulation  of  worldly 
wealth,  accumulated  a moderate  competence 
and  always  endeavercd  to  set  an  example  for 
his  children  worthy  of  imitation. 

James  S.  Keys  was  educated  in  the  schools 
of  Clinton  county,  and  on  his  father’s  farm 
early  became  inured  to  honest  labor,  in  the 
dignity  of  which  he  has  ever  been  a true  be- 
liever and  which  has  been  his  motto  through- 
out life.  He  remained  under  the  parental 
roof  until  the  breaking  out  of  the  rebellion, 
when,  actuated  by  the  spirit  of  patriotism  which 
fired  the  heart  of  the  country,  he  laid  aside 
the  i)eaceful  pursuits  of  the  farm  and  proffered 
his  services  for  the  defense  of  the  national 


library 

OF  THE 

UNIVERSITY  OF  llUf»9l5 


.J 


tr  < 'f 


UBRAW 
OF  WE 


aWNERS'W 


OF  IlWHOtS 


OF  CLINTON  COUNTY. 


751 


hoiun-,  enlisting',  in  1862,  in  company  K,  Sev- 
enty-second Indiana  volunteer  infantry,  with 
which  he  shared  the  fortunes  and  vicissitudes 
of  war  for  three  years.  During  his  period  of 
service  Mr.  Keys  took  part  in  all  the  battles  in 
which  his  regiment  was  engaged  and  nobly 
earned  the  reputation  of  a gallant  soldier,  who 
did  his  whole  duty  and  never  shrank  from  or 
shirked  a responsibility,  however  dangerous. 
After  his  discharge  Mr.  Keys  returned  to  Clin- 
ton county  and  accepted  a clerkship  in  a 
grocery  house  at  Frankfort,  where  for  a 
j)eriod  of  twenty-four  years  he  remained 
in  the  employ  of  a single  firm,  which  fact  is 
certainly  a very  strong  testimonial  of  his  hon- 
esty and  efficiency  as  a salesman  and  success- 
ful business  man.  Severing  his  connection 
with  the  grocery  business,  Mr.  Keys  next  en- 
gaged in  buying  and  selling  poultry  and  prod- 
uce, which  he  has  since  continued  and  in’ 
which  line  of  trade  he  has  met  with  the  most 
encouraging  success,  his  sales  at  this  time  av- 
eraging over  $12,000  a year.  Ii:  business 
matters  he  is  painstaking  and  methodical,  and 
his  reputation  as  a dealer  is  strictly  first-class, 
and  he  is  rated  among  the  substantial  and  well- 
to-do  men  of  Frankfort.  Mr.  Keys  is  a prom- 
inent member  of  the  G.  A.  R.,  in  the  deliber- 
ations of  which  he  takes  an  active  interest,  and 
in  politics  is  a supporter  of  the  republican 
party.  He  was  married  August  16,  1870,  in 
Frankfort,  to  Miss  Elizabeth  Aughe,  a native 
of  Clinton  county,  Ind.,  born  April  6,  1843, 
and  the  union  has  been  blessed  with  one  child, 
\\dter  L. , whose  birth  occurred  on  the  seven- 
teenth day  of  November,  1871.  Walter  L. 
Keys  is  one  of  the  popular  young  men  of 
Frankfort,  a graduate  of  the  city  schools,  and 
at  this  time  holds  the  position  of  captain  of 
the  local  organization.  Sons  of  Veterans.  The 
social  standing  of  Mr.  Keys  and  family  is  an 
enjoyable  one,  and  one,  indeed,  of  which  he 
may  well  feel  proud. 

36 


OSEPH  W.  KEYS,  proprietor  of  the 
bottling  works  of  Frankfort,  was  born 
in  Clinton  county,  Ind.,  March  25, 
i860,  and  is  a son  of  Thomas  P.  and 
Martha  E.  (I'urgeson)  Keys.  Thomas  Keys 
is  a native  of  Montgomery  county,  Ind.,  and 
a son  of  Joseph  Keys,  who  moved  from  Mary- 
land, in  an  early  day,  and  became  one  of  the 
pioneers  of  the  county  of  Montgomery.  The 
Keys  family  is  of  English  origin,  and  several  of 
the  name  came  to  the  United  States  a great 
many  years  ago  and  settled  in  Maryland, 
where  descendants  are  still  to  be  met  with. 
Thomas  Keys,  the  subject’s  father,  was  a 
soldier  in  the  late  war,  enlisting  August  6, 
1862,  in  company  I,  One  Hundredth  Indiana 
infantry,  with  which  he  served  until  honorably 
discharged  at  Indianapolis  on  the  twenty- 
third  of  June,  1865.  He  shared  the  vicissitudes 
'S,nd  f-ortqiieSj:qf  war  in  a number  of  battles, 
twenty-eight  in  all,  and  nobly  did  his  part  as  a 
defender  of  the  fiag  in  the  dark  days  when 
treason  threatened  to  disrupt  the  country. 

Joseph  W.  Keys  is  one  of  six  children  and 
was  educated  in  the  schools  of  Frankfort, 
where  he  made  commendable  progress  as  a 
student.  At  the  early  age  of  thirteen,  he  be- 
gan the  battle  of  life  upon  his  own  responsi- 
bility, accepting  a clerkship  in  a business  house 
of  Frankfort,  in  which  capacity  he  continued 
with  varying  success  until  after  attaining  his 
majority.  His  first  independent  business 
venture  was  as  a poultry  dealer  in  Alton,  111., 
wdiich  he  conducted  for  about  six  months,  and 
in  the  fall  of  1890  purchased  the  bottling 
works  of  E.  H.  Whittaker,  at  that  time  a 
small  affair,  but  which  under  his  successful 
management  has  since  become  one  of  the 
most  extensive  establishments  of  the  kind  in 
central  Indiana.  As  a business  man,  he  has  nobly 
earned  the  success  which  he  now  enjoys  and 
has  built  up  a trade  in  his  line  second  to  but 
few  enterprises  in  Frankfort.  The  out-put  of 


BIOGRAPHICAL  HISTORY 


his  works  has  a larf^c  sale  throughout  Indiana, 
and  the  superior  (pialit}'  of  his  goods  has  earn- 
ed f(jr  him  a reputation  extending  beyond  the 
limits  of  the  state.  Mr.  Keys  was  united  in 
marriage  Septend)er  i6,  1891,  to  Miss  Nellie 
d'aylor  of  Logansport.  He  is  a member  of 
the  Loyal  Order  of  Moose  and  also  of  the  I. 
O.  R.  M.,  in  the  deliberations  of  both  of  which 
fraternities  he  is  a ]:iotent  factor. 


AVID  |.  KIMMELL.- -Lew  citizens 
of  Perry  township  are  as  widely 
and  favorably  known  as  the  gentle- 
man whose  name  introduces  this 
sketch.  * Mr.  Kimmell  springs  from  German 
ancestry  and  the  name  is  fre<iuently  found  in 
Pennsylvania,  where  the  family  settled  at  a 
very  early  period  in  the  history  of  the  country. 
Tracing  his  lineage  paternally,  it  is  learned 
that  his  great-grandfather,  Joseph  Kimmell, 
was  an  early  resident  of  the  Keystone  state  and 
a man  of  intelligence  and  social  standing  in 
his  connnnnity.  Conrad  Kimmell,  son  of  the 
above  Joseph  and  grandfather  of  David  f.,  was 
also  a Pennsylvanian  and  farmer  by  occupa- 
tion. Among  his  children  was  David  Kimmell, 
whose  birth  occurred  in  York  county,  [uly  19, 
1803.  Like  his  ancestors,  David  Kimmell 
was  an  agriculturist  and  followed  his  chosen 
calling  for  a number  of  years  in  his  native 
state,  where  he  was  united  in  marriage  to  Chris- 
tina Oaks,  whose  father  was  a well  known 
farmer  of  P>edford  county.  Pa.  After  his  mar- 
riage David  Kimmell  emigrated  to  Ohio  and 
settled  in  Tuscarawas  county,  and  his  death 
snhscciuently  occurred  in  Hancock  county, 
Ohio.  He  a(xumulated  a handsome  compc'- 
tence,  and  gave  his  childi'en  the  advantages  of 
a good  education  and  liberally  assisted  them  to 
start  in  life.  He  was  a whig  in  politics  and 
always  entertained  (Uxided  o])nions  ujion  the 
leading  ipiestions  ol  the  day,  whi(di  he  had  the 


courage  to  express.  He  reared  a family,  of 
which  the  following  arc  the  names:  George 
W.,  Lucinda  Iv.,  Catherine,  Samuel  B. , David 
J.,  Margaret  J.,  Henrietta,  Jacob  A.,  -Saman- 
tha and  Elizabeth. 

David  J.  Kimmell  was  born  in  Stark  coun- 
ty, Ohio,  May  22,  1838.  His  early  educa- 
tional training  embraced  the  common  and  high 
school  courses  in  the  city  of  Findlay,  and 
after  being  sufficiently  prepared,  he  engaged  in 
teaching,  which  profession  he  followed  with 
the  most  encouraging  success  for  a period  of 
seventeen  years  in  his  native  state,  earning,  in 
the  meantime,  the  reputation  of  a very  careful 
and  efficient  instructor.  He  taught  in  both 
common  and  graded  schools  and  his  success  is 
sufficiently  attested  by  his  frecpient  retentions 
in  the  same  localities,  never  having  had  to  look 
far  for  good  positions.  He  was  married  Octo- 
ber 29,  1863,  to  Elizabeth  Carver,  daughter  of 
Joseph  and  Eliza  (Cherry)  Carver,  and  some- 
time thereafter  engaged  in  agricultural  pursuits 
in  his  native  county,  where  he  resided  until 
his  removal  to  Clinton  county,  Ind.,  in  1887. 
On  coming  to  the  county  of  Clinton,  Mr. 
Kimmell  bought  his  present  farm  of  265  acres 
in  Perry  township,  beside  which  he  owns  other 
property  being  one  of  the  well-to-do  men  of 
his  community.  His  farm  is  a model  in  many 
repsects,  the  condition  of  his  fencing,  his  fine 
and  elegantly  fuinishetl  residence,  and  all 
other  improvement  indicating  the  presence  of 
a man  of  industry,  intelligence,  and  taste. 
Mr.  Kimmell  and  family  stand  deservedly  high 
socially  and  numher  their  friends  by  the  score 
throughout  ('linton  county.  He  is  a member 
of  the  Masonic  fraternity,  in  which  he  has 
taken  a numher  of  degrees,  including  those  of 
chapter  and  -Sir  Knight,  belonging  to  Vista 
lodge.  No.  136,  and  b'ranlsfort  commandery. 
No.  29,  in  both  of  which  he  has  held  import- 
ant official  positions.  Religiously  he  adheres 
to  the  Methodist  church,  of  which  his  wife  is 


OF  CLINTON  COUNTY 


753 


also  an  active  member.  The  following  are  the 
names  of  the  children  horn  to  Mr,  and  Mrs. 
Kimmell  : Laura  E.,  Florence,  deceased, 
Jesse  M.,  Homer,  Charles  A. , Catherine,  and 
Morton  G.  His  eldest  daughter,  Lanra  E., 
was  educated  at  Findlay,  Ohio,  and  has  at- 
tained marked  success  as  a teacher.  Joseph 
Carver,  father  of  Mrs.  Kimmell,  was  a native 
Pennsylvanian  and  moved  to  Ohio  in  1830, 
settling  in  Hancock  county,  of  which  he  was 
one  of  the  pioneers.  Intellectually  he  was  far 
above  the  ordinary,  and  he  exerted  a marked 
influence  in  various  ways  in  his  community. 
He  was  a strict  member  of  the  Friends’  church, 
a republican  in  politics,  and  his  death,  which 
occurred  June,  1891,  in  his  eighty-third  year, 
was  felt  as  a personal  loss  by  his  many  friends 
and  neighbors.  His  widow  is  still  living  in 
Hancock  county,  Ohio. 


BRAHAM  J.  KLOPFER,  merchant 
tailor  and  well  known  citizen  of 
Frankfort,  is  a native  of  Germany, 
born  October  10,  1838,  in  the  king- 
dom of  Prussia.  His  parents.  Max  and  Matilda 
(Levi)  Klopfer,  were  both  born  in  Prussia, 
where  all  their  lives  were  passed  and  both  are 
now  deceased.  They  had  three  children:  one 
son,  the  subject  of  this  mention,  and  two 
daughters,  one  of  whom  is  living  in  Germany; 
the  other  died  a few  years  ago  in  the  city  of 
Cincinnati. 

Abraham  J.  Klopfer  grew  to  manhood  in 
his  native  country,  was  well  educated  in  the 
schools  of  the  same,  and  when  fifteen  years  of 
age  began  learning  the  tailor’s  trade,  in  which 
he  soon  became  quite  proficient.  He  followed 
his  chosen  calling  in  Prussia  until  his  twenty- 
sixth  year,  at  which  time,  in  1864,  thinking 
that  the  new  world  afforded  better  advantages 
than  the  Fatherland,  he  came  to  the  Lbrited 
States,  and  during  the  succeeding  eight  years 


worked  at  his  trade  in  the  city  of  Cincinnati, 
five  years  (rf  which  time  he  carried  on  business 
for  himself.  From  Cincinnati,  Mr.  Klopfer 
moved  to  Thorntown,  Boone  county,  Ind., 
thence  in  March,  1879,  came  to  Frankfort, 
in  which  city  he  has  since  made  his  home  and 
where  he  has  established  a very  lucrative  busi- 
ness and  acquired  the  reputation  of  an  honor- 
able and  upright  citizen.  He  was  married  in 
Germany  July  20,  1864,  to  Miss  Matilda 

Jacobs,  and  on  the  twelfth  of  August  following 
brought  his  bride  to  the  United  States,  and  here 
his  four  children  have  been  born,  namely — 
Reuben,  Jacob,  Charles  and  Rachel.  Mr. 
Klopfer  is  prominently  identified  with  the 
Masonic  fraternity,  belonging  to  the  blue  lodge 
and  chapter,  and  for  some  years  has  been 
equally  prominent  as  an  Odd  Fellow,  in  which 
order  he  has  held  important  official  positions, 
in  the  subordinate  lodge,  encampment  and 
canton.  He  also  belongs  to  the  Hebrew  order 
of  I.  O.  B.  B.,  being  one  of  the  principal 
members  of  the  organization  in  Frankfort. 
Personally  Mr.  Klopfer  is  a very  pleasant 
gentleman,  popular  with  all  with  whom  he 
comes  in  contact  in  business  or  social  relation, 
and  he  is  justly  esteemed  one  of  the  substan- 
tial citizens  of  P'rankfort.  He  has  succeeded 
well  in  his  business,  has  a pleasant  home  and 
enjoys  the  esteem  and  confidence  of  a large 
circle  of  friends  in  the  city  of  his  adoption. 


O.  KNAPP,  M.  D.,  a jihysician  and 
surgeon  of  P'rankfort,  was  born  in 
Washington  township,  Clinton  coun- 
ty, Ind  , July  7,  1858,  the  son  of  H. 
G.  and  Martha  (Mattix)  Knapp.  Dr.  Knapp 
was  reared  on  the  farm  and  in  the  usual  man- 
ner, and  with  honest  labor  he  early  became 
familiar.  His  early  education  embraced  the 
curriculum  of  the  common  schools,  and  at  the 
age  of  twenty  he  entered  Wabash  college  at 


751 


BIOGRAPHICAL  HISTORY 


C'rawfordsville,  when'  lie  pursued  the  hi^lier 
branches  of  hairning  for  a jicriod  of  two 
years.  While  still  youiif^,  he  decided  to  enter 
the  medical  profession;  accordingly,  having 
left  college,  he  began  the  study  of  the  same, 
at  I'rankfort,  in  the  office  of  Drs.  Cox  lX 
Adams,  under  whose  direction  he  pursued  a 
course  of  reading  for  two  years,  and  then  en- 
tered the  Ohio  Medical  college  at  Cincinnati, 
from  which  he  was  graduated  in  March,  1884. 
Immediately  after  finishing  his  studies.  Dr. 
Knapp  began  the  practice  of  his  profession  at 
Frankfort.  Believing  that  no  pains  should  be 
spared  in  fitting  him  fru'  the  usefu]  calling  to 
which  he  now  began  devoting  his  life,  the  doc- 
tor, in  1885,  took  a polyclinic  course  at 
Philadelphia,  after  which,  with  a laudable  am- 
bition still  further  to  increase  his  knowledge  of 
the  healing  art,  he  again  spent  four  months  at 
the  college  at  Cincinnati.  In  1887  he  effected 
a co-partnership  with  Drs.  Cox  & Adams, 
and  after  the  retirement  of  the  former,  the 
firm  became  known  as  Adams  A Knai)p,  and 
as  such  continued  very  successfully  until  the 
death  of  Dr.  Adams,  when  the  subject  took 
sole  charge  of  the  practice,  which  at  the  time 
was  ])erhaps  the  most  extensive  in  the  county 
of  Clinton.  He  continued  by  himstdf  until 
1892,  at  which  time  he  hecanu'  associated 
with  Dr.  S.  ().  Sims,  a firm  which  still  con- 
tinues, ami  which  has  a reputation  second  to 
none  in  central  Indiana. 

Dr.  Knapp  is  a republican,  takes  an  active 
interest  in  the  leading  ipu^stions  of  the  day, 
hut  chooses  to  devote.'  his  entire  attention  to 
his  profession  rather  than  seek  official  preh.'r- 
numt  at  the  hands  of  his  fellow-citi/eiis.  h'ra- 
ternally,  he  is  a member  of  the  Pythian  order. 

Dr.  Kna|)|)  was  united  in  marriage'  March 
29,  1888,  in  Marion  county,  Ind.,  to  Miss 

ICstlu'r  Harding,  who  was  horn  in  Minnesota, 
the  daughter  of  William  and  Charlotte  (Duke,') 
Harding.  Two  ehildnm  are'  the  Iruits  eef  this 


marriage,  Esther  and  M a.  Mrs.  Knapp 

is  a Presbyterian,  and  she  is  highly  regarded 
as  a faithful  worker  in  the  congregation  wor- 
shiping in  Frankfort. 


ILLIAMB.  KRAMER,  Sr.  -Among 
the  active  and  successful  business 
men  of  Clinton  county  is  W.  B. 
Kramer,  Sr.,  of  the  firm  of  Kramer 
Brothers,  at  Frankfe)rt.  Mr.  Kramer  came  to 
this  county  in  1873,  and  berught  an  interest  in 
the  firm  of  J.  A.  & J.  A.  Kramer,  one  of 
whom  was  a brother,  the  other  a cousin — the 
cousin  was  the  one  who  had  established  the 
first  planing-mill  in  Frankfort.  The  firm  of  J. 
A.,  |.  A.  Kramer  (A  Co.,  lasted  two  years,  when 
the  cousin  sold  out  to  J.  T.  and  F.  B.  Kramer, 
and  the  firm  was  known  as  Kramer  Brothers. 

\\k  B.  Kramer  was  born  in  Frederick 
county,  Md.,  on  the  thirty-first  day  of  March, 
1836.  His  parents  were  Frederick  William 
and  Margaret  (Scholl)  Kramer,  natives  of  the 
same  county  and  state  . The  father  was  born 
in  the  year  1809  and  died  in  1867.  He  lived 
and  died  in  I'rederick  county.  He  was  a son 
of  ]ohn  Alexander  Kramer,  who  was  born  in 
Berlin,  Germany.  |ohn  Alexander  Kramer 
and  three  brothers  came  to  America  in  the 
year  1768.  He  was  a colonial  soldier  in  the 
Revolutionary  war,  and  while  serving  as  such 
received  an  honorable  discharge  because  of 
failing  health.  After  returning  to  his  home  in 
Maryland,  he  was  made  tax  collector,  and 
served  as  such  until  the  close  of  the  war.  He 
married  a Miss  jacobs,  w'ho  was  born  near 
Philadelphia,  Pa.,  of  German  ancestry.  She 
bore  her  hushand  the  following  children:  Philip 
Kramer,  who  settled  in  Glinton  county,  in 
1834;  he  was  a soldier  in  the  war  of  1812,  and 
in  1814  emigrated  to  Ohio,  whence  he  re- 
moved to  Indiana,  locating  at  P'rankfort,  where 
he  lived  many  years;  the  second  son  was 


OF  CLINTON  COUNTY. 


755 


Adam  A.  Kramer;  the  third,  Daniel;  the  fourth, 
I'redcrick  and  there  were  four  daughter?. 

The  subject  of  this  notice  is  one  of  thirteen 
chddren,  eleven  of  whom  grew  to  maturity; 
they  were — John  A.,  above  referred  to;  Sarah, 
William  IL,  Daniel,  deceased;  Anna,  deceased; 
Philip  E.,  James  T. , deceased;  Mary  C.,  Alice, 
\'irginia,  Lewis  N.,  and  Franklin  B.  The  mo- 
ther, who  is  now  (1894)  in  her  eighty-seventh 
year,  resides  in  P'rankfort,  with  her  son,  Frank- 
lin B.  and  daughters;  neither  Franklin  B.  nor  the 
daughters  were  married.  John  A.  Kramer  was 
tl'ic  first  member  of  the  family  to  settle  in 
Fraid-;fort,  the  date  being  1871.  William  B 
Kramer  and  Elizabeth  (Rollings)  Trundle  were 
married  in  i860.  They  settled  on  a farm  in 
P'rederick  county,  Md.,  w'here  he  farmed  till 
he  came  to  Indiana  in  1873.  Unto  the  above 
marriage  were  born  six  children,  namely — John 
F".,  Samuel  B.,  Edeanor  E.,  Wdliam  B.,  Jr., 
Legal  Rollin  and  Bertha  Luella,  the  last  named 
born  in  Indiana. 

Mr.  Kramer  received  only  a fair  education; 
took  np  farming,  at  which  he  was  fairly  suc- 
cessful, and  upon  corning  to  Frankfort  began 
what  has  been  a prosperous  business  career. 
The  firm  of  Kramer  Brothers,  which  consists 
of  himself,  son  and  Lew  is  N.  Kramer,  has  been 
for  many  years  large  dealers  in  lumber  and 
builders’  material.  They  also  operate  a plan- 
ing-mill,  and  their  enterprise  is  one  of  the  most 
important  indu.stries  of  the  thriving  city  of 
Frankfort,  to  the  growth  and  development  of 
which  Mr.  Kramer  has  contributed  material 
aid  He  was  largely  interested  as  a stock- 
holder in  the  Natural  Gas  company,  of  Frank- 
fort, and  w’as  treasurer  of  the  company  as  long 
as  it  existed.  He  w'as  also  active  as  a mem- 
ber of  the  P'rankfort  Improvement  company, 
and  is  largely  interested  in  the  P'rankfort  Elec- 
tric Light  company.  His  success  in  business 
has  been  due  to  his  own  efforts.  His  plan  has 
glways  been  to  give  all  his  time  and  attention 


to  business,  and  hence  he  has  never  had  much 
time  for  politics  or  to  serve  in  public  office. 
Mr.  Kramer  is  a knight  templar  Mason  and  has 
he'd  every  office  in  the  order,  being  now'  a past 
eminent  commander. 


ONAS  KRESSEL  is  one  of  the  enter- 
prising citizens  of  Madison  township, 
Clinton  county,  Ind.,  who  takes  an 
active  and  commendable  interest  in 
every  thing  pertaining  to  its  welfare.  Pie  was 
born  in  Lehigh  county.  Pa.,  October  25,  1830, 
and  is  a son  of  Henry  and  Catherine  (Herber) 
Kressel.  both  of  whom  were  natives  of  the 
same  county,  and  w'ere  of  German  lineage. 
The  father  was  born  in  1801,  and  during  his 
youth  started  out  in  life  for  himself,  scorning 
no  labor  which  would  afford  him  an  honest 
livelihood.  As  soon  as  he  had  acquired  a 
sufficient  capital  he  purchased  a small  farm, 
which  he  would  cultivate  during  the  summer 
season,  wdiile  in  the  w'inter  months  he  engaged 
in  weaving.  Pie  lived  in  Lehigh  county  until 
his  death,  which  occurred  in  1876.  His  wdfe 
passed  away  at  the  advanced  age  of  eighty-five. 
This  worthy  couple  w'ere  the  parents  of  seven 
children,  but  only  tw'o  are  now  living;  Jonas 
and  Owen,  the  latter  a farmer  residing  near 
Sedalia,  Ind.  Those  deceased  are:  Caroline, 
Julia  A.,  Daniel,  Solomon  and  Joseph. 

Jonas  Kressel  continued  on  the  old  home- 
stead until  eighteen  years  of  age,  when  he  left 
home  to  learn  the  trade  of  carpentering  under 
his  cousin,  Nathan  Kressel,  wdth  whom  he 
continued  fc/i'  more  than  two  years.  In  1856, 
he  began  taki  g contracts  for  himself.  He 
has  been  a resident  of  Clinton  county  since 
April,  1854,  and  here  he  successfully  carried 
on  business  as  a contractor  and  builder  until 
1880.  He  made  his  first  purchase  of  land  in 
1856.  becoming  owner  of  six  acres.  He  now 
owns  160  acres  of  well  improved  land,  the 


BIOGRAPHICAL  HISTORY 


f^rcatcr  [):u  t of  which  he  has  improved  himself. 
He  carried  on  farming  and  stock  raising  for 
some  time,  bnt  is  now  living  retired. 

On  the  eighteenth  of  May,  1H56,  Mr. 
Kressel  married  Fianna  Mart;^,  daughter  of 
John  and  Leah  (Merkel)  Martz.  Her  father 
came  to  this  count}-  in  an  early  day  and  here 
remained  until  his  death.  His  family  num- 
bered si.x  children.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Kressel 
have  one  child,  John  hi.,  who  was  born  June 
16,  1869,  and  now  operates  his  father's  farm. 
The  parents  are  both  members  of  the  Lutheran 
church.  Mr.  Kressel  served  as  deacon  for 
many  years,  and  is  now  elder  of  the  church  in  j 
Mulberry.  In  politics  he  is  a democrat.  In 
1888,  he  was  elected  trustee,  and  in  1890, 
was  re-elected,  holding  the  office  therefore  for 
four  years.  He  is  true  to  every  trust  reposed 
in  him,  whether  public  or  private;  is  an  honor- 
able upright  man,  and  his  well  spent  lifo  has 
gained  him  the  confidence  and  regard  of  the 
entire  community.  It  will  be  observed  that 
these  brothers,  Jonas  and  Owen,  spell  their 
name  differently,  to-'v\’it,  Kressel  and  Kressley. 
The  surname  of  the  mother  is  also  spelled  dif- 
ferently. 


OWEN  KRESSLEY  is  successfully  en- 
gaged in  farming  in  Owen  township, 
Clinton  county,  Ind.  He  is  recog- 
nized as  one  of  the  leatling  citizens  of 
the  community,  and  is  an  honored  veteran  of 
the  late  war.  The  family  was  founded  in 
America  by  his  grandfather,  who  emigrated 
from  Germany  to  Lehigh  county.  Pa.,  where 
the  father,  Henry  Kressley,  was  born,  'fhe  lat- 
ter married  Catherine  Harper  and  they  had  six 
children  Ckiroline,  Jonas,  Daniel,  Julia  A., 
Owen  and  Solomon.  'I'he  parents  belong  to 
the  Lntheixui  church,  and  Mr.  Kressley  was  a 
whig  until  tlu'  breaking  out  of  tin;  late;  war, 
when  he  became  a democrat.  His  death  oc- 


curred at  the  age  of  seventy-two,  and  his  wife 
died  at  the  age  of  eighty-three. 

Owen  Kressley  was  born  in  the  Keystone 
state.  May  23,  1835,  was  reared  in  the  usual 
manner  of  farm  lads,  and  at  the  age  of  nine- 
teen left  home  to  visit  his  brother  in  this 
count\-.  In  1856,  on  attaining  his  majority, 
he  led  to  the  marriage  altar  Miss  Sarah  E. 
Mink,  who  was  born  November  23,  1840,  and 
is  a daughter  of  Joseph  and  Eeah  (Smith) 
Mink.  They  began  their  domestic  life  upon 
her  father's  farm,  where  the}’  lived  until  1864, 
when  the}-  came  to  their  present  place  of  resi- 
dence. Their  home  has  been  blessed  wdth 
fifteen  children — Henry  J.,  Eevi  E.,  Ben  1"., 
Jonas  \V.,  Jeremiah  C.,  Irvin  C.,  Monroe  E., 
James  M.,  Sarah  Ann  E.,  Amanda  PL,  Jo- 
siah  I.,  Martha  M.,  John  xA.,  Charles  M’., 
and  Leah  B.  The  family  circle  }et  remains 
unbroken. 

In  1864  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Kressley  received 
from  her  father  eighty  acres  of  timber  land, 
which  the  husband  at  once  began  to  clear  and 
improve.  The  fields  are  now  well  tilled  an;l 
the  place  is  neat  and  thrifty  in  appearance,  in- 
dicating to  the  passer-by  his  careful  super- 
vision. There  is  a good  house,  also  barns,  a 
thrifty  orchard  and  much  small  fruit.  The 
place  is  pleasantly  located  a mile  and  a half 
from  Sedalia,  and  eleven  miles  from  Sedalia, 
and  eleven  miles  from  Erankfort,  so  the  com- 
forts and  iirivilegcs  of  the  town  are  easil}’  ob- 
tained. Both  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Kressleyare  mem- 
bers of  the  Lutheran  church,  and  in  the  com- 
munity where  they  li\'e  they  are  held  in  high 
regard.  Mr.  Kressle}’ has  served  as  supervisor. 
During  the  late  war  lu'  manifested  his  loyalty  to 
the  government  by  enlisting,  in  1865,  as  a mem- 
ber of  company  P',  One  Hundred  and  P'ifty- 
fcnirth  Indiana  infanti}’,  under  Captain  Scott. 
They  went  to  Virginia,  where  they  did  guard 
j and  picket  dut}',  and  in  August,  1865,  the}' 

I were  mustered  out,  the  war  having  closed. 


OF  CLINTON  COUNTY. 


757 


Mr.  Kressley  is  a public-spirited  citizen,  who 
manifests  the  same  fidelity  in  tlays  of  peace  as 
when  he  joined  the  boys  in  blue. 


AMUEL  KYGER,  a well  - known 
farmer  and  stock  raiser  of  Union 
township,  Clinton  county,  Ind.,  was 
born  in  Rockinf^ham  county,  \'a. - 
Ai)ril  21,  1824,  and  is  a son  of  George  and 
Sarah  (Pence)  Kyger.  They,  too,  were  na- 
ti\  es  of  \’irginia,  and  were  of  German  descent. 
The  father  was  born  in  1799,  and  was  a 
farmer  by  occupation.  Emigrating  westward 
in  1836.  he  located  in  Delaware  county,  Ind., 
where  he  purchased  160  acres  of  land,  but 
was  not  long  permitted  to  enjoy  his  new  home, 
his  death  occurring  in  1837.  His  wife,  who 
was  born  in  1801,  died  in  1871.  In  1839  she 
was  married  to  Charles  Pence,  who  died  in 
1870.  By  her  first  marriage  she  had  three 
children — Margaret,  wife  of  James  Catterlin; 
Samuel;  and  Catherine,  wife  of  Cyrus  P. 
Pence.  By  the  second  union  w'as  born  one 
child,  Charles  Pence.  The  Kyger  family  w’as 
founded  in  America  by  Christian  Kyger,  the 
great-grandfather  of  our  subject,  who  emi- 
grated from  Germany,  his  native  land,  and 
settled  in  Rockingham  county,  Va.  His  son, 
Frederick,  was  born  in  Virginia  and  learned 
the  carpenter’s  trade,  which  he  followed 
throughout  his  entire  life.  He  reared  a family 
of  ten  children  and  died  in  1827.  The  pa- 
ternal grandfather,  George  Pence,  was  also 
born  in  the  Old  Dominion,  and  there  departed 
this  life  in  1 827. 

Samuel  Kyger  was  only  thirteen  years  of 
age  at  the  time  of  his  father’s  death.  He  re- 
mained with  his  mother  until  the  age  of  six- 
teen, when  he  began  learning  the  tanner’s 
trade,  at  wdneh  he  served  a five  years’  appren- 
ticeship with  Charles  M.  Petty.  He  then  j 
worked  as  a journeyman  tor  three  years,  after  1 


I which  he  went  to  Kilmore  and  established  a 
i tannery,  which  he  carried  on  for  three  years. 
In  1857  he  purchased  a farm  of  211  acres  anti 
thereon  established  a tannery,  which  he  oper- 
ated for  twelve  years.  He  has  since  given  his 
time  and  attention  to  farming  and  stock  rais- 
ing. He  imported  the  first  Norman  horse 
ever  brought  to  the  comity,  and  in  connec- 
tion with  the  breeding  of  fine  horses  has  been 
extensively  engaged  in  the  raising  of  Chester 
White  hogs,  of  which  he  has  made  a specialty 
for  thirty-seven  years. 

On  the  twenty-sixth  of  November,  1847, 
Mr.  Kyger  wedded  Nancy  J.,  daughter  of  John 
and  judith  (Aughe)  Pence.  Her  death  oc- 
cuircd  January  30,  1848,  and  on  the  eighth  of 
April,  1851,  he  was  again  married,  his  second 
union  being  with  Elizabeth  A.  Pence,  a cousin 
of  his  first  wife  and  a daughter  of  William  and 
Sarah  (Fudge)  Pence.  Her  parents  were  both 
natives  of  Virginia,  and  came  of  old  German 
families.  On  leaving  his  native  state  the 
father  w'ent  to  Ohio,  and  thence  came  to  Clin- 
ton county,  where  he  was  one  of  the  early 
settlers.  To  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Kyger  have  been 
born  four  children,  three  yet  living — George 
, born  January  16,  1852,  married  Alice 

Henderson  and  they  became  the  parents  of 
four  children  ; Anna  B.,  Ida  M.,  Charlie  and 
one  who  died  in  infancy.  Charles  A.,  born 
January  10,  1854,  died  February  14,  1893; 
Mary  1.,  born  November  20,  1857,  is  the  wife 
of  |ohn  M.  Moyer,  and  they  have  one  son, 
Samuel  E. ; Laura  C.,  born  August  5,  i860,  is 
the  wife  of  Jacob  Hill,  and  they  have  five 
children:  Vessie  S.,  deceased;  Eunice  C., 

Medora  A.,  Bertha  A.  and  Floyd  K.  In  poli- 
tics, Mr.  Kyger  it  a democrat,  and  in  1876  was 
elected  county  commissioner,  serving  two 
terms.  He  was  filling  that  office  at  the  time 
the  present  court  house  was  built.  Since  the 
1 age  of  seventeen  years  he  has  been  a faithful 
1 and  consistent  member  of  the  Methodist 


BIOGRAPHICAL  HISTORY 


7r,S 


l<'l)isc()])al  cliurdi,  and  his  wife  is  also  a mem- 
ber. 'I'liey  are  highly  respected  throughout  the 
community  and  their  friends  are  many.  Mr. 
Kyger  is  man  of  e.xcellent  business  ability  and 
his  perseverance  and  industry  have  brought 
success. 


^"^AMUEL  KUHNS,  one  of  the  soldier- 
citizens  of  Ross  township,  Clinton 
^ y ccnmty,  Ind.,  is  a son  of  Henry,  one 
of  the  original  ])ioneers,  and  springs 
from  sturdy  German  stock;  his  father,  a farmer, 
settled  in  Pennsylvania  at  an  early  day.  Henry 
Kuhns  was  born  in  Lehigh  county.  Pa.,  where 
he  married  Catherine  Zimmerman,  daughter  of 
George  Zimmerman,  who  was  born  in  Ger- 
many and  settled  in  Lehigh  county.  They 
were  the  parents  of  seven  children — all  born 
in  Lehigh  count}’.  Pa. : Charles,  Catherine, 
David,  Jonas,  Lucy,  A.,  Caroline  an^Sa.muel. 
In  1S39  Mr.  Kuhns  came  to  Clinton  county 
and  settled  in  Koss  township,  in  the  last  of 
June,  two  miles  north  of  Rossville,  on  145 
acres  of  land,  which  he  bought,  and  only  fif- 
teen acres  of  which  was  cleared.  By  hard 
work  and  thrift,  he  cleared  up  all  his  land, 
which  was  covered  with  hard  oak  timber,  and 
made  a good  farm,  on  which  he  remained  until 
his  death,  which  occurred  at  the  age  of  eighty- 
one  years.  He  was  a member  of  the  Lutheran 
church  and  his  wife  was  a member  of  the  Re- 
formed church.  He  was  a law-abiding  citizen, 
noted  for  his  integrity,  was  respected  by  all 
wluj  knew  him,  and  he  reared  a resjjcctahle 
family. 

Samuel  Kuhns  was  born  January  23,  1831, 
in  Lehigh  county,  Pa.,  on  his  father’s  farm, 
received  a common  education,  and  at  the  age 
of  eight  years  came  to  Clinton  ('ounty,  Ind., 
with  his  parents,  and  well  remembers  the  jour- 
ney through  the  wilderness,  which  was  made 
in  a two-horse  wagon  and  occuj)ied  six  weeks. 


Mr.  Kuhns  grew  nj)  among  the  jfioneers,  and 
remembers  seeing  v\ olves,  and  wild  game,  such 
as  deer,  turkey,  etc.  He  became  a carpenter 
by  trade,  married  Susannah  Ruch,  daughter  of 
Peter  and  Lucy  .A.  (Troxel)  Ruch.  Peter 
Ru(di  was  of  sterling  Dutch  stock  from  Lehigh 
county.  Pa  , coming  to  Clinton  county,  Ind., 
and  settling  in  Washington  township,  about 
185401-  I 85  5 ; he  became  a wealthy  farmer,  own- 
ing about  400  acre  s of  fine  land.  He  reared  a 
family  of  six  thildren;  Mhlliam,  Maria,  Susan- 
nah, George  Joseph  and  Martin.  Mr.  Ruch  died 
on  his  farm  aged  seventy-three  years.  He  was 
a highly  respected  member  of  the  community 
in  which  he  lived  and  a devout  member  of  the 
Lutheran  church,  in  which  he  was  an  elder. 
He  had  one  son  in  the  Civil  war — Joseph — in 
the  P'ourth  Indiana  cavalry,  who  served  one 
}-ear  and  was  in  several  battles. 

After  marriage,  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Kuhns  set- 
tle.d.y^n  their  present  farm  of  sixty-eight  acres, 
which  bv  thrift  and  hard  work  they  cleared  up 
from  the  heavy  timber  (except  fifteen  acres), 
and  by  industry  he  added  to  this  until  he 
owned  144  acres,  all  well  improved.  He  set 
out  a fine  orchard  and  made  many  other  valu- 
able improvements.  To  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Kuhns 
were  born  eight  children;  Peter  J , Lucy  A., 
Maria  J.  (died  at  the  age  of  twenty-eight 
years),  George  IP,  Albert  D.,  Sarah  C. , Mary 
A.,  and  Ada  A.  Mr.  Kuhns  is  a member  of 
the  Lutheran  church  and  has  been  an  elder 
many  years.  He  is  a believer  in  education  and 
was  school  director,  and  has  given  his  children 
all  good  educations  in  the  district  schools.  In 
jiolitics  he  is  a re]ud)lican.  Mr.  Kuhns  has 
always  been  a temperate  man  of  high  moral 
character  and  has  brought  up  a respectable 
family  of  children.  He  is  one  of  the  reliable 
men  of  the  township,  and  throughout  his  life 
has  been  an  honorable,  ipuight  man,  alwa}S 
standing  high  in  the  I'steem  ol  his  neighbors 
for  his  sterling  worth. 


’ library 
OF  THE 

UNIVERSITY  OF  ItUNQIS 


LIBRARY 
Of  THE 
UmVERSlTY  OF 


or  CLINTON  COUNTY. 


76B 


BR.\NK  a.  LAMPHIER. — Prominent 
among  tlie  successful  self-made  men 
of  Washington  township,  Clinton 
count}’,  Inch,  is  Frank  A.  Lamphier, 
who  was  born  near  the  city  of  Rochester,  N. 
V.,  on  the  29th  of  Ajiril,  1850.  He  is  the  son 
of  Richard  and  Anna  (Koykendall)  Lamphier, 
natives  of  New  York,  the  father  of  German 
and  the  mother  of  Irish  descent.  Richard 
Lamphier  moved  from  his  native  state  in  1855 
to  Eaton  county,  Mich.,  where  he  followed 
the  trade  of  carpentering,  which  he  had  learned 
when  a young  man  in  New  York.  He  died  in 
1859  and  was  followed  to  the  grave  by  his  de- 
voted, wife,  who  was  called  to  her  final  reward 
within  five  days  after  the  death  of  her  husband. 
They  left  a family  of  five  small  children,  namely: 
Frank  A.,  Richard  M.,  Eugene,  Edward,  and  an 
infant  daughter  that  died  without  being  named. 

Frank  A.  Lamphier  was  deprived  of  both 
his  parents  when  but  nine  years  old,  at  which'- 
early  age  he  was  thrown  upon  the  world  and 
compelled  to  fight  life’s  battles  unaided.  He 
first  made  his  home  with  a man  by  the  name 
of  Ira  Turner,  with  whom  he  remained  until 
attaining  his  majority,  after  which  he  learned 
the  carpenter's  trade,  in  which  he  accjuired 
great  skill  and  proficiency.  He  followed  his 
chosen  calling  for  a period  of  eight  years,  earn- 
ing, in  the  meantime,  the  reputation  of  a very 
successful  builder,  and  in  November,  1876, 
came  to  Tippecanoe  county,  Ind.,  and  aban- 
doned mechanical  pursuits  for  agriculture,  pur- 
chasing originally  a small  farm  consisting  of 
twenty  acres  in  Tippecanoe  county.  In  1880 
he  bought  the  present  place;  he  has  made  ad- 
ditions from  time  to  time  and  now  owns  ninety- 
one  acres,  upon  which  he  has  erected  a fine 
residence,  a good  barn  and  other  buildings, 
and  all  of  his  buildings  are  strictly  first-class, 
the  general  appearance  of  his  place  bespeaking 
for  its  owner  a thorough  knowledge  of  every 
detail  of  agriculture. 


Mr.  Lamphier  is  essentially  a self-made 
man  and  he  began  life  upon  his  own  res])onsibili- 
ty  without  the  aid  of  a single  dollar  and  with  but 
little  encouragement  from  any  one.  In  the 
practical  school  of  experience  he  has  learned 
valuable  lessons,  and  his  present  position  as  a 
respectable  member  of  society  and  trusted 
public  servant,  has  been  accomplished  by  his 
own  unaided  efforts.  Financially  he  has  ac- 
complished much,  and  his  good  management 
and  thrift  have  served  as  a stimulus  to  those 
whose  youth  was  fraught  with  as  many  dis- 
couragements as  his  own.  He  is  a democrat 
in  politics,  and  in  1890  was  elected  by  his 
party  for  the  office  of  trustee  of  Washington 
township,  the  duties  of  which  he  has  since  dis- 
charged most  satisfactorily.  Mr.  Lamphier 
was  married,  in  1878,  to  Miss  Phynett  Grice, 
dauglvber,  of  Henry  and  Elizabeth  (Hardwick) 
Gric'e,’- whose  parents  were  natives  of  Ohio  and 
‘*^-l-'^German' - 4e^G'4nt.  Henry  Grice  died  in 
1888;  his  widow  is  still  living.  The  following 
are  the  names  of  the  children  of  Henry  and 
Elizabeth  Grice:  Eli,  Emily  J.,  Mary  A., 
Samantha,  wife  of  H.  H.  Atkins,  Angeline, 
Vienna,  Sarah  M.,  Fairfax,  Phynett  and 
Calista.  They  are  both  members  of  the 
Methodist  Protestant  church,  in  which  they 
are  highly  respected  for  their  good  work  and 
religious  zeal. 


LI  L.ACKEY. — The  ancestors  of  Mr. 
Lackey  were  among  the  sterling 
Scotch-Irish  settlers  of  Virginia  in 
the  Revolutionary  times  and  he  traces 
the  family  history  back  to  his  great-great- 
grandfather,  a patriot  of  the  war  of  independ- 
ence, who  lived  in  Rockbridge  county  of  the 
Old  Dominion  state.  Isaac  Lackey,  Eli’s 
grandfather,  was  born  and  reared  in  the  county 
of  Rockbridge  and  there  married  a Miss  Cun- 
ningham, who  bore  him  a number  of  children. 


761 


BIOGRAPHICAL  HISTORY 


sev(!ra!  of  whom  became  well  known  citizens 
of  \arginia  and  other  states.  Isaac  H. 
I.ackc-y,  a son  of  the  above-named  Isaac 
and  father  of  the  subject  of  this  sketch, 
was  horn  in  Rockhridj^e  comity,  \'a. , June  29, 

I (Si  8,  and  at  the  aj^e  of  ten  years  went  to 
Greene  comity,  Ohio,  where  he  resided  until 
his  removal  to  Clinton  countv,  Ind.,  in  1S38. 
His  wife,  whose  maiden  name  w'as  Eliza  Mc- 
Bride, and  whom  he  married  September  17, 
1840,  was  the  daughter  of  Thomas  and  Mary 
fRit(diie)  McBride,  her  parents  being  among 
the  earliest  pioneers  of  Clinton  county  and 
moving  to  the  same  in  1829.  Thomas  Mc- 
Bride took  part  in  the  battle  of  Tippecanoe 
and  otherwise  served  with  credit  in  the  w’ar  of 
1812.  He  became  a large  land  owner  in 
Clinton  county,  assisted  in  the  county  organ- 
ization, and  is  remembered  as  a very  energetic 
and  public-spirited  man. 

Isaac  H.  Lackey  settled  on  a farm  of  160 
acres,  to  wdiich  he  subsequently  added  adjoin- 
ing land,  and  in  time  became  the  possessor  of 
a very  comfortable  home.  He  was  a man  of 
great  industiy,  a democrat  in  iiolitics,  and  a 
member  of  the  Reform  church.  He  died 
August  31,  1855,  in  Greene  comity,  Ohio, 

whither  he  had  gone  a short  time  previous, 
and  W'as  laid  to  rest  among  his  kindred  in  the 
old  home  cemetery.  His  widow  subseijiiently 
married  Andrew  J.  McCarty,  by  whom  she  had 
one  child  —William  G , who  at  this  time  is 
connected  w'ith  one  of  the  largest  wholesale 
jobbing  houses  in  the  world,  in  California. 
She  dic'd  |anuary  4,  1894.  The  following  are 
the  names  of  the  children  born  to  her  first 
marriage  Eli,  Isabcll,  ^^ary  J.,  Martha  E., 
and  Thomas  R. 

Eli  I.ackey  is  a native  of  (diiiton  county, 
Ind.,  and  dates  his  birth  from  the  twenty- 
fourth  day  of  Eebruary,  1850.  He  w'as  edu- 
cated in  the  common  schools  and  began  life  as  a 
farmer,  and  has  since  followc'd  that  useful  call- 


ing W'ith  success  and  financial  profit  in  Clinton 
comity,  and,  at  this  time,  ranks  with  the 
successful  self-made  men  of  the  township  of 
Perry.  He  was  married  October  13,  1872,  to 
Amanda  J.  Starkey,  daughter  of  John  and 
Erances  (Bashj  Starkey,  the  names  of  the  off- 
spring of  which  union  are  herewith  given, 
together  with  the  date  of  birth — Daisy,  August 
2,  1873;  Icy,  December  17,  1874;  John  R., 
March  3,  1876;  Eliza  F.,  July  2,  1879;  Lillie 
A , August  20,  1880:  Jessie  E. , July  23,  1886; 
Gracie,  August,  1891;  of  the  above  Daisy  died 
August  30,  1874:  John  R.  died  October  15, 
1877;  Lillie,  August  28,  1881,  and  Eliza,  Sep- 
tember 7,  1889. 

John  and  Erances  Starkey,  parents  of  Mrs. 
Lackey,  w'ere  natives  respectively  of  Maryland 
and  Ohio  and  came  to  Clinton  county,  Ind., 
as  early  as  1830.  Mr.  Starkey  moved  to  his 
home  in  the  wilds  of  Indiana  with  all  his 
earthly  belongings  on  a one-horse  sled,  but  he 
lived  to  see  the  country's  wonderful  develop- 
ment and  he  became  a prosperous  ancDvell-to- 
do  farmer.  He  died  in  1891  and  his  w'ife  in 
the  year  1856.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Lackey  are 
members  of  the  Methodist  church.  Mr.  Lackey 
is  a ]iopulist  and  has  been  honored  by  his  party 
with  the  nomination  for  the  office  of  county 
treasurer.  He  is  a member  of  the  Masonic 
fraternity,  belonging  to  \dsta  lodge.  No.  136. 


ILEIAM  EANAM.^Among  the  self- 
made  men  of  Clinton  comity  w'ho 
have  succeeded  in  overcoming  many 
serious  obstac'les,  ac(|uiring  a com- 
fortable comiietence  and  establishing  for  them- 
selves an  uiudght  character  in  the  community, 
the  name  of  M'illiam  Eanam  is  justly  entitled 
to  s))ecific  mention.  Mr.  Eanam  is  of  Ger- 
man liiu'.age  and  inherits  many  of  the  charac- 
teristics and  virtues  of  his  worthy  ancestors. 
His  grandfather,  d'homas  Eanam,  came  to  the 


OF  CLINTON  COUNTY. 


765 


tlie  Unitetl  States  when  a 3'oung  man,  settled 
in  Pennsylvania,  and  thence,  shortly'  after  his 
marriage,  emigrated  to  Morgan  comity,  Ohio, 
where  he  purchased  land  and  became  a well- 
to-do  farmer.  He  is  remembered  as  a man  of 
many  excellent  parts,  a democrat  of  the  Jack- 
son  school,  and  he  lived  to  a ripe  old  age. 
Jesse  Lanam,  son  of  the  above  and  father  of 
William,  was  born  in  Virginia  and  followed 
tilling  the  soil  for  a livelihood.  In  his  native 
state  he  married  Martha  Steward,  and  shortly 
thereafter  emigrated  to  Ohio,  settling  in  Mor- 
gan county,  where  in  time  he  became  a farmer 
of  large  means.  Like  his  father  before  him 
he  was  a strong  supporter  of  the  democratic 
party,  and  for  many'  years  was  a member  of 
the  old  Christian  church,  in  which  he  held 
various  official  positions  and  the  teachings  of 
which  he  endeavored  to  practice  by  a life  de- 
voted to  the  good  of  his  fellow-man.  After 
the  death  of  his  wife,  which  occurred  in  Mor- 
gan county,  Ohio,  Mr.  Lanam  became  a resi- 
dent of  Clinton  county,  Ind.,  where  he  re- 
mained for  but  a limited  period,  then  moved 
to  Illinois,  in  Champaign  county  of  which  state 
he  died  two  years  later. 

William  Lanam,  whose  name  introduces 
this  biography,  was  born  at  a romantic  spot 
in  a stone  house  in  the  Alleghany  mountains, 
and  at  the  age  of  three  years  was  taken  by  his 
parents  to  Ohio,  in  which  state  he  grew  to 
manhood  on  a farm.  What  education  he  re- 
ceived was  imparted  to  him  in  the  old-fash- 
ioned log  school-house,  descriptions  of  which 
are  found  elsewhere  in  this  volume,  and  he 
began  life  for  himself  as  a common  laborer  at 
very  small  wages.  He  came  to  Clinton 
county,  Ind.,  in  1850,  and  for  some  years  there- 
after worked  for  the  very  modest  compensa- 
tion of  six  dollars  per  month,  later  received 
twelve  dollars  per  month,  and  from  his  earn- 
ing's succeeded  in  laying  by  sufficient  means  to 
enable  him  to  furnish  a home  and  prepare  for 


housekeeping.  After  his  marriage,  which  was 
solemnized  wil  h Mary  J.  Wyant,  daughter  of 
William  and  Elizabeth  (Newhouse)  Wyant, 
Mr.  Lanam  settled  in  Sugar  Creek  township, 
Montgomery  county,  where  he  lived  for  a short 
time,  afterward  purchasing  an  eighty'-acre 
tract  of  land  m Clinton  county',  where  he  has 
since  made  his  home.  Beginning  life  with  but 
little  encouragement  and  no  financial  assist- 
ance, he  has  succeeded  in  surmounting  the 
numerous  difficulties  which  would  have  dis- 
couraged a man  of  less  determination,  and  is 
now  rewarded  with  a comfortable  competence 
of  this  world’s  goods,  including  a valuable 
farm  of  1 70  acres  in  the  township  of  Perry, 
Clinton  county.  His  place  is  well  stocked  and 
well  drained,  the  buildings  are  substantial,  and 
he  ranks  with  the  best  farmers  of  his  neigh- 
borhood. He  is  a deacon  in  the  Christian 
church,  to  which  his  wife  also  belongs.  The 
following  are  the  names  of  the  children  of  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  Lanam;  Jessie,  Wesley,  Eliza  J., 
Mary,  Martha,  Thomas,  Catherine  Alice  and 
Almedia,  all  of  whom,  with  the  exception  of 
Almedia,  who  died  at  the  age  of  nine  years, 
are  married  and  doing  for  themselves. 
Thomas  Eanam  married  Lissie  Vale,  daughter 
of  Lee  and  Rebecca  (Coltram)  Vale,  and  has 
two  children — Lloyd  and  Ernest.  The  par- 
ents of  Mrs.  Mary  J.  Eanam  emigrated  from 
Virginia  to  Montgomery  county,  Ind.,  in  1831, 
making  the  trip  to  Cincinnati  on  a flat-boat 
and  from  that  city  by  ox  team  to  their  new 
home  in  the  Hoosier  state.  They  were  pio- 
neers in  the  true  sense  of  the  term,  and  the 
mother  was  accustomed  to  walk  to  Thorntown 
and  back  the  same  day  in  order  to  obtain  gro- 
ceries for  the  family,  the  distance  traversed 
being  sixteen  miles.  Mr.  Wyant  entered  160 
acres  of  land,  and  with  the  assistance  of  his 
wife,  worked  hard  in  order  to  bring  it  to  a 
state  of  cultivation,  but  did  not  live  to  accom- 
plish his  aim,  dying  three  years  after  coming 


706 


BIOGRAPHICAL  HISTORY 


to  tlie  coiiDtry.  Dc^pi'ivc'd  of  her  strong  stay, 
Mrs.  W'yant  was  coinpellc'd  to  sn])])ort  her 
family  by  working  on  the  farm,  and  right 
nobly  did  she  jx'rform  this  duty.  She  snc- 
ceedc'd  in  keeping  her  family  of  seven  children 
together,  and  lived  to  see  them  grow  to  man- 
hood’s and  womanhood's  estate  and  become 
heads  of  families. 


ILLIS  A.  LANE,  brother  of  Bev- 
erly \\’.  Lane,  was  born  in  Clinton 
county,  Ind.,  on  the  twenty-fourth 
day  of  January,  1820,  and  grew  to 
maidiood  near  v\here  he  is  now  living.  His 
education,  acquired  in  the  common  schools,  is 
of  a practical  nature,  and  his  contact  with 
men  in  subsequent  years,  together  with  his 
business  relations,  has  given  him  a practical 
knoA\  ledge  such  as  schools  and  colleges  fail  to 
iniitart.  His  life  work  has  been  agriculture, 
in  the  true  dignity  and  elevation  of  which  he 
hrml}'  believes,  and  in  his  chosen  calling  he  is 
the  peer  of  any  resident  of  the  community  in 
which  he  lives.  Mr.  Lane  has  a well-improved 
and  fertile  farm  of  110  acres,  upon  which  are 
many  \-aluable  improvements,  including  a 
modern  residence'  and  barn,  complete  in  their 
api'x^intments,  and  the  imju'oved  condition  of 
his  ])remises  bespeaks  the  successful  farmer 
and  gentleman  of  taste. 

Mr.  Lane  was  united  in  marriage  June  15, 
1874,  to  Mary  ('.  Harlan,  daughter  of  George 
ami  Silence  (Hamilton)  Harlan,  the  father  a 
farmer  of  Piatt  county.  111.  This  un'on  lias 
been  blessed  with  the  birth  of  the  following 
children,  given  in  the  order  of  their  ages;  Jes- 
sie, deceased  at  the  age  of  six  years;  Walter 
H.,  Nellie'  and  ('leorge  11.  Mr.  Lane  is  a ])ro- 
gressive  citizen  in  all  the'  term  implies;  he 
stands  unreservi'dly  for  public  inqerovc'inents 
of  all  kinds,  and  takes  more  tban  ordinary 
interest  in  the  cause  of  education,  the  general 


dissemination  of  which  he  believes  to  be  one 
of  the  effective  means  of  arresting  many  of 
the  evils  extant  and  elevating  the  country  to  a 
higher  plane  of  moral  excellence.  He  is  spar- 
ing no  pains  in  the  education  of  his  children, 
all  of  whom  will  be  given  the  advantages  of 
full  courses  of  study  in  higher  institutions  of 
learning,  and,  at  the  same  time,  he  is  by  no 
means  neglectful  of  their  higher  natures,  the 
iniluence  of  his  life  being  decidedly  religious 
in  .its  tendency.  He  is  an  earnest  worker  in 
the  Methodist  church,  holds  the  positions  of 
steward,  trustee  and  class  leader,  and,  for 
some  years,  has  been  the  efficient  superintend- 
ent of  the  Sunday-school.  Politically,  he  is 
a republican,  but  not  an  office-seeker,  although 
he  has  frequently  been  solicited  by  his  many 
friends  and  fellow-citizens  to  accept  positions 
of  trust. 


EVLRLY  W.  LANL,  a younger 
brother  of  Mdllis  A.  Lane,  and  one  of 
the  progressive  young  farmers  of 
Perry  township,  Clinton  county,  is  a 
descendant  of  an  early  settler  of  Delaware,  and 
in  his  veins  flows  the  blood  of  Danish  and 
Irish  ancestors.  His  grandfather  was  Joseph 
Lane,  who  was  born  in  Delaware  March  10, 
1800,  and  who  married,  in  that  state,  Elizabeth 
H.  whose  birth  occurred  in  the  year 

1799.  Elizabeth  Lane  died  December  21, 
1824,  leaving  one  son — William  Lane.  Joseph 
Lane’s  second  wife,  whom  he  married  in  Dela- 
ware Lebruary  14,  1826,  was  Mary  Parker, 
who  was  born  June  5,  1798,  and  died  April  i, 
1834;  by  a j)revion3  marriage  Mrs.  Mary  Lane 
had  two  children,  and  her  union  with  Mr. 
Lane  resulted  in  the  birth  of  three  children  : 
Jesse,  John,  and  Solomon.  Mr.  Lane  emigrat- 
ed to  Ohio  in  an  early  day,  and  thence,  about 
the  year  1833,  came  to  Clinton  county,  Ind. 
He  married  again.  July  30,  1834,  choosing,  for 


7G7 


OF  CI.TNTON  COUNTY. 


his  third  wife,  Mary  Byers,  who  was  born  Au- 
gust 26,  1817,  daughter  of  Jolin  and  Mary 
Ifyers,  early  settlers  of  Indiana,  who  located 
in  Clinton  county  as  long  ago  as  1833.  The 
children  of  this  marriage  were:  Samuel  B., 
Jane,  Joseph  P. , Mary,  and  Elizabeth.  Mr. 
Lane  was  one  of  the  pioneers  of  Clinton,  mov- 
ing to  the  same  shortly  after  the  county  or- 
ganization and  purchasing  lands  in  various 
parts,  until  he  became  the  possessor  of  over 
1,000  acres.  The  first  election  ever  held  in 
Perry  township  was  at  his  house,  and  he  took 
a prominent  part  in  public  matters  and  was  an 
old-line  whig  in  politics.  He  provided  liberal- 
ly for  his  children,  giving  to  each  $4,000,  or 
its  equivalent  in  land,  and  otherwise  assisted 
them  in  life.  He  and  wife  were  charter  mem- 
bers of  the  old  Shiloh  church,  and  he  ren- 
dered valuable  financial  assistance  in  the  con- 
struction of  the  first  house  of  worship,  a log 
structure  which,  in  due  time,  was  replaced  by 
a more  modern  edifice  of  enlarged  capaci- 
ty. After  the  death  of  his  third  wife  Mr.  Lane 
married  Amanda  Broderick,  daughter  of  An- 
thony and  Rachel  Broderick,  a union  severed 
by  the  death  of  Mrs.  Lane  in  September, 
1873;  Mr.  Lane  died  April  28,  1874,  and  was 
laid  to  rest  in  the  old  cemetery  at  Shiloh. 

Jesse  Lane,  son  of  the  above  and  father 
of  Beverly  W.,  was  born  in  Layette  county, 
Ohio,  November  26,  1821.  When  five  years 
old  he  was  brought  by  his  parents  to  Clin- 
ton county,  Ind.,  received  his  education  in 
such  schools  as  the  country  afforded,  and 
on  arriving  at  manhood’s  estate  was  united 
in  marriage,  April  26,  1 849,  to  Prudence 

W'hite,  daughter  of  Alexander  and  Margaret 
(Cloud)  White,  early  settlers  of  the  county  of 
Clinton.  The  result  of  this  union  was  the  fol- 
lowing children;  Willis  A.,  Joseph  (deceased), 
Edgar  W.,  Ollie  J.  (deceased),  Beverly  W., 
Daniel  H.,  Violet  May  (deceased),  Judson  (de- 
ceased), Mary,  Nettie,  Sarah,  Ralph  and  Delie. 


After  rearing  her  famil}^  the  mother  of  these 
children  passed  to  her  final  rest  on  the  fifteenth 
day  of  August,  1875.  She  was  sadly  missed  in 
the  home  and  the  church,  of  which  she  had 
been  a consistent  member  for  many  years, 
and  her  many  friends  and  neighbors  mourned 
her  death  as  a personal  loss.  On  the  twenty- 
third  of  January,  1877,  Mr.  Lane  entered 
into  the  marriage  relation  with  Rachel  More- 
head  daughter  of  William  and  Rachel  (Balow) 
Moreliead,  a union  blessed  by  the  birth  of 
one  child — Lottie.  Mrs.  Lane  was  in  early 
life  a Presbyterian,  but  later  became  identi- 
fied with  the  church  to  which  her  husband 
belonged.  She  lived  the  life  of  a true  de- 
voted Christian,  was  beloved  by  all  with 
whom  she  came  in  contact,  and  departed  this 
life  on  the  fifteenth  day  of  March,  1894. 
Mr.  Lane  has  been  a successful  farmer  all 
his  life,  and,  by  skillful  management  and 
strictly  honorable  business  methods,  succeed- 
ed in  accumulating  a large  amount  of  prop- 
erty, the  major  portion  of  which  has  been 
divided  among  his  children.  He  has  done 
much  toward  introducing  a high  grade  of 
live  stock  in  the  township,  and  for  many 
years  dealt  quite  extensively  in  Clydesdale 
horses,  short-horn  cattle,  Poland  China  hogs, 
Shropshire  sheep  and  other  fine  breeds.  He 
has  always  been  a stanch  republican,  and  as 
a farmer  and  in  every  other  relation  in  life, 
is  justly  entitled  to  mention  among  the  rep- 
resentative citizens  of  the  township  of  Perry. 

Beverly  W.  Lane,  whose  name  appears  at 
the  head  of  this  sketch,  was  born  in  Clinton 
county,  Ind.,  February  26,  1858.  Like  the 
majority  of  the  sons  of  Clinton,  his  early 
years  were  passed  on  a farm,  and  the  common 
schools,  which  he  attended  at  intervals  during  his 
minority,  were  the  means  by  which  his  educa- 
tion was  imparted.  On  arriving  at  manhood’s 
estate  he  was  united  in  marriage  to  Eva  M. 
Bailey,  daughter  of  Samuel  and  Evaline  (Hin- 


708 


lUOGRAPIIICAL  HISTORY 


tonj  Railc'v,  to  wliicli  union  one  child,  Beulali 
May,  was  horn,  Mr.  Lane  is  a successful 
lariner  and  a leadidj,^  citizen  of  the  commu- 
nity in  which  lu'  resides.  Politically  he  is  a 
republican  and  the  Methodist  church  re})re- 
sents  his  religious  creed.  Mrs.  Lane  is  also  a 
Methodist,  and  noted  for  her  f^ood  works  both 
in  the  church  and  out. 

Samuel  Bailey,  Mrs.  Lane's  father,  one  of 
the  leading  old  settlers  and  prominent  farmers 
of  Perry  township,  is  descended  from  ('lerman- 
Irish  ancestry  and  was  born  in  Morgan  county, 
\'a.,  December  31,  1825.  When  two  years 
old  he  was  taken  by  his  parents  to  Ohio, 
thence,  when  fourteen  years  of  age,  came  to 
C'linton  county,  Ind.,  where  he  grew  to  man- 
hood. He  was  married  May  27,  1851,  to 

hAaline  Hinton,  after  which  he  settled  on  a 
farm  of  forty  acres,  where  he  lived  si.\  years, 
when  he  disposed  of  the  same  and  purchased 
other  land,  which  he  imjrroved.  Eventually 
he  became  the  possessor  of  handsome  prop- 
ert}’,  owning  360  acres  of  valuable  land  lying 
in  one  of  the  most  fertile  and  best  improved 
parts  of  Clintcm  county.  The  names  of  the 
children  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Bailey  are  as  fol- 
lows— Paulina,  Rachel,  Morris,  Eva,  Whlliam, 
b'rank,  Albert  and  Myrtle,  all  of  whom  are 
doing  well  for  themselves  in  life.  Mrs.  Bailey 
is  the  daughter  of  Michael  and  Rachel  hlinton, 
the  father  a native  of  Washington  county, 
Ohio,  and  an  early  settler  of  ('linton  county, 
lnd.,7noving  to  the  latter  about  1830. 


HDAM  LIHSURh',  an  enterprising  citi- 
zen of  Erankfort,  Ind.,  was  born  near 
Dayton,  Ohio,  August  9,  1830,  and 
is  the  scm  of  Adam  Leisure,  who  came 
from  I'rance  in  1825  and  married,  in  Philadel- 
phia, Miss  Rosanna  Martin,  a native  of  Phila- 
del|)hia,  of  (h-rman  ancestry.  To  the  elder 
/\dam  and  wife  wi-re  born  ten  children,  of 


whom  Adam,  the  subject  of  this  sketch,  is  next 
to  the  eldest,  and  of  whom  four  are  still  living. 
Adam  Leisure  moved  from  Pennsylvania  to 
Montgomery  county,  Ohio,  in  1830,  and  in 
1846  brought  his  family  to  Indiana  and  located 
in  Peru,  Miami  county.  Here  young  Adam 
began  life  for  himself  at  the  age  of  sixteen,  his 
parents  moving  west  and  his  father  dyiirg  in 
Kansas  in  1869  at  the  age  of  about  seventy- 
five  years;  the  mother,  however,  survived  until 
1878,  when  she  died  at  the  home  of  her 
daughter  in  Spencer,  Mull  county.  111.  July  5, 
1847,  Adam,  our  subject,  located  in  Center 
township,  Clinton  county,  Ind.,  and  worked 
as  a farm-hand  until  the  spring  of  1852;  in 
March,  1853,  he  began  carpentering,  w'hich 
has  been  his  business  until  the  present  day  in 
the  city  of  Frankfort,  first  having  begun  con- 
tracting in  1857.  Mr.  Leisure  has  been  an 
active  politician,  having  first  been  a whig,  then 
a know-nothing,  and  finally  a republican,  and 
for  seven  years  prior  to  the  spring  of  1894  was 
a most  efficient  and  popular  member  of  the 
city  council  of  Erankfort. 

The  marriage  of  Mr.  Leisure  took  place. 
August  23,  1855,  to  Miss  Nancy  Isgrig,  young- 
est daughter  of  William  and  Mary  (Jones) 
Isgrig.  Mrs.  Nancy  Leisure  w'as  born  in 
Huntingdon  county.  Pa.,  August  14,  1836,  and 
is  of  Dutch  descent.  In  the  fall  of  1839  her 
parents  and  their  ten  children  came  to  Clin- 
ton county,  Ind.,  and  here  the  father  died 
the  following  spring,  bnt  the  mother  surviv- 
ed until  1878.  d'he  marriage  of  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Leisure  has  been  blessed  with  three 
children,  viz:  Charles  Marion,  Jacob  Ells- 
worth and  Ulysses  Grant.  I'or  years  the 
parents  have  bc'en  members  of  the  Methodist 
lipiscopal  church,  and  since  May,  1866,  Mr. 
Leisure  has  been  a I'reemason,  being  now  a 
knight  templar.  His  wife  is  a member  of  the 
lUistern  Star  lodge,  an  adjunct  of  the  Masonic 
oi'der.  Ulysses  Grant  Leisure  is  a worthy  son  of 


OF  CLINTON  COUNTY. 


TOO 


hi.s  father,  has  graduated  with  credit  from  the 
I'rankfort  schools,  and  has  made  (juite  a repu- 
tation as  a workman  in  wood. 


OHN  U.  LUDINCxTON,  farmer  of 
Jackson  township,  Clinton  county, 
Ind.,  was  born  in  Clinton  county,  Ohio, 
March  4,  1833,  son  of  Stephen  and 
Ann  Ludington.  Stephen  Ludington  was  the 
son  of  Thomas,  whose  father  came  from  Ire- 
land. Thomas  Ludington  was  born  in  New 
York,  and  died  in  the  state  of  Ohio. 
Stephen  Ludington  was  born  in  New  York, 
early  accompanied  his  parents  to  Ohio, 
thence  emigrated  to  Wisconsin,  where  he 
lived  a short  time,  and  in.  1850  became  a resi- 
dent of  Clinton  county,  Ind.,  where  his  death 
occurred  in  the  month  of  October,  1857.  His 
wife,  whose  maiden  name  was  Anna  Holdcraft, 
died  in  February,  1867.  They  were  the  par- 
ents of  six  children,  namely:  John  F.,  Anna 
(deceased),  Lucinda,  wife  of  Joseph  Haley, 
Harvey,  Delilah,  wife  John  W.  Witt,  and 
Ellen  (deceased). 

John  F.  Ludington  was  reared  to  to  a life 
of  labor  on  his  father's  farm  and  was  unfort- 
unate in  not  having  the  advantages  of  an  edu- 
cation in  his  youth.  He  learned  to  read  and 
write  after  reaching  manhood,  and  early  chose 
the  machinist’s  trade  for  his  occupation.  He 
first  worked  in  the  city  of  Chicago  for  one 
William  Tuttle,  in  whose  employ  he  remained 
about  seven  years,  after  which,  for  about  four- 
teen years,  he  ran  stationary  engines  at  differ- 
ent places.  He  enlisted  October  20,  1861,  in 
company  K,  Fortieth  Indiana  infantry,  Capt. 
A.  E.  Gordon,  and  went  into  camp  at  La 
Fayette,  remaining  there  about  a month. 
Later,  his  regiment  went  to  Indianapolis, 
thence  to  Louisville,  Ky.,  and  Mr.  Ludington 
saw  his  first  active  service  in  a forced  march 
through  Kentucky  and  a portion  of  Tennessee 


to  Shiloh,  in  the  bloody  battle  of  which  he 
took  part.  From  Shiloh  his  command  went 
to  Holly  Springs  and  luka,  thence  to  Tuscum- 
bia,  Ala.,  and  various  other  places  in  that 
state.  Later,  after  devious  marching,  the 
regiment  reached  Munfordsville,  Ky.,  and 
thence  marched  back  to  the  city  of  Louisville. 
He  took  part  in  the  battle  of  Perryville,  after 
which  the  regiment  followed  in  pursuit  of  Gen. 
Bragg. 

It  would  be  difficult,  in  a sketch  of  this 
kind,  to  narrate,  in  detail,  all  the  marches, 
shirmishes,  and  battles  in  which  Mr.  Luding- 
ton took  part,  but  suffice  it  to  say  that 
throughout  his  varied  experience,  covering  a 
period  of  nearly  four  years,  he  earned  a repu- 
tation for  duty  bravely  and  uncomplainingly 
performed,  of  which  he  feels  deservedly  proud. 
He  took  part  in  the  battle  of  Murfreesboro  and 
the  Chattanooga  campaign,  and  met  the 
enemy  in  the  bloody  fights  of  Missionary 
Ridge  and  Lookout  Mountain.  From  Chat- 
tanooga he  accompanied  his  command  to 
Knoxville,  thence  to  Georgia  under  General 
Sherman,  and  participated  in  the  battles 
around  Atlanta,  among  which  were  Buz- 
zard's Roost,  Ringgold  Station,  Big  Shanty, 
Kenesaw  Mountain,  Dallas  and  New  Hope 
Church.  At  Strawberry  Plains  his  regiment 
veteranized,  after  which  he  went  home  on  a 
furlough.  At  the  expiration  of  thirty  days  he 
rejoined  his  command  at  Round  Top,  Ga., 
thence  went  to  Atlanta  in  time  to  take  part  in 
the  battle  of  Peach  Tree  Creek.  His  regiment 
assisted  in  the  pursuit  of  Hood  to  Franklin, 
Tenm,  and  after  taking  part  in  the  battle  at 
that  ]dace  went  to  Nashville,  where  the  army 
of  Flood  was  almost  annihilated.  After  vari- 
ous other  movements  in  Tennessee,  Arkansas, 
and  Texas,  Mr.  Ludington  was  finally  dis- 
charged at  Indianapolis  in  1865.  He  was 
wounded  in  the  battle  of  Shiloh  but  refused  to 
be  taken  to  the  hospital,  and  at  Perryville  he 


770 


BIOGRAPHICAL  HISTORY 


also  reccivt'd  a severe  wound  in  the  arm.  At 
■Murfreesboro  lie  received  a gun-shot  wound  in 
the  thigh,  and  on  the  twenty-fifth  of  Septem- 
ber, I 863,  was  cajitured  by  the  enemy  and  held 
until  the  twenty-eighth  of  December  follov\ing. 
After  leaving  the  army  Mr.  Ludington  resumed 
his  trade,  but  subsequently  engaged  in  farm- 
ing, which  he  still  carries  on.  He  has  been 
twice  married — the  first  time  on  the  twenty- 
eighth  of  August,  1857,  to  Susannah  Daugherty, 
a union  blessed  with  the  birth  of  six  children, 
four  living — Mary  J.,  wife  of  Frank  Gunion; 
Minerva  A.,  wife  of  Samuel  West;  James  M. 
and  Armetta  M.  The  names  of  those  deceased 
are  Anna  IL,  born  June  i 1,  1857,  died  Febur- 
'‘^75;  fiorn  November,  1865,  died 

December,  1865.  The  mother  died  August 
28,  1887,  and  on  the  sixteenth  day  of  March, 
i8yo,  Mr.  Ludington  married  his  present  wife, 
Mrs.  Sarah  A.  Helmick,  ucc  Harbaugh.  Mr. 
Ludington  is  a member  (d'  the  .Alajfpgijc  frater- 
nity, of  the  Odd  Fellows'  order,  and  of  the  G. 
A.  R.  Politically  he  is  a republican  and  in 
religion  a Methodist. 


AMUEL  KYLE  LONG,  a leading 
farmer  and  influential  citixen  of  Owen 
township,  C'.hnton  county,  Ind.,  is 
descended  from  sturdy  German  an- 
cestry. His  grandfather,  Samuel  Long,  was 
a native  of  Virginia  and  a farmer  by  occupa- 
tion. He  was  a democrat  in  politics  and 
served  for  a number  of  years  as  justice  of  the 
peace.  In  religious  belief  he  was  a Presby- 
terian, and  his  death  occurred  at  the  age  of 
eighty  years.  His  children  were  John,  vSam, 
|ose])h,  Maria  and  David.  The  last  named 
was  born  in  Virginia  in  1793.  and  he,  too, 
carried  on  agricultural  |)ursuit.s.  He  was  mar- 
ried lamiary  8,  1829,  t(j  Amne  Harkrader, 

who  w;is  born  ( )ctober  b,  1809,  and  they  be- 
came the  parents  of  tlu'  following  children: 


George  W.,  who  married  Sarah  Striker; 
Catherine,  wife  of  Wk  L.  Mabbitt;  Elizabeth 
J.,  wife  of  Warren  Adams;  Martha  A.,  wife  of 
Mk  H.  Weaver;  Margaret  M.,  wife  of  John 
Lennon;  Sarah  E.,  wife  of  W.  McClune; 
Matilda,  wife  of  J.  H.  Fennell;  Annie  S.,  wife 
of  Robert  Young;  Ifenjamin  F.,  who  served  in 
the  late  war  as  a member  of  the  Third  Indiana 
cavalry  and  died  in  hospital;  Samuel  K.,  of 
this  sketch;  J.  D.,  who  married  Hannah  Her- 
ron; Mary,  wife  of  Frank  McCrary;  and 
Amanda  M.,  who  died  at  the  age  of  thirteen. 
The  father,  David  Long,  removed  with  his 
parents  first  to  Butler  county,  Ohio,  and  in 
1832  became  a resident  of  Clinton  county, 
Ind.,  where  he  entered  160  acres  of  farm  land. 
This  he  cleared  and  improved,  and  to  it  added 
a tract  of  eighty  acres.  He  and  his  wife  were 
members  of  the  Presbyterian  church,  and  in 
politics  he  was  a democrat  and  took  an  active 
.interest  in  the  party.  His  life  was  one  of  in- 
diLstry  and  enterprise  until  his  last  ten  years, 
when  he  suffered  greatly  from  rheumatism. 
He  died  in  1871,  at  the  age  of  seventy-two. 

Samuel  K.  Long,  whose  name  heads  this 
record,  was  born  in  the  township  which  is  still 
his  home,  December  14,  1844.  was  reared  in 
the  usual  manner  of  farmer  lads,  and  was  edu- 
cated in  the  common  schools.  He  remained 
at  home  until  October  26,  1872,  when  was 

celebrated  his  marriage  with  Nancy  A.  Miller, 
who  was  born  July  25,  1842,  and  is  a daughter 
of  Solomon  and  Eleanor  (Logan)  Miller,  who 
were  also  natives  of  Indiana.  Mrs.  Long  is  a 
member  of  the  Presb\  terian  church.  By  their 
marriage  they  had  one  son,  who  was  born  De- 
cember 18,  1874,  and  died  March  31.  1882. 
During  the  late  war,  Mr.  Long,  feeling  that 
his  services  were  more  needed  at  home,  sent  a 
substitute  to  the  field  and  entered  upon  his 
business  career  as  a farniei'.  He  had  but  little 
capital,  but  has  made  the  most  of  hisopportuni- 
ties,  and  now  owns  some  400  acres  of  rich 


LIBRARY 
OF  THE 

UNIVERSITY  OF  ILUNOiS 


UBRARY 
OF  THE 
UNWERStTY  OF 


OF  CLINTON  COUNTY. 


775 


land,  comprised  within  three  farms,  which  are 
sn|)plied  with  good  huildings  and  all  modern 
conveniences.  That  on  which  he  resides  com- 
prises 160  acres,  and  he  devotes  his  time  and 
energies  to  general  farming  and  stockraising, 
in  which  he  has  met  with  good  success.  The 
home  is  a beautiful  residence,  surrounded  by 
large  evergreen  trees,  and  is  one  of  the  model 
farms  of  the  community.  Mr.  Long  has  led  a 
busy  life,  yet  finds  time  to  devote  to  public  in- 
terests. He  supports  the  democracy,  has  at- 
tended its  county  conventions,  and  has  served 
as  the  honored  treasurer  of  Sedalia  lodge,  No. 
508,  F.  & A.  M.  Having  accumulated  a 
comfortable  competence,  he  enjoys  it  largely 
through  travel,  and  has  visited  many  of  the 
points  of  interest  throughout  this  country. 


AMUEL  W.  LYON,  a leading  farmer^ 
of  Jackson  township,  Clinton  county,  ^ 
Ind. , was  born  on  the  farm  where 
he  now  resides  August  25,  1847, 

and  is  the  only  surviving  child  of  Samuel 
Lyon.  Samuel  Lyon,  Sr.,  was  born  in 
North  Carolina  in  1792,  removed  with  his 
parents  to  South  Carolina,  where  he  lived 
until  his  fourteenth  year,  at  which  early 
age  he  entered  the  arm)^  under  his  father,  and 
served  his  country  as  a soldier  for  some  time. 
Later  he  engaged  in  farming,  which  he  pur- 
sued until  1831,  and  then  sold  his  property, 
including  a number  of  slaves,  and  removed  to 
Indiana,  entering  an  eighty-aci'e  tract  of  land 
in  Clinton  county.  He  afterward  added  168 
acres  to  the  original  purchase,  and  became  a 
farmer  of  considerable  means.  When  over 
forty  years  of  age  he  married  Mary  Mundell, 
daughter  of  Isaiah  Mundell,  who  bore  him 
three  children,  only  one  of  whom  is  now  liv- 
ing, to-wit:  the  subject  of  this  sketch;  the 
other  two,  James  and  Mary,  died  at  the  ages 

of  six  and  fourteen  years  respectively.  Mrs. 

37 


Lyon  died  in  1854,  and  her  husband  dejtarted 
this  life  four  years  later. 

After  the  death  of  his  father,  Samuel  Lyon, 
Jr.,  made  his  home  for  some  time  with  his 
cousin,  John  Brown,  and  afterward,  for  five 
years,  lived  in  the  family  of  his  guardian, 
Stewart  Breckinridge.  He  had  then  reached 
an  age  when  he  was  at  liberty  to  choose  his 
own  guardian.  Accordingly  he  selected  Wil- 
liam Salesbury  to  look  after  his  interests,  and 
he  made  his  home  with  that  gentleman  until 
he  reached  his  majority.  He  then  took  pos- 
session of  his  own  estate,  and  has  since  been 
engaged  in  agricultural  pursuits,  following  the 
same  with  such  success  that  he  is  now  one  of 
the  most  enterprising  and  progressive  farmers 
of  Jackson  township,  as  well  as  one  of  the 
prominent  citizens  of  Clinton  county.  On  the 
twenty-seventh  of  August,  1872,  Mr.  Lyon 
and  Miss  Clarissa,  daughter  of  Nicholas  Strain, 
United-  'Trfrfljh'e  bonds  of  wedlock.  Mrs. 
Lyon  was  born  in  Montgomery  county,  Ind., 
October  14,  1855,  and  is  the  mother  of  four 
children — Rosa  Ulla,  born  May  25,  1873, 

now  the  wife  of  N.  Jett;  Maggie  E. , born  July 
18,  1875,  a prominent  teacher  of  the  county; 
FleetaC.,  born  March  12,  1880,  and  Verna 
Wilson,  born  March  4,  1886. 

Mr.  Lyon,  at  this  time,  is  the  possessor  of 
300  acres  of  fine  land  in  Jackson  township, 
and  in  addition  to  general  farming  gives  con- 
siderable attention  to  the  breeding  of  fine  live- 
stock, making  a specialty  of  full-blooded  short- 
horn Durham  cattle,  in  which  his  success  has 
been  most  encouraging.  He  takes  much  in- 
terest in  educational  matters,  giving  his  chil- 
dren good  advantages  in  this  direction,  and  he 
is  indeed  one  of  the  public-spirited  men  of  the 
township  in  which  his  life  has  been  passed. 
He  is  a member  of  the  I.  O.  O.  E. , belonging 
to  lodge  No.  413,  and  the  Baptist  church, 
with  which  both  himself  and  wife  are  identi- 
fied, embodies  his  religious  creed. 


BIOGRAPHICAL  HISTORY 


77() 


OBICRT  Mc  C'LAMROCH  is  a })rotni- 
lU'iit  factor  in  the  financial  history  of 
I'rankfort,  and  a citi/cni  whose  judg- 
ment in  all  matters  pertaining  to  mon- 
etary transactions  is  seldom  or  ever  at  fault. 
Mr.  McC'lamroch's  ancestral  record  is  traceable 
hack  through  several  generations  to  Scotland, 
from  which  country  his  great-grandfather  emi- 
grated to  America  many  years  ago  and  settled 
in  North  Carolina.  His  grandfather,  James 
McClamroch,  was  a native  of  North  Carolina, 
and  there  married  Elizabeth  Cornell,  who  be- 
came the  mother  of  several  children,  the  names 
of  whom  are  as  follows:  Thomas,  father  of 
Robert;  James,  John,  Mrs.  Martha  J.  Longfel- 
low and  Mrs.  Sarah  Beal.  Thomas  McClain-  1 
roch  was  born  in  August,  i<So8,  in  North  Car- 
olina, grew  to  manhoerd  on  a farm  in  Butler 
county,  Ohio,  where  his  jiarents  settled  as  long 
ago  as  the  year  1809,  and  was  there  united 
in  marriage  to  Nancy  Baldridge,  who  was  born 
in  Ohio  November  15,  1815.  The  parents  of 
■Mrs.  McClamroch  were  Daniel  and  Sarah 
(Woods)  Baldridge,  both  natives  of  0!iio  and 
members  of  old  and  highly  respected  families 
of  Butler  county.  After  his  marriage  Thomas 
(McClamroch  engaged  in  farming,  which  he 
carried  on  in  Ohio  till  1838,  at  which  time  he 
emigrated  to  Indiana,  locating  in  Boone  county, 
where  he  })urchased  a tract  of  wild  land,  from 
which  he  afterwards  clearetl  and  develojred  a 
good  farm.  He  possessed  abilities  as  a trader 
of  a high  order,  and  during  a residence  in 
Boone  county,  covering  a period  of  about 
eleven  years,  he  became  the  jiosse.ssor  of  over 
600  acres  of  land,  beside  other  valuable  prop- 
erty. In  1849110  moved  to  Indianapolis,  from 
which  time  until  his  dcuith,  December  15,  1 859, 
he  lived  a life  of  retirement  He  was  a man 
of  e.xcellent  judgment  and  wise  intelligence,  an 
earnest  member  of  the  Christian  church,  which 
he  assisted  liberally  with  his  means,  and  until 
1854  supported  the  democratic  party,  but  after 


that  year  was  a strong  adherent  of  the  princi- 
ples taught  by  the  republican  party. 

Robert  McClamroch,  one  of  two  children 
born  to  the  above,  first  saw  the  light  of  day  in 
Butler  county,  Ohio,  on  the  twenty-fourth  day 
of  October,  1834.  He  was  only  four  years 
old  when  brought  by  his  parents  to  Boone 
count}',  Ind.,  and  in  his  youth  assisted  his 
father  in  the  work  of  the  farm,  and  such  edu- 
cation as  he  gained  was  that  afforded  by  the 
common  schools,  which  he  attended  during  the 
winter  season  until  his  twenty-first  year.  He 
remainetl  under  the  parental  roof  until  reach- 
ing manhood’s  estate,  and  then  accepted  a 
position  with  what  is  now  known  as  the  Big 
Four  railroad  comjiany  as  bridge  repairer, 
which  he  held  for  a period  of  about  four  years, 
and  then  married  and  engaged  in  the  pursuit 
of  agriculture  on  the  old  home  place  in  Boone 
county.  He  continued  farming  successfully 
until  i860,  in  which  year  he  moved  to  Indian- 
apolis, but  remained  there  only  a short  time, 
and  then  began  tilling  the  soil  in  Clinton 
county,  inirchasing  a farm  in  the  township  of 
Kirklin,  where  he  made  his  home  until  1891. 
In  1874  Mr.  McClamrodh  became  interested 
in  the  banking  business  in  Frankfort,  since 
which  date  he  has  been  identified  with  the 
Farmers'  bank,  first  as  director  and  since  1881 
as  president.  He  moved  to  Frankfort  in  1891, 
the  better  to  look  after  his  various  business  in- 
terests, and  is  now  ohe  of  the  prominent  men 
of  the  city.  Mr.  McClamroch  is  a man  of  un- 
imjieachable  integrity  and  correct  business 
methods,  and  bv  his  njuaght  life  has  won  the 
esteem  of  his  neighbors  and  fellow-citizens  in 
a marked  degree.  To  him,  more  than  usual 
to  the  lot  of  men,  came  the  endowment  of  a 
wealth  of  jiliysical,  mental  and  moral  cpialities 
which  developed  into  the  highest  conceiition  ol 
manhood,  and  an  illustration  of  an  upright, 
l)ur('  and  successful  life;  a man  of  decisive 
character,  open,  frank  and  fearless  in  the  ex- 


OF  CLINTON  COUNTY. 


pression  of  the  right;  cautious  and  deliberating 
in  all  of  his  transactions,  he  possesses  in  a 
high  degree  the  powers  of  self-content  amid 
exciting  surroundings.  Unambitious,  he  has 
ever  exhibited  a broad  and  liberal  respect  for 
and  consideration  of  the  rights  of  those  with 
whom  he  has  come  in  contact  in  business  re- 
lations or  otherwise.  Thoroughly  honest  and 
just,  he  has  always  been  relied  upon  to  be  the 
same  to  others.  He  has  fine  business  abilities, 
is  a well  preserved  and  fine  appearing  man, 
and  his  genial  disposition  and  urbane  manners 
have  made  him  universally  popular.  By 
strictly  legitimate  and  honorable  methods  he 
has  greatly  increased  his  possessions,  and  at 
this  time  stands  financiall}^  among  the  wealthy 
men  of  central  Indiana.  He  owns  over  i,ooo 
acres  of  fine  land  in  Clinton  county;  320  acres 
in  the  county  of  Boone,  beside  valuable  real 
estate  in  the  city  of  Frankfort  and  elsewhere. 
In  politics  Mr.  McClamroch  is  a republican. 
He  was  married  on  the  seventh  day  of  Febru- 
ary, 1858,  to  Elizabeth  J.  Hollcraft,  who  was 
born  in  Clinton  county,  Ind.,  July  19,  1835, 
the  daughter  of  Abraham  and  Mary  Hollcraft. 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  McClamroch  are  the  parents  of 
the  following  children:  Mary  F.,  wife  of 
Charles  K.  Smith,  a merchant  of  Clinton 
county;  Charles  B.,  a farmer  of  Clinton  coun- 
ty; Thomas,  deceased;  Abraham,  a well  known 
business  man  of  Frankfort;  James,  connected 
with  the  Farmers’  bank;  Nancy  and  Grace,  the 
last  two  living  at  home  with  their  parents. 
Mrs.  McClamroch  is  one  of  the  active  workers 
of  the  Christian  church  of  Frankfort. 


LEXANDER  IRWIN  McCONNEEL, 
who  devotes  his  time  and  attention 
to  farming  in  Kirklin  township, 
springs  from  sturdy  Scotch  ancestry. 
His  grandfather,  Alexander  McConnell,  was 
also  a farmer  and  lived  on  land  near  Dayton, 


Ohio.  The  National  Soldiers’  Home  now 
stands  on  a part  of  the  old  place.  Mr.  Mc- 
Connell was  a soldier  in  the  war  of  1812,  was 
a Jeffersonian  democrat,  and  was  a Presby- 
terian. His  children  were  Robert,  James  L. , 
Alexander  and  Jefferson.  James  Lindsay  Mc- 
Connell was  born  near  Dayton,  Ohio,  Eebru- 
ary  24,  1797,  and  lived  at  home  until  his  mar- 
riage with  Mary  (Irwin)  Nesbitt,  who  was  born 
in  Ohio  in  1803.  Six  children  graced  their 
union — James,  Rebecca,  Elizabeth,  Mary  J., 
Alexander  I.  and  one  who  died  in  infancy. 
The  home  farm  comprised  204  acres  near 
Thorntown,  Boone  county,  Ind.,  which  Mr. 
McConnell  entered  from  the  government  at 
$1.25  per  acre,  obtaining  the  necessary  money 
by  selling  his  store  at  Thorntown.  He  was  a 
hard-working  man  and  was  highly  respected 
by  all  who  knew  him.  He  and  his  wife  held 
membership  with  the  Presbyterian  church,  in 
which  for  forty  years  he  served  as  elder.  In 
his  political  views  he  was  a republican.  On 
the  twenty-first  of  August,  1876,  he  was  called 
to  the  home  beyond,  and  his  wife  passed  away 
March  6,  1 848,  leaving  a good  example  to  the 
children. 

Alexander  I.  McConnell  accpnred  his  edu- 
cation in  the  public  schools  and  the  Thorn- 
town academy,  and  when  not  yet  seventeen 
years  of  age  enlisted,  on  the  fourteenth  of 
March,  1865,  in  company  B,  One  Hundred 
and  Fifty-fourth  Indiana  infantry,  under  Capt. 
Joseph  B.  Hobb.  From  Camp  Carrington  at 
Indianapolis  they  were  sent  to  the  Shenandoah 
valley  in  Virginia,  where  Mr.  McConnell  was 
detailed  to  herd  the  cattle  belonging  to  the 
government,  and  there  remained  until  honor- 
ably discharged  August  4,  1865,  and  im- 

mediately after  his  return  he  resumed  work  on 
the  farm.  On  the  eleventh  of  November, 
1867,  was  celebrated  the  marriage  of  Mr.  Mc- 
Connell and  Mary  E.  McKensey,  who  was 
born  August  1 1,  1848,  in  Clinton  county,  Ind., 


778 


BTOGRAPIIICAL  HISTORY 


and  is  a dau"litt>r  of  vMfrcd  and  Sarah  A. 
(Reese)  McKensey.  Mr.  McConnell  had 
sixt\--eif;ht  acres  of  land  given  him  by  his 
father,  and  in  1S78  traded  this  for  eighty  acres 
in  Marion  township,  which  he  made  his  home 
until  i8(S5,  when  he  bought  sixty-fonr  acres  on 
section  4,  Kirklin  township.  He  has  drained 
the  place,  which  is  also  well  fenced  and  is  snp- 
j)lied  with  all  modern  improvements  and  con- 
veniences, and  throngh  his  earnest  efforts  his 
land  is  transformed  into  a very  valuable  tract. 
In  1893,  Mr.  McConnell  was  called  upon  to 
mourn  the  loss  of  his  wife,  who  died  on  the 
twenty-ninth  of  September,  at  the  age  of 
forty-five.  She  was  a member  of  the  Chris- 
tian church  of  Cyclone,  and  an  earnest  Chris- 
tian, whose  loss  is  felt  throughout  the  com- 
munity. Mr.  McConnell  belongs  to  the  same 
church.  » In  politics  he  is  a rejnjblican,  and 
has  served  as  a delegate  to  the  county  con- 
ventions, but  has  never  been  a^ji^i^^ratit  .tof'- 
office,  perferring  to  devote  his  time  and  at- 
tention to  his  business  interests,  in  which  he 
has  met  with  fair  success. 


AMES  McUAVBS,  one  of  the  mo.st 
prominent  citizens  and  farmers  of 
Madison  township,  Clinton  county, 
Ind.,  was  born  in  Liberty  townshijg 
Butler  county,  Ohio,  October  17,  1821, 

and  is  a S(m  of  Mdlliam  and  Elizabeth 
(Sweetj  McDavis,  natives  resjrectively  (jf 
Vermont  and  New  York.  William  McDavis 
was  born  May  20,  1 799>  ‘>'*‘1  Elizabeth 

(Sweetj  McDavis  was  horn  June  28,  1798. 
When  James  was  five  years  old  his  father 
moved  into  a hotel  at  Princeton,  where  the 
family  lived  three  years,  then  removed  co  a 
hotel  at  Bethany,  where  the  father  died  one 
}'ear  lati'r  at  the  early  age  of  thirty-oiu:  years, 
leaving  a wife  and  four  (diildren,  of  whom 
|ames  was  the  eldest.  'I'he  mother  continuc'd 


in  the  hotel  until  her  family  were  grown  to 
maturity,  when  she  died,  in  October,  1874. 
The  father  lived  at  his  birth-place  until  nine- 
teen years  old,  then  emigrated  to  Butler  county, 
where  he  lived  and  died  as  before  stated.  The 
parents  were  of  Scotch-English  ancestry.  Mr. 
McDavis  served  a few  months  at  blacksmithing 
and  carpentering,  and  was  very  skillful  in  the 
use  of  tools  and  made  most  of  his  own  repairs. 
He  at  one  time  kept  a general  store  and  dealt 
in  agricultural  implements  at  Hamilton  village. 
He  also  traveled  over  a great  portion  of  the 
United  States. 

James  McDavis  came  to  this  county  in 
1 843  and  settled  in  Madison  township,  about 
one  mile  north  of  Mnlberry,  whei'e  he  leased 
some  land  of  James  R.  Elliott,  on  which  he 
lived  eleven  years.  In  1854  he  left  the  farm 
for  two  3'ears  and  jnirchased  forty  acres  of 
his  present  farm  and  soon  afterward  purchased 
'■stkly-two  acres  where  he  now  lives,  to  which 
he  has  added  from  time  to  time  until  he  now 
owns  I 32  acres.  He  came  to  this  county  with 
only  three  dollars  in  money  in  his  pocket,  and 
all  he  owned,  including  horses  and  wagon, 
were  not  worth  more  than  $150.  He  was 
first  married  August  20;  1843,  in  Butler  county, 
Ohio,  to  Miss  Martha  Eleming,  daughter  of 
)ohn  Fleming,  who  was  born  in  said  county 
December  14,  1822.  Miss  I'leming’s  parents 
died  when  she  was  ten  years  of  age,  and  she 
was  left  to  care  for  herself  when  veiy  \’oung. 
Her  death  occurred  Se])tember  10,  1865,  and 
she  was  buried  at  Dayton,  Tippecanoe  county, 
Ind.  She  left  three  children — Frances  E., 
born  April  21,  1847;  Jessie  A.,  born  July,  24, 
i860;  Elizabeth  A.  was  horn  September  14, 
1851,  and  dietl  at  the  age  of  six  months. 
I'rances  E.  was  married,  and  died  July  14, 
1874,  leaving  two  children  b'rank  and  Cal- 
vin. Jessie'  A.  was  married  to  John  Mattox 
and  is  living  in  l-ioss  townshi|i.  Mr.  McDavis 
was  married  the  second  time  March  26,  1867, 


mm 

§f  iUf 

Wfefraf  atwBi* 


OF  CLINTON  COUNTY. 


781 


to  Martha  L.  Lindley,  daughter  of  Dodd  and 
Sarah  (Skillinan)  Lindley,  the  former  born  in 
the  state  of  New  York  in  1796,  and  died  in 
1846  in  Butler  county,  Ohio;  the  latter  born 
in  1801  near  Trenton,  N.  J.,  and  died  in 
the  same  county  in  1856.  Mrs.  McDavis  was 
born  in  Butler  county,  Ohio,  August  25, 
1833,  where  her  parents  were  also  married. 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  McDavis  have  one  child,  namely, 
James,  wlnj  was  born  September  14,  1871, 

and  is  one  of  the  representative  young  men 
of  his  township  and  has  taken  for  his  life 
partner  Miss  Leonora  Jacoby.  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
McDavis  are  rearing  an  orphan  girl  named 
Ella  Hamilton,  whose  parents  died  when  she 
was  but  eleven  years  of  age.  Mrs.  McDavis 
was  reared  a Baptist.  Mr.  McDavis  is  a Uni- 
versalist  and  politically  is  a republican.  He  is 
president  of  the  Dayton  Gravel  Road  company 
and  a director  in  the  Farmers’  Fire  Mutual  in- 
surance company,  of  Clinton,  Carroll  and  Tip- 
pecanoe counties. 


ILLIAM  H.  McGUIRE,  M.  D., 
one  of  the  most  prominent  medical 
practitioners  in  the  city  of  Frank- 
fort, was  born  in  Carroll  county, 
Ind.,  June  ii,  1847,  and  is  the  son  of  John 
and  Sarah  (Michaels)  McGuire,  natives  of 
North  Carolina  and  Virginia  respectively  and 
of  Scotch-Irish  extraction.  The  birth  of  John 
McGuire,  the  father  of  the  doctor,  took  place 
July  30,  1818,  and  the  parents  of  John  were 
Elias  and  Elizabeth  (Crowlj  McGuire,  who 
were  also  natives  of  North  Carolina,  from 
which  state  they  removed  to  Butler  county, 
Ohio,  and  thence  in  1837  to  Carroll  county, 
Ind.,  where  they  passed  the  remainder  of 
their  days.  They  were  devout  members  of 
the  Methodist  Episcopal  church  and  in  this 
faith  reared  their  family,  who  were  born  and 
named  in  the  following  order;  Isaac  C. , de- 


ceased; Daniel,  deceased;  William,  of  Cly- 
mers,  Ind.;  John,  father  of  Dr.  Win.  H.  ; 
Susan,  Lavinia  and  Sarah,  all  three  de- 
ceased; Elizabeth,  wife  of  J.  Tucker  of 
Kansas.  John  McGuire  came  to  Indiana 
with  his  parents  and  with  them  made  his 
home,  assisting  in  the  care  o.f  the  farm,  un- 
til his  marriage  at  the  age  of  twenty-eight, 
when  he  engaged  in  farming  on  his  own  ac- 
count in  Carroll  county,  and  followed  this 
honorable  vocation  until  his  death.  May,  10, 
1891.  His  marriage  took  place,  however,  in 
Clinton  county,  Ind.,  September  3,  1846. 

Mrs.  Sarah  (Michaels)  McGuire  is  a daughter 
of  William  and  Susanna  (Neher)  Michaels, 
who  were  both  natives  of  Virginia  and  resided 
in  Augusta  county  when  their  daughter  was 
born.  To  the  marriage  of  John  and  Sarah 
McGuire  ten  children  were  born,  viz:  William 
H.,  the  subject  of  this  sketch;  John  J.,  a 
stone  cutter  of  Logansport,  Ind. ; Elisha  H. , 
farmer  of  Logansport;  Samuel,  deceased; 
Elias,  farmer  of  Logansport;  Susanna,  wife  of 
William  Koble  of  Logansport;  Sarah,  deceased; 
E.  Jasper,  of  Logansport;  Mary,  deceased, 
and  Ella,  wife  of  Charles  Taylor,  of  Winamac, 
Ind.  The  mother  of  these  children  died  Aug- 
ust 9,  I 894. 

Dr.  William  H.  McGuire  received  his  pri- 
mary education  in  the  district  schools;  this  w'as 
supplemented  by  a course  of  study  in  \Vabash 
college  for  a year.  ^ This  was  followed  by  a 
course  of  study  in  medicine  under  Dr.  F.  A. 
Schultz,  at  Delphi,  Ind.,  beginning  in  1870, 
and  this  in  turn  was  followed  by  graduation 
from  the  Eclectic  Medical  institute  of  Cincin- 
nati, January  27,  1874.  His  first  three  years 
of  practice  were  with  his  former  preceptor. 
Dr.  Schultz,  and  then  in  June,  1877,  he  set- 
tled in  Frankfort.  During  his  residence  in 
Delphi  the  doctor  became  as  popular  as  a 
democratic  politician  as  he  did  as  a physician, 
and  in  1876  was  elected  coroner,  the  duties  of 


lS-2 


BIOGRAPHICAL  HISTORY 


which  office  lu.‘  filled  most  satisfactorily  to  the 
public  and  with  credit  to  himself  until  his  re- 
moval to  l'raid<fort.  Here,  in  i8<Si,  his  polit- 
ical acumen  and  sa^^acity  having  been  at  once 
recogni/cd,  he  was  elected  by  his  party  as  city 
treasurer,  and  for  two  years  ably  performed 
the  duties  of  that  office,  at  the  same  time  mak- 
ing a most  enviable  reputation  as  a medical 
practitioner.  Having  given  ample  evidence  of 
his  superior  abilities  as  a public  officer,  and 
having  served  as  the  first  democratic  treasurer 
of  I'raid'dort,  he,  from  1884,  until  Hay,  1886, 
was  selected  as  chairman  of  the  county  central 
committee  and  served  in  a most  acceptable 
manner.  He  then  resigned,  and  in  December 
of  1885  was  appoined  special  e.xaminer  for  the 
United  States  pension  bureau.  After  remain- 
ing in  the  pension  office  for  two  months,  he 
was  transferred  to  Bloomington,  111,,  and 
ten  months  later  to  W’hite  Hall,  in  the  same 
state,  where  he  remained  until  May  30,  1888, 
when  he  was  recalled  to  Washington,  where 
he  was  on  duty  until  September  of  the  same 
}’ear,  and  was  then  assigned  to  duty  at  Spring- 
field,  Mo.,  at  which  point  he  resigned  in  Ajadl, 
i88y,  and  returned  to  Frankfort,  Ind.,  where 
he  has  since  been  enjoying  a lucrative  general 
practice,  and  has,  beside,  been  secretary  of 
tbe  board  of  e.xamining  surgeons  for  pensions 
since  Sejitember,  1893. 

The  first  marriage  of  Dr.  McGuire  took 
place  in  Clinton  county,  Ind.,  Septend)er  6, 
1868,  to  Miss  Mary  j.  Logan,  a daughter  of 
David  Logan  and  born  in  Franklin  county, 
Ind.,  b'ebruary  22,  1844.  d'o  this  nnion  were 
born  five  children,  named  as  follows:  Lenora 
.May,  deceased;  Gandace  L. , wife  of  George 
L.  Scroggy,  of  Ghicago,  Ilk;  Willie  b'.,  de- 
ceased; Arthur  L.  G.,  of  I'rankfort,  Ind.,  and 
an  infant,  deceased.  The  mother  of  these 
(diildn-n  died  March  12,  1878,  and  the  doctor 
next  married,  {)ctober22,  1878,  Mi.ss  b'lorelta 
Pence,  who  was  born  in  Glinton  county,  Ind., 


February  27,  1846,  and  is  a daughter  of  Wes- 
ley Gaskill.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  McGuire  are  mem- 
bers of  the  Methodist  Fpiscopal  church,  while 
fraternally  the  doctor  is  a h'reemason,  an  Odd 
Fellow,  a member  of  the  I.  ().  R.  M.  and  a 
K.  of  H.  He  is  a most  faithful  adherent  of 
his  party,  is  the  owner  of  some  valuable  real 
estate  in  Frankfort,  is  eminent  in  his  profes- 
sion, and  is  universally  respected  by  his  fellow- 
citizens. 


ORDFGAI  B.  McRINShlY,  a prom- 
inent citizen  of  Glinton  county,  Ind., 
and  for  a number  of  years  an  able 
and  accejitable  minister  of  tbs 
Ghristian  church,  is  descended  paternally  from 
Scotch  ancestry  and  traces  his  family  history 
back  to  his  grandfather,  George  McKinse}’, 
who  came  from  the  old  world  in  colonial  times 
and  served  for  seven  years  in  the  war  of  the 
Revolution.  George  McKinsey  settled  origin- 
ally in  South  Garolina,  where  he  engaged  in 
farming  until  about  the  year  1808,  when  he 
migrated  to  Warren  comity,  Ohio,  his  death 
occurring  in  the  latter  state  a number  of  years 
ago.  His  son,  Nehemiah,  father  of  the  sub- 
ject, was  born  in  South  Garolina  in  1795,  and 
appears  to  have  iidieidted  the  martial  spirit  of 
his  fatlu'r,  as  he  sm'ved  with  distinction  in  the 
war  of  1812  under  Gen.  Harrison  In  1816 
he  located  near  \hncennes,  Ind,,  and  in  1822 
moved  to  Montgomery  county,  where  he  made 
his  home  until  his  removal  to  the  count}'  of 
Glinton  in  the  year  1830.  In  the  latter  county 
he  became  the  jiossessor  of  a valuable  tract  of 
land,  consisting  of  320  acres,  the  greater  jiart 
of  which  he  improved  and  upon  which  the  re- 
maining }'ears  of  his  life  were  passed.  His 
wife,  Gatherinc  Flliott,  to  whom  he  was  mar- 
ried at  Lebanon,  Ohio,  in  1816,  bore  him  nine 
( hildren  Andrew  |.,  George  F.,  Urban  C., 
|oab,  and  Mordecai  B.,  living;  those  deceased 


OF  CLINTON  COUNTY. 


783 


are  Ahraliani,  Wesley,  Samuel  and  Eliza. 
.After  a married  life  of  fifty-eight  years,  Nehe- 
miah  and  Catherine  McKinsey  died  December 
19,  1874,  ^^”<1  October  5,  1875,  respectively. 

Mordecai  B.  AIcKinscy  is  a native  of  Clin- 
ton county,  Ind.,  and  dates  his  birth  from  the 
nineteenth  day  of  August.  1833.  Like  the 
majority  of  country  boys,  his  early  years  were 
spent  in  the  routine  of  farm  labor;  but  he  at- 
tended the  common  schools,  where  he  acquired 
a fair  English  education,  which  was  afterward 
supplemented  by  a course  of  study  in  the  high 
school  of  Frankfort.  When  but  sixteen  years 
of  age  he  began  teaching,  and  followed  that 
profession  successfully  during  the  winter  sea- 
son for  a period  of  fifteen  years,  farming  and 
attending  school  in  the  meantime.  On  the 
twenty-first  of  May,  1854,  Mr.  McKinsey  was 
married  to  Mary  A.  Young,  after  which  event 
he  went  to  Nebraska,  where,  for  about  seven 
years,  he  followed  farming  not  far  from  the 
city  of  Omaha.  He  returned  to  Clinton 
county  in  the  year  1861,  and  here  resumed 
agricultual  pursuits,  which  he  followed  until 
1865,  in  March  of  which  year  he  enlisted  in 
company  K,  One  Hundred  and  Forty-seventh 
Indiana  infantry,  with  which  he  served  until 
honorably  discharged  August  4 of  the  same 
year.  Returning  from  the  army,  he  again  re- 
sumed farming  and  was  thus  engaged  until 
1871,  but  in  the  meantime  he  yieldetl  to  an 
inclination  of  long  standing  and  entered  the 
ministry  of  the  Christian  church.  He  was 
formally  ordained  to  ministerial  work  in  1869, 
and  since  that  time  has  been  a faithful  preacher 
of  the  Word  in  various  parts  of  Indiana,  prin- 
cipally the  counties  of  Miami,  Cass,  Fulton, 
Hamilton,  Clinton,  Boone,  Montgomery, 
Fountain  and  Delaware,  in  all  of  which  he 
has  done  good  work,  strengthened  old  congre- 
gations and  organized  new  churches.  At  this 
time  he  is  preaching  at  four  different  places, 
and  still  sustains  his  reputation  as  an  able  and 


successful  exponent  of  the  teaching  of  the 
church  with  which  he  is  identified.  During 
the  year  1889-90  his  specific  work  was  that  of 
evangelizing  and  building  up  and  organizing 
congregations  in  destitute  places,  a duty  for 
which  his  well-known  abilities  peculiarly  fitted 
him. 

His  first  wife,  of  whom  mention  is  made 
above,  bore  him  one  child  and  died  on  the 
nineteenth  day  of  August,  1855.  Mr.  Mc- 
Kinsey’s  second  marriage  was  solemnized 
October  8,  1863,  with  Martha  Troutman, 

daughter  of  Greenup  and  Mahala  (Shoe- 
maker) Troutman,  a union  severed  by  the 
death  of  Mrs.  McKinsey  on  the  eighth  of 
October,  1880,  it  being  their  marriage  anni- 
versary. The  following  children  were  born 
to  the  above  union:  Maud  and  Madge, 
twins,  whose  birth  occurred  November  12, 

1 866.  Maud  became  the  wife  of  Edward 
Spray,  and  Madge  married  Burke  Beard,  an 
attorney  of  Wolcott,  Ind.  Mr.  McKinsey 
married  his  present  wife,  Mary  J.  Ewan,  on 
the  ninth  day  of  February,  1885,  and  one 
child  has  blessed  the  union:  Mordecai  B., 
whose  birth  occurred  June  13,  1888.  Mr. 
McKinsey  is  a member  of  the  Odd  Fellows’ 
fraternity,  belonging  to  subordinate  lodge  and 
encampment,  in  both  of  which  he  has  held 
important  official  positions.  He  also  belongs 
to  the  G.  A.  R , and  in  politics  affiliates  with 
the  republican  party. 


ARIUS  McKenzie,  one  of  the  hon- 
ored veterans  of  the  late  war  and  an 
influential  citizen  of  Kirklin  township, 
Clinton  county,  is  of  Scotch  descent. 
His  grandfather,  Rutherford  McKenzie,  was 
born  in  Virginia,  and  in  1827  came  to  Harri- 
son county,  Ind.,  where  he  built  a cabin  and 
opened  up  a farm.  He  was  a Methodist  and 
a democrat,  and  died  at  the  age  of  seventy. 


781 


BIOGRAPHTCAL  HISTORY 


Ilis  children  were  William,  John,  Sarah  and  | 
AU^xander.  Alexander  McKenzie,  the  father 
of  onr  snbject,  was  born  in  Virf,dina  in  1821, 
and  became  a shoemaker,  and  also  mannfac- 
tnred  ax-handles.  He  married  Phehe  Haines, 
who  died  in  1847,  and  afterward  wedded  Mrs. 
Matilda  (Rice)  Whitehead.  He  belonged  to 
the  Methodist  church,  and  was  an  honorable, 
upright  man.  Daring  the  Mexican  war  he 
served  as  a member  of  the  Second  Indiana 
infantry  under  Captain  Kimball,  Colonel  [ 
Bowles  and  Jefferson  Davis,  who  was  brigadier  | 
f,mneral.  His  children  were  Elizabeth,  Sam-  j 
uel,  Darius,  Mary,  Rebecca,  Lucy,  John  and 
Hannah. 

The  j^entleman  whose  name  heads  this 
record  was  born  in  Harrison  county,  Ind.,  De- 
cember 20,  1840,  and  was  eight  years  of  age 
at  the  time  of  his  mother's  death.  When  a 
lad  of  twelve  he  left  home  and  began  to  earn 
his  own  living,  working  as  a farm  hand.  After 
his  father's  second  marriage  he  returned  home, 
and  during  the  winter  attended  school,  while 
in  the  snmmer  he  worked  for  Jonathan  Peters, 
and  afterward  for  his  uncle,  John  McKenzie, 
who  took  a great  interest  in  him  and  gave  him 
a share  in  the  crops.  With  him  Darius  lived 
for  three  years,  when,  on  his  uncle’s  death, 
he  worked  for  Jonathan  Hancock,  who  proved 
a warm  friend. 

In  1861,  Mr.  McKenzie  entered  his  country’s 
service,  enlisting  at  the  first  call  for  volunteers, 
hut  the  (juota  was  full,  and  not  until  the  call 
for  three-year  men  was  issued  could  he  go  to 
the  front.  The  Seventeenth  Indiana  then  en- 
listed as  a body  with  Col.  Milo  S.  Hascall, 
Lieut,  ('ol.  J.  T.  Wilder,  Maj.  Gorham  and 
Capt.  ('lenny,  in  command  of  company  K. 
b'rom  Indianapolis  they  went  to  Cincinnati, 
where'  they  received  supi)lies  and  then  took 
the  train  to  Parkersburg,  Va.,  whence  they 
marched  tf)  ('harleston.  Two  years  later  they 
returned  to  Parkershnrg  and  then  went  to 


Oakland,  Md.  They  took  part  in  the  en- 
gagements at  Laurel  Hill,  Rich  Mountain, 
Phili])])i  and  Beverly,  and  built  breast-works 
across  the  C'heat  River  valley.  The  enemy 
also  built  breast-works,  and  as  they  did  not 
advance,  the  Union  forces  began  the  attack 
and  succeeded  in  capturing  the  drawings  of 
(den.  Lee’s  campaign.  Later  they  defeated 
the  troops  of  Stonewall  Jackson,  then  met  the 
enemy  at  Greenbrier  Bridge,  and  later  relumed 
to  Webster,  Va.,  and  went  by  the  way  of 
Cincinnati  to  Louisville,  where  they  arrived  in 
Lebruarv,  1862.  The  army  under  the  com- 
mand of  Gen.  Buell  marched  to  Nashville, 
where  they  joined  Thomas’  corps  and  pro- 
ceeded to  Pittsburg  Lauding.  They  were  in 
the  long  siege  of  Corinth,  and  then  went  to 
Stevenson,  Ala.  Gen.  Bragg  was  driven  from 
Perryville  after  a severe  battle.  Under  Col. 
Whlder,  who  was  placed  in  command  of  the 
brigade,  the  troops  saw  hard  service.  Need- 
ing new  supplies,  they  asked  for  the  Spencer 
gun,  and  offered  to  have  its  price  deducted 
from  their  pay,  hut  this  was  not  done.  Being 
well  equipped,  they  started  after  the  enemy, 
which  they  met  at  Hoover’s  Gap,  where  they 
were  closely  followed  by  the  infantry  under 
Gen.  Thomas,  and  there  the  enemy,  largely 
superior  in  numhers,  were  driven  hack.  On 
they  went  to  Chattanooga  and  to  Ringgold, 
Ga.,  where  Gen.  Wilder’s  command  led  the 
way,  and  at  Rockfacc'  Spring  a hard  battle  was 
fought.  The  Union  forces  fell  back  to 
('hickamauga,  where  Whlder’s  brigade  was 
dismounted,  and  joined  the  inianlry.  In  order 
to  destroy  Rosecrans'  supplies,  they  crossed 
the  Tennessee'  river  and  accomj)lished  their 
task.  They  forced  tlu'  rebels  into  battle,  and 
bkirmington  and  eight  hundred  prisoners  and 
all  the  artilery  were  captured.  Going  to  the 
rc'ar  of  Bragg’s  army,  they  destroyed  his  sup- 
plies, and  took  part  in  the  battle  of  Mission- 
ary Ridge'. 


OF  CT.INTON  COUNTY. 


785 


In  the  latter  part  of  1863,  the  president  de- 
clared that  all  soldiers  that  had  served  for  two 
years,  on  re-enlisting,  could  have  a thirty 
days’  furlough.  This  Mr.  McKenzie  and  his 
comrades  did.  He  was  mustered  out  January 
I,  1864,  and  the  same  day  joined  the  veteran 
service.  After  the  furlough,  the  troops  went 
to  Ringgold,  Ga.  ; then  went  on  the  march  to 
Atlanta,  taking  part  in  the  battles  of  Resaca, 
Dalton,  New  Hope  Church  and  others.  They 
were  in  the  siege  of  Atlanta,  and  followed  the 
Confederate  troops  to  Rome,  Ga.  On  the 
28th  of  October,  Mr.  McKenzie  was  shot  in 
the  right  arm  by  three  minie  balls  and  received 
a severe  wound  in  the  right  side.  He  was 
then  captured,  and  his  clothing  and  all  valua- 
bles taken  from  him.  He  received  rough 
treatment,  but  at  length  his  wounds  received 
attention  and  his  arm  was  amputated;  yet 
they  had  little  care  and  he  suffered  terribly. 
At  length,  in  talking  to  a little  colored  boy,  he 
found  that  from  a certain  Col.  Young  he  might 
possibly  obtain  help,  and  this  hope  was  fulfilled. 
The  colonel  tenderly  cared  for  him  and  sup- 
plied him  with  comforts,  while  the  good  man’s 
wife  supplied  him  with  ample  food.  After- 
ward he  was  sent  to  a rebel  prison,  where  he 
remained  until  the  close  of  the  war,  when  the 
prisoners  were  exchanged.  He  had  neither 
clothing  nor  food,  and  in  consequence  suffered 
greatly.  The  experiences  of  those  days  will 
never  be  forgotten,  and  the  tale  is  almost  too 
terrible  to  tell.  At  length,  on  reaching  the 
Union  lines,  he  was  sent  to  a hospital  con- 
ducted by  ladies  from  Indiana,  and  afterward 
went  to  Benton  Barracks,  where  he  received 
orders  to  go  home.  On  again  going  to  Indi- 
anapolis he  reported  to  the  hospital  surgeon, 
and  there  remained  until  September  13,  1865, 
when  he  was  honorably  discharged. 

Mr.  McKenzie  was  at  that  time  without 
money,  and  in  order  to  gain  a living  sold 
ballads  written  in  honor  of  the  soldiers.  About 


this  time  Gov.  Morton  took  and  interest  in  him, 
and  urged  him  to  attend  Bryant  & Stratton 
Business  college,  and  board  at  the  city  hospi- 
tal, which  he  did.  He  afterward  successfully 
engaged  in  selling  books  for  Col.  Straight,  and 
in  1 867  established  a grocery  store  in  Kiiddin, 
in  partnership  with  John  Harding,  whom  he 
bought  out  a year  later.  Since  that  time  he 
has  carried  on  general  merchandising  and  is 
doing  a large  and  profitable  business.  He 
also  owns  340  acres  of  rich  land  and  the  Mc- 
Kenzie Hotel. 

In  politics,  Mr.  McKenzie  is  a stalwart  re- 
publican. He  served  for  eight  years  as  town- 
ship trustee,  and  when  running  for  county 
treasurer  reduced  the  democratic  majority  from 
800  to  160.  He  was  married  October  28, 
1872,  to  Jemima  McIntyre,  who  was  born  Au- 
gust 10,  1841,  and  is  the  daughter  of  Richard 
and  Sevena  McIntyre,  of  Ohio.  They  have  a 
daughter,  Ethel,  born  May  4,  1880.  The 

parents  are  members  of  the  Methodist  church, 
and  Mr.  McKenzie  belongs  to  Kirklin  lodge. 
No.  299,  I.  O.  O.  F.  In  his  business  he  has 
prospered,  overcoming  the  many  difficulties 
and  obstacles  in  his  path  and  working  his  way 
upward  to  success.  He  was  a faithful  and 
honored  soldier,  and  upon  southern  battle 
fields,  among  the  boys  in  blue,  there  could  be 
found  none  truer  than  he. 


OHN  T.  McQUINN,  a farmer  of  enter- 
prise, residing  in  Forest  township,  Clin- 
ton county,  Ind.,  is  a native  of  Johnson 
county,  Ind.,  and  was  born  February 
18,  1842.  His  grandfather,  Ezekiel  McOuinn, 
was  born  in  Virginia  September  2,  1767.  He 
was  twice  married,  and  to  his  first  marriage 
were  born  six  children:  Ruth,  Susannah, 
Elizabeth,  Catherine,  James  and  Isaiah.  His 
wife  died  while  yet  a resident  of  Virginia,  and 
later  Mr.  McQuinn  moved  to  Kentucky,  where 


BIOGRAPHICAL  HISTORY 


78() 


he  married  ICli/aheth  ('(k)1is,  who  l)ore  him 
sc\aMi  children,  vi/.  : Strather,  Sarah,  |ohn, 
Willis,  Martin,  [e])htha  and  Newton.  In  1834 
he  mov('d  to  and  settled  on  a farm  of  160  acres 
in  |ohnson  county,  Ind.,  at  Nineveh,  and  he 
and  wife  were  mcmibcrs  of  the  old  Baptist 
church  society  that  erected  their  house  of  wor- 
ship on  a corner  of  his  farm.  Jephtha  Mc- 
( hiinn,  son  of  h'zekiel  and  father  of  John  T. , 
was  horn  in  Kentucky  August  10,  1818,  at  the 
age  of  sixteen  came  with  his  father  to  the  new 
home  in  Indiana,  and  in  1840  married  Lnzina 
Chappell,  daughter  of  John  and  Mary  (Mus- 
sehnan)  Chapi)ell,  to  which  union  were  born 
the  following  children : John  T.,  Mary  E.  and 
Rebecca  A.  The  mother  of  these  children 
died  when  John  T.  was  but  eight  years  of  age, 
and  the  father  then  married  ElizabethMus- 
■ grove,  daughter  of  Nathan  and  Rebe.cca 
(Chap})ell)  Musgrove,  the  offspsipfg  oj  this  jnar.-; , 
riage  being  William  N.,  Newton  A.,  Ira  \V.’, 
Levi  and  Silas  H.  The  parents  are  still  living 
in  Johnson  county  on  a farm  (A  145  acres. 

John  T.  Metjuinn  has  always  lived  on  a 
farm.  He  married  Sarah  C.  Grim,  daughter 
of  John  and  Mary  (Adams)  Criin,  b(4h  living 
in  Boone  county,  Ind.  'I'he  children  born  to 
John  T.  McJJuinn  are  seven  in  number,  viz.  ; 
Oscar  M.,  Truda  B.,  Mary  L.,  Charles  E , 
William  A.,  Dezza  B.  and  Annie  C-.  Mrs. 
Sarah  C.  Medjuinn  died  October  26,  1891,  a 
pious  memher  of  the  Christian  church,  mourned 
alike  in  the  home  circle  and  by  a host  of  lov- 
ing fiieuils.  Mr.  Metjuinn  has  a line  farm  of 
133  acres,  in  a good  state  of  cultivation  and 
inij)roved  \\'ith  a new  dwelling  of  good  size  and 
con\’enic;nt  in  all  respects.  He  is  a jirogres- 
sive  citizen  and  mucdi  respected  by  his  neigh- 
bors. llisson  Oscar,  now  twenty-one  years 
of  age  and  singU-,  possesses  much  of  his  fath- 
er’s spirit  of  enterprise,  and  has  alnnidy  shown 
himself  to  be  a farmer  of  shrewd  judgment 
and  foresight. 


aHAREES  TAYLOR  MADISON,  who 
is  prominently  connected  w'ith  the 
political  and  business  interests  of 
Kirklin,  Clinton  county,  Ind.,  well 
deserves  representation  in  this  volume.  He 
was  born  in  Henry  county,  Ind.,  May  9,  I839, 
and  is  of  Irish  descent.  His  father,  Charles 
Madison,  was  a farmer  of  North  Carolina,  who 
in  his  boyhood  started  out  to  make  his  own 
way  in  the  world.  He  married  Eliza  J.  May, 
daughter  of  Bentley  May,  a farmer,  and  to 
them  were  born  the  following  children:  Caleb, 
John  F.,  Washington,  Thomas,  Nicholas 
Niles,  James,  Sam,  Delilah  M.,  Sarah  L. , 
Elizabeth  and  Charles  T.  The  mother,  who 
was  the  second  wife  of  Mr.  Madison,  died  at 
about  the  age  of  fifty  years.  She  had  been 
previously  married  to  Mr.  Niles,  by  whom  she 
had  three  children.  Mr.  Madison  was  a whig 
.iu  politics  and  died  at  the  age  of  sixty  years. 

Charles  T.  Madison  was  left  an  orphan  at 
the  age  of  eleven.  His  education  was  neg- 
lected and  his  boyhood  was  one  of  hardship. 
After  working  on  a farm  he  went  to -Iowa, 
where  he  remained  four  years,  and  then  re- 
turned to  Henry  county,  Ind.,  where  he  en- 
gaged in  farm  work  for  five  years. 

In  April,  1861,  Mr.  Madison  enlisted  in  the 
Sixth  Indiana  infantry  for  the  three  months’ 
service,  and  i)artici[)ated  in  the  battle,  of 
Philip])!,  Laurel  Hill  and  Carrick’s  I'ord. 
Here  the  regiment  \'oted  whether  they  should 
continue  in  service  or  not,  but  die  majority 
wislual  to  return  home.  Mr.  Madison  re-en- 
listed on  the  twenty-fomih  of  August,  in  com- 
jiany  A,  Thirty-sixth  Indiana  infantry,  and  from 
Indianajiolis  went  to  ('am])  Wickliffe,  Ky. , 
where  he  siamt  the  wintc'r.  Finally  they  went 
to  b'ort  Donelson,  thence  to  Nashville,  where 
amidst  great  rejoicing  they  were  received  by 
the  people,  who  gathered  around  them  in 
dense  crowds,  so  that  they  had  to  force  their 
way  to  the  state  house.  'I'hey  thence  [iroceeil- 


UiRARY 
Of  THE 
OF  HUfWIS 


OF  CIJNTON  COUNTY. 


789 


cd  to  Shiloh,  taking  part  in  the  hard-fought 
battle  at  that  place;  then  followed*  the  enemy 
on  their  retreat  to  Corinth;  later  they  were 
sent  to  the  mountain  regions  of  Tennessee, 
where  for  several  days  they  lived  on  parched 
corn,  as  Gen.  Bragg  had  cut  off  their  supplies. 
Later,  followed  the  battle  of  Perryville,  whence 
they  went  to  Louisville,  and  later  took  part  in 
the  battle  of  Stone  River,  and  at  Chickamauga. 
Mr.  Madison  with  his  troop  saw  hard  service; 
he  went  through  the  entire  Atlanta  campaign, 
serving  in  the  battles  of  Dalton,  Buzzard’s 
Roost,  Resaca  and  Kenesaw  Mountain,  where 
Mr.  Madison  was  shot  in  the  left  hand  and 
suffered  the  amputation  of  one  of  his  lingers. 
At  Big  Shanty  his  wound  was  dressed,  and 
thence  he  went  to  Jeffersonville,  where,  his 
term  of  service  having  expired,  he  was  honora- 
bly discharged.  For  three  years  and  four 
months  he  never  slept  in  a house,  and  for  two 
years  after  his  return  his  wound  so  troubled 
him  that  he  was  unable  to  work. 

Mr.  Madison  was  married  September  15, 
1867,  to  Sarah  A.  Harris,  who  was  born  April 
4,  1851,  and  is  a daughter  of  Gideon  and 
Jane  (Harris)  Harris.  They  became  the 
parents  of  the  following  children:  Eliza  D., 
born  June  23,  1868;  Hoza  G.  (deceased), 
born  October  12,  1870;  Lillie  M.  (deceased), 
born  December  20,  1872;  Gideon  H.,  born 
July  16,  1875;  Osie  I.,  born  March  2,  1878; 
Charles  P. , born  October  18,  1880;  Minnie 
A.,  born  December  31,  1884;  Hattie  D.,  born 
September  28,  1887,  and  Zepphi,  December 
26,  1891.  Mr.  Madison  began  farming  at  the 
time  of  his  marriage,  and  two  years  later 
bought  forty  acres  of  land,  now  free  from  all 
indebtedness.  Upon  it  he  built  a residence 
and  commodious  outbuildings,  and  the  place 
is  neat  and'  thrifty  in  appearance,  indicating 
the  careful  supervision  of  an  enterprising 
owner.  Mr.  Madison  is  a republican  in  poli- 
tics and  has  served  as  a delegate  to  the  county 


conventions.  He  is  a member  of  Chickamauga 
post.  No.  40,  G.  A.  R.,  of  which  he  is  now 
aid  de  camp,  and  his  son  Gideon  H.  belongs 
to  the  Sons  of  Veterans.  C.  T.  Madison  and 
his  wife  hold  membership  with  the  Christian 
church,  in  which  he  is  now  serving  as  trustee. 
His  life  has  been  an  honorable  and  upright 
one,  and  all  who  know  him  esteem  him  highly 
for  his  sterling  worth  and  strict  integrity. 


AVID  MAISH. — Few  men  in  Clinton 
county  are  as  well  known  as  the  sub- 
ject of  this  biography,  and  to  him  as 
much  as  to  auy  one  man  is  the 
county  largely  indebted  for  its  present  advanced 
stage  of  civilization  and  the  position  it  occu- 
pies among  the  most  highly  favored  sections  of 
the  commonw'ealth  of  Indiana.  David  Maish, 
Sr.,  father  of  our  subject,  was  born  in  York 
county.  Pa. , and  his  mother,  whose  maiden 
name  was  Hannah  Tyson,  was  also  a native 
of  the  Keystone  state.  David  Maish,  Sr.,  was 
one  of  the  early  settlers  in  Clinton  county, 
moving  to  the  same  in  the  year  1836,  accom- 
panied by  a family  of  ten  children,  whose 
names  are  as  follows:  Sarah,  George,  Jacob, 
Davitl,  Matthias,  Joseph,  Catherine,  Hannah, 
Henry,  and  Frederick.  One  child,  Lydia, 
died  in  Pennsylvania,  and  four  children  were 
added  to  the  family  after  their  arrival  in  In- 
diana, to-wit — Mary  J.,  Elizabeth,  Martha  and 
James  I).  Mr.  Maish  arrived  in  Clinton  county 
six  years  after  its  organization,  and  the  country 
being  then  new,  he  had  a prodigious  amount 
of  hard  labor  to  perform  before  he  could  make 
his  investment  i)rofitable.  The  land  upon 
which  he  settled  was  covered  with  a dense  for- 
est growth,  and  he  was  obliged  to  work  early 
and  late  in  order  to  remove  the  same  and  fit 
the  soil  for  cultivation.  With  a large  family 
to  support,  his  prospects  were  often  discourag- 
ing, but,  undaunted  by  his  situation,  he  per- 


700 


BIOCiRAPHICAL  HISTORY 


severed  e<)iir:if;t;ously  until  his  efforts  were  ulti- 
tnately  crowned  with  success.  In  his  day, 
Mr.  Maish  was  a very  active  particij)ant  in  all 
measures  for  the  imjirovcinent  of  the  county, 
and  he  is  reniemhered  as  one  of  the  potent 
factors  in  the  material  advancement  of  the 
ccnmtry.  He  departed  this  life  un  the  thir- 
tieth day  of  May,  i86(S,  after  a residence  of 
thirty-two  years  in  the  county,  and  his  wife 
died  in  ]8So. 

David  Maish,  Jr.,  the  immediate  subject  of 
this  notice,  was  horn  May  14,  1823,  and  he 
remained  with  his  father  on  the  farm  until  his 
twenty-second  year,  attending  such  primitive 
schools  as  the  country  afforded  at  intervals  in 
the  meantime.  At  the  age  of  twenty-two,  he 
left  home  to  bear  his  part  in  the  struggle  of 
life,  his  sole  amount  of  available  wealth  at 
that  time  consisting  of  one  shilling  in  money. 
He  obtained  emjiloyment  in  a grist  and  saw- 
mill owned  by  one  Samuel  Kyger,  where  he 
remained  three  months,  receiving  for  his  serv- 
ices the  very  modest  compensation  of  nine 
dollars  per  month.  The  following  summer,  he 
worked  at  cistern  building  for  twelve  dollars 
j)er  month,  and  then  engaged  with  John  \V. 
Dlair  to  drive  a four-horse  team,  loaded  with 
merchandise,  to  La  b'ayette,  Ind.  The  follow- 
ing b'ebruary  he  again  accepted  employment 
with  Mr.  Kyger  for  a more  liberal  comj)ensa- 
tiou,  and  remained  with  that  gentleman  dur- 
ing the  si.\  succeeding  years.  In  1847  Mr. 
Maish  entered  into  the  marriage  relation  with 
Miss  Altha  Norris,  and,  immed.iately  there- 
after, purchased  160  acres  of  laud,  upon 
which  his  present  home  is  located.  About 
five  years  after  his  marriage',  a destructive  lire' 
(H'curred  in  the  mill  in  which  lu;  had  been  em- 
ployed, reducing  it  to  ashe.'S.  Ileitig  again 
thrown  u))on  his  own  resourct!S,  he  dctc'rmiued 
to  embark  in  the  milling  business  for  himself, 
lie  accordingly  rented  the  Spring  Mill  propc'rty 
in  Washington  township  for  a term  of  one 


year,  at  the  end  of  which  time  he  removed  to 
his  farm  and  followed  agricultural  pursuits 
with  the  most  gratifying  success  until  his  re- 
tirement from  the  active  duties  of  life  in  1880. 
The  married  life  of  Mr.  Maish  has  been  blessed 
with  ten  children,  named,  respectively  : Will- 
iam C. , George  O,,  Elizabeth  M.,  Hannah 
E.,  W'illard  P. , Edward  N.,  Susan  J.,  David T., 
Altha  A.,  and  Emma  J.  Of  these  children  the 
following  are  living:  Willard  P. , Elizabeth 
M.,  Edward  N.,  Susan  J.,  and  Emma  J. 

On  the  twenty-seventh  day  of  July,  1876, 
Mr.  Maish  was  called  upon  to  part  with  the 
faithful  companion  of  his  married  life,  the  wife 
and  mother,  whose  gentle  influence  had  been 
such  a potent  power  for  good  in  the  home  cir- 
cle during  a period  of  twentyvthree  years. 
This  sad  - event  cast  a deep  gloom  over  the 
family  circle  and  was  felt  as  a personal  loss  by 
her  many  friends  throughout  Clinton  county. 
In  the  way  of  the  gospel  she  lived,  and  with 
its  blessed  rays  to  light  and  comfort  her 
through  “the  dark  valley,  ” she  passed  peace- 
fully away  beyond  the  trials  of  this  mortal 
land  to  “the  inheritance  prepared  for  the 
saints.  ” 

When  Mr.  Maish  first  located  upon  the 
land  now  occujned  by  his  beautiful  farm,  it 
was  a dense  wilderness  without  even  a cabin 
to  offer  its  friendly  shelter.  Math  the  energy 
and  determination  with  which  his  life  has  ever 
been  characterized  he  went  to  work  with  a 
will,  and  in  due  time  built  a home  for  himself 
and  wife  and  fitted  a goodly  number  of  acres 
for  cultivation.  The  original  dwelling,  a rude 
structure  built  of  logs,  served  its  pur))ose  well, 
and  in  time  was  reidaced  by  a more  handsome 
and  commodious  building,  which  newv  staiuls 
as  a monument  to  his  industry  ami  courageous 
|)reseverance  under  difficulties.  Mr.  Maish 
has  added  to  his  original  purchase  from  time 
to  time  until  his  |)ossessions  in  real  estate 
amount  to  711  acres.  Of  this  amount  424 


OF  CLINTON  COUNTY. 


701 


acres  liave  been  cleared  and  cnitivatetl  by  him- 
self. Mr.  Maish  has  ever  taken  great  interest 
in  internal  improvements,  was  especially  active 
in  the  advancement  of  railroad  facilities,  which 
he  aided  liberally,  and  employed  valuable  time 
in  soliciting  subscriptions  for  the  enterprises. 
He  has  always  favored  any  and  all  measures 
calculated  to  enhance  the  interests  of  the 
county  whenever  such  have  been  submitted  to 
the  people  for  their  approval  by  ballot,  and  he 
is  indeed  a public-spirited  citizen  in  all  that 
term  implies.  As  stated  above,  Mr.  Maish  re- 
tired from  active  life  in  1880,  since  which 
time  he  has  lived  in  Frankfort,  where  he,  owns 
a comfortable  home,  in  which  his  declining 
years  are  being  passed.  His  has  indeed  been 
an  active  life,  and  his  success  financially  and 
otherwise  is  the  result  of  prudence,  industry 
and  wise  business  forethought.  Although  in  his 
seventy-second  year,  Mr.  Maish  still  possesses 
in  a marked  degree  the  possession  of  his 
faculties  physical  and  mental,  and  bids  fair  to 
live  for  many  years  to  come.  This  fact  is 
readily  vouched  for  by  the  excellent  portrait 
on  the  page  preceding  the  opening  of  this 
biography. 


ELCHOR  M.A.ISH,  a prominent 
farmer  of  Center  township,  Clinton 
county,  Ind. , was  born  in  Carlyle, 
Cumberland  county.  Pa.,  February 
24,  1837,  the  son  of  Joseph  and  Catherine 

iDraurbaugh)  Maish,  natives  of  York  county. 
Pa.  Joseph,  the  father  of  Melchor,  was  a son 
of  Joseph  Maish,  a native  of  York  county.  Pa., 
and  he  a son  of  John  H.  Maish,  who  came  from 
Germany  in  1751  and  first  located  in  Phila- 
delphia, Pa.,  whence  he  moved  to  York.  Mrs. 
Catherine  (Draurbaugh)  Maish,  mother  of 
Melchoir,  was  a daughter  of  Peter  Draur- 
baugh, who  married  a Miss  Gilmore,  and  was 
of  German  descent.  To  this  union  were  born 


two  children,  Melchor  and  William  H.,  a more 
oxtended  notice  of  the  latter  being  given  below. 
The  father  of  these  sons  died  at  the  age  of 
thirty-eight,  in  1843,  in  York  county,  and  the 
mother  died  in  1846,  at  the  age  of  thirty-four, 
and  after  the  death  of  his  parents,  Melchor 
made  his  home  with  his  maternal  grandmother, 
by  whom  he  was  reared  a farmer.  In  the  fall 
of  1855  he  came  to  Clinton  county,  Ind., 
lived  here  a year,  and  then,  for  two  winters 
undone  summer,  worked  in  Johnson  county, 
Iowa.  In  the  spring  of  1858  he  went  through 
Cincinnati  and  Pittsburg  back  to  York,  Pa., 
and  on  January  23,  1859,  married  Mary  Mc- 
Donald, who  was  born  in  York  county.  Pa., 
December  31,  1836,  and  daughter  of  James 
H.  and  Mary  (James)  McDonald,  natives,  re- 
spectively, of  Cumberland  and  York  counties. 
Pa.  James  H.  McDonald  was  a son  of  Josiah 
McDonald,  who,  with  his  brother,  John,  came 
from  Scotland.  Josiah  settled  in  Cumberland 
county.  Pa  , and  John  in  Ohio.  The  re- 
nowned Joseph  McDonald,  of  Indiana,  was  a 
first  cousin  of  James  H.,  the  father  of  Mrs. 
Maish.  Mrs.  Mary  (James)  McDonald,  the 
mother  of  Mrs.  Maish,  was  a daughter  of 
Owen  and  Jennie  (Brandon)  James,  natives  of 
W'ales.  Owen  James  was  a gallant  soldier  in 
the  war  of  1812-15,  at  the  advanced  age 
of  ninety-four  jxissed  from  earth  in  York 
county.  Pa. 

Mr.  Maish  settled  on  his  present  farm  of 
I02.(  acres  in  section  12,  Center  township, 
Clinton  county,  August  16,  1864,  and  here 
has  led  a most  prosperous  agricultural  and 
horticultural  career.  He  is  a solid  democrat 
in  his  politics,  and  in  his  religious  faith,  with 
his  family,  adheres  to  the  United  Brethren 
church.  His  children  were  named,  in  order 
of  birth,  as  follows:  Catherine,  Elmer  H., 
Margaret,  Jane,  Clara  Ann,  Emma  D.  and 
William  James — all  surviving,  with  the  excep- 
tion of  Emma  D. 


lilOGRAPinCAL  HISTORY 


71)i> 


w’lLLIAM  II.  MAISH,  of  Center 
M H I fownsliip,  Clinton  county,  In<i,,  was 
born  in  l^'nirview  township,  'i’ork 
county.  Pa.,  August  20,  1840,  and 
is  the  yoiitiger  son  of  [ose|)h  and  Catherine 
( I )raurl)an<,di)  Maisli  (originally  spelt  Maischy 
the  details  of  whose  biography  are  given  above 
in  the  sketch  of  Melchor  Maish.  After  the 
death  of  his  parents,  as  above  related,  William 
II.  was  reared  by  his  grandmother  until  the 
age  of  twelve,  when  he  was  hired  out  to  a 
farmer,  for  whom  he  worked  for  one  dollar  and 
a halt  ])er  mcmth  for  two  years;  then  worked 
for  a year  for  his  uncle,  George  Rockey,  and 
at  the  latter's  death  was  placed  ont  by  his 
guardian  with  another  farmer  at  four  dollars 
per  month,  one  dollar  less  than  he  could  have 
earned  elsewhere.  A year  later  yonng  Maish 
hired  himself  out  for  seven  dollars  ])er  month, 
regai'dless  of  the  wishes  of  his  guardian,  and 
worked  for  two  summers  and  three  winters  for 
the  employer  of  his  choice.  Being  now  eight- 
een years  old,  he  chose  for  his  guardian  his 
brother,  Melchor,  with  whom  he  lived  until 
February  28,  1861,  when  he  married  Eliza 
Berkheimer,  a native  of  Cumberland  count_\'. 
Pa.,  and  of  German  descent.  The  young 
couple  went  to  farming  in  ('umberland  county, 
l)ut  in  1863  Mr.  Maish  was  drafted  into  the 
army.  He,  however,  was  e.xempted  on  the 
pa\'ment  of  $300,  and  in  Ajiril,  1864,  came  to 
Indiana  with  his  brother  and  others  and  lo- 
cated in  Carroll  county,  where  he  lived  until 
March,  1893,  when  he  came  to  Clinton  county, 
when,'  his  brother  had  already  settled.  Here 
W'illiam  II.  settled  on  a farm  just  east  of 
b'rankfort,  having,  however,  been  (piite  ))oj)u- 
lar  in  Carroll  (a)uuty,  where  he  had  served  as 
constable  for  four  years  and  as  townshi])  as- 
sessor live  tei  ins,  being  in  his  })olilics  a stanch 
democrat. 

In  1880  Mr.  M.ush  lost  his  wife,  who  had 
borne  live  children,  viz:  joscjph  Ik,  George  B., 


Catherine  (who  died  at  the  age  of  six  years), 
Eliza  E.,  and  Mary  S.  The  second  marriage 
of  Mr.  Maish  occurreal  in  18^3  to  Amanda 
Thomas,  a native  of  Carroll  county,  Inch,  and 
this  union  has  been  blessed  w'ith  one  child  — 
Annie  I'lorence.  The  family  are  adherents  of 
the  Methodist  church,  and  fraternally  Mr. 
Maish  is  an  Odd  Fellow.  The  hrst  wife  of  Mr. 
Maish  was  a daughter  of  Jesse  and  Eliza  (Kim- 
melj  Berkheimer,  and  the  second  is  a daughter 
(jf  Andrew  and  Sarah  Ann  (Baker)  Thomas. 
Mr.  Thomas,  a native  of  Virginia,  died  in 
I 889,  but  his  widow  still  lives  in  Carroll  county. 
Mr.  Maish  has  been  very  successful  in  life, 
having  begun  on  no  capital,  excepting  enough 
to  buy  eighty  acres  of  timbered  land  in  Car- 
roll  county,  but  he  now  owns  240  acres  of  im- 
proved land  in  that  county  and  a line  farm  of 
fort}’  acres,  just  east  of  Frankfort,  Clinton 
county — all  gainetl  by  his  superior  sagacity  and 
skillful  management. 


ENKA'  MAISH,  of  Center  township, 
Clinton  county,  Ind.,  and  a resitlent 
thereof  since  his  early  childhood,  was 
born  in  Perr\'  county.  Pa.,  November 
21,  1831,  and  is  a son  of  David  Maish,  who 
came  with  his  family  to  Indiana  about  1836 
and  settled  near  Frankfort.  Henry  went 
through  all  the  rugged  experiences  of  a farmer 
boy's  life  in  the  wilderness,  attending  the  rude 
school-lunise,  heli)fully  clearing  away  the  for- 
est, and  working  on  the  home  farm  until 
twenty-three  years  of  age,  when,  November 
16,  1854,  he  married  Catherine  Elizabeth 

Fudge,  daughter  of  the  pioneer,  I)a\  id  Fudge, 
a Methodist  minister.  (See  sketch  ot  D.ivid 
Fudge).  Miss  b'udge  was  born  on  the  farm 
owned  b}'  Henry  Maish  May  5,  1835, 
called  from  her  husband  to  a better  land  .Aj)!'!! 
-7-  after  having  borne  ber  husband  the 

following  children:  Mary  Seraphina,  Novem- 


OF  CLINTON  COUNTY. 


708 


her  20,  1855;  Hannah  Tabitha,  September  8, 
1857,  deceased;  David  Fudge,  .A.ugust  19, 
1859;  Samuel  M.,  October  24,  1861,  deceased; 
XN'illiam  Henry,  deceased,  and  an  infant  that 
died  unnamed.  After  his  marriage,  Henry 
Maisli  lived  for  six  years  on  rented  land.  His 
wife  then  inherited  an  interest  in  her  father’s 
estate,  and  by  1861  Mr.  Maish  had  succeeded 
in  buying  out  the  rights  of  the  other  heirs  and 
settled  on  the  property.  It  then  consisted  of 
160  acres,  but  he  has  increased  it  to  273 
acres,  replaced  the  old  dwelling  of  two  rooms 
with  a modern  residence,  substituted  the  di- 
lapidated barn  with  commodious  modern 
structures,  drained  the  land,  and  brought  all 
the  273  acres  under  a good  state  of  cultivation, 
with  the  exception  only  of  twenty-five  acres 
held  in  reserve.  The  second  marriage  of 
Henry  Maish  took  place  February  14,  1877,  to 
Catherine  Mikesell,  a native  of  Ohio,  to 
which  union  four  children  have  been  born, 
viz;  Oris  T.,  Pearl,  Laura,  and  Harry  (de- 
ceased). In  politics  Mr.  Maish  is  a democrat, 
and  with  his  family  in  religion  is  a Methodist. 
He  comes  from  a very  ancient  German-Ameri- 
can  family,  the  earliest  of  whose  ancestors, 
John  George  Maish,  landed  in  America  Octo- 
ber 16,  1751,  and  settled  near  Harrisburg,  Pa. 
The  wife  of  John  George  was  Catherine  Ulp, 
who  became  the  mother  of  six  children,  viz; 
Joseph,  David,  Frederick,  Dolly,  Christine 
and  Catherine,  all  of  whom  lived  to  rear 
families  of  their  own. 


AVID  FUDGE  MAISH,  son  of  Henry 
Maish,  whose  biography  is  given 
above,  was  born  in  Clinton  county, 
Ind.,  August  19,  1859,  where  he  was 
reared  to  farming  and  where  he  received  a 
very  good  common  school  education.  After 
reaching  his  majority  he  farmed  for  two  years 
on  his  own  account  and  then  took  an  agency 


for  the  Western  Publishing  House  of  Chicago, 
ill  whose  interests  he  traveled  as  salesman  or 
canvasser  for  such  works  as  the  “Royal  Path 
of  Life”  and  others  of  equal  merit,  through 
Massachusetts,  Pennsylvania,  and  other  states, 
clear  through  to  California,  meeting  with 
abundant  success  for  four  years.  After  this 
extensive  tour  through  the  country,  Mr.  Maish 
returned  to  his  native  county,  where  he  is  now 
engaged  in  raising  small  fruit,  in  which  he  is 
as  successful  as  he  had  been  in  his  former  busi- 
ness. December  25  (Christmas  day),  1889, 
Mr.  Maish  was  married  to  Miss  P'lorence  May 
Pauley,  who  has  become  the  happy  mother  of 
two  children  — Mary  Elizabeth  and  Luella 
Pearl.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Maish  are  reputable 
members  of  the  Methodist  church  and  equally 
reputable  in  society  circles.  Mr.  Maish  is  also 
an  honored  member  of  the  Improved  Order  of 
Red  Men  and  the  Patrons  of  Husbandry.  In 
politics  Mr.  Maish  is  a prohibitionist,  having- 
severed  his  political  relations  with  the  demo- 
cratic party  in  the  campaign  of  i 886.  Since 
that  time  he  has  served  his  party  as  county 
chairman  for  six  consecutive  years,  and  was 
its  candidate  for  county  representative  in  1890. 
He  is  a man  of  strong  convictions,  a forceful 
and  eloquent  speaker,  and  one  who  will  com- 
mand respect  among  his  fellow-citizens  in  any 
depai'tment  of  life. 


AVID  FUDGE,  grandfather  of  Da- 
vid Fudge  Maish,  being  a pioneer  of 
Clinton  county,  Ind.,  and  a man  of 
nx)re  than  ordinary  gifts  and  ability, 
we  deem  worthy  of  mention  in  this  volume. 
He  was  born  in  Warren  county,  Ohio,  March 
8,  1810,  and  there  spent  his  early  manhood  as 
farmer,  and  later  as  tanner  for  his  brother, 
John  Fudge.  August  18,  1834,  he  was  mar- 
ried to  Mary  Smith,  of  Greene  county,  Ohio, 
and  came  to  Clinton  county,  Ind.,  the  same 


•1)4 


BIOGRAPHICAL  HISTORY 


yt'ar,  sc'ttliiif^  n])on  tlie  farm  now  cnvned  by 
Ib'iiry  Maisli,  Sr.  Here  Mr.  Fiidf^e  lived, 
tillin;^  ids  farm  and  clearing  away  the  wilder- 
iK'ss  about  bitn  until  called  to  the  ministry  in 
1847.  He  had  been  an  ardent  worker  in  the 
Methodist  E|')isco])al  church  from  the  time  of 
his  conversion  in  Ohio,  and  enjoyed  the  confi- 
dence and  respect  of  his  brethren  and  friends 
outside  the  church  in  such  a degree  that,  long 
before  his  entering  the  regular  work  of  the 
ministry,  he  was  called  from  far  and  near  to 
conduct  funerals,  marriages  and  other  religions 
services.  As  a revivalist,  he  was  especially 
gifted,  and  Methodism  owes  much  to  his  abil- 
ity, and  has  hardly  seen  his  equal  as  an  organ- 
izer and  leader.  Many  of  the  older  residents 
yet  living  in  Clinton  county  bear  testimoii}'  to 
his  sterling  worth  and  integrity  as  a citizen. 
He  was  the  father  of  several  children,  of 
whom  Catherine  Elizabeth  was  the  first  wife 
of  Henrv  Maish,  whose  biograplwy  iV'giveir 
above.  His  untimely  (ieath  occffrPirP'af' 'Bat- 
tle Ground,  Ind.,  March  iS,  1847,  from  that 
dread  disease,  black  erysipelas,  and  his  remains 
were  jdaced  in  the  old  South  cemetery  at 
I'rankfort.  His  widow  died  May  28,  1863, 
and  her  remains  were  interred  by  his  side. 


ILLAKD  P.  MAISH,  e.\- county 
treasurer  and  one  of  the  youngest 
and  most  })rogressive  stock  growers 
and  farmers  of  Jackson  township, 
Clinton  county,  Ind.,  his  native  home,  was 
born  February  9,  1855.  and  is  a son  of  David 
and  Altha  (Norrisj  Maish,  mention  of  w'hich 
well-known  family  will  be  found  elsewhere  in 
these  pages.  Willard  Ik,  at  his  majority,  took 
charge  of  his  father’s  farm,  and  has  been  a 
most  successful  breeder  of  draft  and  line  driv- 
ing horses,  and  also  buys  cattle,  shecq)  and 
hf)gs,  which  he;  fattems  for  market.  February 
4,  187b,  he  married  Mary  J , daughter  of  John 


and  Nancy  J.  (Points')  Barnett,  natives  of  In- 
diana and  of  Irish  descent.  Mrs.  Maish  is  one 
of  a family  of  eight  children,  was  born  August 
20,  1854,  and  by  her  marriage  to  Mr.  Maish 
has  herself  been  the  mother  of  seven  chil- 
dren, born  in  the  following  order:  David  B., 
born  April  7,  1877;  Retina  G.,  in  October, 
1878;  JohnW.,  in  January,  1880;  Walter  S., 
September  10,  1882;  Abba  J.,  June  22,  1886; 
Homer  G.  C.,  in  December,  1889,  and  Mary 
L.,  September  10,  1892.  Mr.  Maish  has  been 
very  popular  with  the  democratic  party,  and 
by  it  was  elected  county  treasurer  in  1890,  as- 
suming the  duties  of  his  office  November  15, 
of  the  same  year,  and  filling  the  position  with 
much  ability  and  most  satisfactorily  through  his 
term.  Fraternally,  he  is  a member  of  lodge 
No.  108,  I.  O.  O.  F.,  of  Frankfort,  and  of 
Dacotah  tribe.  No.  42,  I.  O.  R.  M.  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Maish  are  highly  respected  members  of 
.^4lp^,M.  E.  church  of  Frankfort,  and  few'  resi- 
dents of  the  township  of  Jackson  hold  higher 
rank  in  the  esteem  of  their  neighbors. 


HOMAS  W.  MASTERS,  one  of  the 
prominent  citizens  of  Rossville,  Clin- 
ton county,  Ind.,  a substantial  farmer 
and  an  old  soldier,  springs  from  Penn- 
-sylvania-German  stock  and  an  old  colonial 
family.  Christopher  Masters,  the  grandfather 
of  our  subject,  was  born  in  Pennsylvania  and 
resided  in  l.ancaster  county,  where  he  manu- 
factured gun  barrels  for  the  army  in  the  war  of 
1812.  He  married  in  Ptumsylvania  and  had 
ten  children:  Hannah,  Jacob,  Margaret,  John, 
Aaron,  William,  Elizabeth,  Ann,  Ellen  and 
Samuel.  Mr.  Masters  moved  to  Indiana  at 
an  early  day  and  settled  at  I'airlieUl,  in  Frank- 
lin county,  over  si.xly  years  since.  He  was  a 
blacksmith  by  trade,  but  bought  a mill  in  [''air- 
field, and  also  land,  where  he  jiassed  the  re- 
mainder of  his  days.  His  business  in  Penn- 


IfBRARy 
Of  THE 

OWWfRSITY  OF  flfeHTO® 


I I'ini.ii'  I’  Hmi.hv. 

Samuki,  Kv(.kk. 

:i,  John  I'kuim. 

I Ahnkk  ri':.N<n. 

■’).  Imiwaki)  ('oknkj.iso.n. 
• i John  Mankki.v 
I'.’,  IsAA(  ll  AkMH'I  KONH. 
i;!.  Hr.  M.  S.  Martin. 

II  I >A\T  II  Sh  KK  I .S. 

I'l.  John  M()(irk. 


II).  John  Skai.kr 
17,  'I'avi.or  IIau.shman 
Martin  IIicarh 

21.  - 

27).  John  IIamii.ion. 

211.  John  M Him, 

27.  (Ihari.ks  Kuni/ 

2S.  Wii.i.iAM  S.  McKinnkv 
111.  CicKRo  Sims 
2)7).  Jamus  N.  Sims. 


:!(•)  \.  McCi.uri; 

H:.  I C,  Sum 

liH.  |)r.  N.  I’.  Dunn. 

2)11  Kiciiarh  J.  Car  I KK. 

Mi.  JaMKS  |•■KAZIKK. 

17.  U.  M.  IIurMiiNsoN. 
IS.  John  Whtikman. 

■III.  I'llOMAS  I.I'-K. 

7)11.  Kmmkit  Cushwa. 


7 

John 

Earner. 

•7  ) 

«. 

Abne 

r Baker 

20 

!). 

N.  J. 

Gaskill. 

:i0 

10. 

Wm. 

C.  Frazier. 

81 

11. 

jEiSE 

Ryan. 

82 

18, 

Jamison  Rogers. 

83 

10. 

P.  D 

AVIS. 

10 

20. 

W.  H.  H.  Thompson 

41 

21. 

John 

Utz. 

42 

David  Fisher. 

48 

Joe  Ghere. 

44 

George  Lee. 

51 

W.  H.  Wynkoop. 

52 

Adam  Hoffman. 

53 

James  Caster. 

54 

Mordecai  McKinsey. 

55 

Urban  C.  McKinsei’. 

H,  H Bradley. 

Charles  Grover. 
Samuel  Aughe. 

Nelson  Loucks. 
Solomon  Isgrigg. 
Benjamin  Leach. 
Timothy  Cornelison. 


OF  CLINTON  COUNTY. 


797 


sylvania,  had  been  runninf^  a triji  hammer  and 
forging'  iron.  He  was  a prominent  Methodist 
and  died  at  about  eighty  years  of  age.  John, 
his  son,  and  father  of  our  subject,  was  born 
August  5,  1805,  received  a common  education, 
learned  the  blacksmith’s  trade  and  was  a maker 
of  edged  tools.  He  married  in  Lancaster  coun- 
ty, Pa.,  Susannah  Harris,  and  to  them  were 
born  eight  children:  Mary,  Jacob  H.,  JohnQ., 
Jane,  Thomas  W.,  William  C. , Samuel  B., 
and  Levi  K. , the  first  four  born  in  Lancaster 
county.  Pa.,  and  the  last  four  born  in  Franklin 
county,  Ind.,  where  Mr.  Masters  moved  in 
1835  and  bought  150  acres  of  land  and  fol- 
lowed his  trade.  By  thrift  he  accumulated 
and  added  to  his  farm  until  he  owned  over  300 
acres,  two  miles  from  Fairfield.  Both  he  and 
wife  were  members  of  the  Methodist  church, 
in  which  he  held  the  offices  of  steward  and 
trustee,  and  was  class  leader  for  many  years. 
He  lived  to  the  age  of  eighty-five  years,  and 
died  on  his  farm  January  22,  i8gi,  highly  re- 
spected in  his  county.  His  wdfe  was  born  in 
February,  1807,  and  died  April  i,  1887,  aged 
eighty  years. 

Thomas  W.  Masters  was  born  June  26, 
1838,  in  F'ranklin  county,  Ind.,  near  Fairfield, 
on  his  father’s  farm.  He  received  a good  com- 
mon education,  and,  w’hen  the  war  broke  out, 
enlisted  at  Connersville,  Fayette  county,  Ind., 
in  company  L,  Forty-first  regiment  Second 
Indiana  cavalry,  September  25,  1861,  for  three 
years,  or  during  the  war^under  Col.  Bridge- 
land,  Capt.  Isaiah  Walker.  He  was  twenty- 
three  years  of  age  and  was  in  many  battles  and 
many  skirmishes  in  Kentucky,  Alabama,  Geor- 
gia and  Mississippi,  and  was  in  the  battles  of 
Shiloh  and  Corinth;  his  regiment  was  all  cap- 
tured at  Hartsville,  Tenn.,  by  Gen.  John  Mor- 
gan, except  a lieutenant  and  six  men,  who 
were  on  detached  service,  our  subject  being 
one  of  them.  Later,  his  regiment  was  paroled 
and  sent  back  to  Indianapolis  and  remounted 

38 


and  armed.  They  were  in  many  scouts  and 
skirmishes  about  Gallatin,  Tenn.,  and  in  the 
battle  at  Chattanooga,  and  in  all  that  cam- 
paign; and  then  in  the  Atlanta  campaign  four 
months — in  the  battles  of  Dalton,  Resaca, 
Kenesavv  Mountain,  Rocky  Face  Ridge,  Chat- 
tahoochee River,  and  the  battles  in  front  and 
rear  of  Atlanta.  Here  his  time  expired  and 
he  returned  with  his  regiment  to  Indianapolis. 
The  regiment  was  ordered  to  turn  over  the 
horses  and  saddles  and  to  draw  sixty  rounds  of 
ammunition,  as  ti'ouble  was  expected  in  the 
southern  counties  of  Indiana.  The  regiment 
was  held  at  Indianapolis  eight  days,  and  was 
honorably  discharged  October  4,  1864,  and  Mr. 
Masters  returned  to  Fairfield. 

On  January  3,  1865,  Mr.  Masters  married 
Susannah,  daughter  of  Joseph  and  Ann  (Cran- 
dell)  Haywood.  Joseph  Haywood  was  a sub- 
stantial farmer  and  old  settler  near  Fairfield, 
and  was  from  an  old  family  of  Maryland,  of 
English  and  German  descent.  He  settled  in 
Franklin  when  a young  man,  married  there, 
and  became  the  father  of  twelve  children: 
Joseph,  Mary,  Margaret,  Michael,  Susannah, 
Ann,  Elihu,  Thomas.  Jonathan,  Elizabeth, 
Ruth  and  Joshua,  of  whom,  three  sons  served 
in  the  Civil  war:  Elihu,  Thomas  and  Jonathan. 
Elihu  and  Thomas  were  in  the  Sixty-eighth  In- 
diana infantry,  in  which  Thomas  served  three 
3’ears  and  was  in  many  battles;  Elihu  died  in 
Indianapolis  from  the  measels;  Jonathan  en- 
listed in  the  last  call  for  troops.  Mr.  Hay- 
wood died  during  the  war  at  the  age  of  seven- 
ty-eight years.  He  was  a man  of  high  char- 
acter, and  reared  a good  family,  and  was  a 
member  of  the  Eriends’  church.  The  month 
following  his  marriage  Mr.  Masters  came  to 
Rossville,  and  bought  160  acres  of  land,  on 
w’hich  he  still  lives,  having  built  a substantial 
residence  and  otherwise  improved  it.  He  and 
wife  are  members  of  the  Methodist  church,  in 
which  he  held  office  as  steward,  and  is  now 


708 


HTO(7RAPIIICAL  HISTORY 


trustee.  Politically  he  is  a stanch  republican, 
served  as  township  trustee  for  two  years,  and 
was  re-electi;d  November  6,  1894,  by  a major- 
ity of  live.  Mr.  Masters  owns  a tine  farm  and 
has  been  en<;aj;ed  in  stock  raising  and  dealing, 
lie  is  one  of  the  directors  of  the  Rossville 
baid-c,  and  stands  high  as  an  honorable  busi- 
ness man.  He  was  an  active  soldier  and  in 
all  the  battles,  skirmishes,  marches,  raids  and 
campaigns  in  which  his  regiment  particijiated, 
many  of  which  he  cannot  now  recall,  but  was 
never  sick,  wounded  nor  taken  prisoner,  yet 
had  several  close  calls — his  boot-heel  having 
been  shot  off  at  the  battle  of  Gallatin,  Tenn., 
with  John  Morgan,  and  his  horse  wounded, 
and  once  was  called  to  halt  by  the  rebels  at  the 
battle  of  Chickamauga,  but  kept  on.  He  al- 
ways did  his  duty,  and  served  his  country 
faithfully. 


OHN  B.  MEIFELD,— or  Ben,  as  he 
is  usually  called— -the  oldest  merchant 
tailor,  and  a well  known  citizen  of 
h'rankfort,  Ind.,  was  born  in  Cincin- 
nati, Ohio,  March  10,  1851.  He  is  a son  of 
John  G.  and  Josephine  (Nortker)  Meifeld.  The 
former  was  born  in  Oldenberg,  Germany;  the 
latter  in  Hanover,  Germany.  The  father 
came  to  this  country  in  1843,  landing  in  New 
Orleans,  and  then  went  to  Cincinnati,  Ohio. 
The  mother  came  by  the  same  route  to  Cin- 
cinnati in  1844.  They  were  married  in  the 
city  named  and  had  born  to  them  the  follow- 
ing children;  Jo,se])hine,  deceased;  John  B.  ; 
Anthony,  deceased,  and  Emma.  The  mother 
died  in  Cincinnati  in  1871,  at  the  age  of  tift}’- 
seven.  d'he  father  and  subject  came  together 
to  Frankfort  in  1873  and  toga.'ther  established 
the  business  whicdi  the  son,  since  1891,  has 
conducted  alone.  The  business  has  been  a 
very  succerssful  one,  and  while  the  father  is 
now  retired,  he  is  still  ac'tive  at  the  agi'  of 


seventy-nine  years.  He  is  a pions  member  of 
the  Catholic  church  and  is  highly  respected  by 
all  classes  of  Frankfort  citizens. 

John  B.  Meifeld  received  an  excellent 
education  at  the  parochial  schools,  and  at  St. 
Francis  Xavier  college  at  Cincinnati;  learned 
tailoring  under  his  father,  and  learned  it  well, 
becoming  an  accomplished  cutter  as  well  as  a 
successful  salesman.  The  marriage  of  Mr. 
Meifeld  took  place,  in  1874,  to  Alice  Hill,  of 
Frankfort,  and  the  happy  union  has  been 
blessed  by  the  birth  of  three  children,  viz; 
Mabel,  Frederick  and  Paul.  Personally,  Mr. 
Meifeld  is  a very  affable  gentleman,  is  quite 
popular,  not  only  with  his  customers,  but  with 
the  public  in  general,  and  is  at  the  present 
time  secretary  of  five  local  building  and  loan 
associations.  He  does  an  extensive  tailoring 
business,  unexcelled  by  any  in  the  city,  and 
guarantees  all  his  work.  He  is  a democrat. 


OHN  H.  MERRITT,  a substantial 
young  farmer,  was  born  in  Johnson 
township,  Clinton  county,  Ind.,  June 
4,  1854,  and  this  has  always  been  his 
place  of  residence.  Aul)ry  Merritt,  his  great- 
grandfather, a patriot  of  the  Revolution  and 
of  English  parentage,  lived  and  died  in  Hardy 
county,  \'a.,  where  he  owned  a plantation  and 
a number  of  slaves.  Adam  Merritt,  son  of 
Aubry,  was  born  in  Hardy  county,  Va. , and 
married  Catherine  Harris  of  the  same  state. 
They  moved  to  Coshocton  county,  Ohio, 
reared  a family,  and  then  came  to  Indiana,  and 
settled  in  Clinton  county  in  1845,  entering  a 
farm.  He  was  an  old-line  whig,  but  lived  to 
be  a stanch  supporter  of  the  republican  party. 
William  Merritt,  son  of  Adam  and  father  of 
John  11.,  our  subject,  was  born  in  C'oshocton 
county,  Ohio,  A])ril  2,  1824,  and  married  Rachel 
Keever,  daughter  of  [otm  and  Rachel  (Drake) 
Kcever,  of  Warren  county,  Ohio.  The  chil- 


OF  CLINTON  COUNTY. 


799 


(ircn  bom  to  this  marrage  were  named,  in  order 
of  birth,  as  follows:  Mary  E.,  Erasmus  M., 
Margaret  C.,  John  H.  and  Clinton.  The 
father  of  this  family,  William  Merritt,  has 
lived  in  Clinton  county  Ind.,  ever  since  his 
marriage,  and  is  one  of  the  most  prominent 
citizens.  His  farm  comprises  285  acres,  and 
is  improved  with  a substantial  residence,  barn, 
and  all  necessary  farm  buildings,  and  is  in  a 
fine  state  of  cultivation.  He  is  a strong 
republican  in  his  politics,  and  in  her  religion 
his  wife  is  a consistent  Methodist. 

John  H.  Merritt  was  married  February  3, 
1881,  to  Miss  Annie  Lybrook,  daughter  of 
Philip  and  Lyda  J.  (Sutton)  Lybrook,  the 
former  a resident  and  farmer  of  Howard 
county,  Ind.,  and  a member  of  the  Society  of 
Friends.  The  children  born  to  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Merritt  are  named  Fred  L. , Iberna  D.,  Clyde 
and  Earl — the  last  named  deceased  at  the  age 
of  two  years.  Mr.  Merritt’s  farm  contains 
eighty  acres,  is  improved  with  a substantial 
modern  farm  house  and  a spacious  barn,  with 
the  necessary  outbuildings.  He  has  earned 
this  property  through  his  own  thrift  and 
industry,  assisted  by  his  prudent  and  pains- 
taking wife,  and  he  is  still  progressing.  He 
is  regarded  by  the  citizens  of  the  township  as  a 
man  of  worth  and  intelligence,  and  his  family 
is  equally  respected. 


HLPHEUS  L.  MENDENHALL,  a sub- 
stantial farmer  of  P'orest  township, 
Clinton  county,  Ind.,  springs  from 
sterling  English  lineage.  David  Men- 
denhall, the  grandfather  of  our  subject,  was  a 
native  of  North  Carolina,  but  moved  through  the 
wilderness  and  settled  in  Hamilton  county, 
Ind.,  in  its  early  history.  He  here  entered 
a farm  in  the  primitive  wilderness,  amid  the 
brush  and  frog  ponds,  built  a rude  cabin  of 
poles,  afterward  clearing  the  land  and  making 


a farm.  He  was  an  old-line  whig  in  politics. 
Cary  Mendenhall,  son  of  the  above  and  father 
of  our  subject,  was  born  in  Hamilton  county, 
Ind.,  and  was  reared  on  his  father’s  farm  and 
attended  the  old-fashioned  log  school-house,  a 
rude,  uncouth  structure,  as  compared  with  the 
school-house  and  furniture  of  to-day.  After 
reaching  manhood’s  years  he  married  Abigail 
Dawson,  the  daughter  of  David  and  Eliza 
(Burroughs)  Dawson.  The  following  children 
in  order  of  birth  were  born  to  this  union  : Wal- 
ter, Alpheus  L. , Mary  E.  and  Augustus.  The 
father  was  a stanch  republican  in  politics  and 
had  a birth-right  in  the  Friends’  society.  He 
died  at  the  early  age  of  twenty-seven  years. 
He  was  a man  that  was  highly  respected  by  all 
who  knew  him  intimately.  His  widow  after- 
ward married  James  A.  Stanley,  and  to  this 
marriage  Frank,  Charles  and  P'lora  were  born. 
Mrs.  Stanley  is  a devout  member  of  the  Chris- 
tian church  and  is  now  residing  in  Clinton 
county  on  the  farm. 

Alpheus  L.  Mendenhall  was  born  in  Ham- 
ilton county,  Ind.,  August  29,  1852.  He  has 
always  been  on  the  farm,  but  received  a good 
common  education.  He  married  Laura  Car- 
rick,  daughter  of  William  and  Ann  (Dow) 
Carrick,  the  former  of  whom  was  a farmer  by 
occupation,  and  a mechanic.  He  was  also  a 
prominent  man  of  the  church  and  Sunday- 
school.  \Vhen  married,  Alpheus  L.  and  wife 
settled  on  a farm  in  Clinton  county,  where 
they  now  reside;  they  own  a place  of  eighty 
acres,  a good  house  and  modern  barn.  The 
farm  is  well  improved.  He  is  a populist  and 
the  first  one  in  the  township.  He  and  wife  are 
members  of  the  Christian  church.  He  is  a 
member  of  the  Odd  Fellows’  lodge.  No.  593, 
at  Scircleville,  has  passed  all  the  chairs  and 
attended  the  grand  lodge.  The  children  born 
to  him  were  named  : Bell,  Edna  (deceased), 
Maggie  and  Sarah  F.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Menden- 
hall, however,  though  sadly  bereaved,  have  a 


BIOGRAPHICAL  HISTORY 


hir^e  iiiuiibcr  of  friends  and  acfjiiaintances, 
wliosi'  respect  they  enjoy  to  the  full,  and  who 
in  some  measure  hll  the  void  occasioned  by 
the  loss  of  tlieir  daughter. 


R.  JAMES  W.  MEKIDITH, 
the  most  successful  dental  surf^'eon  in 
Frankfort,  Ind.,  was  born  near  Flem- 
ingsburj;',  Ky. , September  i6,  1831. 
His  parents  were  William  R.  and  Harriet 
(Davis)  Meridith,  the  former  of  whom  was  a 
native  of  Maryland  and  the  latter  of  Kentucky. 
William  R.  Meridith  was  but  a young  man 
when  he  migrated  from  Maryland  to  Kentucky, 
engaged  in  farming,  and  in  1830  was  married 
to  Miss  Davis,  a native  of  Fleming  county.  In 
1836  Mr.  Meridith  and  his  young  wife  went  to 
Calloway  ccnmty.  Mo.,  where  he  superintended 
a farm  until  1837,  then  came  to  Madison,  Ind., 
where  he  lived  a short  time,  and  then  moved 
to  Morristown,  Shelby  county,  Ind.,  where  he 
died  in  1839 — the  father  of  five  children,  \\z.  \ 
James  Y’ayne,  our  subject;  George  D.,  de- 
ceased; Albert  L. ; Fletcher,  an  editor  of  Hutch- 
inson, Kas. ; and  Tabitha,  deceased.  Mrs. 
Harriet  Meridith  subseciuently  married,  in 
Mcjrristown,  William  Adair,  a farmer,  by  whom 
she  became  the  mother  of  one  child,  John  T. , 
now  deceased,  the  mother  dying  in  1853. 

Dr.  |.  W.  Meridith  remained  on  the  farm 
until  eight  years  of  age,  then  worked  out  at 
chores,  hel))ing  to  support  the  family  until  his 
mother’s  second  marriage.  The  family  then 
located  in  Union  county,  Ind.,  for  a year,  then 
moved  back  t(j  Shelby  county,  where  he  re- 
mained until  sixteen,  and  then  apprenticed 
himself  at  cabinet-making  for  four  years  with 
A.  C.  Cooly,  of  ('.onnersville,  Ind.  The  last 
two  years  of  his  apprenticeship  his  mother, 
passed  with  him.  lanuaiy  ib,  1853,  the  (hec- 
tor was  married,  near  Versailles,  W'oodford 
count}',  Ky.,  to  Missouri  J.  Holing,  a native  of 


Woodford  county,  who  bore  one  child,  Jane 
(deceased),  and  she  herself  died  June  16,  1855. 
The  second  marriage  of  Dr.  Meridith  took 
place  at  Frankfort,  Ind.,  March  30,  1858,  to 
Miss  Eliza  J.  Armstrong,  a native  of  Clinton 
county,  and  a daughter  of  Isaac  Armstrong,  of 
whom  further  mention  will  be  found  elsewhere 
in  this  volume.  To  this  union  have  been  born 
nine  children,  named  as  follows;  Hettie,  de- 
ceased; Jennie,  wife  of  William  T.  Moore, 
merchant  of  Williamsport,  Ind.;  Georgie,  a 
teacher  in  a city  school  of  Frankfort;  Lu  A., 
jeweler;  Carroll,  Katie,  W’att,  Gus  and  Fletcher, 
at  home.  Dr.  Meridith  acejuired  the  science 
of  dentistry  under  Dr.  Martin,  of  Franklin, 
Ind.,  and  began  its  practice  in  the  city  of 
Frankfort,  May  3,  1856,  and,  with  the  excep- 
tion of  nine  years,  when  engaged  in  the  dry 
goods  trade,  has  been  in  active  practice  until 
the  present  time,  standing  at  the  head  of  the 
profession.  As  a member  of  the  I.  O.  O.  F., 
he  represented  his  lodge  in  the  grand  lodge  of 
the  state  in  1861,  and  has  been  honored  with 
many  other  evidences  of  the  high  esteem  in 
which  he  is  held  by  his  fellow-citizens. 


AWS(i)N  C.  MERRITT,  a prominent 
farmer  and  citizen  of  Johnson  town- 
ship, Clinton  county,  Ind.,  was  born 
here  February  11,  1854.  His  grand- 
father, Adam  Merritt,  was  born  and  reared 
in  Virginia,  and  came  to  Clinton  county, 
Ind.,  after  having  lived  a few  years  in  Coshoc- 
ton county,  Ohio,  and  entered  part  of  the  farm 
on  which  Lawson  C.  now  resides.  John  Mer- 
ritt, father  of  Lawson  C.,  was  also  a native  of 
Virginia.  He  married  Helen  M.  Williams  of 
Ohio,  who  bore  two  children,  |ulia,  and  an 
infant  who  was  called  away.  The  second  mar- 
riage of  [ohn  Meiritt  was  to  Harriet  Ann 
Scott,  daughter  of  James  Scott,  and  to  this 
union  was  born  Lawson  C.  Merritt.  On 


OF  CLINTON  COUNTY. 


801 


coining  to  Johnson  to\vns|iip  with  the  earlier 
settlers,  John  Merritt  entered  and  purchased 
a (]iiantity  of  land,  which  he  improved  and 
increased  until  he  owned  200  acres.  He  and 
wife  were  both  members  of  the  Baptist 
church,  and  both  had  the  confidence  and 
esteem  of  all  that  knew  them.  The  mother 
passed  from  earth  December  i i,  1875,  and  the 
father  died  June  7,  1893. 

Lawson  C.  Merritt  was  reared  on  the  home 
farm,  and  April  27,  1876,  married  Miss  Dorcas 
Pruitt,  daughter  of  John  and  Nancy  J.  (Stew- 
art) Pruitt,  of  whom  further  may  be  read  on 
another  page  of  this  volume.  The  four  chil- 
dren born  to  this  union  are  named  Elbert  B., 
Walter  S.,  John  P. , and  Hubert.  At  their 
marriage,  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Merritt  settled  on  their 
present  farm,  which  now  comprises  335  acres. 
It  is  very  fertile  land,  and  the  farm  is  in  an  ex- 
cellent state  of  improvement  and  is  highly  cul- 
tivated. The  dwelling  is  modern  in  construc- 
tion and  the  farm  buildings  commodious  and 
substantial,  and  all  this  property,  or  nearly  all, 
has  been  earned  through  the  industry  and  good 
management  of  Mr.  Merritt,  with  his  amiable 
wife’s  assistance.  Mr.  Merritt  is  very  promi- 
nent as  a republican  and  was  elected  township 
trustee  in  1894,  and  fraternally  he  is  a mem- 
ber of  the  Odd  Fellows’  lodge.  No.  593,  at 
Scircleville,  in  which  he  has  passed  all  the 
chairs,  and  which  he  has  represented  in  the 
grand  lodge. 


QUIRE  W.  MERRILL  is  a railroad 
man  of  many  years’  experience.  He 
was  born  in  Ypsilanti,  Washtenaw 
county,  Mich.,  June  3,  1841.  His 
father,  Squire  C.  Merrill,  a native  of  Pittsfield, 
Mass.,  was  born  in  the  year  1800,  and  died  at 
Wayne,  Mich.,  in  1884.  He  was  a son  of 
Gad  Merrill,  also,  a native  of  Pittsfield,  Mass., 
and  a descendant  of  an  early  English  emigrant 


to  the  Bay  state.  In  the  state  of  New  York, 
the  subject’s  father  married  Mary  Ann  Wheeler, 
who  bore  him  four  children.  For  a second 
wife  he  married  Harriet  Hawkins,  the  subject 
of  this  mention  being  the  only  child  by  this  wife, 
who  died  when  her  son  was  quite  young.  The 
father  married  for  the  third  wife  Cynthia 
Lynds,  who  bore  one  child.  In  1825,  Squire 
Merrill,  Sr.,  with  his  first  wife,  set  out  by 
wagon  for  the  west.  They  settled  in  Wash- 
tenaw county,  Mich  , where  they  lived  the 
remainder  of  their  lives.  Farming  was  the 
occupation  of  Mr.  Merrill.  When  he  came  to 
Michigan  that  state  was  a territory  and  its 
governor  was  Gen.  Lewis  Cass,  under  whom 
he  served  as  United  States  marshal.  He  and 
Gen.  Cass  were  intimate  friends.  His  father 
and  mother  left  Massachusetts  in  their  latter 
days  and  joined  him  in  Michigan,  and  made 
their  home  with  him  till  death  called  them 
away. 

The  subject  of  this  mention  was  born  and 
reared  upon  a farm,  and  attended  a few  short 
winter  terms  of  school  in  the  old  log-house  in 
his  neigborhood.  At  the  age  of  fourteen  3'ears 
he  became  self-supporting,  and  for  three  years 
thereafter  accepted  whatsoever  work  he  could 
get  to  do.  In  November,  1859,  Mr.  Merrill 
began  his  railroad  career.  .A.t  that  date,  he 
began  breaking  on  the  Dayton  & Michigan  R. 
R.,  with  which  company  he  remained  till 
1862,  when  he  received  a severe  injury  in  the 
hip,  for  which,  after  considerable  litigation,  he 
obtained  damages,  the  effect  of  which  was  a 
change  of  employers.  He  next  entered  the 
employ  of  the  Detroit  & Milwaukee  R.  R , in 
the  latter  part  of  1862,  with  headquarters  at 
Detroit.  With  this  road  Mr.  Merrill  remained 
for  ten  years,  save  one  year  in  the  meantime, 
when  he  was  in  the  employ  of  the  United 
States  government.  During  that  year,  1864- 
5,  he  was  yard-master  at  Nashville,  Tenn.  In 
1872,  Mr.  Merrill  engaged  with  the  Canada 


802 


BIOGRAPHICAL  HISTORY 


Southern  ruilroad  and  helped  construct  that 
line,  and  later  he  became  a conductor  on  the 
C'hicago  A W'est  Michigan  K.  K.  Afterward 
he  held  a similar  position  on  the  Flint  ik 
Pere  Marquette  R.  R. , then  was  in  the  same  ca- 
jiacity  on  the  Louisville,  Paducuh  & Southern, 
and  subse(]uently  ran  on  every  branch  of  the 
Louisville  cS;  Nashville  R.  R.  When  S.  R. 
Calloway,  a personal  friend  of  his,  became  re- 
ceiver of  the  Detroit  cS:  Bay  City  R.  R. , Mr. 
Merrill  became  a conductor  on  that  line,  and 
he  continued  with  Mr.  Calloway  during  his 
superintendency.  When  Mr.  Calloway  received 
the  management  of  the  Toledo,  St.  Louis  & 
Kansas  City  R.  R. , Mr.  Merrill  still  remained 
with  him,  and  since  that  date  has  either  been 
train-master  or  conductor  on  this  road,  holding 
the  latter  position  at  the  present  time,  ^^d^ile 
train-master  he  was  stationed  at  Charleston, 
111.;  in  August,  1892,  he  moved  to  Frankfort, 
where  he  has  since  resided. 

Mr.  Merrill  was  married  August  18,  1868, 
to  Miss  Emily  M.  Evans,  daughter  of  John 
and  Katherine  (Myers)  Evans,  who  was  born 
at  McKeesport,  Allegheny  county.  Pa.  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  Merrill  have  two  children,  namely: 
Cad  E.,  who  is  chief  clerk  for  the  St.  Louis 
division  of  the  “Clover  Leaf”  R.  R.,  and 
Madge  Emily.  Mr.  Merrill  is  a thirty-second 
degree  Mason,  belongs  to  the  mystic  shrine, 
and  commandery.  He  is  an  experienced  rail- 
road man,  and  during  the  long  term  of  years 
spent  in  that  capacity  has  had  the  unbounded 
conhdence  of  the  large  corporations  by  which 
he  has  been  employed.  Gentlemanly  and 
obliging  in  his  intercourse  with  all,  he  has 
much  of  the  good  will  of  the  traveling  public, 
and  it  is  a compliment  justly  earned  to  ascribe 
to  him  a popularity  such  as  few  men  in  his 
arduous  calling  ever  attain.  The  domestic  re- 
lations of  Mr.  Merrill  have  been  felicitous  in 
all  respects,  and  he  may  well  be  congratulated 
on  this  account,  also. 


at 


ELIAM  MICHAIvL,  a retired 
farmer  of  Colfax,  Clinton  county, 
Ind  , and  a prominent  democrat, 
was  born  in  Montgomery  county, 

I this  state,  March  12,  1835,  and  is  of  Pennsyl- 
vanian-German descent,  his  grandfather,  also 
named  Wdliam,  having  come  from  the  Father- 
land  prior  to  the  Revolutionary  war,  in  which 
i heroic  struggle  he  took  an  active  part,  and 
finally  settled  in  the  Ke3'stone  state.  His  son 
William,  father  of  our  subject,  was  born  in 
Pennsylvania  in  1800,  was  reared  a farmer, 

! and  on  first  coming  west  located  in  Ohio, 
whence  he  came  to  Indiana,  and  settled  in 
Montgomery  county,  and  was  still  a compara- 
tively young  man  when  he  moved  to  Clinton 
county  and  entered  eighty  acres  of  land,  to 
which  he  later  added  until  he  owned  240 
acres.  He  had  married,  in  Ohio,  Margaret 
Stucky,  a daughter  of  Jacob  Stucky,  also  a 
farmer. 

William  Michael,  the  subject  proper  of  this 
sketch,  was  reared  on  his  father’s  farm  near 
Colfax  and  was  of  material  assistance  in  hew- 
ing it  out  of  the  wilderness  as  the  years  rolled 
on.  But  he  was  hardly  of  age  when  he  mar- 
ried and  settled  on  a farm  of  his  own  in  Clin- 
ton county.  This  happy  event  took  place 
October  15,  1854,  the  bride  being  Miss  Sarah 
}.,  daughter  of  Henry  J.  and  Nancy  (Bailey) 
Reedy.  In  March,  1876,  Mr.  Michael,  with 
his  wife,  moved  to  Tennessee,  and  bought  a 
farm  in  Davidson  county,  eight  miles  from 
Nashville.  On  this  farm  Mrs.  Michael  died 
December  30,  1890,  a devout  member  of  the 
Methodist  church,  and  an  earnest  Sabbath- 
school  worker.  At  her  own  re<]uest  her  remains 
were  interred  in  Clinton  county,  where  she  had 
had  a host  of  sincere,  loving  and  admiring 
friends.  The  second  marriage  of  Mr.  Michael 
was  to  Mrs.  Mary  C.  Baker,  a widow,  and  a 
daughter  of  George  Isenberger,  farmer  of  Clin- 
ton county. 


OF  CLINTON  COUNTY. 


808 


October  i6,  1862,  Mr.  Micliael'  was  called 
to  the  defense  of  his  country,  and  enlisted  in 
company  I,  Eighty-si.xth  Indiana  volunteer  in- 
fantry. He  was  transferred  to  Kentucky,  and 
his  first  fight  was  at  Perryville;  he  was  next  in 
a skirmish  at  Rural  Hill;  then  in  the  battle  of 
Stone  River;  was  cajFured  and  sent  to  Mur- 
freesboro, Tenn.,  then  to  Montgomery,  Ala., 
and  then  to  Richmond,  Va.,  and  for  thirty 
days  was  confined  in  Libby  prison,  and  then 
e.xchanged  at  City  Point  and  sent  to  Annapolis, 
Md, ; rejoined  his  regiment  at  Murfreesboro; 
was  sent  to  McMinnville,  and  was  in  a skir- 
mish at  Ringgold,  Ga.  ; fell  back  to  Chicka- 
mauga  and  took  part  through  all  that  terrific 
struggle;  was  on  the  skirmish  line  at  Chatta- 
nooga and  also  in  the  thickest  of  the  fight;  was 
at  Fort  Wood  and  Orchard  Knob;  was  in  the 
dreadful  engagement  at  Missionary  Ridge;  was 
all  through  the  Atlanta  campaign,  and  in  the 
hard-fought  battle  of  Resaca;  was  at  Jones- 
boro; was  with  Gen.  Thomas  in  the  pursuit  of 
Hood;  was  at  Columbia,  Nashville,  and  then 
back  into  Georgia,  and  thence  back  again  into 
northern  Tennessee,  eastern  Tennessee,  and 
once  more  to  Jonesboro,  when  the  war  was 
ended  and  Mr.  Michael  honorably  discharged 
at  Nashville,  Tenn. , in  June,  1865.  He  then 
returned,  after  this  long  perio  1 of  faithful  serv- 
ice and  devotirn  to  his  country’s  cause,  and 
resumed  the  occupations  of  peace.  Both  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  Michael  are  devout  members  of  the 
Methodist  church,  in  which  he  has  filled  the 
office  of  steward,  and  both  stand  deservedly  high 
in  the  esteem  of  their  friends  and  neighbors. 
In  politics  Mr.  Michael  is  a democrat  and 
takes  much  interest  in  the  success  of  his  party, 
by  which  he  has  been  honored  by  a nomina- 
tion for  the  office  of  township  trustee.  Mr. 
Michael  owns  thirty-five  acres  of  improved  land 
in  Perry  township,  also  seven  lots  in  Colfax, 
and  is  quite  comfortably  situated,  as  far  as 
this  world’s  pelf  is  concerned. 


OHN  MILLER,  who  carries  on  general 
farming  and  stock  raising  in  Madison 
township,  is  one  of  the  worthy  citizens 
that  Pennsylvania  has  furnished  to  this 
county.  He  was  born  in  Lehigh  county  of  the 
Keystone  state  on  the  sixteenth  of  November, 
1834,  and  is  a son  of  Elias  and  Maria  (Rex) 
Miller,  both  of  whom  were  natives  of  Lehigh 
county.  Pa.,  and  were  of  German  descent. 
The  father  was  born  in  1812,  and  belonged  to 
the  third  generation  of  the  family  in  America. 
During  his  youth  he  learned  the  carpenter’s 
trade.  He  worked  hard,  and  after  a time  had 
saved  $200,  and  had  purchased  a team  of 
horses.  With  his  family  in  the  wagon  and 
with  this  small  cash  capital,  he  started  across 
the  country  for  the  west,  and  in  May,  1839, 
located  in  Clinton  county,  Ind.  Here  he  pur- 
chased eighty  acres  of  land,  upon  which  was  a 
small  log  cabin,  and  began  the  developement 
of  a farm.  He  afterward  added  to  this  tract 
until  3 I 7 acres  of  rich  land  yielded  to  him  a 
golden  tribute  in  return  for  his  care  and  culti- 
vation. His  death  occurred  in  1876.  His 
wife,  who  was  born  in  1811,  died  in  1874. 
The  nnion  of  this  worthy  couple  was  blessed 
with  fourteen  children,  of  whom  five  died  in 
infancy.  The  members  of  the  family  were 
John;  Paul  and  Moses,  both  deceased;  Edwin; 
Nathan;  Abraham;  Eliza,  wife  of  Stephen  S. 
Earhart;  Sarah,  wife  of  John  Jacoby;  Maria, 
wife  of  George  Ikens. 

In  the  usual  manner  of  farmer  lads  John 
Miller  spent  the  days  of  his  boyhood  and  youth. 
He  was  only  five  years  of  age  when  his  par- 
ents came  to  Indiana.  He  received  but  limit- 
ed educational  privileges,  and  when  a young 
man  learned  the  carpenter’s  trade,  which  he 
followed  for  some  time.  As  soon  as  possible 
he  purchased  fifty  acres  of  land  south  of  Mul- 
berry, and  in  1882  purchased  his  present 
farm  of  100  acres.  This  is  now  under  a high 
state  of  cultivation  and  well  improved  with 


aoi  BIOGRAPHICAL  HISTORY 


line  l)uil(lin,i;s  and  all  the  accessories  of  a 


a model  farm.  On  the  twenty-sixth  (jf  Fef)ru- 
ary,  i <Sr)0,  Mr.  Miller  was  united  in  marriage 
with  Miss  Maria,  daughter  of  Adam  and 
Christina  (Rotheidrerger)  Karb,  who  were 
natives  of  Penn.sylvania,  and  were  of  German 
lineage.  They  came  to  Clinton  county  about 
i<S48,  and  were  thendore  numbered  among  its  ! 
early  settlers.  In  their  family  were  five  chil- 
dren— Maria,  who  was  born  in  1836;  Eliza- 
beth, wife  of  Lewis  Baer;  Lydia,  deceased; 
Daniel;  Rebecca,  wife  of  Clinton  Baughman. 
The  following  children  graced  the  union  of 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Miller — Carrie,  born  November 
30,  i860,  began  teaching  school  at  the  age  of  | 
fifteen,  and  is  now  one  of  the  successful  teach-  j 
ers  in  the  primary  department  of  the  public  j 
schools  of  Chicago;  Flora  E.,  born  August  12, 
1862,  is  the  wife  of  Albert  C.  Martz;  William 
P. , born  January  12,  1865,  is  a harness-maker 
of  Mulberry;  Elizabeth,  born  in  1867,  died 
July  29,  1870;  Calvin  S.,  born  April  ii,  1873, 
is  taking  a cemrse  in  mechanics  in  Peru,  Ind.  ; 
Jennie,  born  June  3,  1877,  completes  the 
family.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Miller  are  memhers  of 
the  German  Reform  church  and  are  well 
known  and  highly  respected  peoj)le.  In  poli- 
tics he  is  a stalwart  democrat,  but  is  not  an 
office-seeker.  Since  the  age  of  five  years  he 
has  made  his  home  in  Clinton  county,  and 
those  who  have  know  him  from  boyhood  are 
numbered  among  his  warmest  friends,  a fact 
which  indicates  a well  spent  life. 


OHN  S.  MILLER,  a leading  farmer 
and  ex-soldier  of  Owim  township,  ('lin- 
ton  county,  Ind.,  descends  from  an  old 
colonial  family.  His  |niternal  grand- 
father, Solomon  Miller,  was  born  August  22, 
1795,  and  was  the  fatlu;r  of  the  following  chil- 
dren; Mary,  Jacob,  ('.athcrine,  Solomon, 
Mary, A.,  George,  IHijah,  David,  James,  Noah, 


' John,  Betsey,  Sarah  and  Rebecca.  Solomon 
Miller  came  to  Clinton  county  in  1824,  and 
I entered  160  acres  of  land.  He  died  compara- 
tively } oung;  his  widow  then  married  William 
Douglass,  and  died  in  1849.  The  maternal 
grandfather  of  our  subject  was  Jacob  Saylors, 
who  was  the  father  of  eight  children,  viz: 
John,  Henry,  Daniel,  Sanford,  Andrew,  Wil- 
son, Mary  A.,  and  Hettie.  Jacob  Miller, 
father  of  John  S.,  our  subject,  was  born  Janu- 
ary I,  1818,  married  Mary  A.  Saylors,  who 
was  a few  years  his  junior,  and  to  this  mar- 
riage the  following  children  were  born;  Mary 
J.,  John  S. , Sarah  L.,  Hester  A.,  James,  Mel- 
vina,  Margaret  C.  and  Elmira.  Mrs.  Mary  A. 
Miller  died  at  the  early  age  of  thirty-seven 
years,  and  for  his  second  wife  he  selected  Eliz- 
abeth Coapstick,  who  bore  him  one  child, 
Joseph,  |r.  The  second  Mrs.  Miller  died  in 
1890.  Jacob  Miller,  the  father  of  these  chil- 
dren, was  the  owner  of  120  acres  of  land  on 
the  present  site  of  Sedalia;  he  was  very  highly 
esteemed  among  his  neighbors  and  acted  as  the 
administrator  of  one  estate  in  his  vicinage. 
His  death  took  place  March  8,  1891,  and  his 
loss  was  deeply  felt  throughout  the  township. 

*John  S.  Miller  was  born  in  Clinton  county, 
Ind.,  November  4,  1840,  and  was  reared  on 
the  home  farm,  which  was  then  nearly  all  tim- 
ber land,  and  received  his  education  in  the  old 
log  school-house.  Sej)tember  25,  1862,  he 

enlisted  in  the  Third  cavalry,  company  H, 
Eorty-fifth  Indiana  volunteers,  the  company 
being  commanded  by  C',a]d.  Harriett.  He 
joined  the  regiment  at  Crab  Orchard,  and  his 
first  engagement  was  at  Lavergne,  near  Nash- 
ville; he  was  in  the  battles  of  Stone  River, 
Chattanooga,  Chickamauga  and  Knoxville, 
where  they  were  surrounded  in  the  winter  of 
1863  64,  and  returned  to  Chattanooga  in  the 
spring;  then  started  with  .Sherman  on  his 
march  to  the  sea,  and  for  seven  months  were 
under  constant  fire,  but  on  August  28,  1864, 


OF  CLINTON  COUNTY. 


807 


while  some  twenty  miles  south  of  Atlanta  and 
under  command  of  Gen.  Kilpatrick,  he  was 
ordered,  with  others,  on  detail  duty,  to  tear  up 
railroad  tracks  and  to  destroy  the  road,  even 
if  it  cost  the  life  of  every  man  in  the  detach- 
ment of  one  hundred.  Here  he  sprained  an 
ankle,  was  taken  prisoner  and  taken  to  Ander- 
sonville.  (A  most  interesting  article  from  the 
pen  of  Mr.  Miller,  too  voluminous  for  the  pages 
of  this  work,  appears  in  the  “ American  Trib- 
une,” of  Indianapolis,  dated  September  6, 
1893.)  After  his  release  from  Andersonville 
he  was  taken  by  a circuitous  route  to  Jackson- 
ville, Fla.,  and  to  Fernandina,  and  by  sea  to 
Annapolis,  Md.,  and  thence  by  rail  to  Camp 
Chase,  Ohio,  where  he  received  an  honorable 
discharge  June  28,  1865. 

On  his  return  from  the  war,  Mr.  Miller 
was  married,  September  21,  1865,  to  Miss 
Marry  E.  Moore,  who  was  born  October  19, 
1844,  and  is  a daughter  of  James  and  Harriet 
Abigail  (Stevens)  Moore,  and  to  this  union 
the  following  children  have  been  born  : 
Leonidas  R. , Clifton  D.,  May,  Dell,  Murad 
Bertram  (deceased),  Margorie  A.,  Clara 
Leone,  Elsir  Hortusa,  John  Grover  (deceased), 
and  Blanch  Gertrude.  In  the  fall  of  1865, 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Miller  began  housekeeping,  and 
on  the  second  day  of  March,  1866,  they 
moved  to  their  present  farm,  which  then  con- 
tained eighty  acres,  all  in  timber,  but  now  is  a 
blooming  farm  of  148  acres,  with  ten  acres 
only  uncultivated.  The  place  is  well  drained 
with  over  2,  500  rods  of  tiling,  and  improved 
with  a line  modern  dwelling  that  cost  fully 
$2,000.  Fraternally  he  is  a member  of  Seda- 
lia  lodge.  No.  508,  F.  & A.  M.,  in  which,  with 
the  exception  of  secretary  and  tyler,  he  has 
filled  all  the  offices.  He  is  also  a member  of 
the  Oliver  Short  post.  No.  390,  G.  A.  R.,  at 
Rossville.  His  boys  are  also  members  of  the 
Sedalia  lodge  of  Masons,  and  in  religion  the 
family  are  Methodists,  in  which  church  Mr. 


Miller  is  trustee  and  has  served  as  superintend- 
ent of  the  Sabbath -school.  Politically  he  is 
democrat,  has  been  a delegate  to  the  county 
convention,  and  was  once  elected  justice  of 
the  peace,  but  declined  to  serve.  The  family 
enjoy  the  respect  of  the  entire  community  and 
their  social  standing  is  of  the  highest. 


EORGE  ANTHON  MfLANI,  retired 
business  man  and  well  known  citizen 
of  Frankfort,  was  born  in  the  king- 
dom of  Bavaria  March  13,  1824,  the 
son  of  Adam  and  Margaret  (Fishland)  Milani, 
parents  both  natives  of  the  sanie  countr}-, 
where  they  lived  and  died.  They  had  a fami- 
ly of  eight  children,  only  two  of  whom  are 
now  living,  namely,  the  subject  of  this  sketch 
and  a sister.  George  A.  Milani  enjoyed  the 
advantage  of  a good  education  in  the  schools 
of  his  native  country,  and,  while  young,  be- 
gan learning  the  trade  of  w'atchmaking  in  a 
small  city  about  twenty  miles  from  Vienna, 
Austria.  He  followed  his  trade  at  different 
places  in  the  old  country  until  1850,  at  which 
time  he  came  to  the  United  States,  locating 
first  in  Crawfordsville,  Ind.,  where  he  estab- 
lished himself  in  business  as  a watchmaker  and 
jeweler.  After  continuing  at  the  above  place 
for  four  years,  he  removed  to  the  town  of 
Ladoga,  Montgomery  county,  thence  in  i860 
came  to  Frankfort,  where  he  has  since  made 
his  home. 

Mr.  Milani  followed  the  jewelry  business 
and  watchmaking  with  most  gratifying  success 
until  1885,  in  which  year  he  practically  retired 
from  active  life  and  is  now  spending  his  de- 
clining years  in  the  enjoyment  of  that  quietude 
which  only  those  who  have  battled  long  and 
earnestly  with  the  world  know  how  to  appre- 
ciate. Personally  Mr.  Milani  is  quile  popular 
in  Frankfort,  and  belongs  to  that  large  and 
eminently  respectable  class  of  people  who  in  a 


808 


BIOGRAPHICAL  HISTORY 


<iuiet  way  exert  a wholesome  influence  in  the 
comninnity.  He  was  married,  in  1851,  to 
Elizabeth  Clevenger,  daughter  of  Samuel 
Clevenger  of  Montgomery  county,  Ind.,  who 
died  in  1871,  leaving  two  children;  Julia, 
wife  of  A.  1).  Kempf,  and  Jennie,  who  be- 
came the  wife  of  Ferdinand  Dern,  both  living 
at  this  time  in  the  city  of  Frankfort. 


ROF.  OSCAR  S.  MILLER  is  an  in- 
fluential citizen  of  Sedalia,  Clinton 
county,  and  the  honored  principal  of 
the  graded  schools  of  that  place.  The 
family  originated  in  Holland.  His  grand- 
father, Charles  Miller,  was  born  in  Pennsyl- 
vania, and  married  Sarah  Heller  of  that  state, 
by  whom  he  had  eight  children — Peter,  Al- 
fred, Stephen,  Sarah,  Adeline,  Joseph, 

Amanda  and  Christian.  He  was  a tailor  by 

trade  and  accumulated  consiilerable  property, 
including  400  acres  of  valuable  land.  He  and 
his  wife  were  active  members  of  the  Dutch 
Reform  church,  and  he  was  a stalwart  advo- 
cate of  democracy.  All  of  his  children  lived 
to  rear  families  of  their  own.  Christian  Mil- 
ler, father  of  our  subject,  was  born  in  Penn- 
sylvania in  1840,  and  in  1864  was  joinetl  in 
wedlock  with  Jane  Amanda  Toxel,  who  was 
born  in  1843,  and  is  a daughter  of  Stephen 
and  Esther  (Mickley)  Toxel,  who  were  natives 
of  Pennsylvania  but  moved  to  Indiana  in  1863. 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Miller  had  eight  children — Oscar 
S.,  Charles  E. , who  died  at  an  early  age; 
William  S.,  Joseph  D.,  Sarah  IL , Annie  M., 
Minnie  M.,  who  was  a twin  sister  of  Annie, 
and  died  at  the  age  of  a year  and  a half,  and 
Adeline  J.  The  parents  began  their  domestic 
life  in  the  home  of  an  uncle,  where  they  lived 
for  two  years,  when  Mr.  Miller  [)urchased 
twenty  acres  of  partially  improved  land.  This 
he  afterward  sold,  and  rented  other  land.  He 


met  with  many  difficulties  and  hardships  in  the 
early  days,  but  at  length  prosperity  crowned 
his  efforts,  and  as  the  result  of  good  man- 
agement and  perseverance  he  is  now  well- 
to-do.  He  supports  the  democracy  and  he 
and  his  wife  belong  to  the  Dutch  Reform 
church,  in  which  he  served  for  many  years 
as  elder.  They  are  well  known  people  and 
their  friends  in  the  community  are  many. 

Professor  Miller  is  one  of  the  native  sons 
of  Clinton  county.  He  was  born  October  8, 
1864,  spent  his  boyhood  days  on  the  old  home 
farm  and  began  his  education  in  the  public 
schools.  In  1886,  he  entered  the  Danville 
Normal  college,  and  has  also  attended  the 
county  normals.  His  aptitude  for  study  and 
earnest  application  have  made  him  a scholarly 
man  and  brought  him  success  in  his  work  in 
teaching,  which  he  began  in  1886.  He  is  now 
principal  of  the  schools  of  Sedalia,  which  oc- 
cupy a fine  two-story  brick  building,  erected  at 
a cost  of  $3,500.  During  the  summer  months 
he  engaged  in  farm  work  and  other  pursuits, 
and  in  the  summer  of  1894  filled  the  important 
position  of  book-keeper  for  the  firm  of  Milnor 
Brothers,  extensive  dealers  in  stock  and  grain. 
On  the  loth  of  February,  1891,  was  celebrated 
the  marriage  of  Mr.  Miller  and  Miss  Sarah 
Ellen  Morrisey,  who  was  born  in  this  state, 
April  17,  1869,  and  is  a daughter  of  Michael 
and  Malinda  Morrisey,  of  Irish  ilescent;  both 
parents  died  when  Sarah  Ellen  was  eight 
years  of  age.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Miller  have  a 
pleasant,  tasty  home,  surrounded  by  beau- 
tiful ma])lc  trees,  and  the  household  is  noted 
for  its  hosiiitality.  Mr.  Miller  warmly  ad- 
vocates the  princijiles  of  democracy,  and  by 
his  ballot  sup[)orts  that  jiarty.  He  also  be- 
longs to  the  Dutch  Reform  church.  A man  of 
sterling  worth  and  strict  integrity,  he  well  mer- 
its the  high  regard  in  which  he  is  held,  and  de- 
serves nii'iition  in  this  volume.  Ajuil  14,  he 
received  the  democratic  nomination  for  trustee 


OF  CLINTON  COUNTY. 


800 


of  Owen  township,  and  was  elected  November 
6,  1894,  being  one  of  tlie  few  democrats  to 
achieve  victory. 


AMUEL  MOHLER,  one  of  the  old 
settlers  and  substantial  farmers  of 
Owen  township,  Clinton  county,  Ind., 
a deacon  in  the  German  Baptist 
church,  descends  from  a Swiss  family  who 
came  to  America  and  settled  in  Pennsylvania 
in  old  colonial  times.  Ludwig  Mohler,  great- 
great-great-grandfather  of  our  subject,  came 
with  his  family  from  Switzerland  on  the  ship 
Thistle,  via  Glasgow,  Scotland,  to  America, 
arriving  August  29,  1730,  and  settling  in  Lan- 
caster county.  Pa.  He  was  born  April  4, 
1696,  and  died  in  January,  1753,  aged  fifty- 
seven  years,  nine  months,  and  two  days. 
Henry,  the  forefather  of  this  branch  of  the 
family,  is  traced  five  generations.  These  facts 
and  the  following  genealogy  are  taken  from  a 
genealogical  chart  made  by  Simon  Mohler,  a 
descendant  of  Henry,  who  died  an  aged  man 
in  Lancaster  county.  Pa.  He  took  the  facts 
from  the  old  records,  tombstones  and  tradi- 
tions of  the  family.  From  Jacob  the  follow- 
ing branch  comes:  He  married  Mariah  Bucher, 
and  they  had  the  following  children — Mary, 
Fannie,  John,  George,  Kate,  and  Elizabeth  A. 
From  John  of  this  generation,  who  was  the 
fourth  from  the  founder  of  the  family  in  Amer- 
ica, spring — Elias,  Jacob,  George,  Emanuel, 
William,  Nancy  and  Polly.  From  Emanuel 
spring — John,  Rebecca,  George,  Sarah,  Susan 
and  Eliza.  This  is  all  the  record  preserved  by 
Jacob,  the  son  of  Ludwig.  From  Henry,  the 
great-great-grandfather  of  our  subject,  son  of 
Ludwig  the  founder  of  the  family  and  the 
ancestor  of  this  branch  of  the  Mohler  family, 
spring  — Sarah,  Marion,  Susan,  Henry,  great- 
grandfather of  our  subject;  John  Jacob,  Gris, 
Sarah  and  Eliza.  These  are  the  third.  The 


fourth  generation  from  Henry  of  the  third 
generation,  are  Mary,  John,  Henry,  grand- 
father of  our  subject;  Samuel  and  Elizabeth. 
The  fifth  generation  from  Henry  of  the  fourth 
generation,  are — Samuel,  Hannah,  Rebecca, 
Allen,  the  father  of  our  subject;  John  and 
Eliza.  P'rom  the  sixth  generation  from  Allen 
of  the  fifth  (the  father  of  our  subject),  spring 
six  children:  Daniel,  Samuel,  Henry,  John, 
Mary  and  Ellen. 

Henry  Mohler,  grandfather  of  the  subject, 
was  a substantial  farmer  of  Lancaster  county. 
Pa.,  and  married  Annie  Landis.  They  were 
German  Baptists  and  it  is  believed  that  all  the 
Mohlers  were  German  Baptists.  He  died  at 
forty-five  years  of  age  in  Lancaster  county. 
Pa  Allen,  son  of  the  above  and  father  of  our 
subject,  was  born  in  Lancaster  county.  Pa.,  in 
1801,  received  a common  education  and  be- 
came a farmer.  His  father  gave  him  $1,000 
in  land  in  Cumberland  county.  Pa.  He  mar- 
ried Elizabeth,  daughter  of  Ludwig  Kurtz  of 
Lancaster  county.  Pa.,  and  to  them  were  born 
five  children.  This  wife  died,  and  he  married 
Sarah  Murphy,  and  by  her  had  one  child, 
Ellen.  After  marriage  he  resided  in  Lancas- 
ter county.  Pa.,  two  years,  and  then  lived  in 
Cumberland  county.  Pa.,  until  1854,  when  he 
came  to  Clinton  county,  Ind.,  and  settled  on 
eighty  acres  of  land  in  Ross  township,  to 
which  he  added  until  he  owned  120  acres  and 
was  a prosperous  farmer.  He  was  an  honor- 
able, hard-working  man,  respected  by  all  who 
knew  him.  He  died  in  1885,  aged  seventy- 
five  years. 

Samuel  Mohler,  our  subject,  was  born  in 
Lancaster  county.  Pa.,  April  5,  1836,  received 
a common  education  and  became  a carpenter 
and  farmer.  He  came,  when  eighteen  years 
of  age,  with  his  parents  to  Indiana  and  follow- 
ed the  trade  of  a carpenter  for  twelve  years, 
and  built  many  barns  in  this  part  of  the  coun- 
ty, especially  on  Twelve  Mile  Prarie.  In  1866 


BIOGRAPHICAL  HISTORY 


cSlO 


he  in.'irried  MaryJ.,  (laughter  of  George  and 
Rebecca  (Thrush)  Stliah'r,  from  Pennsylvania, 
of  Lnglish  descemt.  Mary  |.  was  born  in 
Hagerstown,  Md.,  September  23,  1846.  Her 
parents  died  when  she  was  but  seven  years 
old.  Her  father  was  a blacksmith  and  died  in 
Harrisburg,  Pa.,  and  she  W2S  brought  up  by 
her  uncle,  Jacob  Thrush,  who  came  to  In- 
diana in  1854  and  settled  in  Ross  township. 
He  was  a substantial  farmer  and  blacksmith, 
d'o  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Mohler  were  born  nine  chil- 
dren : Sarah,  married  Noah  Reppart,  a farm- 
er of  Ross  t(nvnship;  Albert,  married  Rebecca 
Anderson,  is  a baker  and  confectioner  in  La 
Layette,  and  has  one  child;  Edward,  Simon, 
Eliza,  Manson,  Annie,  Willis  and  Margie. 
After  marriage  Mr.  Mohler  settled  on  his  pres- 
sent  farm  in  Owen  township.  He  and  wife 
are  members  of  the  German  Baptist  church, 
in  which  he  has  been  deacon  ten  years.  In 
politics  he  is  a republican.  He  is  an  indus- 
trious, hard-working  man  and  has  brought  up 
a resjiectablc  family  of  children  and  has  given 
them  all  good  educations. 


IfORGE  E.  MOORE,  D.  D.  S. , of 
Frankfort,  Glinton  county,  Ind.,  was 
born  in  Acton,  Ontario,  June  3,  1868, 
and  is  a son  of  John  and  Jennie 
Moore.  )ohn  Moore,  the  father  was  born  in 
Nickell,  in  1841,  and  Jennie  Moore,  the 
mother,  was  born  in  Ogdensburg,  N.  Y.,  in 
I 846.  They  were  married  at  Guelph,  Ontario, 
November  I,  1865,  and  first  located  in  Acton, 
where  |ohn  Moore  engaged  in  the  saw-mill  and 
liimher  business  and  remained  thereuntil  1873, 
and  then  moved  to  Idmehouse,  Ontario,  where 
he  engaged  in  the  lumber  and  lime  trade,  was 
suc.ci'ssful  hnancially,  and  still  resides  there, 
d'o  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Moore  have  bi'en  born  four 
children  Charles,  (jf  Lancaster,  Ohio,  pho- 


tographer; George  E.,  whose  name  opens  this 
paragraph;  and  Albert  and  Frank,  at  home. 

George  E.  Moore  attended  the  high-school 
in  Criielph,  graduated  in  1886,  and  then  for 
three  years  was  employed  as  clerk  in  the 
wholesale  hardware  store  of  J.  M.  Bond  & 
Co. ; he  next  entered  the  Ohio  Dental  college 
at  Cincinnati;  (the  second  established  in  the 
United  States)  October  i,  1889,  and  gradu- 
ated in  March,  1892,  and  then  engaged  as 
an  assi.stant  in  Monroe,  Mich.,  where  he  re- 
mained one-and-a-half  years;  then  passed  a 
year  in  Chicago,  and  finally  came  to  Frank- 
fort, and  here  achieved  a fine  reputation  and 
built  up  a lucrative  practice  considering  the 
brief  period  he  has  been  here.  He  has  finely 
equipped  rooms  and  makes  a specialty  of  .crown 
and  bridge  work,  the  highest  branch  of- his  art 
and  the  crucial  test  of  the  al)ilities  of  the  art- 
ist. Dr.  Moore  is  a Knight  of  Pythias,  and  is 
personally  a most  genial  gentleman. 


AMES  W.  MOORE  was  born  in  Clin- 
ton county,  Ind.,  November  23,  1848, 
the  son  of  John  and  Mahuldah  Moore, 
natives  of  Ohio  and  of  Irish  descent. 
John  Moore  was  born  I'ebruarv  28,  1813,  in 
Hamilton  county,  Ohio,  accom])anie  I his  par- 
ents to  Rush  county.  Inch,  about  the  year 
1830,  and  later  became  a resident  of  the 
county  of  Clinton,  where  he  engaged  in  farm- 
ing. His  was  indeed  a very  industrious  life, 
and  his  labors  were  followed  with  well  de- 
served reward,  as  he  became  in  time  one 
of  the  most  prosperous  farmers  of  Jackson 
townshiir  He  was  married  July  11,  1837,  to 
Mahuldah  Douglass,  who  proved  indeed  a true 
helpmate  and  who  bore  him  the  following 
children;  Thomas,  of  Clinton  county;  Emily, 
deceased;  Rachel,  wife  of  Jacob  McKinsey; 
Robert,  died  in  the  army;  William  b'.,  a 
I farmer  of  Boone  county;  James  \V.,  subject  of 


OF  CLINTON  COUNTY. 


811 


tliis  mention;  Clarissa,  wife  of  William  Golds- 
berry;  Eliza,  wife  of  Hiram  Irwin;  John  B., 
a resident  of  Hamilton  comity,  Kan. ; Charles, 
a resident  of  the  comity  of  Boone;  Morton 
L. ; Alice,  wife  of  Edward  Berry;  Mahiildah, 
ileceased;  and  Anna,  deceased.  The  father  of 
these  children  died  on  the  nineteenth  day  of 
January,  1890.  He  was  a devout  member  of 
the  Presbyterian  church,  with  which,  with  his 
wife,  he  became  identified  in  1857,  and  in 
every  relation  of  life  commanded  the  respect 
of  all  with  whom  he  became  acquainted. 

James  W.  Moore  was  reared  in  his  native 
county,  in  the  common  schools  of  which  he  re- 
ceived his  educational  training,  and,  after  re- 
siding under  the  parental  roof  until  his  twenty- 
fourth  year,  purchased  a tract  of  land  in  Jack- 
son  township,  consisting  of  forty-four  acres, 
and  engaged  in  the  pursuit  of  agriculture  upon 
his  own  responsibility.  To  his  original  pur- 
chased he  made  additions  from  time  to  time, 
and  is  now  the  possessor  of  137  acres  of  land, 
well  improved,  the  buildings  on  the  same 
ranking  with  the  best  in  the  community  where 
he  resides.  Mr.  Moore  has  always  been  a 
careful  farmer  and  believes  in  the  true  dignity 
of  agriculture  as  a science.  He  has  given 
considerable  attention  to  the  raising  of  fine 
stock,  particularly  cattle  and  hogs,  and  in  this 
department  his  success  has  long  since  been 
assured.  Mr.  Moore  has  been  twice  married; 
the  first  time  on  the  twenty-third  of  April, 
1872,  to  Charity  V.  Goldsberry,  who  was  born 
in  Ross  county,  Ohio,  April  5,  1848,  the  daugh- 
ter of  Ajnos  and  Anna  Goldsberry,  both  par- 
ents natives  of  Ohio.  The  union  of  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Moore  resulted  in  the  birth  of  the  follow- 
ing children  ; An  infant,  born  March  i,  1873, 
died  March  21  of  the  same  year;  Ernest  W., 
born  April  23,  1876;  Clifford  E.,  born  Octo- 
ber 14,  1878;  Virgil  W.,  born  October  5,  1880, 
and  Urcie  M.,  born  July  19,  1887,  died  on  the 
twenty-ninth  of  September  following.  The 


mother  of  these  children,  a most  j)0])ular  lady 
in  the  community  and  a valued  member  of  the 
Presbyterian  church,  departed  this  life  Septem- 
ber 18,  1892.  On  the  fourth  of  F'ebruary, 
1894,  Mr.  Moore  married  his  present  wife, 
Mrs.  Anna  P'.  Truitt,  the  daughter  of  Warner 
and  Sophia  (Sill)  Hayworth. 


ENRY  Y.  MORRISON,  a widely 
known  public  man,  eminent  lawyer, 
and  representative  citizen  of  Frank- 
fort, is  a native  of  Adams  county, 
Ohio,  where  his  birth  occurred  on  the  fifteenth 
day  of  March,  1826.  His  father,  James  Mor- 
rison, was  born  in  F'leming  county,  Ky., 
February  10,  1795,  and  was  the  son  of  John 
and  Elizabeth  (McGary)  Morrison,  natives  of 
Ireland  and  early  settlers  of  Kentucky.  John 
Morrison  was  a farmer  by  occupation  and  pur- 
sued that  useful  calling  in  the  above  state  until 
1802,  at  which  time  he  emigrated  to  Ohio, 
settling  in  Adams  county,  where  his  death 
subsequently  occurred.  He  reared  the  follow- 
ing children — James,  John,  Henry,  William, 
Joseph,  Jane,  Hannah,  Elizabeth  and  Mary. 
James  Morrison,  father  of  Henry  Y. , was  born 
and  reared  a farmer,  taught  school  in  his  early 
days,  and  in  1 828  moved  from  Ohio  to  F'oimtain 
county,  Ind.,  thence,  in  the  spring  of  1835,  came 
to  the  county  of  Clinton,  locating  in  what  is  now 
Warren  township.  He  entered  a tract  of 
government  land,  to  which  he  made  additions 
by  subsequent  purchase,  and  resided  on  his 
home  place  until  his  death  in  the  month  of 
October,  1870.  James  Morrison  was  mar- 
ried in  Adams  county,  Ohio,  September  30, 
1818,  to  Margaret  Sphar,  who  was  born  in 
Washington,  county,  Pa.,  July  27,  1802,  the 

daughter  of  Martin  and  Margaret  (Duncan) 
Sphar.  The  following  are  the  names  of  the 
children  born  to  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Morrison — 
John,  Martin,  Henry  Y. , Sarah  J.,  Margaret 


BTOGRAPIirCAL  HISTORY 


S\'2 


A.,  |anu'S  and  Owen.  The  mother  of  these  ! 
cliildren  died  ]uly  17,  1886.  |aines  Morrison  I 
servi'd  as  surveyor  of  I'oimtain  county  two 
terms  of  two  years  each,  and  for  two  terms 
was  a member  of  the  board  of  commissioners 
of  the  county  of  Clinton.  He  served  as  justice 
of  peace  and  township  assessor,  and  was  a 
man  of  good  judgment  and  many  e.xcellent 
traits  of  character. 

Henry  V.  Morrison  was  ten  years  old  when 
his  parents  moved  to  Clinton  county,  and  his 
only  means  of  education  was  an  occasional 
subscription  school,  which  he  attended  during 
the  winter  season  until  his  seventeenth  year. 
He  improved  every  opportunity  offered,  and 
having  prepared  himself  for  teaching  by  attend- 
ing a private  school  taught  by  his  friend,  John 
P.  Crothers,  at  that  time  auditor  of  Clinton 
county — he  began,  at  the  age  of  nineteen,  to 
teach  during  the  winter  and  worked  on  the 
farm  the  remainder  of  the  year.  He  was  en- 
gaged in  educational  work  each  successive 
winter  until  thirty  years  of  age,  at  which  time, 
in  the  fall  of  1856,  he  was  elected  treasurer  of 
Clinton  county.  At  the  close  of  his  first  term 
he  was  re-elected  by  a majority  of  507,  and 
during  the  time  he  served  as  treasurer,  he 
devoted  his  spare  moments  to  the  study  of 
law.  He  continued  his  legal  studies  after  the 
expiration  of  his  official  term  and  also  served 
as  county  school  examiner.  In  1863,  he 
entered  the  law  department  of  the  Northwestern 
Christian  university,  now  Butler  university,  at 
Indianapolis,  from  which  institution  he  was 
graduated  the  same  year,  and  shortly  there- 
after returned  to  Fraid<fort  and  effected  a co- 
partnership in  the  practice  with  the  Hon.  R. 

P.  Davidson.  Mr.  Davidson,  after  one  year, 
removed  to  La  I'ayette,  and  Mr.  Morrison  then 
became  associatial  with  Hon.  P.  H.  Palmer, 
which  partnership  was  dissolved  six  years 
later.  Subseciuently  Mr.  Morrison  entered 
into  partnership  with  Hon.  j.  V.  Kcuit  and 


Dallas  Holman,  and  still  later  was  associated 
with  his  sons,  James  W. , Martin  A.  and  John 
C.  Morrison.  He  practiced  successfully  in  the 
courts  of  Clinton  and  other  counties  of  central 
Indiana  until  1884,  since  which  time  he  has 
not  been  actively  engaged  in  the  legal  business. 
In  1867,  Mr.  Morrison  was  elected  representa- 
tive to  the  state  legislature  from  Clinton  coun- 
ty and  proved  a most  useful  member  of  that 
body  by  bringing  about  much  needed  legisla- 
tion. Among  the  bills  introduced  by  him  was 
one  known  as  a “law  for  the  encouragement 
of  the  drainage  of  wet  lands,  ” otherwise  known 
as  “the  individual  application  law,”  under 
which  there  have  been  more  than  500  miles  of 
ditching  done  in  Clinton  county  alone.  Mr. 
Morrison  has  always  been  interested  in  the 
commercial,  agricultural  and  intellectual  ad- 
vancement of  his  county.  He  assisted  in 
organizing  the  Logansport,  Crawfordsville  & 
Terre  Haute  R.  R.  company,  now  known  as 
the  Vandalia,  of  which  he  was  chosen  a di- 
rector, and  he  spent  considerable  time  and 
money  in  securing  donations  of  right-of-way, 
etc.  He  also  assisted  in  organizing  the  Frank- 
fort A Kokomo  R.  R.  company,  and  was  com- 
plimented by  being  elected  first  president  of 
the  same,  and  retaining  the  office  for  a number 
of  years  after  its  completion.  He  devoted 
several  years,  while  in  the  prime  of  life,  to  secure 
the  construction  of  this  road,  was  a director  of 
the  La  Fayette,  Muncie  A IMoomington  R.  R. 
company,  and  at  one  time  was  president  of  the 
Frankfort  tS;  State  Line  company. 

Politically,  Mr.  Morrison  has  always  acted 
with  the  democratic  party.  He  served  as 
president  of  the  school  board  of  Frankfort,  and 
also  as  j)resident  of  the  ('.linton  county  Agri- 
cultural society,  much  of  the  success  of  the 
latter  being  due  to  his  superior  management. 
I'diiancially,  Mr.  Morrison  has  met  with  de- 
served success,  being  at  this  time  numbered 
among  the  wealth}’  num  of  ('linton  county. 


OF  CI.INTON  COUNTY. 


818 


He  is  proprietor  and  founder  of  the  town  of 
Forest  on  the  Frankfort  & Kokomo  road,  now 
the  “Clover  Leaf,”  and  he  owns  valuable 
property  throughout  Clinton  county  and  in  the 
city  of  Frankfort.  Mr.  Morrison  is  prominently 
identified  with  the  Masonic  fraternity,  belong- 
ing to  the  commandery,  the  mystic  shrine,  and 
is  a thirty-second  degree  Mason.  He  has  filled 
nearly  every  official  position  within  the  gift  of 
his  lodge,  and  represented  his  commandery  in 
a national  conclave  recently  held  in  the  city  of 
Denver,  Colo.  He  is  also  an  Odd  Fellow;  and 
has  been  a delegate  to  six  national  democratic 
conventions.  On  the  twenty-ninth  day  of  Feb- 
ruary, 1852,  Mr.  Morrison  was  united  in  mar- 
riage to  Miss  Nancy  A.  Campbell,  daughter  of 
William  and  Peninah  (Denman)  Campbell, 
who  were  natives  of  Pennsylvania  among  the 
early  pioneers  of  Clinton  county.  Mrs.  Mor- 
rison was  born  in  Clinton  county,  Ind.,  July 
30,  1832,  and  is  the  mother  of  the  following 
children:  James  W. , a well-known  lawyer  of 
Frankfort;  Margaret,  wife  of  Luther  Heichert; 
Martin  A.,  member  of  Frankfort  bar;  John  C. , 
an  attorney-at-law  and  dealer  in  real  estate; 
and  an  infant  that  died  unnamed.  Mrs.  Mor- 
rison, by  personal  effort,  obtained  an  excellent 
education,  which  was  supplemented  by  one 
year’s  attendance  at  DePauw  university,  Green- 
castle,  Ind. , after  which  she  taught  in  the  com- 
mon schools  of  Clinton  county  for  several 
terms.  She  is  a lady  of  exceptional  mental 
attainments  and  wide  and  varied  information ; 
a faithful  wife  and  loving  mother. 


OHN  Z.  MOORE,  deceased,  was  born 
in  Virginia  in  1827,  son  of  John  and 
Laura  (Quick)  Moore,  also  natives  of 
Virginia  and  of  English  descent.  John 
Z.  Moore  was  reared  on  his  father’s  farm  and 
came  to  Clinton  county,  Ind.,  in  1852,  and 
here  bought  140  acres  of  land,  and  at  the  time 


of  his  death  he  owned  257  acres  in  Jackson 
township.  He  died  November  2,  1890,  his 
wife  having  preceded  him  to  the  grave  Novem- 
I,  1888.  They  were  the  parents  of  eight  chil- 
dren, as  follows:  James,  Catherine,  Clara  B. , 
John  B.,  Andrew,  two  that  died  in  infancy,  and 
Angeline,  the  only  survivor  of  the  eight.  An- 
geline  has  been  twice  married.  Her  first 
union  was  with  Daniel  Venis,  to  whom  she 
bore  one  child — Miley  N.,  who  lives  in  Jack- 
son  township  and  owns  sixty-nine  acres  of 
good  land,  which  his  mother  gave  him.  He 
married  Mattie  DeMoss,  and  to  this  union  two 
children  have  been  born — Belva  F.  and  Lemon. 
Mr.  Venis  died  in  1878;  Mrs.  Venis  then  mar- 
ried Charles  Wolf,  July  8,  1894.  Mr.  Wolf  is 
a business  man  of  Frankfort  and  a member  of 
the  Methodist  Episcopal  church.  Mrs.  Wolf 
is  a member  of  the  United  Brethren  church. 
Mr.  Wolf  is  a republican.  Mrs.  Wolf  still 
owns  157  acres  of  fine  land  in  Jackson  town- 
ship, Clinton  county. 


ARTIN  A.  MORRISON,  a promi- 
nent member  of  the  Frankfort  bar,  is 
son  of  H.  Y.  and  Nancy  A.  (Camp- 
bell) Morrison,  and  was  born  April 
15,  1862,  in  Frankfort,  Clinton  county,  Ind. 
He  was  reared  in  Frankfort,  where  received 
his  early  educational  training,  graduated  from 
the  high  school  in  1878,  and  subsequently  at- 
tended Butler  university  at  Indianapolis,  in 
which  he  pursued  his  studies  until  1883.  He 
selected  law  for  his  profession,  and  in  the 
above  year  began  a course  of  preparatory 
reading  with  his  father,  and  afterward  attend- 
ed the  law  department  of  the  university  of 
Virginia,  from  which  he  graduated  in  1886. 
He  was  admitted  to  the  bar  in  that  year  and 
at  once  entered  upon  the  practice  of  his  pro- 
fession in  Frankfort,  where  he  has  since  con- 
tinued, and  he  now  occupies  a conspicuous 


BrO(;RAPIIICAL  HISTORY 


Sll 

j)lacc;  ainoiif^  the  successful  attorneys  of  the 
('lintoii  count}’  bar.  I'rom  i <S<S6  to  i .Scjo  he 
was  associated  in  the  j)ractice  with  his  father 
and  brother,  luit  since  the  latter  year  has  had 
an  office  of  his  own. 

Martin  A.  Morrison  was  married  August 
2(j,  i8SS,  in  I'ranklin,  Ind.,  to  f^illian  L. 
Thompson,  who  was  born  in  Dupont,  Iiid., 
May  2<j,  1863,  daughter  of  Robert  and  Abigail 
(Williams)  Thompson.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Morri- 
son's home  has  been  brightened  by  the  birth 
of  two  children:  Robert  H.  and  Marillous  Dt. 
M.  A.  Morrison,  for  a young  man,  has  had 
a wide  and  varied  experience  in  his  profession 
and  is  recogni;ied  as  one  of  the  most  successful 
attorneys  of  I'rankfort.  His  services  have 
been  retained  in  many  noted  cases,  among 
which  w'as  the  celebrated  railroad  tax  case,  in 
whicli  he  was  employed  as  counsel  by  the  citi- 
zens of  Center  township.  He  was  five  times 
reading  clerk  in  the  general  assembly  of  In- 
diana, also  served  as  reading  clerk  for  demo- 
cratic state  conventions,  and  was  similarly  em- 
jdoyed,  in  1892,  in  the  democratic  national 
convention.  He  represented  his  college  in  the 
state  oratorical  contest  in  1883,  and  his  wife 
was  chosen  to  represent  Fraidslin  college  on 
the  same  occasioTi.  In  18S3,  Butler  universi- 
ty conferred  upon  the  title  of  A.  B.,  and  in 
1887  he  received  from  the  same  institution  the 
degree  of  A.  M.  The  university  of  \'irginia, 
in  1886,  conferee!  the  degree  of  B.  L.  Mr. 
Morrison  is  one  of  the  leading  democrats  of 
C'linton  county,  with  which  party  he  has  affili- 
ated ever  since  attaining  his  majority.  He  is 
a Mason  of  high  standing,  having  taken  the 
knights  tem])lar  degree,  and  he  also  belongs 
to  the  order  of  the  Hasteun  Star.  He  has  a 
ph.'asant  home  in  I'ranklort,  and  as  a citizen, 
he  is  •])rogressi\’e,  public  spirited  and  liberal, 
enjoying,  in  a maiked  di-gree,  the  confidence 
and  good  will  of  his  fi'llow-citizeus  and  the 
community  at  large. 


OWEN  A.  J.  MORRISON,  M.  1)., 
who  is  successfully  engaged  in  the 
practice  of  the  medical  profession  in 
Middlefork,  has  the  honor  of  being  a 
native  (E  Clinton  county.  He  was  here  born 
February  26,  1845,  and  is  a son  of  James  and 
Margaret  Morrison,  who  were  highly  respected 
people  of  the  community.  Upon  his  father’s 
farm  he  was  reared  to  manhood,  and  in  the 
common  schools  of  Warren  township  he  ac- 
(juired  his  primary  education.  He  afterward 
pursued  his  studies  in  Frankfort.  When  he 
had  attained  his  majority  he  began  farming 
the  old  homestead,  which  he  operated  until 
1878,  but  it  was  his  earnest  desire  to  enter  the 
medical  profession,  and  in  that  year  it  be- 
came possible  for  him  in  some  degree  to  carry 
out  his  cherished  plans.  Mr.  Morrison  at 
that  time  entered  the  medical  college  of  Fort 
A’ayne,  Ind.,  and  after  pursuing  a two  years’ 
course  was  graduated  therefrom  on  the  second 
of  March,  1880.  Immediately  after,  he  opened 
an  office  in  Middlefork,  where  he  has  remained 
continuously  since,  and  during  the  period  that 
has  elapsed  he  has  built  up  a lai'ge  practice, 
which  is  still  increasing.  He  is  a close  student 
of  his  profession  and  his  skill  and  ability  well 
imuit  his  success. 

On  the  twenty-ninth  of  November,  1866, 
was  celebrated  the  marriage  of  Dr.  Morrison 
and  Miss  Annie  If.  Johnston,  daughter  of  Wil- 
liam \’.  and  Fucy  (biudl)  Johnston.  Her 
pai'ents  wei'e  numbered  among  the  early  set- 
tlers of  this  county,  and  in  their  family  were 
seven  children,  namely:  Annie,  wife  of  our 
subject ; Ciltherine,  Blake  and  Bartholomew, 
all  (U'ceased;  Marjory,  wife  of  Marion  .Stotter; 
Martha,  wife  of  Martin  Ciunpbell;  Fifie,  wife 
of  Albert  Betts.  Mrs.  Morrison  was  born 
yVugust  11,  1848.  Two  children  grace  the 

union  of  the  doctor  and  his  wife  Olive  B., 

I wluj  was-  born  May  1 1,  1869,  and  is  the  wile 
1 of  Andrew  J.  I'arrit-r;  and  William  11.,  who 


OF  CLINTON  COUNTY. 


817 


was  born  January  30,  1871,  and  married  Hat- 
tie Schafer.  Dr.  Morrison  takes  some  interest 
in  civic  societies  and  belongs  to  Middlefork 
lodge,  No.  304,  F.  & A.  M.,  and  also  to  the 
Cood  Templars’  society.  He  holds  member- 
ship with  the  Universalist  church,  and  his 
wife  is  a member  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal 
church.  In  politics  he  is  a prohibitionist,  hav- 
ing supported  that  party  since  1884.  He  has 
always  made  his  home  in  Clinton  county,  and 
those  who  have  known  him  from  boyhood  are 
numbered  among  his  warmest  friends,  a fact 
which  indicates  an  honorable  and  well  spent 
life.  Those  who  know  him  esteem  him  highly 
for  his  sterling  worth  and  strict  integrity,  and 
he  well  deserves  representation  in  this  volume. 


OHN  MURPHY,  an  ex-soldier,  and  one 
of  the  most  prosperous  farmers  of 
Michigan  township,  Clinton  county, 
Ind.,  is  of  Irish  ancestry,  but  descends 
from  an  American  family  that  antedates  the 
Revolutionary  war.  His  great-grandfather 
was,  indeed,  one  of  the  patriots  of  that  histor- 
ical and  heroic  struggle,  having  entered  the 
army  that  fought  for  the  independence  of 
America  from  Juniata  county.  Pa.,  where  he 
had  settled.  Andrew  Murphy,  the  son  of  this 
Revoluntionary  hero,  was  born  in  Pennsyl- 
vania, married  Martha  Wharry,  and  was  an 
early  settler  of  Clinton  county,  Ind.  He  fol- 
lowed farming  all  his  life,  was  a strict  Presby- 
terian, and  in  politics  was  a Jacksonian  demo- 
ci'at.  Alexander  B.  Murphy,  son  of  Andrew 
and  Martha  (Wharry)  Murphy,  was  the  father 
of  John  Murphy,  the  subject  espescial  of  this 
sketch,  was  born  and  reared  in  Pennsylvania, 
where  he  married  Mary  VanSweringen,  daugh- 
ter of  E.  VanSweringen,  a wealthy  farmer, 
and  came  to  Indiana  about  the  year  1857. 
For  two  years  he  lived  in  Carroll  county,  and 
in  1859  came  to  Clinton  county  and  pur- 


chased and  improved  a farm  of  eighty  acres. 
He  also  taught  for  some  years  in  Pennsyl- 
vania and  Indiana.  Mrs.  Murphy  died  P'eb- 
ruary  15,  1859,  in  Carroll  county,  Ind.,  the 
mother  of  the  following  children  : John,  An- 
drew, Margaret,  Mary  J.,  Martha  W. , and 
Druscilla,  who  died  in  infancy  in  Pennsyl- 
vania. Alexander  B.  Murphy  then  married 
the  widow  Tetrick,  with  whom  he  lived  happi- 
ly until  his  death,  November  30,  1882,  when 
he  was  buried  with  Masonic  honors. 

John  Murphy,  whose  name  heads  this  bio- 
graphical notice,  was  born  in  Juniata  county. 
Pa.,  May  25,  1840,  and  has  always  been  a 
farmer.  He  came  to  Indiana  with  his  par- 
ents, and  August  29,  1862,  enlisted  in  com- 
pany I,  One  Hundredth  regiment  Indiana 
volunteer  infantry,  and  took  an  active  part  in 
the  engagements  in  which  his  regiment  partic- 
ipated, including  the  siege  of  Vicksburg,  the 
Atlanta  campaign,  Sherman’s  march  to  the 
sea,  the  battles  of  Jackson,  Miss.,  at  Chatta- 
nooga, at  Knoxville,  again  at  Cattanooga, 
and  at  Resaca  was  knocked  down  by  the  ex- 
plosion of  a shell,  and  was  struck  by  a spent 
ball  at  Missionary  Ridge.  He  fought  twice  at 
Jonesboro,  fought  at  Savannah,  and  marched 
on  to  Washington  to  take  part  in  the  grand  re- 
view. Although  he  passed  through  all  these 
perils  and  hardships,  he  was  never  sick  nor  in 
hospital,  and  was  honorably  discharged  May 
20,  1865.  He  now  receives  seventeen  dollars 
per  month  for  his  gallantry  and  faithful  service 
to  his  country.  November  i,  1866,  Mr.  Mur- 
phy was  married  to  Rebecca  Kelly,  a sister  of 
James  and  William  Kelly,  whose  biographies 
will  be  found  elsewhere  in  this  volume.  In 
T876,  Mr.  Murphy  and  wife  settled  on  a farm 
of  seventy  acres  in  Michigan  township,  which 
farm  he  has  increased  to  ninety  acres,  all 
highly  improved  and  in  a fine  state  of  cultiva- 
tion; his  residence  is  modern  in  its  construc- 
tion, is  well  furnished,  and  is  an  ornament  to 


818 


BIOGRAPHICAL  HISTORY 


the  neif^hborhood,  and  his  barn  is  substantial 
and  coinniodions.  In  politics,  Mr.  Murphy  is 
a populist,  and  was  honored  by  that  party,  in 
1892,  by  the  nomination  for  the  office  of  coun- 
ty treasurer.  h'raternally,  Mr.  Murphy  is  a 
member  of  Herman  lodge.  No.  184,  F.  A A. 
M.,  and  of  Stone  River  post,  G.  A.  R. , at 
h'rankfort.  He  is  respected  as  a most  ener- 
getic and  useful  citizen,  and  as  a progressive 
agriculturist,  and  socially  he  and  wife  stand 
very  high.  They  have  no  children. 


BRANK  C.  muse,  who  is  extensively 
engaged  in  contracting  and  building 
in  Mulberry,  is  recognized  as  one  of 
the  most  prominent  business  men  of 
the  place,  and  in  the  history  of  the  county 
well  deserves  representation.  Like  many  of 
his  fellow-citizens,  he  is  a native  of  Pennsyl- 
vania, his  birth  having  occurred  in  Lehigh 
county  on  the  fifteenth  of  September,  1854. 
In  that  county  his  parents,  Charles  and  Sarah 
(Hartzlerj  Muse,  were  also  born.  During  his 
boyhood  Frank  learned  the  carpenter  trade  with 
his  father,  and  soon  became  an  efficient  and 
expert  workman,  so  that  at  the  age  of  eighteen 
he  was  admitted  to  a full  partnership  in  a large 
contracting  business.  In  1878  he  came  to 
Clinton  county,  Ind.,  and  located  two  miles 
east  of  Mulberry  and  lived  there  three  years, 
and  then  built  in  the  town,  and  moved  into 
his  house  in  the  fall  of  1881.  In  1885,  he 
also  established  a butcher  shop  in  Mulberry, 
which  he  managed  for  three  years,  and  at  the 
same  time  continued  his  work  at  carpentering. 
'I'he  firm  of  Muse  & Son  employ  twelve  hands 
and  are  doing  an  extensive  and  constantly  in- 
creasing business. 

In  1877,  h'rank  C.  Mu.se  was  joined  in  wed- 
lock with  Miss  Clara  Moher,  daughter  of  John 
and  Amanda  Moher.  'I'heir  marriage  has  been 
blessc'd  with  a family  of  eight  children,  six  of 


whom  are  yet  living,  viz:  Milton,  who  was 
born  December  8,  1877,  died  April  20,  1878; 
Oliver  F. , born  Febrnary  4,  1879;  Howard  M., 
born  April  9,  1881;  Beulah  A.,  born  De- 

cember 9,  1882;  Mamie  M.,  born  March  27, 
1885.  Harry  R. , born  February  12,  1887,  died 
in  1892;  Sada,  born  November  3,  1892;  and 
Claude  I.,  born  April  3,  1894.  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Muse  hold  membershij)  with  the  Lutheran 
church,  and  in  social  circles  occupy  an  envi- 
able position.  Mr.  Muse  votes  with  the  demo- 
cratic party,  but  has  never  been  an  office  seeker, 
preferring  to  give  his  time  and  attention  to 
his  business  interests,  in  which  he  has  met 
with  good  success.  He  is  progressive  and  en- 
terprising, faithfully  lives  up  to  his  part  of  the 
contract,  is  straightforward  and  honorable  in 
all  dealings,  and  therefore  receives  from  the 
public  a liberal  patronage.  He  is  also  a valued 
citizen  and  one  who  takes  a commendable  in- 
terest in  everything  pertaining  to  the  welfare 
of  the  community. 


BRANR  a.  MUSHLITZ,  trustee  of 
Michigan  township,  Clinton  county, 
Ind.,  for  the  years  1890  to  1895,  with 
his  residence  at  Michigantown  while 
performing  his  official  duties,  descends  from 
an  ancient  Austrian  family,  members  of  which, 
on  his  paternal  side,  settled  in  America  in  the 
early  ])art  of  the  eighteenth  century.  The 
great-grandfather  of  h'rank  A.  was  the  pro- 
genitor of  the  American  family  Mushlitz,  and 
founded  his  settlement  in  Northampton  county, 
Pa.  Monroe  Mushlitz,  grandson  of  the  im- 
migrant alluded  to  above,  and  father  of  h'rank 
A.,  was  born  in  Northam[)ton  county,  still 
resides  there,  and  is  one  of  the  most  successful 
agriculturists  of  the  Reystone  state.  Monroe 
married  Mary  Rodgers,  a daughter  of  Herman 
Rodgers,  who,  at  the  age  of  twelve  years,  came 
from  Germany  at  the  beginning  of  the  present 


OF  CLINTON  COUNTY. 


819 


century,  and  after  passing  through  the  usual 
tribulations  of  jiioneer  life,  succeeded  in  acquir- 
ing a conqietency  as  a farmer  in  the  Lehigh 
valley  of  Pennsylvania,  and  there  died  in  1856. 

I'rank  A.  Mushlitz,  who  was  born  in 
Northampton  county.  Pa.,  November  5,  1854, 
and  was  third  son  of  a family  of  ten  children, 
was  reared  on  his  father’s  farm,  and  also  re- 
ceived an  e.xcellent  education  by  attending  the 
Weaversville  Normal  school  of  Northampton 
county.  Pa.,  and  this  training  was  completed 
by  an  attendance  at  the  Ladoga  Normal  col- 
lege of  Indiana  for  several  years.  Thus  pre- 
pared, he  followed  school-teaching  for  seven- 
teen terms,  of  which  two  terms  were  taught  in 
Lehigh  county.  Pa.,  a year  in  the  state  of 
Michigan,  and  the  remaining  terms  in  Clinton 
county,  Ind.  He  has  been  quite  popular  as  a 
democrat,  and  beside  his  present  office  of 
township  trustee,  has  filled  the  position  of 
justice  of  the  peace.  He  married  Rebecca  F. 
Cohee,  daughter  of  Wilson  and  Susanna 
f Douglass)  Cohee.  The  father  of  Mrs.  Mush- 
litz,  was  formerly  a very  prominent  merchant 
of  Frankfort,  Ind.,  and  died  March  16,  1892, 
leaving  a widow,  who  still  resides  in  that  city. 
F.  A.  Mushlitz  and  his  wife  settled  on  their 
present  from  of  ninety-seven  acres  in  1881, 
and  this  property  is  now  one  of  the  best 
cultivated  of  any  of  its  size  in  the  township 
and  one  of  the  best  stocked;  is  improved  with 
a comfortable  residence  and  a most  excellent, 
modern  barn — one  of  the  best,  indeed,  in  the 
township.  On  this  desirable  property  reside 
Mr.  Mushlitz,  his  wife  and  two  children,  Clara 
and  Laura,  who  all  enjoy  the  good  will  and 
esteem  of  their  neighbors.  In  his  fraternal 
relations,  Mr.  Mushlitz  has  a wide  and  influ- 
ential connection,  being  a member  of  Herman 
lodge.  No.  184,  F.  & A.  M.,  and  also  of  the 
chapter,  council  and  commandery  of  the  same 
order;  he  is  likewise  an  honored  member  of 
Dakota  tribe.  No.  42,  of  the  I.  O.  R.  M., 


of  Rubicon  lodge.  No.  340,  K.  of  P. , and  is 
lecturer  in  the  P.  of  H.  lodge,  No.  2084.  The 
degrees  he  has  reached  in  these  various  orders 
attest  the  remarkable  tenacity  of  memory  of 
Mr.  Mushlitz,  and  the  esteem  in  which  he  is 
held  by  his  brothers.  He  is  also  an  esteemed 
member  of  the  State  Teachers’  association,  and 
possesses  a private  library  that  might  be  en- 
vied by  any  resident  of  the  township.  In  his 
religious  convictions  he  is  a Lutheran. 


aURRAN  ORR,  an  enterprising  farmer, 
was  born  in  Johnson  township,  Clin- 
ton county,  Ind.,  December  13,  1843, 
and  here  he  still  resides.  His  grand- 
father, Matthew  Orr,  came  from  Scotland  and 
settled  in  the  state  of  New  York.  He  was 
a stone-cutter  by  trade,  and  became  quite 
wealthy.  He  married  Mary  Eagles,  and  the 
two  passed  a great  portion  of  their  lives  in 
Coshocton  county,  Ohio.  Matthew  Orr,  father 
of  our  subject,  and  son  of  the  above,  was  born 
in  Coshocton  county,  Ohio,  and  at  eleven  years 
began  the  life  of  a drover,  which  he  followed 
till  grown.  Later  he  engaged  in  canal  boat- 
ing. He  came  to  Clinton  county,  Ind.,  in 
1839,  when  this  was  a wilderness,  and  accu- 
mulated considerable  property,  owning,  at  his 
death,  1,245  acres  of  Johnson  township  land. 
He  could  have  purchased  La  Fayette  and  all 
it  included,  when  he  first  came,  for  $300.  He 
was  a Jackson  democrat,  and  held  the  first 
trusteeship  of  Johnson  township.  He  married 
Armina  Shaw,  daughter  of  Elijah  Shaw, 
and  to  this  union  were  born  the  following  chil- 
dren: Jerry,  Nathan,  Thomas,  James,  Mat- 
thew, Curran,  Alford,  George,  Catherine  E., 
Julia  A.,  Mary  J.,  William  H.  and  John  S. 

I The  death  of  the  father  took  place  March  20, 

I 1870,  but  the  mother  is  still  living  on  the  old 
I home  farm  at  the  age  of  nearly  eighty  years. 


820 


BIOGRAPHICAL  HISTORY 


('urran  Orr  has  been  a fanner  all  his  life 
and  now  owns  lOO  acres  of  very  fertile  land. 
He  is  democratic  in  his  political  proclivities, 
and  he  and  wife  are  members  of  the  Method- 
dist  chnrch.  He  married  Caroline  Scircle, 
daughter  of  George  A.  and  Malinda  (Ryan) 
Scircle,  Her  father  was  one  of  the  first  to 
settle  on  Indian  Prairie  in  Johnson  township, 
and  was  a large  land  owner  and  prominent  cit- 
izen, after  whom  Scircleville  was  named. 
James  Ryan,  Mrs.  Orr’s  maternal  grandfather, 
was  a soldier  in  the  war  of  1812.  The  chil- 
dren of  Curran  Orr  and  wife  were  born  in  the 
following  order:  James  M.,  Della,  Minnie  C., 
Jennie,  Adam  C.  and  Eve  S. ; of  these,  James 
has  taught  school  five  years  in  Johnson  town- 
ship, Della  has  taught  three  winter  schools  and 
a number  of  summer  schools,  and  both  hold 
high  rank  in  the  profession.  Both  the  Orr  and 
Scircle  families  have  always  held  high  positions 
in  the  social  circles  of  Johnson  and  surround- 
ing townships,  and  the  younger  generation 
gives  fair  promise  of  upholding  the  credit  of 
the  family  name. 


OHN  S.  ORR,  a progressive  farmer, 
was  born  in  Johnson  township,  Clin- 
county,  Ind.,  March  8,  1857,  is  a son 
of  Matthew  and  Armina  (Shaw)  Orr, 
and  a brother  of  Curran  Orr,  whose  biograj)hy, 
which  appears  in  immediate  proximity  to  this, 
contains  further  genealogical  facts.  John  S. 
Orr  married  Miss  Jennie  McKenney,  Septem- 
ber 17,  1879.  This  lady  is  a daughter  of 
David  and  Mary  Iv.  (Chrostwhait)  McReiiney. 
Edward  McRenney,  the  father  of  David,  was 
a native  of  Virginia  and  among  the  earliest 
settlers  of  Shelby  county,  Ind.,  was  a sub- 
stantial farmer,  and  was  a member  of  the 
Christian  church.  When  iirst  marri(\i,  Da\  id 
located  f)n  a farm  in  Shelby  county,  Ind.,  but 
in  1871  came  to  Clinton  county  and  purchased 


a farm.  In  politics  he  was  a democrat.  He 
died  April  13,  1894;  his  widow  still  resides  on 
the  old  home  farm.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  John  S. 
Orr,  when  first  married,  settled  on  their 
present  farm  of  eighty  acres,  and  this  farm 
will  compare  favorably  with  any  other  farm  of 
its  size  in  the  township.  The  children  born  to 
the  marriage  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Orr  are  four  in 
number,  and  are  named,  in  order  of  birth,  as 
follows:  Donnie  J.,  Robert  G.,  Ellen  L.  and 
Dale.  Mrs.  Orr  is  a devout  member  of  the 
Christian  church. 


AVID  WARREN  OSBORNE,  a most 
successful  business  man  of  Erank- 
fort,  Ind.,  was  born  in  Troy,  Ohio, 
December  25,  1851,  and  is  a son  of 
Elijah  and  Elizabeth  f Daily)  Osborne.  The 
father  died  while  David  W.  was  but  an  infant, 
and  the  latter  remained  with  his  mother  until 
he  was  sixteen  years  of  age.  He  then  went 
to  Homer,  Ilk,  servedthree  years  at  the  bak- 
er’s trade,  and  then  jiassed  a year  in  Coving- 
ton, Ohio.  In  1871  he  came  to  Indiana  and 
for  a year  acted  as  shipping  clerk  for  a whole- 
sale confectionery  establishment  in  La  Eayette, 
attending,  at  the  same  time,  the  night  sessions 
of  the  Star  City  Commercial  college;  for  the 
next  four  years  he  was  employed  on  the  road 
for  the  confectionery,  and  then  (raveled,  in 
1876,  for  Ruger  & Rodgers,  wholesale  con- 
fectioners of  the  same  city;  then,  for  a brief 
period,  was  on  the  road  for  C.  Paige,  whole- 
sale grocer  of  La  Eayette.  The  same  year 
he  and  E.  Stearns  established  a confectionery 
and  bakery  business  at  Homer,  Ilk,  under  the 
firm  name  of  Osborne  & Stearns,  but  in  1877 
they  sold  out  and  Mr.  Osborne  returned  to 
La  I'ayette  and  went  on  the  road  for  Robin- 
son A Hale,  wholesale  grocers.  In  January, 
1878,  Mr.  Osborne  came  to  I'rankfort  and  es- 
tablished the  firm  of  Osborne  A Adair  in  the 


OF  CLINTON  COUNTY. 


821 


grocery  and  provision  trade,  which  was  pros- 
perously conducted  until  1880,  when  Mr.  Os- 
borne withdrew  and  became  book-keeper  for 
John  M.  C'ast,  hardware  merchant,  until  Au- 
gust, when  tlie  grocery  firm  of  Smith  & Os- 
borne was  organized.  From  this  Mr.  Osborne 
withdrew  in  1883,  and  in  November  of  the 
same  year  again  engaged  in  the  grocery  trade, 
and  in  1888  the  present  firm  of  Osborne  & 
Swan,  grocers,  were  placed  upon  a sound  foun- 
dation. In  1888  Mr.  Osborne  and  others  or- 
ganized the  Clinton  Natural  Gas  & Oil  com- 
pany, of  which  he  was  auditor  and  secretary, 
but  in  1893  this  company  was  succeeded, 
through  sale,  by  the  Indiana  Natural  & Illu- 
minating Gas  company,  of  which  Mr.  Osborne 
is  cashier.  In  addition  to  attending  to  his 
legitmate  business  duties  Mr.  Osborne  has 
•found  time  to  assist  in  founding  the  Building 
& Loan  association,  No.  5,  of  Frankfort,  or- 
ganized in  June,  1884,  and  has  always  been 
its  secretary;  in  1886  he  became  a director  of 
the  First  National  bank  of  Frankfort,  a posi- 
sition  he  still  holds,  and  of  which  he  was  elect- 
ed vice-president  early  in  1894.  Politically, 
Mr.  Osborne  is  a republican,  and  in  May,  1881, 
was  first  elected  city  councilman,  a position  he 
has  filled  with  much  credit  to  himself  several 
terms.  The  marriage  of  Mr.  Osborne  took 
place  October  30,  1879,  to  Miss  Anna  Paris,  at 
Frankfort.  Their  only  child,  Mabel  Paris,  was 
born  December  25,  1881,  the  thirtieth  anni- 
versary of  her  father’s  birthbay.  When  it  is 
taken  into  consideration  that  Mr.  Osborne  was 
left  an  orphan  in  his  infancy,  that  he  began  his 
business  life  absolutely  without  capital  and  was 
unassisted  by  e.xtraneous  pecuniary  aid,  and 
that  he  has  reached  his  present  prominent  po- 
sition in  the  business  world  simply  through  his 
own  business  energy  and  sagacity,  the  conclu- 
sion may  be  reached  that  his  career  has  been 
phenomenal  and  is  well  worthy  the  emulation 
of  the  rising  generation  of  Clinton  county. 


ENRYW.  OSTERDAY,  a represent- 
ative of  one  of  the  well  known  fami- 
lies of  Clinton  county,  Ind.,  makes 
his  home  in  Mulberry.  He  was  born 
in  Lehigh  county.  Pa.,  August  12,  1855,  and 
is  a son  of  Benjamin  and  Eliza  M.  (Baer) 
Osterday.  His  father,  Benjamin  Osterday, 
was  born  in  Northampton  county.  Pa.,  Eebru- 
ary  28,  1828.  The  grandparents,  William  and 
Mary  (Kester)  Osterday,  were  also  natives  of 
the  Keystone  state  and  were  of  German  de- 
scent. The  former  was  a tailor  by  trade,  and, 
as  was  customary  in  those  days,  traveled  from 
house  to  house  doing  work  for  his  patrons. 
Later,  however,  he  established  a shop  in 
Cherryville,  Pa.,  where  he  remained  until  his 
death  in  1871.  His  wife  died  in  1834.  In 
their  family  were  seven  children,  namely  ; 
Thomas;  William,  deceased;  Lucy;  Stephen; 
Benjamin;  Mary,  deceased;  and  Eliza.  Ben- 
jamin Osterday  was  reared  in  Cherryville,  and 
when  a young  man  learned  the  wagon-maker’s 
trade.  In  April,  1865,  he  came  to  Clinton 
county,  Ind.,  locating  in  Mulberry,  where  he 
established  a wagon-making  shop.  Two  years 
later  he  made  his  first  purchase  of  land,  which 
consisted  of  forty-five  acres.  He  afterward 
sold  and  bought  his  present  farm,  a well  im- 
proved tract  of  153  acres.  He  was  married 
March  2,  1850,  to  Miss  Eliza  Baer,  who  was 
born  April  7,  1833,  and  is  a daughter  of  Peter 
and  Anna  (Wood)  Baer.  Eight  children  graced 
their  union  : Mary  J.,  who  was  born  Septem- 
ber 18,  1851,  and  is  the  wife  of  Dr.  I.  S.  Ear- 
hart;  Milton  J.,  born  November  15,  1853; 

Henry  W. ; Manetta  A.,  who  was  born  Febru- 
ary 19,  1857,  and  is  the  wife  of  George  Ear- 
hart;  Ida  J.,  who  was  born  September  23, 
1861,  and  is  the  wife  of  H.  S.  Lane;  Maggie, 
who  was  born  April  9,  1866,  and  is  the  wife  of 
Frank  Hausman;  Ella,  twin  sister  of  Maggie 
and  the  wife  of  L.  D.  V.  Bryan;  Effie  A.,  who 
was  born  P'ebruary  3,  1871,  and  is  the  wife  of 


822 


BIOGRAPHICAL  HISTORY 


A.  Jacobs.  Both  Mr.  at)d  Mrs.  Osterday 
are  members  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal 
church,  and  in  his  political  views  he  is  a 
l)rohibitionist. 

Henry  \\’.  Osterday  has  been  a resident  of 
this  county  since  a child  of  eight  years.  He 
attended  the  public  schools  and  continued  at 
home  until  after  he  had  attained  his  majority, 
when  he  took  charge  of  his  father’s  farm,  in 
partnership  with  his  brother  Milton.  His 
business  career  has  been  one  of  success.  He 
carried  on  agricultural  pursuits  for  awhile,  but 
of  late  years  has  devoted  the  greater  part  of 
his  time  to  discounting  notes  and  loaning 
money.  He  is  now  a member  of  the  firm  of 
Bates  & Osterday,  brokers,  real  estate  and  in- 
surance agents,  the  firm  having  an  elegant 
suite  of  rooms  in  the  new  Union  block.  Mr. 
Osterday  is  also  the  owner  of  a commodious 
residence  in  the  west  part  of  the  town.  His 
inosperity  has  come  to  him  as  the  reward  of 
diligence,  good  management  and  sagacity. 

On  the  twelfth  of  October,  i88i,  Mr. 
Osterday  led  to  the  marriage  altar  Miss  Laura 
Clark,  who  was  born  June  23,  i860,  and  is  a 
daughter  of  Augustus  F.  and  Anne  C.  Clark. 
They  now  have  one  child,  Grace  L. , born 
January  24,  1886.  Mrs.  Osterday’s  father  was 
born  in  Butler  county,  Ohio,  December  26, 
1828,  and  moved  to  Clinton  county  when  only 
four  years  of  age.  Her  mother,  Anne  C. 
Swadner,  was  born  in  Greene  county,  Ohio, 
May  31,  1832,  and  came  to  Clinton  county 
when  a child,  and  here  died  November  13, 
1890.  Mrs.  (Dsterday  is  the  second  child  in  a 
family  of  eight  children  William  N.,  Laura 
A.,  Mary  J.,  George  S.,  Edwin  A.,  Ada  May 
(deceased).  Rose  J.  and  Herbert  R.  Mr.  and 
.Mrs.  Osterday  hold  membership  in  the  Method- 
ist Episcopal  church.  He  belongs  to  Castle 
lodge,  No.  240,  K.  P. , and  exercises  his  right 
of  franchise  in  suiiport  of  tlu'  men  and 
measures  of  the  democratic  party. 


RS.  ELIZABETH  B.  PAINTER 
is  living  a retired  life  in  a handsome 
modern  cottage  in  Michigantown, 
Clinton  county,  Ind.  She  bore  the 
maiden  name  of  Elizabeth  B.  Cox,  and  is  the 
daughter  of  William  and  Matilda  (Stull)  Cox. 
Her  father  is  a tanner  and  formerly  lived  in 
this  village,  but  now  resides  in  Scircleville, 
Ind.,  and  is  over  eighty  years  of  age. 

Isaac  N.  Painter,  deceased  husband  of  Mrs. 
Elizabeth  B.,  was  born  in  Clinton  county,  in 
Ajiril,  1840,  and  died  February  8,  1879. 

M’illiam  Painter,  the  father  of  Isaac  N.,  came 
to  Clinton  county  in  its  early  history  and  was 
closely  identified  with  its  development.  He 
married  Mary  Wilson,  and  both  he  and  she 
were  members  of  the  Methodist  church,  while 
he  was  a Jacksonian  democrat.  Isaac  N. 
Painter  was  reared  on  a farm  and  received  a 
good  common  school  education.  He  married 
Miss  1£.  B.  Cox,  October  5,  1865,  and  settled 
on  a farm  of  eight  acres  and  was  quite  success- 
ful as  an  agriculturist  and  stock  raiser.  There 
were  born  to  the  union  of  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Painter  the  following  children:  Iona,  Flor- 
ence, Charles,  Beecher  and  Harland,  all  liv- 
ing, and  Claude,  deceased.  Miss  Iona  is  the 
present  post-mistress  of  Michigantown;  Flor- 
ence is  married  to  Jacob  Whiteman,  a jiros- 
perous  young  farmer;  Charles  married  Nettie 
Carter;  Harland  and  Beecher  remain  at  home 
with  their  mother.  Mr.  Painter  enlisted, 
August  22,  1861,  in  company  C,  Tenth  Indi- 
ana volunteer  infantry,  and  received  an  honor- 
able discharge  September  19,  1864.  He  was 
in  Gen.  Rosecrans’  campaign,  in  the  Atlanta 
campaign,  and  with  Gen.  Sherman  on  his 
march  to  the  sea.  He  was  in  the  wagon  serv- 
ice most  of  the  time,  and  for  his  ability  and 
meritorious  service  was  inomoted  to  the  rauk 
of  wagon-master.  Many  were  the  attempts  of 
the  rebels  to  capture  him  and  his  train,  but  he 
evivded  them  all.  He  died  some  years  alter 


1.  N.  PAINTER. 


DECEASED. 


LIBRARY 
OF  THE 

tWfVERStTY  OF  IkWPfPIg 


OF  CLINTON  COUNTY. 


825 


tlie  close  of  hostilities.  Mr.  Painter  was  a 
nieinber  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  church. 
In  politics  he  was  an  ardent  democrat  and 
took  active  interest  in  his  party,  and  filled 
some  of  the  minor  township  offices.  His 
daughter,  Mrs.  Whiteman,  now  resides  npon 
the  old  homestead  settled  by  her  grandfather, 
William  Painter,  and  which  was  the  home  of 
her  father  until  his  death.  In  1893  his  widow 
recovered  back  pay  and  pension,  amounting  to 
$3,000.  and  is  now  receiving  twelve  dollars 
monthly. 


EDGE  TRUMAN  HENRY  PALMER, 
one  of  the  most  prominent  figures  in 
the  city  of  Frankfort,  Ind.,  is  a native 
of  Henry  county,  Ky. , was  born  Novem- 
ber 28,  1827,  and  is  a son  of  William  and 
Permelia  Palmer.  The  family  settled  in  Mont-' 
gomery  county,  Ind  , in  November,  1830,  and 
came  to  Clinton  county  in  February,  1844, 
and  here  he  received  his  early  education  under 
Prof.  Milton  B.  Hopkins,  who  was  afterward 
superintendent  of  public  instruction  of  the 
state.  At  the  age  of  twenty,  Mr.  Palmer  be- 
gan teaching  school,  and  continued  in  this 
occupation  four  year.  At  the  age  of  twenty- 
four  he  married  Miss  Margaret  Ann  Mooi'e, 
daughter  of  Robert  and  Margaret  Moore,  of 
Clinton  county.  Soon  after  his  marriage  he 
moved  to  Rokomo,  Ind.,  and,  in  connection 
with  two  associates,  started  a cabinet  shop. 
He  was  thus  engaged  for  a period  of  three 
years,  when,  in  consequence  of  failing  health, 
he  was  compelled  to  abandon  the  enterprise. 
He  then  resoiled  the  second  time  to  the  ex- 
pedient of  school  teaching,  to  gain  a liveli- 
hood for  his  family,  and,  at  the  same  time, 
improved  his  leisure  moments  by  studying  law. 
After  a patient  course  of  study,  he  was  ad- 
mitted to  the  bar  in  March,  1857.  The  early 


days  of  his  practice,  however,  were  not  lucra- 
tive. He  experienced  the  difficulties  of  all 
young  lawyers  in  their  efforts  to  build  up  their 
practice;  and,  until  the  year  1864,  his  life  was 
a constant  struggle  with  the  difficulties  of  his 
position.  In  that  year  his  practice  began  to 
increase,  and  with  increased  practice  came  in- 
creased confidence  on  the  part  of  the  people. 
Thus  in  a few  years  his  practice  became  quite 
renumerative,  and  he  was  regarded  as  one  of 
the  rising  members  of  the  bar.  His  political 
views  have  always  been  in  conformity  with  the 
principles  of  the  democratic  party.  By  this 
party  he  was  nominated  for  the  office  of 
township  clerk  of  Center  township,  Howard 
county,  Ind.,  and,  although  the  whig  party 
had  a large  majority  in  the  township,  he  was 
elected  to  the  office.  One  year  later,  he  was 
nominatecf  for  surveyor  of  Howard  county,  and 
made ' a brave,,  jace,  but  his  opponent  was 
®tea  to  the  b&e. 

In  1858,  he  returned  to  Clinton  county, 
and  four  years  later,  1862,  made  the  race  for 
surveyor  of  the  county,  against  James  Doster, 
Esq.  He  was  elected,  by  a handsome  majori- 
ty, for  the  term  of  two  years,  and  at  the  ex- 
piration of  that  time  he  was  elected  for  a sec- 
ond term.  In  1866,  he  was  nominated  by  his 
party  for  the  same  office,  but  was  defeated  by 
one  vote.  Two  years  later,  1868,  he  was 
representative,  from  Clinton  county,  to  the 
Indiana  legislature,  and  served  during  the  regu- 
lar and  special  sessions  of  1869.  In  1870,  he 
was  elected  common  pleas  judge,  for  the  dis- 
trict of  Boone  and  Clinton  counties.  He 
served  his  district  in  that  capacity  until  the 
legislature  abolished  the  court  in  1873.  A 
circuit  court  was  then  formed,  composed  of  the 
counties  of  Boone  and  Clinton,  and  Judge 
Palmer  was  appointed,  by  Governor  Hen- 
dricks, to  preside  over  the  court.  At  the  special 
election,  in  the  fall  of  1873,  he  was  elected 
judge  of  this  circuit. 


82G 


BIOGRAPHICAL  HISTORY 


During  his  residence  in  this  county,  liis  up- 
right  character  and  sterling  qualities  have 
gained  him  many  friends,  and  his  official  rec- 
ord is  one  of  which  he  may  justly  be  proud. 
In  every  position  of  responsibility  awarded 
him  by  his  fellow-citizens,  he  has  discharged 
his  duty  from  conscientious  })rinciples  and  with 
impartial  success.  Ten  children  have  crowned 
the  happiness  of  his  married  life — four  boys 
and  six  girls.  Judge  Palmer  united  with  the 
Baptist  church  more  than  thirty  years  ago,  and 
since  that  time  he  has  been  an  active  and 
consistent  member  of  that  denomination.  The 
judge  has  now  the  most  extensive  and  remu- 
nerative legal  practice  of  any  member  of  the 
profession  in  Frankfort,  as  his  eminent  abilities 
fully  entitle  him  to  have. 


F.  PALMER,  M.  U.,  is  one  of  the 
leading  physicians  and  surgeons  of 
Frankfort  and  has  much  more  than  a 
local  reputation  in  his  profession.  He 
was  born  in  Howard  county,  Ind.,  June  17, 
1855,  and  is  a son  of  Judge  T.  H.  Palmer. 
Dr.  Palmer  was  only  four  years  of  age  when 
brought  by  his  jiarents  to  Frankfort,  in  the 
schools  of  which  he  received  his  educational 
training  and  then  began  his  medical  studies  in 
the  office  of  Dr.  G.  W.  Brown,  with  whom  he 
remained  until  attaining  his  majority.  On  the 
twenty-second  of  February,  1 877,  he  was 
graduated  from  the  Louisville  college  and 
began  the  practice  of  his  profession  at  P'rank- 
fort,  where  he  has  since  enjoyed  a large  and 
lucrative  business,  being  one  of  the  ablest  and 
best  known  physicians  and  surgeons,  at  this 
time,  in  Clinton  county.  He  has  served  as 
surgeon  of  the  Clover  Leaf  R.  R.  for  a jieriod 
of  seven  years,  and  his  success,  while  in  that 
capacity,  has  done  much  to  establish  the  repu- 
tation which  he  has  since  enjoyed.  As  a 


physician.  Dr.  Palmer  has  indeed  a most 
creditable  record,  but  it  is  as  a skillful  surgeon 
that  he  is  best  known  among  his  professional 
brethern  of  Frankfort,  where  in  all  matters 
pertaining  to  that  part  of  the  profession  he  is 
justly  considered  an  authority.  From  the  time 
he  adopted  medicine  as  a profession  he  has 
been  enthusaistically  devoted  to  it,  having 
always  been  a close  and  deliberate  student, 
going  into  wide  research  for  authority.  In  his 
personality,  the  doctor  realizes  the  ideal  of  a 
successful  physician  and  surgeon,  adding  to  a 
quick  apj)rehension  and  thorough  professional 
knowledge  the  gentle  manner  and  sympathetic 
heart  of  the  true  lover  of  suffering  humanity. 
In  every  relation  with  his  fellows,  profession- 
ally or  otherwise,  he  has  borne  well  his  part, 
and  now  enjoys,  in  full  measure,  the  con- 
fidence and  esteem  of  his  brethren  in  the  pro- 
fession and  of  his  fellow-citizens  in  all  the 
walks  of  a life.  The  doctor  is  a splendid 
specimen  of  physical  manhood,  possessing  a 
tall,  well  knit  frame,  and  a commanding  pres- 
ence, which,  with  a natural  grace  and  courteous 
manner,  impress  those  with  whom  he  comes 
in  contact  as  a true  type  of  the  well-bred  pro- 
fessional gentleman.  Dr.  Palmer  was  married 
in  Michigantown,  Ind.,  on  the  ninth  day  of 
September,  1878,  to  Josephine  Hillis,  daughter 
of  James  and  Mary  (Etherton)  Hillis,  of  Jef- 
ferson county,  Ind.,  where  her  birth  occurred 
A'pril  17,  1856.  The  doctor  has  a fine  home 
in  Frankfort,  and,  judging  by  the  past,  his 
future  is  certainly  fraught  with  much  that  is 
l)romising. 


HBRAHAM  P.  PARRlMv,  M.  1).,  an 
inlluential  citizen  and  very  prominent 
physician  of  Kirklin,  Clinton  county, 
Ind.,  springs  from  sturdy  Irish  stock. 
His  grandfather,  Abraham  Parker,  was  a 
farmer,  'I'hc  next  in  the  line  of  direct  descent 


OF  CLINTON  COUNTY. 


827 


was  Isaac  Parker  and  his  brother,  Noah 
Parker,  became  the  father  of  our  subject.  The 
last  named  was  born  in  Highland  county, 
Ohio,  SejTember  26,  1823,  and  he,  too,  follow- 
ed farming,  entering  from  the  government 
eighty  acres  of  land  in  Tipton  county,  Ind. 
He  married  Deborah  Williams,  daughter  of 
John  C.  and  Margaret  Williams,  and  to  them 
were  born  the  following  children:  Isaac,  who 
was  killed  at  the  age  of  fourteen;  Victoria  J., 
wife  of  Joseph  Kemp;  Abraham  P. ; Noah  A., 
who  married  Miss  Stranahan;  Margaret  A., 
wife  of  Henry  Miller;  one  who  died  in  infancy; 
Charity  E.,  wife  of  Melvin  Keaton;  and  Cyrus 
N.  The  father  of  this  family  was  a republi- 
can in  politics  and  was  a Presbyterian  in  relig- 
ious belief.  For  twenty  years  he  owned  and 
operated  a saw-mill  in  Tipton  county,  Ind., 
where  he  and  his  estimable  wife  are  now  living 
retired. 

Dr.  Abraham  Putnam  Parker,  the  subject 
of  this  sketch,  was  born  in  Tipton  county, 
March  16,  1855,  and  with  the  exception  of 
two  years  has  always  resided  in  his  native 
state.  He  attended  the  public  and  high- 
schools  of  Tipton  until  about  seventeen  years 
of  age,  when  he  began  teaching,  a profession 
which  he  successfully  followed  for  seven  years 
during  the  winter  season.  In  1874,  he  de- 
termined to  enter  the  medical  profession,  and 
the  following  summer  began  reading  with  Dr. 
M.  V.  B.  Newcomer  of  Tipton.  Thus  he 
prepared  himself  to  enter  the  Kentucky  School 
of  Medicine  of  Louisville,  in  1876.  In  the 
spring  of  1877,  he  began  practice  in  Kempton, 
Ind.  In  July  of  the  same  year.  Dr.  Parker 
married  Miss  Nancy  J.  Bishop,  who  was  born 
in  Tipton  county,  September  26,  1858,  and  is 
a daughter  of  William  and  Rebecca  S.  (Butler) 
Bishop.  Three  children  grace  their  union— 
Frank  E.,  born  April  18,  1878;  Fima,  born 
August  8,  1883;  and  William  N. , born  April  i, 
1887. 


For  three  years  Dr.  Parker  practiced  medi- 
cine and  then  removed  to  a farm  which  his 
wife  had  inherited,  and  which  he  operated  un- 
til 1885.  He  then  purchased  fifty-five  acres 
in  Kirklin  township  and  upon  it  he  lived  for 
one  year,  when  he  removed  to  Frankfort, 
where  he  served  as  deputy  treasurer  for  three 
years,  proving  an  efficient  and  capable  officer. 
He  afterward  purchased  eighty  acres  of  land, 
and  later  sold  this  and  bought  100  acres,  of 
which  about  eighty  acres  are  now  cleared  and 
under  a high  state  of  cultivation.  Wishing 
to  return  to  his  profession.  Dr.  Parker  rented 
his  land,  and  in  August,  1892,  came  to  Kirk- 
lin, where  he  formed  a partnership  with  Dr. 
W.  A.  T.  Holmes,  this  connection  continuing 
until  September,  1893.  In  the  spring  of  that 
year,  he  once  more  entered  the  college  at 
Louisville,  Ky. , and  after  receiving  his  diplo- 
ma he  returned  home  and  opened  an  office  of 
his  own.  Here  he  has  since  engaged  in  prac- 
tice and  has  met  with  most  excellent  success, 
receiving  a very  liberal  patronage.  The  doc- 
tor exercises  his  right  of  franchise  in  support 
of  the  republican  party.  He  served  as  justice 
of  the  peace  until  resigning  that  office  to  be- 
come deputy  treasurer.  In  1880,  he  was 
made  a master  Mason,  and  belonged  to  Buena 
Ahsta  lodge.  No.  552,  F.  & A.  M.,  of  Hamilton 
county,  Ind.  Both  he  and  his  wife  are  mem: 
bers  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  church. 


OLIVER  CLINTON  PARSONS,  of 
Frankfort,  Ind.,  was  born  in  Clinton 
county  on  the  twenty-fourth  day  of 
September,  1859,  the  son  of  Peter 
and  Hannah  (Douglass)  Parsons.  Peter  Par- 
sons, the  father,  was  born  in  Perry  county. 
Pa.,  August  22,  1834,  and  is  the  son  of  George 
and  Elizabeth  (Fisher)  Parsons,  both  natives 
of  Pennsylvania — the  former  of  English  and 
the  latter  of  German  descent.  George  died 


828 


BIOGRAPHICAL  HISTORY 


March  7,  1848.  His  wife  then  sold  the  farm 
and  came  to  Clinton  county,  Ind.,  where  she 
hoii^lit  138  acres  of  land.  She  was  born  in 
1813,  and  her  death  took  place  April  16,  1894. 
'rhey  were  the  parents  of  seven  children; 
Cicor^e,  Peter,  Elizabeth,  Anthony,  Catherine, 
William  and  Aaron.  Peter  Parsons  was  reared 
])artially  in  Pennsylvania  and  partially  in  Clin- 
ton comity,  Ind.  At  his  majority  he  rented 
the  home  farm,  and  in  1879  bought  his  present 
place.  March  7,  1858,  he  married  Miss 

Hannah  Douglass,  daughter  of  Uriah  and  Jane 
(Murphy)  Douglass,  natives  of  Ohio  and  of 
Irish  extraction.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Douglass  were 
the  parents  of  thirteen  children,  viz:  Sina, 
Elizabeth,  Jane,  Hannah,  Margaret,  John, 
jerry,  all  still  living;  James,  George,  Samuel, 
Maria,  Sarah  and  Eurias,  deceased.  The 
children  born  to  Peter  and  Hannah  Parsons 
were  three  in  number,  and  are  named  Oliver 
C.,  William  E.  and  Charles  M.  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Parsons  are  members  of  the  Christian  church, 
and  Mr.  Parsons  is  a member  of  Owen  grange, 
No.  555.  Politically,  he  is  a democrat. 

Oliver  C.  Parsons  was  brought  up  on  a 
farm  and  remained  with  his  parents  until 
twenty-three  years  of  age,  in  the  meantime 
attending  the  district  schools.  At  the  age  of 
twenty-three  he  came  to  Erankfort,  and  for 
seven  years  thereafter  worked  at  any  honest 
employment  to  which  he  could  turn  his  hand, 
but  during  that  time  he  did  not  succeed  in  ac- 
cumulating any  capital.  In  the  latter  jiart  of 
1888  Mr.  Parsons  juirchased  a small  restau- 
rant in  Erankfort,  the  price  being  $250,  which 
was  borrowed,  with  his  father  as  surety.  On 
taking  charge  of  his  business  he  stejiped  into 
the  next  door  and  borrowed  a dollar  which  he 
used  in  making  change  with  his  customers, 
it  being  the  only  available  money  at  that  time 
in  the  establishment.  He  continued  the  busi- 
ness, which  from  the  beginning  was  successful, 
until  1890,  when  he  changed  locations,  estab- 


lishing his  restautant  on  the  south  side  of  the 
public  square,  calling  it  the  “Model  Bakery, 
Oyster  and  Short  Order  House.”  Since  open- 
ing his  place  of  business,  he  has  added  largely 
to  his  stock,  and  at  this  time  it  is  one  of  the 
neatest  and  best  stocked  and  most  systematic- 
ally ecjuipped  establishments  of  the  kind  in 
Frankfort.  Another  fact  which  redounds  to 
Mr.  Parsons  reputation,  is  the  manner  in  which 
his  business  is  conducted.  His  management 
has  been  exceptionally  praiseworthy,  and  it  is  a 
fact  worthy  of  note,  that  nothing  of  a boister- 
ous nature  is  ever  permitted  at  his  place,  and 
all  going  there  are  assured  of  receiving  most 
respectful  attention.  Mr.  Parsons’  business 
consists  principally  in  conducting  a bakery,  an 
oyster  parlor,  and  a general  restaurant,  and  he 
deals  extensively  in  confections,  California  and 
tropical  fruits,  fancy  canned  goods,  cigars  and 
tobacco,  etc.,  his  entire  stock  being  of  the 
highest  standard  of  excellence. 

Additional  to  the  place  above  mentioned 
Mr.  Parsons  also  conducts  two  other  well 
equipped  and  well  arranged  restaurants  in 
Frankfort,  one  being  on  North  Main  street,  be- 
tween Washington  street  and  the  railroad,  and 
the  other  on  West  Clinton  street.  In  connec- 
tion with  his  restaurants,  he  has  a number  of 
first-class  rooms  and  apartments  furnished  for 
the  accomodation  of  the  traveling  public. 
Mr.  Parsons  justly  deserves  the  success  which 
has  attended  his  business  efforts.  He  is  care- 
ful in  his  management,  honorable  and  straight- 
forward in  every  transaction,  and  can  be  de- 
pended upon  to  carry  out  faithfully  any  agree- 
ment into  which  he  may  enter,  'riiough  still 
a young  man,  he  has  disjdaycd  a remarkable 
aptitude  for  business,  which  places  him  with 
the  successful  business  men  of  Erankfort.  On 
the  nineteenth  of  November,  1884,  Mr.  Par- 
sons and  Miss  Ella  Baridiart  of  b'rankfort  en- 
tered into  the  marriage  relation,  and  they  have 
two  children — Orpha  and  Earl. 


OF  CLINTON  COUNTY. 


829 


HOMAS  J.  PARTRIDGE,  a highly 
respected  fanner  of  Forest  township, 
Clinton  county,  Ind.,  was  born  in 
Fnlton  county,  in  the  same  state, 
March  24,  1848,  and  has  always  lived  on  a 
farm.  His  grandfather,  Samuel  Partridge,  was 
a native  of  \’ermont,  bnt  passed  the  major 
part  of  his  life  in  Onondaga  county,  N.  Y. 
Edwin  Partridge,  his  son,  was  born  in  Onon- 
daga county,  April  3,  1813,  and  married 

Rachel  Logan,  daughter  of  Thomas  anci  Mary 
(Frasier)  Logan,  and  came  to  Indiana  and  lo- 
cated in  Marshall  county  at  first,  but  in  1833 
moved  to  Fulton  county,  where  they  settled 
permanently.  He  now  owns  a farm  of  220 
acres,  which  is  considered  to  be  one  of  the 
best  in  Fulton  county,  and  which  has  been 
earned  through  the  industry  of  himself  and 
wife.  They  are  the  parents  of  four  children, 
viz:  Thomas  J.,  the  subject  of  this  sketch; 
Clinton,  Samuel  and  William.  The  parents 
belong  to  the  church  of  God,  and  in  politics 
the  father  is  a democrat. 

Thomas  J.  Partridge  was  married  August 
12,  1869,  to  Miss  Lydia  A.  Hisey,  daughter  of 
Jacob  and  Hannah  (Crunbaker)  Hisey.  Jacob 
Hisey  was  the  son  of  Henry  Hisey,  and  owned 
a good  farm  of  128  acres  in  Fulton  county, 
Ind.  He  was  a democrat  in  politics,  and 
twice  served  as  township  trustee.  Thomas  J. 
Partridge  and  wife  resided  for  some  years  after 
marriage  in  Fulton  county  on  a farm,  but  have 
had  their  home  since  1 873  on  their  present  farm 
of  eighty  acres  in  Forest  township,  Clinton 
county.  This  farm  is  well  cultivated  and  well 
improved,  and  Mr.  Partridge  is  in  a prosperous 
condition.  The  nine  children  born  to  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Partridge  were  named,  'in  order  of  birth, 
as  follows  : Corie  R.,  Laura  E.,  Frank  I)., 
Nellie  F.,  Amy  W. , Leona  L. , Mabel  P. , 
Earl  E.  and  Lelie  M.  Of  this  family  the  par- 
ents have  been  bereaved  of  Nellie  F.,  who 
died  August  21,  1893,  at  about  eighteen  years 


age.  She  was  a most  amiable  and  accomp- 
lished young  lady,  and  her  loss  was  deeply  de- 
plored, not  only  by  the  immediate  menbers  of 
the  family,  but  by  a large  circle  of  admiring 
young  friends  of  both  sexes.  In  his  politics 
Mr.  Partridge  is  ardentl)  democratic,  and  has 
been  honored  by  his  party  with  the  nomination, 
by  acclamation,  for  township  trustee,  although 
he  is  no  office-seeker.  Mr.  Partridge  is  pro- 
gressive in  all  his  impulses,  reads  the  paper 
daily,  and  keeps  well  abreast  of  the  times,  and 
intends  that  all  his  children  shall  be  well  edu- 
cated and  prepared  for  social  intercourse. 


ESLEY  PATRICK,  a retired  me- 
chanic of  Colfax  and  ex-soldier,  was 
born  in  Jennings  county,  Ind.,  March 
26,  1836,  and  descends  from  Revolu- 
tionary ancestors,  of  Irish  origin.  His  great- 
grandfather, on  coming  from  the  old  country, 
settled  in  North  Carolina,  and  in  the  war  for 
independence  became  a captain  under  Gen. 
Greene.  Adam  Patrick,  grandfather  of  our 
subject,  was  one  of  the  first  settlers  in  Indiana 
territory,  and  aided  in  the  organization  of 
Clarke  county,  where  he  had  entered  a large 
tract  of  land.  Jeremiah  Patrick,  son  of  Adam 
and  father  of  Wesley,  was  born  in  North 
Carolina,  was  a young  man  when  he  went  to 
Clarke  county  with  his  father.  Here  he  had 
command  of  a company  in  a noted  Indian 
fight  at  Pigeon  Roost,  in  which  his  father  also 
took  part,  and  which  decided  the  supremacy  of 
the  whites  in  the  state  forever.  He  married 
Catherine  Holman,  daughter  of  Moses  Holman 
and  a distant  relative  of  the  senator  of  that 
name.  On  settling  in  Jennings  county  he 
entered  a farm  of  160  acres,  which  by  hard 
toil  he  cleared  and  improved,  and  on  which  he 
erected  a modern  brick  dwelling,  the  only  one 
in  that  part  of  the  country,  and  became  noted 


880 


BIOGRAPHICAL  HISTORY 


for  his  help  to  those  who  were  needy.  He 
and  his  wife  were  strict  Methodists,  he  being 
trustee  of  tlie  church. 

Wesley  Patrick  was  reared  a fanner  and 
was  educated  in  one  of  the  primitive,  old- 
fashioned  school-houses — that  were  taught  by 
subscrij)tion,  at  $3.00  per  term  of  three 
months;  the  seats  were  made  out  of  sawed 
slabs,  without  backs  to  them;  the  writing 
table  was  made  out  of  the  biggest  slab.  He 
was  married  to  Miss  Eliza  Jane  McMindes, 
daughter  of  Monroe  and  Abigail  McMindes, 
also  of  Revolutionary  fame. 

Wesley  Patrick  enlisted,  October  25,  1861, 
in  company  I,  Sixth  regiment  Indiana  volun- 
teer infantry,  and  was  transferred  to  Louis- 
ville, Ky.  His  first  battle  was  at  Shiloh,  where 
one  bullet  went  through  his  cartridge  box  and 
another  cut  his  canteen  strap;  then  went  into 
the  siege  of  Corinth;  was  next  at  the  battle  of 
Stone  River  and  the  battle  of  Chattanooga. 
While  assisting  in  laying  a pontoon  bridge 
across  the  river  in  the  night,  he  had  his  skull 
fractured  by  a pontoon  boat,  and  was  sense- 
less for  many  hours,  and  still  suffers  from  the 
injury;  he  next  aided  in  the  capture  of  Mission 
Ridge;  at  Fort  Wood  a piece  of  shell  cut 
through  his  knapsack  and  knocked  him  down; 
was  in  the  main  line  at  the  fight  of  Chicka- 
mauga;  he  also  aided  in  storming  the  fortress 
at  Waldron’s  Bridge;  he  went  through  the 
entire  Atlantic  campaign  of  ninety  days;  was 
at  Buzzard’s  Roost  and  Rocky  P'aced  Ridge; 
fought  at  Marietta,  Resaca  and  Peach  Tree 
Creek,  and  all  the  other  skirmishes  and  engage- 
ments through  to  Atlanta  and  back  to  Chat- 
tanooga, where  he  was  mustered  out  October 
28,  1864,  after  a gallant  service  of  three  years 
or  more.  He  was  also  permanently  in jured  by 
a kick  from  a mule.  Mr.  Patrick  moved  from 
fennings  county,  Ind.,  to  Clinton  county,  in 
the  year  1869,  and  settled  at  Colfax,  when 
there  were  but  few  houses  in  the  place,  and 


took  up  engineering  and  worked  at  that  busi- 
ness for  twenty  years  or  more,  until  the  pres- 
ent time,  but  is  now  so  broke  down  by  exposure 
during  the  war,  he  is  not  able  to  do  anything. 

Mr.  Patrick  is  a member  of  Stillwell  post. 
No.  375,  G.  A.  R.,  in  which  he  has  been 
honored  with  more  than -one  office.  In  poli- 
tics he  is  a stanch  republican,  and  socially  he 
and  family  stand  very  high. 


ILLIAM  T.  PATRICK,  of  Union 
township,  Clinton  county,  Ind. , was 
born  in  P'ranklin  county.  Pa,,  July 
21,  1842,  the  sou  of  Robert  and 
Elizabeth  Patrick,  both  patents  natives  of  the 
same  state  and  of  Irish  and  German  descent 
respectively.  Robert  Patrick  was  born  in 
Lancaster  county.  Pa.,  in  the  year  1808,  was 
married  there  to  Elizabeth  Minich,  and  in 
1855  came  to  Indiana,  locating  in  Clinton 
county,  where  he  purchased  eighty  acres  of 
of  land,  which  he  improved.  Robert  and 
Elizabeth  Patrick  were  the  parents  of  ten 
children,  of  whom  the  following  are  living — 
Jacob,  John,  Mrs.  Harriet  Black,  Reuben, 
Samuel,  William  and  David;  the  following  are 
deceased;  Elizabeth,  Catherine  and  Robert. 

The  subject  of  this  sketch  came  with  his 
parents  to  Indiana  in  the  year  above  referred 
to  and  spent  his  youthful  years  on  a farm,  at- 
tending in  the  meantime  the  country  schools. 
On  the  fourteenth  day  of  February,  1862,  he 
entered  the  army  as  a private  in  company  A, 
Sixty-third  Indiana  infantry,  and  went  into 
camp  at  La  Fayette,  thence  w'ent  to  Indianap- 
olis, where  his  first  active  service  w'as  as  a 
guard  of  the  rebel  prisoners.  After  four 
months  sjient  in  that  ca]iacity,  his  regiment 
was  transferred  to  Washington  city,  thcncc  to 
Alexandria,  Va.,  and  participated  in  the  bat- 
tle of  Bull  Run,  and  after  some  time  spent  in 
active  service  in  that  state,  the  Sixty-third  re- 


OF  CLINTON  COUNTY. 


831 


turned  to  Indianapolis  for  the  purpose  of  re- 
cruiting its  depleted  ranks.  Later,  Mr.  Pat- 
rick accompanied  his  command  to  Kentucky, 
thence  to  Kno.wille,  Tenn.,  and  from  the  lat- 
ter place  joined  Sherman’s  army  in  time  to 
take  part  in  the  celebrated  Atlanta  campaign. 
He  participated  in  the  battle  of  Resaca,  and 
states  that  on  the  day  following  that  bloody 
engagement  he  dressed  the  wounds  of  thirty 
soldiers  whom  he  found  lying  in  an  old  log 
stable.  During  the  operations  around  Atlanta 
and  through  Georgia,  Mr.  Patrick  was  almost 
constantly  under  fire  for  three  months,  and 
after  the  fall  of  that  city  he  joined  in  pursuit 
of  the  rebel  general.  Hood,  to  Franklin,  Tenn. , 
in  the  battle  of  which  place  and  at  Nashville 
he  took  an  active  part.  Later,  his  regiment 
was  ordered  to  Gainesville,  Ala.,  thence  via 
Cincinnati  to  Washington  city  and  Alexandria, 
Va. , where  the  command  embarked  in  three 
large  vessels  for  P'ort  Fisher,  N.  C.  From  the 
latter  place  Mr.  Patrick  went  to  Wilmington, 
that  state,  and  afterwards  returned  to  Wash- 
ington, but  saw  no  further  active  service  while 
he  remained  in  the  ranks.  During  the  time 
spent  in  the  army,  Mr.  Patrick  was  with  his 
regiment,  with  the  exception  of  three  weeks, 
which  he  spent  in  the  hospital  with  a fever. 
While  at  Alexandria,  Va. , he  suffered  a sun- 
stroke, the  effects  of  which  were  felt  for  some 
time  afterward. 

After  his  discharge,  Mr.  Patrick  returned 
to  Clinton  county  and  established  a boot 
and  shoe  business  at  the  town  of  Kihnore, 
where  he  remained  for  a period  of  thirteen 
years.  In  1878  he  purchased  the  old  home- 
stead, which  he  sold  three  years  later,  and 
bought  the  farm  where  he  now  resides  in  Union 
township.  His  place  consists  of  eighty  acres 
of  good  land,  and  since  moving  to  the  same  he 
has  devoted  his  entire  attention  to  agricultural 
pursuits  with  success  and  financial  profit.  Mr. 
Patrick  was  married  January  23,  1868,  to  Jane 


Gillaspie,  daughter  of  John  and  Theodosia 
(Bacon)  Gillaspie,  natives  of  Kentucky  and 
New  Jersey  respectively.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Pat- 
rick are  parents  of  eight  children,  whose  names 
and  dates  of  birth  are  as  follows:  Lena,  wife 
of  Henry  Bucher,  November  22,  1868;  Minnie, 
wife  of  Samuel  Campbell,  February  4,  1870; 
Lucy,  December  6,  1871;  Walter,  March  4, 
1874;  Daisy,  November  14,  1875;  Belle,  May 
16,  1881;  Arthur,  April  3,  1884;  Imo  Myrtle, 
October  31,  1888.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Patrick  are 
members  of  the  M.  E.  church,  in  which  he  has 
held  the  offices  of  trustee,  class  leader  and 
steward,  and  is  now  superintendent  of  the 
Sunday-school.  He  is  a member  of  the  G.  A.  R. 
and  a republican  in  politics. 


AMUEL  F.  PAUL,  an  enterprising 
citizen  of  Hillisburg,  Johnson  town- 
ship, Clinton  county,  Ind.,  is  of  Penn- 
sylvania German  descent.  His  grand- 
father, Samuel  Paul,  was  born  in  that  state, 
but  lived  in  Indiana  many  years,  and  finally 
moved  to  Missouri,  where  he  died.  His  wife 
bore  the  maiden  name  of  Tilda  Hetric.  Peter 
Paul,  son  of  Samuel  and  father  of  our  subject, 
was  born  in  Pennsylvania,  September  29,  1829, 
and  was  reared  a farmer.  He  married  Mary 
Osier,  daughter  of  George  and  Elizabeth 
(Bishop)  Osier;  the  former  died  at  Kokomo, 
Ind.,  November  25,  1 894,  in  his  ninetieth  year; 
his  wife  died  March  10,  1871  ; he  was  an  early 
settler  of  Hamilton  county,  Ind.,  where  his 
daughter  Mary  was  born  April  23,  1852. 

When  she  and  her  husband,  Peter  Paul,  were 
married,  they  settled  in  Hamilton  count}^ 
Ind.,  but  later  moved  to  Tipton  county,  where 
their  two  children,  Samuel  F.  and  George  M., 
were  born.  Peter  Paul  met  with  a sad  but 
instant  death  in  a saw-mill,  November  22, 
1865,  since  which  time  his  widow  has  resided 


882 


BIOGRAPHICAL  HISTORY 


with  her  son,  Saniuel  h'.  She  is  a devout 
Methodist,  and  her  hnsl)and  lield  the  same 
rcdi^dous  helief. 

Samuel  F.  Paul  was  born  April  17,  1853, 
and  since  his  youth  has  been  a mechanic  or 
millwrij^ht,  and  is  now  runninjjjthe  saw-mill  at 
1 lillishurf^'  and  also  one  at  Forest;  he  owns 
one  threshing  machine  entirely,  and  has  a 
controlling  interest  in  three  others,  and  this 
property  he  has  accumulated  solely  through 
his  own  industry.  He  married  Hester  Hite, 
daughter  of  Jacob  and  Mary  (Gross)  Hite. 
Mr.  Hite,  now  deceased,  was  a large  lumber 
dealer  and  mill-owner,  and  the  father  of  ten 
children,  viz  : Sarah,  Amy,  Thomas,  Florence, 
Nancy,  Hester,  James,  Manda,  Julia  and  Will- 
iam. The  children  born  to  Samuel  F.  and 
Hester  Paul  are  named  Ada,  Frank,  June  and 
Fred.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Paul  are  Methodists  in 
their  religious  belief,  and  in  politics  Mr.  Paul 
is  a democrat.  He  is  a member  of  the  Hillis- 
burg  lodge.  No.  550,  F.  & A.  M. ; also  of  lodge 
593-  I-  C).  O.  P'.,  and  in  the  latter  has 
passed  all  the  chairs.  He  has  made  a fine 
reputation  for  himself  as  a sound  business 
man,  and  is  much  respected  for  his  integrity 
and  fair  dealing. 


LIJAH  PAYNE. — Among  the  pioneer 
settlers  of  Clinton  county,  Ind.,  who 
still  linger  to  recount  the  incidents  of 
the  early  days  when  the  country  was 
new,  the  name  of  Elijah  Payne  is  deserving  of 
especial  mention  in  this  volume.  His  father, 
William  Payne,  was  a native  of  Ohio,  but  emi- 
grated to  Indiana  as  early  as  the  year  1830, 
settling  in  Wabash  county;  thence,  about  two 
years  later,  he  moved  to  the  county  of  Clinton 
and  j)urchased  a tract  of  land  in  what  was 
then  an  almost  unbroken  forest.  He  was  a 
])atriot  of  the  w'ar  of  1812,  a devout  member 
of  the  Baptist  church,  and  did  much  in  a 


()uiet  way  tow'ard  building  up  and  adding 
character  to  the  community  w'here  he  lived. 
He  married  Rebecca  Stag,  who  bore  him  the 
following  children:  Nancy,  Samuel,  Daniel, 
Elijah,  Silas,  Jane,  Washington,  Jackson  and 
Ferguson. 

Elijah  Payne,  the  immediate  subject  of 
of  this  sketch,  was  born  in  Butler  county, 
Ohio,  May  35,  1824,  was  reared  on  a farm, 
and  spent  his  early  years  amid  the  stirring 
scenes  of  the  pioneer  period.  His  education, 
of  necessity,  was  somewhat  limited,  and  owing 
to  the  lack  of  facilities  in  those  days,  was 
acquired  in  the  old-fashioned  log  school  house, 
a brief  description  of  which  is  herewith  pre- 
sented. The  building  proper,  constructed  of 
unbewn  logs,  was  in  size  about  si.xteen  by 
eighteen  feet;  a large  fire-place,  capable  of 
receiving  nearly  a wagon-load  of  wood  for  a 
single  fire,  occupied  one  end  of  the  room, 
the  chimney  being  composed  of  split  sticks 
and  mud;  the  floor,  made  of  puncheons,  w'as 
very  rough,  and  the  furniture,  consisting  of 
a few  si)lit  pole  benches,  and  a rough  board 
fastened  to  the  wall  for  a writing  desk,  requir- 
ed the  labor  of  a few  pioneers  only  a day  or 
tw'o  in  its  construction.  The  scenes  and  inci- 
dents of  the  early  day  could  not  help  but  make 
a vivid  and  lasting  impression  upon  the  mind 
of  one  wdio  grew  uj)  in  those  times,  and  Mr. 
Payne  delights  to  recall  the  c.xciting  days  of 
his  youth,  when  the  woods  abounded  with 
game  of  all  kinds.  His  chief  sport  consisted 
in  hunting,  in  w'hich  he  became  (]uite  skillful 
and  many  a deer,  wolf,  wild  hog,  not  to  men- 
tion wild  turkey-  and  lesser  game,  fell  before 
the  unerring  aim  of  his  rifle. 

Mr.  Payne  married  Nancy  Heston,  daughter 
of  David  Heston,  of  'fiitpecanoe  county,  aiui 
has  reared  the  follow  ing  children:  Sarah  E., 
William,  George,  John,  Martha,  Kate,  Emma, 
Gharh's  and  Gurtis.  After  his  marriage  he 
settled  on  th('  larm  where  he  now  resides  in 


OF  CLINTON  COUNTY. 


Perry  township,  and  has  devoted  the  best 
energies  of  his  life  to  its  cultivation.  All  hut 
ten  acres  of  his  farm  is  under  a high  state  of 
cultivation,  and  his  home,  a very  comfortable 
one,  is  the  abode  of  genuine,  true-hearted, 
old-fashioned  hospitality,  which  he  and  his 
good  wife  know  so  well  how  to  dispense. 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Payne  are  members  of  the  U. 
IL  church,  the  teachings  of  which  they  try  to 
e.xemplify  in  their  daily  walk  and  conversation. 
Mr.  Payne  is  an  earnest  supporter  of  the 
democratic  party,  and  has  been  for  a number 
of  years.  At  this  time  his  sons  Curtis  and 
Charles,  both  exemplary  young  men,  reside  at 
the  old  homestead  and  look  after  the  interest 
and  minister  to  the  comfort  of  their  father  and 
mother  in  their  declining  years. 


HARLES  P.  PENCE  is  a native  of 
Clinton  county,  Ind.,  and  a son  of 
one  of  the  prominent  pioneers,  his 
father,  John  Pence,  having  entered 
the  land  where  P'rankfort  now  stands.  John 
Pence,  of  German  descent,  was  born  in  Vir- 
ginia, came  to  Warren  county,  Ind.,  with  his 
father,  who  v/as  one  of  the  pioneers  of  that 
county,  and  married  there  Judith,  daughter  of 
Harmon  Aughe.  To  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Pence  were 
born  nine  children;  Nancy,  Mary  A.,  Amanda 
E.,  Harriet  L. , Samuel  D.,  Charles  P. , John 
W.,  Aaron  W.,  and  Thomas  C.  In  1829  he 
came  to  Clinton  county  and  entered  several 
sections  of  land,  which  were  then  covered  with 
heavy  timber.  He  built  a log  cabin,  which 
stood  for  years  east  of  Main  street,  on  the 
north  side  of  Earner  street,  in  what  is  now  the 
city  of  P'rankfort.  Several  of  the  old  settlers 
came  with  him,  among  them  the  Gaskills  and 
Blinns,  and  all  settled  near.  Mr.  Pence  gave 
sixty  acres  of  land  for  the  public  square  and 
$100  in  cash  to  assist  in  getting  the  county- 
seat  located  here.  The  other  settlers,  having 


no  ready  money,  gave  land.  Mr.  Pence  laid 
out  much  of  his  land  in  lots,  but  retained  200 
acres  for  a homestead,  160  acres  south  of  the 
town,  and  besides  held  other  tracts.  He  lived 
to  be  eighty-two  years  of  age  and  left  a goodly 
inheritance  to  his  children.  He  was  the  first 
treasurer  of  Clinton  county  and  received  for 
his  services  the  munificent  sum  of  $1.25  per 
annum.  He  was  public-spirited  and  greatly 
assisted  in  all  matters  of  public  improvements. 
He  was  one  of  the  early  Methodists,  assisted 
to  build  the  first  Methodist  church  in  Clinton 
county  and  was  trustee.  He  had  two  sons  in 
the  Civil  war,  Samuel  and  John  W.  Mr. 
Pence  was  born  in  1800,  died  July  31,  1882, 
and  his  long  life  spanned  all  the  existence  of 
Clinton  county,  from  the  time  of  its  first  set- 
tlement until  his  demise.  He  was  a stalwart 
pioneer,  strong  and  active,  and  was  noted  for 
his  honesty  of  purpose,  and  straightforward- 
ness of  character. 

Charles  P.  Pence  was  born  June  i,  1838, 
on  his  father’s  farm  at  what  is  now  the  corner 
of  North  Main  and  McClurg  streets,  Frank- 
fort, which  was  then  a small  village.  He  at- 
tended the  first  school  in  the  place,  which  was 
held  in  an  old  log  school-house,  which  had 
slabs  supported  by  pegs  for  benches,  and  so 
high  that  the  feet  of  the  youngest  scholar  did 
not  reach  the  floor  by  a foot.  This  school- 
house  stood  where  Cullum’s  feed  yard  now  is, 
on  North  Columbia  street.  He  received  the 
usual  common  pioneer  education  and  early  be- 
gan to  work  on  the  farm.  He  married,  at  the 
age  of  twenty-two  years,  Sabina,  daughter  of 
Samuel  and  Eve  Kyger.  Mr.  Kyger  was  born 
in  Ohio,  of  German  stock,  and  was  a miller; 
was  an  old  settler  in  Clinton  county  and  ran 
and  owned  a mill  five  miles  west  of  Frankfort. 
He  reared  a family  consisting  of  Peter,  James, 
Henry,  Mordecai,  Anna,  Esther  and  Sabinia, 
and  died  in  Ohio.  After  marriage,  Mr.  and 
Mrs  Charles  P.  Pence  settled  in  Frankfort  and 


884 


BIOGRAPHICAL  HISTORY 


fanned  the  Pence  homestead,  where  they  re- 
sided for  seven  years.  They  then  moved  two 
miles  east,  to  a farm  consisting  of  130  acres  in 
Center  township.  He  bought  this  land  and 
cleared  all  except  about  eight  acres,  and  here 
he  resided  until  he  bought  his  present  farm, 
consisting  of  eighty  acres,  one  mile  east  of 
Fraid'cfort.  To  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Pence  have  been 
born  four  children:  James  \V.,  John  K,, 
Rosa  I.  and  Ella  G.  He  cast  his  first  presi- 
dential vrte  for  Abraham  Lincoln,  and  has 
since  voted  the  republican  ticket.  Fraternal- 
ly he  is  a member  of  Dacotah  tribe.  No.  42,  I. 
O.  R.  M.,  of  Frankfort.  Mr.  Pence  has 
always  been  a substantial  farmer,  is  a man  of 
integrity  of  character,  and  has  reard  a respect- 
ed family  of  children,  who  may  well  take  an 
honest  pride  in  the  sterling  ancestry  from 
which  they  spring.  His  son,  James  W.,  mar- 
ried Dora  Harland,  and  is  the  father  of  four 
children:  Rosa  I.  married  James  W.  Yq.u’^^^, 
farmer  in  Kirklin  township,  and  is  ^'^^'I'dtlidr 
of  seven  children;  Ella  G.  married  William 
Brittain,  a farmer  two  miles  east  of  Frankfort, 
and  has  borne  two  children. 


ENRY  C.  PERRIN,  a highly  respect- 
ed citizen  of  Edna  Mills,  Ross  town- 
ship, Clinton  county,  Ind.,  is  tle- 
scended  from  a Puritan  family  of 
English  origin,  who  on  coming  to  America  first 
settled  in  Connecticut.  Solomon  Perrin,  the 
father  of  Henry  C , was  married  to  vSarah  Bott, 
daughter  of  a sea  captain  of  Scotch  descent. 
Solomon  Perrin,  after  his  marriage,  settled  in 
Bedford  county,  Va.,  where  his  wife  inherited 
1,000  acres  of  land  and  several  slaves,  but  this 
property  Mr.  Perrin  sold  or  e.xchanged  and 
moved  to  New  Orleans,  where  he  died  of 
cholera  at  the  age  of  about  forty-eight  years. 
He  and  wife  wc;ri;  parents  of  eight  children. 


named  as  follows:  William,  Aaron,  Mary, 
Eliza,  John,  Harriet,  Henry  C.  and  James,  all 
natives  of  Bedford  county,  Va.  After  the 
death  of  her  husband,  Mrs.  Perrin  moved  to 
Botetourt  county,  Va. , where  she  passed  the 
remainder  of  her  life,  dying  at  the  age  of  fifty- 
seven  years. 

Henry  C.  Perrin  was  born  January  ii, 
1825,  received  a fair  education  in  his  native 
county  of  Bedford,  and  November  23,  1843, 
was  married  in  Botetourt  county,  Va.,  to  Miss 
Susan  Secrist,  daughter  of  Daniel  and  Mary 
(Flora)  Secrist,  of  Pennsylvania  Dutch  ex- 
traction. In  February,  1845,  Perrin,  with 
his  wife  and  only  child,  moved  to  Breckinridge 
county,  Ky.,  and  located  on  a part  of  his 
mother’s  estate,  where  he  remained  until  July, 
1845,  when  he  came  to  Indiana  and  settled  in 
Ross  township,  Clinton  county,  bringing  all 
bis  earthly  effects  in  a one-horse  wagon.  He 
.erect^^l  a log  cabin  and  cleared  up  a farm  on 
wVich'  he  lived  until  1851,  when  he  bought 
eighty  acres  one  mile  south  of  Edna  Mills.  To 
this  property  he  added  thirty  acres,  and  then 
sold  and  purchased  160  acres  three-quarters  of 
a mile  east  of  Edna  Mills,  and  to  this  property 
he  added  until  he  became  the  owner  of  400 
acres,  260  of  which  he  has  given  his  children, 
of  whom  he  is  the  father  of  eight,  named  as 
follows:  Eliza  A.,  Sarah,  Mary  J.,  Harriet 
E , Enna,  Charles,  who  died  from  an  accident 
at  the  age  of  fourteen  years;  Allen,  who  died 
when  two  years  old,  and  Byron,  who  died  in 
infancy.  Of  these  children,  Eliza  married 
Coulter;  Mollie  married  Samuel  I lurley ; Sarah 
married  Milton  Hockman;  Elizabeth  married 
Isaac  Horlacher;  bhma  married  Amos  Sigler. 
In  1893,  Mr.  Perrin  retired  from  active  labor 
and  is  now  residing  at  Edna  Mills,  respected 
by  the  whole  community.  The  greatest  part 
of  Mr.  Perrin’s  wealth,  it  will  be  seen,  is  the 
result  of  his  own  unaided  industry,  for  which 
he  deserves  great  credit. 


library 

OF  THE 

UNIVERSITY  OF  ILUN01S 


5); 

Sami.'ei 

[,  Anderson. 

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John  Andkkson. 

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Wii.so 

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II.  S.  H.  I'llOM  PSON. 

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lOO.  John  Kinduk. 

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102  Samuhi.  Wai.i.ack. 

10.’!.  JosiAii  Batic. 

H'-l.  IIkni<\’  Maish. 

lO.'i.  M.  Mai.sh. 


62. 

Thomas  M.  Hutchinson. 

77. 

John  Young. 

98. 

Jonathan  I’eter. 

(53. 

Enos  Hoover. 

84 

Charles  Sipe. 

99. 

William  Isgrigg. 

G4, 

A.  J.  Allen. 

85. 

John  Grover. 

106. 

George  Maish. 

Jesse  S.  Davis. 

8(5. 

Jackson  Douglass, 

107, 

Joseph  K,  Steele. 

on 

Joseph  Page. 

87, 

George  Thatcher. 

108. 

Noah  T.  Catterun. 

73. 

Aaron  Ghere. 

88. 

Leonard  Whitcomb. 

103. 

William  Reed. 

74, 

Robert  Young. 

35. 

Cyrus  Pence. 

110. 

Geo.  N.  Waitt. 

75. 

— 

'Hi. 

John  41.  Egner. 

7G. 

Joel  McKinrey. 

37. 

J.  H.  Minor. 

LIBRARY 
OF  THE 

UNIVERSITY- OF  JtLfm 


OF  CLINTON  COUNTY. 


839 


enWARD  LAUREL  PETER,  M.  D., 
a prominent  and  successful  physician 
of  Moran,  Ind.,  occupies  a place  in 
the  medical  profession  that  may  well 
he  envied  by  many  an  older  practitioner. 
He  was  born  in  Ross  township,  Clinton  coun- 
ty, Angnst  12,  I 86 1,  and  is  of  German  descent 
on  the  paternal  side,  while  on  the  maternal 
side  his  ancestors  came  from  the  Netherlands. 
His  grandfather,  William  Peter,  w'as  a Penn- 
sylvania farmer,  and  in  1830  immigrated  to 
Clinton  county,  where  he  entered  160  acres  of 
land.  By  subsequent  purchases  he  become 
one  of  the  largest  land  owners  in  the  county. 
He  and  his  wife  were  members  of  the  Reform 
Lutheran  church,  and  in  politics  he  was  a 
whig.  Their  children  were  William,  Jonathan, 
Henry,  Daniel,  Emanuel,  Adam,  Reuben, 
Joseph,  Polly,  Leah  and  Betsy.  Reuben 
Peter,  the  doctor’s  father,  was  born  in  Penn- 
sylvania, in  1820;  at  the  age  of  ten  w'ent  with 
his  parents  to  Ohio,  and  shortly  after  came 
with  them  to  Indiana.  His  father  gave  him 
160  acres  of  timber-land,  which  he  transformed 
into  a fine  farm.  He  altogether  owned  320 
acres.  In  politics  he  was  a whig  in  early  life, 
but  afterw'ard  became  a republican.  For  si.x- 
teen  years  he  served  as  trustee  of  Ross  town- 
ship. In  religions  belief  he  was  a Presbyterian 
and  served  as  elder  of  the  church.  In  con- 
nection with  farming  and  stock  dealing,  he 
afterward  engaged  in  the  sale  of  agricultural 
implements.  His  death  occurred  at  the  age 
of  si.xty  years.  He  first  married  Miss  Perrin 
and  they  had  three  children:  Julia  A.,  Jane  and 
William.  The  mother  having  died,  he  then 
w'edded  Leah  Van  Nuys,  who  was  born  in 
June,  1834,  and  is  a daughter  of  John  Van 
Nuys.  The  children  born  of  this  marriage  are 
James  C.,  Isabella,  Irvin  S.,  John  A.,  Henry 
F.,  Lenora  A.,  FYIward  L. , Emanuel  C., 
Orion  F.  and  Eliza  I).  The  mother  is  still 
living. 


Upon  the  home  farm  Dr.  Peter  remained 
until  eighteen  years  of  age.  Having  attended 
the  public  schools  he  then  entered  the  Ladoga 
Normal  college  of  Montgomery  county,  Ind., 
and  on  his  return  home  a year  later  began 
teaching  in  the  schools  of  Clinton  county.  In 
1883,  he  entered  upon  the  study  of  the  medi- 
cal profession,  and  began  reading  with  Dr. 
Sigler  of  Gettingsville,  and  was  for  two  years 
with  Dr.  Youkey  of  the  Rossville.  He  then 
entered  the  Medical  college  of  Indianoplis, 
Ind.,  in  1887,  and  was  graduated  with  honor 
in  the  class  of  1889.  In  March  of  that  year 
he  came  to  Moran,  where  he  has  since  engaged 
in  practice.  The  doctor  was  married  July  31, 
1883,  to  Cora  Robinson,  who  was  born  No- 
vember 7,  1863,  and  is  a daughter  of  Thomas 
P.  and  Madelaine  Robinson  of  Indiana.  They 
have  had  two  children — Nellie  G.,  born  Ian- 
uary  and  Thomas  D.,  born  P'ebru- 

have  a pleasant  home, 
and  the'docfor  has  erected  a fine  office,  which 
is  supplied  with  every  convenience  in  his  line. 
His  business  has  constantly  grown  and  he  now 
has  a large  practice,  which  he  well  deserves. 
In  politics  he  is  a republican,  and  has  served 
as  delegate  to  the  township,  county,  and  con- 
gressional conventions.  He  keeps  abreast 
with  the  times  in  all  particulars,  and  occupies 
a front  rank  among  his  professional  brethren. 


BRANK  T.  peters,  of  Michigan 
township,  Clinton  county,  Ind.,  is  of 
Pennsylvania  German  descent,  his 
grandfather,  Daniel,  a farmer,  having 
lived  and  died  in  Lehigh  county,  that  state. 
He  married  Elizabeth  Dybert.  Charles  Pe- 
ters, son  of  David,  and  father  of  Frank  T.,  was 
born  in  Lehigh  county,  and  still  lives  there, 
engaged  in  farming.  He  married  Sarah  Trox- 
ell,  daughter  of  John  Troxell,  and  to  this  union 
were  born  Frank  T.,  Mary  and  Oscar.  The 


810 


BIOGRAPHICAL  HISTORY 


mother  died  while  the  children  were  yet  small, 
and  the  lather  next  married  Louise  Kern,  and 
to  this  marria^^e  were  born  Louisa  A.,  Eliza- 
beth and  Newton  O. 

I'rank  T.  Peters  was  born  in  Lehigh  coun- 
ty, Pa.,  June  2,  1859,  and  has  always  been  a 
farmer.  While  yet  a young  man  he  came 
w'est  to  Indiana  and  settled  in  Clinton  county, 
where  he  has  since  lived.  He  here  married  Ida 
Pay,  born  in  Clinton  county,  July  30,  1855. 

She  is  the  daughter  of  \\alliam  IS.  and  Eliza  M. 
(KnappjPay.  William  Pay,  the  grandfather, 
married  Rhoda  Babbitt,  of  Vermont.  He  came 
from  England  and  settled  in  Ohio.  Mrs.  Eliza 
M.  Pay  was  a daugher  of  Daniel  Knapp — a sol- 
dier of  the  war  of  1812.  William  E.  Pay  was 
born  in  1821,  in  Ohio,  was  partly  educated  in 
London,  England,  and  subsequently  returned 
from  England,  with  his  parents,  and  married 
in  Ohio,  and  later  purchased  a good  farm  of  160 
acres  near  P'rankfort,  where  he  resided  at  the 
time  of  his  death.  For  a number  of  years  he 
had  represented  a wholesale  house  at  Hamilton, 
Ohio,  and  had  thus  acquired  his  wealth.  He 
was  prominent  in  the  democratic  party,  and  fra- 
ternally was  a member  of  Jefferson  lodge,  P'.  A 
A.  M.  Wdliam  E.  Pay  died  May  4,  18S2,  and 
his  widow  Octol)er  7,  1893.  When  first  mar- 
ried, P'rankT.  Peters  and  his  wife  settled  on  her 
father's  (dd  farm,  coming  to  their  present 
farm  in  the  spring  of  1892.  This  comprises 
eighty  acres  of  very  fertile  land  and  is  well 
taken  care  of  ; is  improved  with  a neat  dwell- 
ing and  good  farm  buildings,  and  Mr.  Peters  is 
recognized  as  a thorough  and  progressive 
young  farmer  and  useful  citizen. 


ANIEE  PETRE,  a substantial  farmer 
and  ex-soldier  of  Michigan  township, 
('linton  county,  Ind.,  was  born  in 
EaPortc?  county,  ImP,  July  4,  1834, 
and  is  of  German  descent.  llis  grandfather. 


Daniel  Petre,  a Revolutionary  soldier,  was 
born  and  reared  in  Tennesee  and  there  mar- 
ried Margaret  Snyder;  their  .son,  John  Petre, 
was  born  in  Hamilton  county,  Tenn.,  and  came 
to  Clinton  county,  Ind.,  in  1838;  he  married 
Margaret  Haines,  daughter  of  Henry  and  Lu- 
cinda (Nailer)  Haines,  of  Union  county,  Ind., 
and  to  this  marriage  were  born  the  following 
children;  Mary  J.,  Daniel,  John,  Lucinda, 
Samuel,  Henry,  Sarah  and  Margaret.  Henry 
Haines,  father  of  Mrs.  Petre,  served  in  the 
war  of  1812,  with  Gen.  Jackson,  at  Horse 
Shoe  Bend.  John  Petre  died  in  1849, 

Mrs.  Margaret  Petre  in  1853. 

Daniel  Petre  was  reared  on  his  father’s 
farm  and  was  educated  iu  the  log  school-house 
of  his  district.  He  commenced  life  on  his 
own  account  by  working  out  at  twenty-five 
cents  per  day.  He  worked  hard  for  several 
years  on  farms  and  as  a driver  of  canal-boats, 
to  get  a start.  August  9,  1862.  he  enlisted  in 
company  K,  Seventy-second  Indiana  volunteer 
infantry,  for  the  term  of  three  years.  He  par- 
ticipated in  the  battles  of  FraidTort,  Ky.,  Salt 
River,  Perryville  and  Bardstown.  At  the  last- 
named  place  he  was  stricken  with  measels, 
but  unaware  of  the  fact  exposed  himself  to  a 
heavy  rain.  He  was  sent  to  the  hospital  at 
Bowling  Green,  and  was  honorably  discharged 
on  account  of  disability,  but  never  has  recov- 
ered, nor  never  will  recover,  from  the  disorder, 
which  has  settled  on  his  lungs.  To  his  credit 
be  it  said,  however,  after  six  months  of  nurs- 
ing and  a ]xirtial  recovery,  he  again  offered  his 
services,  but  was  unable  to  pass  metlical  ex- 
amination. On  his  case  being  investigated  by 
the  j)ro])er  authorities  he  was  granted  back  pay 
amounting  to  $ 1 ,400,  and  a monthly  pension 
of  $17.  Mr.  Petre  married  Mary  Eamberson, 
daughter  of  Levi  and  Sarah  (Mason)  Eamber- 
son. Mr.  Eamberson  was  born  in  Maryland 
and  is  of  English  descent.  His  children  were 
named  William,  Amy,  Eliza,  Peter,  deceased; 


LIBRARY 
OF  THE 

UNIVERSITY  OF  IfeMN^S 


OF  CLINTON  COUNTY. 


841 


Peter,  Ilettie,  and  Mary.  After  his  marriage, 
Mr.  Petre  and  his  wife  settled  on  a farm  of 
fifty  acres,  and  in  1873  moved  to  his  present 
farm  of  ninety  acres,  which  he  keeps  in  an  ex- 
cellent condition,  and  which  is  improved  with 
a neat  and  substantial  barn,  etc.  Mr.  Petre 
is  a stanch  republican.  He  has  one  married 
son,  James,  residing  near  his  parents. 


OHN  ABNER  PETTY,  ex-sheriff  of 
Clinton  county,  Ind.,  and  now  a popu- 
lar liveryman  of  Erankfort,  was  born 
in  New  Market,  Va.,  May  19,  1837,  and 
is  a son  of  Charles  M.  and  Diana  D.  (Pence) 
Petty,  both  natives  of  the  Old  Dominion. 
Charles  M.  Petty  came  to  Clinton  county, 
Ind.,  in  1837,  bringing  his  wife  and  only  son, 
John  A , in  a covered  wagon.  He  settled  in 
Erankfort  and  here  established  a tannery. 
He  was  an  exemplary  Christian  and  was  one  of 
the  founders  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  church- 
at  I'rankfort,  within  the  fold  of  which  he 
died,  his  remains  being  interred  in  the  old 
South  cemetery  of  that  city.  His  wife  was 
born  in  Rockingham  county,  Va.,  in  1810, 
and  died  July  2,  1881 — the  day  on  which 
President  Garfield  was  shot.  Her  children 
were  three  in  number  and  were  named;  John 
Abner,  Charles  M.  and  James  P'. 

John  A.  Petty  grew'  to  manhood  in  F'rank- 
fort  and  was  educated  in  the  city  schools,  but, 
at  the  age  of  seven,  having  lost  his  father,  he 
began  early  to  work  out  by  the  month  on  the 
farm  and  was  thus  inured  to  toil  and  his  mus- 
cles hardened  for  the  experience  of  his  after 
life.  He  eventually  drifted  into  the  livery 
business,  for  which  he  seems  to  be  peculiarly 
adapted,  and  his  present  extensive  barns  at 
309  and  31  i North  Main  street,  near  the  Lake 
Erie  & Western  and  Clover  Leaf  depots,  are 
the  most  commodious  and  among  the  best 
patronized  in  the  city,  the  business,  since 


October,  having  been  conducted  under  the 
name  of  Petty  & Cripe,  L.  E.  Cripe  being 
the  junior  member.  Mr.  Petty  is  a stanch 
democrat  in  his  politics,  and  under  the  aus- 
pices of  that  party  has  served  three  terms  as 
city  councilman,  and  in  1884  was  elected  by 
the  same  party  to  the  responsible  position  of 
county  sheriff,  which  office  he  filled  most  satis- 
factorily to  all  concerned.  He  is  a member  of 
Frankfort  commandery.  No.  29,  Knights  Tem- 
plar, and  also  of  Dakota  tribe.  No.  42,  Im- 
proved Order  of  Red  Men,  and  is  equally  pop- 
ular with  both  fraternities. 

The  marriage  of  Mr.  Petty  took  place  Feb- 
ruary 10,  1865,  to  Miss  Nancy  C.  Kelly,  a na- 
tive of  Clinton  county,  Ind.,  and  this  happy 
union  was  blessed  November  20,  1865,  by  the 
birth  of  one  son,  Charlie  E. , now  a resident  of 
Frankfort,  Ind.  Mrs.  Petty  is  a member  of 
the  Christian  church,  and  in  her  daily  walk 
manif&ts  the  sincerity  of  her  belief  in  the 
'*t*atrliiiigs-of  that** religious  denomination. 


E\T  E.  CRIPE,  of  the  firm  of  Petty 
& Cripe,  the  popular  livery  men  of 
north  Main  street,  Frankfort,  Ind., 
John  A.  Petty  being  the  senior  mem- 
ber, was  born  in  Ross  township,  Clinton  coun- 
ty, Ind.,  March  9,  1858,  and  is  a son  of 

William  and  Susan  (Blickenstaff)  Cripe,  both 
of ' German  extraction,  both  Indianians  by 
nativity,  and  both  early  settlers  of  Clinton 
county.  Levi  E.  Cripe  was  reared  on  the 
home  farm  until  eighteen  years  of  age,  and 
then  began  his  business  career  on  his  own 
account,  in  which  he  has  met  with  flattering 
success.  Having' always  been  a lover  of  horses, 
his  taste  naturally  gravitated  toward  trade  in 
them;  yet  other  industries  have  claimed  his 
attention.  He  at  one  time  operated  the  Edna 
flour-mill  in  Ross  township,  and  at  another 
time  operated  a saw-mill  at  the  village  of  Edna 


8.12 


1510GRAPIIICAL  HISTORY 


Mills,  and  for  six  years  was  eiif^aped  in  thresh- 
ing wheat,  oats  and  clover—  in  the  fall  of  1894 
running  through  45,000  bushels  of  wlniat  and 
oats.  In  the  fall  named,  he  disposed  of  his 
interest  in  this  business,  and  in  October  pur- 
chased a half-interest  in  the  livery,  feed  and 
sales  stabU's  of  Petty  cS:  Maish,  in  I'rankfort, 
that  half-interest  being  then  the  property  of 
Daniel  Maish,  Jr.,  and  in  his  new  undertaking 
the  prospects  of  Mr.  Gripe  are  brighter  than 
they  had  even  been  in  the  past.  He  is  a live, 
energetic  and  genial  gentleman,  and  has  hosts 
of  friends,  who  will  be  glad  to  welcome  him  to 
his  new  business.  The  marriage  of  Mr.  Gripe 
took  place,  in  1882,  to  Miss  Rosa  G.  George, 
a native  of  Pennsylvania,  who  came  to  Indi- 
ana in  early  womanhood,  and  this  union  has 
been  blessed  by  the  birth  of  three  children — 
Lillie,  Glarrie  and  Effie.  In  his  political  affini- 
ties Mr.  Gripe  is  a stanch  republican  and  is 
active  in  his  aid  to  his  party,  bnt  is  not  a 
seeker  after  office;  his  wife  is  a consistent 
member  of  and  worker  in  the  Gierman  Re- 
formed church. 


HOMAS  G.  PINER,  one  of  the  oldest 
settlers  and  most  prominent  farmers 
of  Michigan  township,  Glinton  county, 
Ind.,  was  born  in  Garteret  comity, 
N.  G. , April  19,  1823.  His  grandfather  was 
a native  of  Virginia,  was  a coojier  by  trade, 
and  later  a planter  in  the  Old  North  state.  His 
son,  George  Piner,  the  father  of  Thomas  ('., 
was  born  in  North  Garolina,  h'ehruary  26, 
1795.  He  was  a soldier  in  the  regular  army 
in  the  war  of  1812,  and  for  his  services  re- 
ceived a land  warrant  from  the  government. 
In  1.834  lie  sold  his  farm  in  North  Garolina 
and  removed  to  Partholomew  county,  Ind., 
where  he  lived  about  eighteem  years,  and  in 
1853  took  up  his  claim  in  Ricdiland  county. 
Ilk,  where  he  residiul  until  his  death  on  his 


sixtieth  birthday,  Eebruary  26,  1855  His 

wife  bore  the  maiden  name  of  Rebecca  Dick- 
erson, and  bore  him  the  following  children; 
Mary,  Thomas  G.,  Vkishti  and  Daniel.  She 
died  in  Richland  county.  Ilk,  January  18,  1855. 

Thomas  G.  Piner  was  reared  on  a farm  in 
Bartholomew  county,  Ind.,  remaining  at  home 
until  manhood.  In  1 848  he  went  to  Shelby 
county,  and  a year  later  to  Franklin,  Johnson 
county,  where  he  worked  at  the  cooper’s  trade. 
In  August,  1851,  he  moved  to  Glinton  county, 
and  bought  eighty- seven  acres  of  unimproved 
land,  which  he  has  cleared  and  brought  under 
cultivation,  and  has  since  bought  forty  acres 
adjoining  on  the  north.  He  has  worked  at 
his  trade  in  connection  with  attending  to  his 
farm,  and  has  accumulated  a good  property. 
Mr.  Piner  was  married  April  29,  1849,  to 

Susan  |.  McFadden,  a native  of  V’irginia,  born 
April  1,  1825,  daughter  of  William  and  Mar- 
garet (Wade)  McFadden,  early  settlers  of 
Henry  county,  Ind.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Piner  have 
had  six  children;  but  four  are  living — George 
W.,  William  D.  Margaret  A.,  and  Martha  E. 
Rebecca  Ann,  wife  of  George  W.  Miller,  died 
in  1870,  and  Thomas  Glay  died  in  1880,  aged 
sixteen  years.  In  jiolitics  Mr.  Piner  is  a dem- 
ocrat. He  and  wife  are  members  of  Maptist 
church,  in  which  Mr.  Piner  was  elected  dea- 
con, but  declined  to  serve. 


WILLIAM  POWERS,  a retired 
farmer  residing  in  Gollax,  Glinton 
comity,  link,  was  born  in  Ross 
countyj  Ohio,  December  2,  1816, 

and  de.scends  from  Revolutionary  ancestors,  of 
English  extraction.  His  grandfather,  Valen- 
tine Powers,  was  a native  of  Virginia  (born  in 
that  part  now  included  in  WTst  V’irginia),  and 
was  a patriot  in  the  war  for  indeiiendence. 
He  owned  a large  farm,  on  which  there  was  <i 
cave,  in  which  the  family  found  hiding  during 


OF  CLINTON  COUNTY. 


848 


the  troublous  da\’S  of  tlie  war.  He  also  had  a 
water-mill  on  the  bauks  of  the  Potomac,  which 
served  as  a grist.  Hour  and  saw-mill.  His  son 
Daniel,  father  of  our  subject,  was  born  and 
reared  on  the  home  farm  in  W'est  Virginia. 
He  also  was  a true  patriot  and  took  an  active 
part  in  the  war  of  1812.  He  married  Eliza- 
beth Bryant,  and  soon  afterward  moved  to 
Ross  county,  Ohio,  and  later  to  the  vicinity  of 
Dayton,  where  the  father  farmed  until  his 
death.  His  widow  then  returned  to  Ross 
county  with  her  chiUlren,  who  were  named,  in 
order  of  birth,  as  follows;  Mary,  Susan, 
Eliza,  Daniel,  William  and  Catherine.  The 
mother  was  a devout  member  of  the  Christian 
church,  and  died  in  that  faith  in  1858. 

William  Powers  lived  on  the  home  farm  in 
Ohio  until  fifteen  years  of  age,  when  he  came 
to  Indiana  and  learned  the  blacksmith  trade, 
and  became  a good  workman  in  wood  as  well 
as  in  iron.  He  married  Mary  A. , daughter  of 
Joseph  and  Elizabeth  (Allen)  Cooley,  of  Clin- 
ton county.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Cooley  stood  high 
in  the  Presbyterian  church,  in  which  Mr. 
Cooley  was  an  elder;  he  was  a whig  in  politics 
and  also  a justice  of  the  peace.  After  mar- 
riage Mr.  Powers  followed  his  trade  for  forty- 
three  years,  but  invested  his  earnings  in  real 
estate,  until  he  owned  560  acres  in  Sugar 
Creek  township,  Montgomery  county,  348  in 
Clinton  county,  and  160  in  Tippecanoe  county. 
For  many  years  he  also  traded  in  cattle,  and 
finally  returned  to  Colfax,  where  for  fourteen 
years  he  has  been  engaged  in  banking.  Janu- 
ary 28,  1880,  he  lost  his  wife,  who  was  well 
known  in  several  counties  of  Indiana  as  a 
pious  and  charitable  lady.  Their  son,  I'rancis 
\\k  Powers,  lives  in  West  La  Fayette,  and  for 
a young  man  has  accpiired  the  handsome 
fortune  of  900  acres  of  good  land.  He  mar- 
ried Elizabeth  Shoob,  who  has  borne  three 
children:  William,  Lelia  and  Grover.  A few 
years  ago  Francis  W.  visited  the  old  Virginia 


liomestead  of  his  ancestors,  and  returned  with 
several  valuable  souvenirs.  He  is  a demo- 
crat in  his  politics. 


OHX  PRUITT,  a prominent  farmer 
and  one  of  the  oldest  citizens  of  John- 
son township,  Clinton  county,  Ind  , 
was  born  in  Fayette  county.  Inch,  April 
29,  1820,  and  is  of  g)od  old  English  stock. 
His  grandfather,  also  named  John,  was  a na- 
tive of  South  Carolina;  William  Pruitt,  his 
son,  was  born  in  South  Carolina,  December 
25,  1793.  He  married  Rebecca  Hawkins,  and 
they  came,  in  company  with  another  family, 
to  Indiana  in  18(7,  a one-horse  wagon  bring- 
ing the  effects  of  both  families.  Mr.  Pruitt 
located,  consecutively,  in  Franklin,  Fayette, 
Rush  and  Bartholomew  counties,  and  while  a 
resident  of  the  latter  was  the  owner  of  the  first 
spring-wagon  and  first  set  of  check  lines  ever 
owned  in  the  county. 

John  Pruitt  attended  the  pioneer  school- 
house  of  his  early  days,  in  which  school  was 
kept  from  daylight  till  dark.  He  began  his 
business  life  by  purchasing  twenty  acres  of  his 
present  farm  in  Clinton  county,  but  at  one 
time  owned,  before  dividing  with  his  children, 
720  acres.  He  married  Nancy  J.  Stewart, 
who  became  the  mother  of  nine  children,  viz: 
Rebecca  E.,  William  O.,  James  W.,  Dorcas 
L.,  Stephen  A.  (died  an  infant),  Mary  A., 
Caroline  M , Maggie  and  Jennie  L.  To  the 
surviving  eight  children  of  this  family  Mr. 
Pruitt  has  given  eighty  acres  of  land  each. 
Mr.  Pruitt  is  a sound  democrat,  and  has  been 
elected  to  the  office  of  county  commissioner 
twelve  consecutive  years — during  which  period 
the  county  court  house  was  erected.  He  and 
wife  are  devoted  members  of  the  Church  of 
God,  and  fraternally  he  is  a member  of  Her- 
man lodge,  No.  184,  F &.  A.  M.,  at  Michi- 
gantown.  Mr.  Pruitt  has  been  an  industrious, 


844 


BIOGRAPHICAL  HISTORY 


upright  and  enterjrrising  citizen,  and  has  been 
rewarded  by  a competency,  and,  what  is  in 
one  sense  more  precious,  the  esteem  and  re- 
sy)ect  of  his  fellow-citizens. 


OSEPH  G.  KEVIS,  one  of  the  practi- 
cal farmers  of  Ross  township,  Clinton 
county,  Ind.,  son  of  Enoch  Kevis,  was 
born  in  Butler  county,  Ohio,  Septem- 
ber 2 1,  1838,  and  came  with  his  father  to 
Clinton  county,  Ind.,  in  1845,  when  he  was 
seven  years  old.  Joseph  G.  received  a com- 
mon education,  became  a farmer  and  married 
Charlotte  C.  Bailey,  August  4,  1872,  daughter 
of  Philip  P.  and  Hagar  (Johnson)  Bailey.  To 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Re  vis  was  born  one  child — Mil- 
ford W.  Mr.  Revis  died  October  26,  1887. 
After  marriage  Mr.  Revis  settled  on  a farm 
three  and  one-miles  north  of  Colfa.x,  Ind., 
and  here  lived  until  1 890,  when  he  married, 
on  July  29,  Catherine  A.  Waget,  ucc  Catherine 
Trentz.  Peter  Trentz,  her  father,  was  born 
in  Saarlovis,  Germany,  lived  in  the  town  of 
Einbach,  and  was  a farmer.  His  father  was 
also  Peter  Trentz,  and  the  family  have  been 
farmers  for  generations.  The  elder  Trentz 
owned  a farm  of  twenty  acres,  which  was  a 
good  property  for  that  country.  He  and  wife 
were  the  parents  of  si.x  children;  Peter, 
Nicholas,  Catherine,  John,  Peter  and  Maiy. 
Beside  his  farm,  he  kept  a bakery  and  hotel; 
in  his  later  life  had  a grocery  and  butcher 
shop,  and  was  a well-to-do  man.  He  and  wife 
were  members  of  the  Catholic  church.  In 
July,  1885,  Mr.  Trentz  came  to  America,  as 
two  of  his  children — Catherine  A.  and  Peter — 
had  settled  in  this  country.  Mr.  Trentz  bought 
a farm  of  120  acres  in  Stark  county,  Ind.,  one 
mile  from  Hamlet,  and  there  he  still  lives. 
Catherine  A.  Trentz,  wife  of  our  subject,  mar- 
ried, in  Germany,  John  Waget,  who  had  been 


I to  America  and  returned  to  Germanyc  He 
i then  came  back  to  this  country  and  settled  on 
the  farm  where  f.  G.  Revis  now  lives,  con- 
sisting of  129  acres,  which  is  the  old  Wolf 
farm,  near  Edna  Mills.  To  Mr.  and  Mrs, 
Waget  was  born  one  daughter,  Annie.  Mr. 
W'aget  died  January  12,  1886,  aged  fifty  years. 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Revis  reside  on  the  Waget  home- 
stead and  have  one  child,  Eeonie.  Both  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  Revis  are  members  of  the  Baptist 
church,  and  politically  Mr.  Revis  is  a demo- 
crat, and  he  has  been  supervisor.  Enoch 
Revis,  father  of  J.  G.  Revis,  is  one  of  the 
pioneers  aiul  the  oldest  man  in  Ross  township, 
if  not  in  Clinton  county,  being  eighty-seven 
years  old.  He  springs  from  sterling  English 
stock  on  his  father’s  side,  and  on  his  mother’s 
side  from  the  Irish.  Jesse  Revis  was  the 
grandfather  of  Enoch,  was  born  in  Surry  coun- 
ty, N.  C.,  and  was  a farmer.  He  married  and 
reared  a family  of  five  children  by  his  first 
wife:  john,  Da\id,  Edward,  Susan  and 

Nancy;  by  his  second  wife  he  was  the  father 
of  two  children — Jesse  and  ]oel.  He  lived  to 
be  one  hundred  years  old  and  died  on  his  farm 
in  Suiry  county,  N.  C.  He  was  a prominent 
man,  3 et  remembered  by  our  subject,  who  was 
in  his  nineteenth  year  when  he  died.  Edward 
Revis,  the  father  of  PZnoch,  was  born  in  Surry 
county,  N.  C.,  was  a farmer,  married,  in  his 
native  county,  Mary,  daughter  of  W’illiam  and 
Elizabeth  (Alexander)  llattick.  Mr.  Revis  set- 
tled on  the  old  home  farm,  and  here  passed  all 
his  da^s.  He  and  wife  were  the  parents  of 
seven  children;  W'llliam,  John,  Enoch,  As- 
l)ury,  Ivlizabeth,  Lydia  and  Mary.  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Ivevis  were  members  of  the  Ba|)tist 
church.  He  died  at  the  age  of  about  forty 
years,  011  his  farm,  of  fever. 

After  the  death  of  her  husband  Mrs.  Revis 
married  Jerry  Patrick,  and  they  had  three 
children;  Jerry,  Sarah  and  Mattie.  She 
lived  to  be  an  aged  woman  and  died  in  Ashe 


OF  CLINTON  C(JUNTY. 


845 


county,  N.  C.  Eiiocli  Revis,  father  of  J.  G. 
Revis,  was  born  July  lo,  1807,  on  liis  father’s 
farm,  remaining  there  until  twenty-three 
years  old.  He  married,  in  1829,  Tempie 
Revis,  his  second  cousin,  daughter  of  Abel 
Revis,  son  of  David,  who  was  a son  of  Jesse, 
grandfather  of  Enoch  In  1830  Enoch  Revis 
moved  to  Butler  county,  Ohio,  w'here  he  lived 
fifteen  years  on  a farm.  He  and  wife  are  the 
parents  of  five  children:  Mary,  John,  Joseph 
G , Elsie  and  Elizabeth. 

Joseph  G Revis  came  to  Indiana  in  1845 
and  settled  on  his  present  land,  then  covered 
by  heavy  timber,  and  which  by  industry  and 
thrift  he  cleared  up  and  made  a good  home. 
Mrs.  Revis  died  and  he  married  widow  Lucy 
Gripe,  formerly  Miss  Daniels,  daughter  of 
Samuel  and  Sarah  (Cockran)  Daniels.  Mr. 
Daniels  was  an  old  settler  of  Carroll  county, 
Ind.,  from  Scioto  county,  Ohio,  and  settled  in 
Indiana  as  a pioneer  in  1827,  when  the  Indi- 
ans and  wild  game  were  plentiful.  To  Mr. 
and  Mrs  Daniels  were  born  eleven  children: 
Sophia,  Eliza,  Jesse,  Stephen,  Jane,  Elizabeth, 
Sarah  and  Lucy  (twins),  Samuel,  Mary  and 
W'illiam.  Mr.  Daniels  was  a prosperous 
farmer  and  died  aged  sixty-one  years.  His 
father,  Nehemiah  Daniels,  was  a farmer  of 
Virginia  and  here  Samuel  w as  born.  Nehemiah 
Daniels  w'as  killed  in  battle,  in  the  Revolution- 
ary w'ar.  To  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Reves  w'ere  born 
six  children:’  Lucy  R.,  Catherine  M.,  Martha 
A.,  Daniel,  Hannah  and  Thersa.  Enoch 
Revis  has  remained  on  his  present  homestead 
since  he  settled  there,  a residence  of  one-half 
a century.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Revis  are  members 
of  the  Regular  Baj)tist  church,  and  Mr.  Revis 
is  an  honest  and  respected  citizen,  having 
been  a very  industrious  and  hard-working- 
man throughout  his  life,  and  in  his  younger 
days  endured  the  hardships  and  privations 
of  the  pioneer.  He  has  always  stood  high  for 
his  integrity  of  character,  and  throughout  his 


long  life  has  maintained  the  confidence  and 
respect  of  the  people. 

Daniel  Revis,  son  of  above  and  brother  of 
J.  G.  Revis,  w'as  born  November  2,  1856,  re- 
ceived a good  common  education,  became  a 
farmer,  and  married  Clara  Stinson,  daughter 
of  Henry  and  Rosa  (Bailey)  Stinson.  To  Mr. 
and  Mrs  Revis  have  been  born  three  children: 
Walter  H.,  Wilson  E.  and  L.  D.  Mr.  Revis 
is  a practical  farmer  and  manages  the  home 
farm.  He  and  wife  are  members  of  the 
Missionary  Baptist  church,  and  in  politics  he 
is  a democrat. 


ARRISON  RODENBARGER,  a well 
known  farmer  and  representative  cit- 
zen  of  Union  township,  Clinton  coun- 
ty, Ind.,  has  the  honor  of  being  a 
native  of  Indiana.  He  was  born  in  Tippeca- 
noe county,  Eebruary  26,  1848,  and  is  a son 
of  George  and  Lydia  (W'alters)  Rodenbarger. 
They  were  natives  of  Pennsylvania  and  came 
of  old  German  families.  Emigrating  w'est- 
ward  they  settled  in  Tippecanoe  county,  where 
the  father  purchased  eighty  acres  of  land. 

ater  he  came  to  Clinton  county  and  bought  a 
farm  of  141  acres,  w'hich  he  operated  until  his 
death  in  November,  1885.  Of  their  nine  chil- 
dren, eight  are  still  living,  namely:  William, 
Sarah,  Harrison,  Emma,  Mary,  Catherine, 
Levi  and  Hannah.  Caroline  has  passed  away. 

Harrison  Rodenbarger,  whose  name  heads 
this  sketch,  remained  with  his  parents  until 
twenty-four  years  of  age.  As  a companion 
and  helpmate  on  life’s  journey  he  chose  Linnie 
I.  Carter,  their  w^edding  being  celebrated 
March  6,  1873.  The  lady  is  a daughter  of 
Richard  J.  and  Eleanor  (Byers)  Carter,  who 
both  were  of  German  lineage.  The  father  was 
born  in  Loudoun  county,  Va.,  in  1808,  and  was 
a son  of  Jesse  and  Hannah  (Richards)  Carter, 
who  were  also  born  in  the  Old  Dominion.  His 


BIOGRAPHICAL  HISTORY 


RIO 


f^raiuHather,  William  Carter,  was  a native  of 
Wales,  and  died  in  Clinton  county,  Ind.,  at 
the  advanced  age  of  tnnety-two.  His  maternal 
grandfather,  Richard  Richards,  was  born  in 
Virginia,  and  came  of  an  old  English  family. 
When  Richard  ).  Carter  was  live  years  of  age 
his  parents  removed  to  Butler  county,  Ohio, 
where  he  was  reared  on  a farm.  At  the  age  of 
nineteen  he  came  west  on  an  exjiloring  expedi- 
tion and  was  very  favorably  inipressed  with 
this  country.  He  then  returned  to  Ohio,  and 
the  following  january  his  father  removed  the 
family  to  this  county,  settling  in  Union  town- 
ship, where  he  entered  246  acres  of  wild  land. 
He  was  the  first  representative  elected  to  the 
state  legislature  from  this  county,  and  served 
as  county  agent  in  an  early  day.  He  here  re- 
sided until  his  death,  which  occurred  in  1872, 
at  the  ripe  old  age  of  eighty-eight.  His  wife 
passed  away  in  1840.  In  their  family  were 
five  children,  namely:  Julia  A,,  Richard  J,, 7 
\\hlliam,  who  was  president  of  the 
tional  bank  from  its  organization  until  his  death 
in  1882;  Dr.  Franklin  M.,  a prominent  physi- 
cian of  I'rankfort,  Ind.,  who  died  in  1856; 
and  Manly  who  died  in  1840. 

Richard  J.  Carter  remained  at  home  until 
his  marriage,  which  occurred  December  15, 
1S36.  His  wife  was  a daughter  of  Ephraim 
and  Catherine  (White)  Byers,  who  became  resi- 
dents of  |uniata  county.  Pa.,  in  1833.  Upon  his 
marriage,  Mr.  Carter  settled  uj)on  a farm 
adjoining  the  old  homestead  which  he  had  j)re- 
viously  ])urchased.  At  one  time  he  owned  500 
acres  of  valuable  land,  most  of  which  has  now 
been  in  the  family  for  half  a century.  He  was 
actively  engaged  in  agricultural  j)ursuits  until 
1882,  when  he  retired  and  removed  to  h'rank- 
fort,  where  his  estimable  wife  is  still  li\'ing. 
They  were  both  active  and  consistent  nuunbers 
of  the  Presbyterian  church,  and  in  politics  he 
was  a stalwart  republican.  Although  a resi- 
dent of  ('enter  township  for  over  fifty-six 


years,  he  never  sought  or  accepted  public  office, 
except  on  one  occasion,  when  he  served  for 
three  years  as  county  commissioner.  No  man 
was  more  widely  or  favorably  known  in  Clin- 
ton county  than  Richard  Carter.  He  was 
always  ready  to  help  those  in  need,  and  gave 
freely  to  church  and  benevolent  work,  yet  ac- 
cumulated a handsome  fortune,  and  after  lib- 
eral gifts  to  his  children,  he  still  had  $75,000, 
much  of  which  is  invested  in  the  First  Na- 
tional bank. 

To  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Rodenbarger  have  been 
born  nine  children,  seven  of  whom  are  yet 
living:  William  G.,  who  was  born  September 
14,  1874;  Cora  D.,  who  N\as  born  (detober  7, 
1876,  and  died  December  17,  1881;  George, 
born  August  27,  1878;  Bertha,  horn  May  3, 
1881;  Edith  P.,  born  April  6,  1883;  Carrie, 
born  July  9,  1885;  Manly  R.,  born  May  21, 
r887;  Herman  W.,  born  November  29,  1889: 
and  one  whet  died  in  infancy.  Both  Mr.  and 
Mrs!d-*I^|)denberger  are  members  of  the  Ger- 
man Reform  church,  and  are  prominent  peo- 
ple of  this  community,  widely  and  favorably 
known.  In  politics  he  is  a republican,  but  has 
never  been  an  aspirant  for  office.  He  now 
owns  and  operates  178  acres  of  good  land,  all 
under  a high  state  of  cultivation,  and  his  farm 
is  one  of  the  best  in  the  neighborhood. 


OHN  ANDREW  RICE,  dealer  in  diy- 
goods  and  notions,  b'rankfort,  is  a na- 
tive of  Clinton  county,  Ind.,  and  a son 
of  John  and  Rebecca  Rice.  'I'lie  father, 
a son  of  Dr.  Jonathan  Rice,  was  born  in  Penn- 
sylvania in  1833,  and  came  to  Clinton  county, 
Ind.,  with  his  parents  when  about  seventeen 
years  of  age.  By  occupation  he  was  a farmer 
and  he  married  in  the  county  of  Clinton  Re- 
becca J.  Richardson,  who  was  horn  in  thestate 
of  \'irginia  in  the  year  1835.  Her  father, 
Richard  R.  Richardson,  also  a \’irginian  by 


library 

. OF  THE 
WrtVERSITY  OF  (LUffOff 


OF  CLINTON  COUNTY. 


840 


birtli  and  of  Enj^lish  descent,  was  a pioneer  of 
Clinton  comity  and  died  here  a number  of 
years  ago.  The  following  are  the  names  of 
the  children  of  John  and  Rebecca  Rice — Wil- 
liam (deceased),  Wesley,  (deceased),  John  A., 
Milton  H.,  Matthew  (deceased),  and  Mary  (de- 
cesaed).  The  father  of  these  children  died  in 
Clinton  county,  Ind.,  in  1867,  and  the  mother 
departed  this  life  two  years  prior  to  that  date. 
Dr.  Jonathan  Rice,  the  subject’sgrandfather,  a 
native  of  Pennsylvania,  moved  to  Indiana  a 
number  of  years  ago,  settling  in  Henry  county; 
thence,  in  1850,  he  moved  to  the  county  of 
Clinton,  where  his  death  occurred  in  1858  at 
the  age  of  sixty-hve  years.  He  was  a farmer, 
a physician  and  minister,  and  was  known  as  a 
man  of  marked  intellectuality.  The  follow- 
ing are  the  names  of  his  children — Daniel,  a 
prominent  farmer  of  Clinton  county;  Mary  J., 
Nancy,  John,  Joseph,  also  a farmer  of  Clin- 
ton; William  S. , Elmira,  Angeline  and  Jona- 
than. The  mother  of  these  children,  whose 
maiden  name  was  Elizabeth  Sawyer,  was  also 
a native  of  Pennsylvania. 

John  A.  Rice  was  born  January  i r,  1859, 
grew  to  manhood  on  a farm  and  received  a 
good  education  in  the  common  schools.  For 
some  years,  he  taught  in  the  public  schools  of 
Clinton  county,  eleven  terms  in  all,  and  made 
a creditable  record  as  an  instructor.  In  1883, 
he  accepted  a clerkship  with  a business  firm  in 
Frankfort,  and,  after  serving  in  that  capacity 
three  years,  embarked  in  the  mercantile  trade 
upon  his  owm  responsibility  and  has  since  con- 
tinued the  same  with  success  and  financial 
profit.  Mr.  Rice  deals  in  dry-goods  and  no- 
tions, making  a specialty  of  fine  furnishings, 
and  his  store  room.  No.  212  Main  street,  is 
one  of  the  well-known  and  popular  business 
places  of  the  city.  Mr.  Rice  is  a pleasant  gen- 
tleman, affable  and  courteous,  stands  well  in 
business  circle  and  socially  enjoys  great  popu- 
larity in  Frankfort.  His  business  venture  has 


fully  met  his  expectations  and  his  standing  in 
the  commercial  world  is  (pioted  as  strictly  first 
class.  Mr.  Rice  was  married  in  1879  to  Miss 
Maggie  C.  Beard,  of  Clinton  county,  to  wdiich 
union  two  children  have  been  born — Zua  and 
Claude.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Rice  are  valued  mem- 
bers of  the  Methodist  church  of  P'rankfort  and 
politically  he  supports  the  democratic  party. 
He  is  a member  of  the  Pythian  fraternity.  Red 
Men  and  Rnights  of  Honor. 


OHN  A.  ROSS,  of  Frankfort,  Ind.,  was 
born  in  Tippecanoe  county,  near  La 
Fayette,  Ind.,  January  26th,  1861,  a 
son  of  Alexander  and  Mai'y  (Johnson) 
Ross.  Alexander  Ross  is  of  Scotch  extraction, 
born  in  Ireland,  and  was  but  thirteen  years  of 
age  when  he  came  to  the  United  States,  locat- 
ing at  La  Fayette.  He  was  united  in  mar- 
riage with  Miss  Mary  Johnson,  who  was  born  in 
Sweden,  but  came  to  the  United  States  when 
twelve  years  of  age. 

John  A.  Ross,  the  subject  of  this  sketch,  is 
the  eldest  of  eight  children  and  until  twenty- 
one  years  of  age  resided  in  La  Fayette,  where 
he  received  an  excellent  education,  including  a 
course  of  book-keeping  and  civil  engineering, 
and  from  the  age  of  fifteen  until  twenty-one 
he  greatly  assisted  his  father,  who  was  a gen- 
eral contractor.  In  1882,  John  A.  Ross  lo- 
cated in  Frankfort  and  engaged  in  contracting 
for  a year;  in  1883  and  1884  he  was  engaged 
in  the  same  business  in  La  P'ayette  and  Hunt- 
ington, Ind.  After  alternating  betw'een  P'rank- 
fort  and  La  P'ayette  he  permanently  located 
in  P'rankfort,  in  1888,  and  formed  a partner- 
ship with  James  A.  Hedgcock  for  the  ])urpose  of 
doing  a general  contracting  business,  embrac- 
ing gravel-roads,  bridges,  street  improvement, 
sewerage  and  erection  of  business  blocks,  and 
the  firm  were  awarded  contracts  for  the  im- 
provement of  many  of  the  principal  streets  of 


BIOGRAPHICAL  HISTORY 


l''rankf()rt,  miles  of  f^ravel-road  and  a large 
niimder  of  the  principal  iron  bridges  for  the 
count V.  In  every  instance  their  work  has 
prov(.'d  eminently  satisfactory  to  all  con- 
cerned, and  stands  as  a monument  to  their 
ability  and  integrity  as  public  contractors, 
d'lu'y  were  able  at  all  times  to  furnish  em- 
ploynumt  to  hundreds  of  laboring  men  at  a 
just  and  reasonable  compensation,  believing 
that,  “the  laborer  is  worthy  of  his  hire.”  The 
business  of  this  firm  has  been  most  successful, 
the  Petty  building,  Clark  block.  Sheets  block 
and  numcuarus  other  buildings  being  among 
their  work  in  Frankfort.  Street  contracting, 
bridge  building,  and  general  contracting  oc- 
cupied the  time  of  the  firm  from  1888  until 
1892,  the  l)usiness  amounting  to  thousands  of 
dollars  annually. 

In  1 892  the  firm  established  The  Frank- 
fort Prick  works,  with  a capacity  of  three  and 
one  half  to  four  million  brick  annually,  giving 
enpiloyment  to  sixty  or  seventy  men.  In  the 
spring  of  1894  their  brick  works  were  totally 
destroyed  by  fire,  entailing  a loss  of  $16,000 
or  $18,000,  which  was  only  partially  covered 
by  insurance.  Not  discouraged  by  this  mis- 
fortune, the  firm  at  once  cleared  the  wreck 
and  ])r(jceeded  to  re-build  the  works  on  a 
larger  scale  and  with  increased  facilities,  and 
at  the  present  have  one  of  the  best  equipped 
bricd':  works  in  central  Indiana.  During  all 
these  years,  thus  engaged  in  public  works,  giv- 
ing'employment  to  hundreds  of  men,  this  firm 
has  never  exjKuienced  the  least  trouble  ou  ac- 
count of  strikes  or  dissatisfation  on  the  part  of 
the  men  in  their  employ. 

On  th('  twelfth  day  of  I'ebruary,  1884,  M’-. 
Ross  was  happily  married  to  Miss  Lola  A. 
Ourtis,  daughter  of  Charles  P.  Curtis,  who 
was  born  in  Ivngland,  and  Esther  (Kinardj 
Curtis,  born  in  America  but  of  German  ex- 
traction. Miss  Lola  was  born  La  Fayette, 
Ind.,  and  (A  a family  of  eleven  children  she 


was  the  youngest.  To  this  union  have  been 
born  three  children,  viz:  Worley  A.,  Carrie 
Venita  and  Margaret  Zola.  Mr.  Ross  is  an 
honored  member  of  the  K.  of  P.  and  I.  O.  R. 
M.,  is  a Methodist,  and  in  politicts  is  a repub- 
lican; socially  he  and  his  estimable  wife  hold 
an  enviable  position. 


ILLIAM  J.  ROUSH,  famous  as  a 
caterer  of  Frankfort,  Ind.,  is  a na- 
tive of  Clinton  county  and  was  born 
in  Cyclone,  Jackson  township,  Jan- 
uary 30,  1866,  a son  of  John  J.  and  Rachael 
(Cook)  Roush.  The  father,  John  J.,  was  born 
in  Milwaukee,  Wis. , January  31,  1842,  and 
came  to  Clinton  county,  Ind.,  in  1863,  began 
farming,  but  soon  entered  the  Eighty-sixth  In- 
diana volunteer  infantry,  gallantly  served 
thi'ough  the  Atlanta  campaign,  was  wounded 
in  the  right  leg,  returned  home  at -the  close  of 
hostilities,  resumed  farming,  and  died  January 
“9.  1879-  His  wife,  daughter  of  William  and 
Catherine  Cook,  natives  of  Indiana,  survived 
until  March  16,  1874,  and  was  the  mother  of 

six  children:  WilliamJ.,  Frank,  David,  Milton, 
Frederick  (deceased)  and  Oscar  (deceased). 
The  parents  were  members  of  the  Methodist 
Ivpiscopal  church,  aud  the  father  was  a I'ree- 
mason  and  a republican. 

William  J.  Roush,  at  the  death  of  his 
father,  went  to  live  with  an  uncle,  Seth  A. 
Cook,  who  was  in  the  restaurant  and  bakery 
business,  and  with  him  remained  until  1885, 
when  he  accepted  a position  with  Kempf 
Prothers,  bakers  and  confectioners,  of  Frank- 
fort, as  general  a.ssistant;  in  1889,  in  company 
with  O.  C.  Parsons,  he  engaged  in  the  restau- 
rant business  in  the  same  city:  in  1890,  Mr. 
Parsons  withdrew  from  the  firm,  which  became 
known  as  Roush  cN  Thompson,  and  so  re- 
mained until  1891,  when  Howaid  Amick  suc- 
ceeded Mr.  Thompson;  in  1892  Charles  Me- 


OF  CLINTON  COUNTY. 


851 


cum  succeeded  Mr.  Amick,  and  the  entire 
business  was  sold  to  Mr.  Mecinn.  Mr.  Roush 
then  resinned  his  old  position  with  Kernpf 
Brothers,  with  whom  he  still  remains,  filling 
the  position  with  the  same  affability  and  popu- 
larity as  of  yore. 

The  marriage  of  Mr.  Roush  took  place  at 
Frankfort,  October  8,  1889,  with  Miss  Della 
W'inters,  daughter  of  William  J.  and  Hannah 
(Helvie)  Winters,  natives  of  Indiana  and  of 
German  extraction.  To  Mr.  Roush  and  his 
amiable  lady  has  been  born  one  child — Paul 
Charles.  Mrs.  Roush  is  a devoted  member  of 
the  Christian  church ; Mr.  Roush  is  a member 
of  the  Improved  Order  of  Red  Men, is  a Knight 
of  Pythias,  and  in  politics  is  a republican,  and 
both  are  admired  for  their  congenial  and  oblig- 
ing dispositions. 


HOMAS  DOUGLASS  RUSSELL,  a 
leading  farmer  and  well  known  citizen 
of  Cyclone,  Kirklin  township,  Clinton 
county,  Ind.,  was  born  on  his  father’s 
farm  May  3,  1847,  and  is  descended  from  sturdy 
Irish  and  English  ancestry.  His  grandfather, 
Robert  Russell,  was  an  Ohio  farmer.  His 
father,  fohnson  Russell,  was  born  July  25, 
1802,  and  remained  at  home  until  his  mar- 
riage on  the  fifth  of  July,  1822.  His  wife  bore 
the  maiden  name  of  Cynthia  B.  Downard. 
She  was  born  August  15,  1805,  and  is  a 

daughter  of  James  and  Elizabeth  Downard,  of 
Virginia.  Her  father  afterwards  became  judge 
of  Hendricks  county,  Ind., 'and  was  quite  an 
extensive  land  owner.  He  reached  the  age  of 
seventy  years,  and  his  wife  passed  away  at  the 
age  of  eighty.  To  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Russell  were 
born  the  following  children — Elizabeth,  born 
April  30,  1824;  Ellen,  who  was  born  Decem- 
ber 8,  1825,  and  died  September  14,  1840; 
James,  who  was  born  Eebruary  7,  1828,  and 
died  July  22,  1840;  Hannah,  who  was  born 


August  12,  1830,  and  died  in  1863;  Robert, 
born  August  2,  1833,  died  in  1871;  William 
T. , born  March  4,  1837,  dietl  in  1876;  John- 
son P. , born  November  24,  1839,  was  in  the 
Civil  war,  and  died  March  9,  1862;  Mary  Ann, 
born  April  13,  1841,  died  November  ii,  1842; 
Jonathan  Knight,  born  January  ii,  1845,  was 
a soldier,  and  Thomas  D.,  the  subject  of  this 
sketch.  The  parents  were  married  in  Hend- 
ricks county,  Ind.,  but  removed  to  Tippe- 
canoe county,  and  in  1829  came  to  Kirklin 
township,  Clinton  county,  where  Mr.  Russell 
entered  and  purchased  land  until  he  had  more 
than  600  acres.  He  and  his  wife  were  mem- 
bers of  the  Christian  church,  in  which  he 
served  as  deacon.  He  died  at  the  age  of 
sixty-six  and  his  wife  at  fifty-one  years. 

Thomas  Douglass  Russell  acquired  his 
education  in  the  common  schools  and  remained 
at  home  until  May,  1864,  when  he  enlisted  in 
the  one-hundred-day  service  as  a member  of 
company  C,  One-hundred  and  Thirthy-ninth 
Indiana  infantry,  under  Capt.  R.  I).  Davidson, 
went  from  Indianapolis  to  Kentucky,  and  did 
guard  duty  over  prisoners  on  their  their  way  to 
Chicago.  On  the  expiration  of  his  term  he 
was  discharged,  but  on  the  twent3'-fourth  of 
November,  enlisted  under  Capt.  C.  C.  Mc- 
Dowell of  company  G,  Twenty-sixth  Indiana 
infantry.  The  troops  went  to  New  Orleans, 
thence  to  Mobile,  and  were  present  at  the  cap- 
ture of  Spanish  Fort  and  Fort  Blakely.  They 
then  went  to  Montgomery  and  Selma,  Ala.,  and 
on  into  Mississippi,  doing  provost  duty  until 
November,  1865,  when  they  were  discharged 
at  Vicksburg.  Mr.  Russell  at  once  returned 
home,  and  on  his  father’s  death  the  following 
year  inherited  ninety-three  acres  of  land  He 
was  married  March  24,  1869,  to  Sarah  M.  Mc- 
Intyre, who  was  born  in  1852,  and  is  a daugh- 
ter of  Richard  and  Jane  (Nealis)  McIntyre, 
natives  of  Indiana.  Two  children  graced  this 
union — Capitola,  wife  of  Truman  Miller,  and 


BIOGRAPHICAL  HISTORY 


8r,2 


Oscar.  The  mother  died  October  22,  1876, 
and  Mr.  Russell  was  again  married  in  June, 
1882,  his  secimd  union  being  with  Mary  E. 
McIntyre,  who  was  born  October  4,  i860,  and 
is  a daughter  of  Michael  and  Charlotte  (Lee) 
McIntyre.  The  children  born  to  this  union 
are  Harry,  Catherine  and  Paul. 

Mr.  Russell  has  a tine  farm  of  1 58.^  acres, 
all  under  a high  state  of  cultivation,  and  is  e.x- 
tensively  engaged  in  raising  fine  horses,  cattle 
and  hogs.  He  has  a commodious  barn  and 
outbuildings,  which  are  models  of  convenience, 
and  has  erected  a beautiful  country  home  at  a 
cost  of  $1,500.  In  his  business  he  has  pros- 
pered, and  his  success  is  well  deserved.  In 
politics  he  is  a republican,  and  has  been  dele- 
gate to  the  county  conventions.  His  wife  be- 
longs to  the  Christian  church. 


AMb:S  EDWARD  SCROGGY,  a young 
but  successful  business  man  of  Prank- 
fort,  Ind.,  and  the  founder  of  the  J.  E. 
Scroggy  Manufacturing  company,  was 
born  on  a farm  just  north  of  Frankfort,  Sep- 
tember 14,  1862,  and  IS  a son  of  Joseph  and 
Mary  (Abbott)  Scroggy.  He  gained  a very 
fair  common  school  education,  which  was  sup- 
plemented by  two  years’  attendance  at  an 
academy  in  Stockwell,  Ind.  At  about  the  age 
of  sixteen  he  entered  the  dry  goods  store  of  J. 
II.  Darner  cS:  Co.,  of  Frankfort,  as  clerk,  and 
eighteen  months  later  accepted  a {position  as 
clerk  in  the  clothing  house  of  J.  W.  Coulter. 
Three  years  later  he  went  to  Chicago,  where 
he  was  employed  by  a wholesale  cutlery  house 
as  traveling  salesman  for  nine  months;  next, 
he  traveled  for  six  years  for  the  wholesale 
b(jot  and  shoe  house  of  Fuller,  Childs  tS;  Co., 
of  Toledo,  Ohio,  and  later  in  the  same  line 
for  a prominent  Chicago  firm.  In  jannary, 
1892,  he  returned  to  I'rankfort,  Ind.,  and 


associated  himself  with  J.  A.  Hedgcock  in  the 
manufacture  of  children’s  shoes.  In  1893,  the 
J.  E.  Scroggy  Manufacturing  company  was 
started  for  the  production  of  that  class  of 
children’s  shoes  known  as  “ cacks,  ” and  ladies’ 
and  gents’  over-gaiters.  The  display  of  ‘ ‘ cacks” 
made  by  this  company  at  the  World’s  fair  was 
unexcelled  and  was  awarded  the  medal  of 
superiority.  In  July,  1894,  the  increasing 
business  of  the  company  compelled  a removal 
to  enlarged  cpiarters  on  west  Washington 
street,  where  Mr.  Scroggy  personally  oversees 
the  practical  operations  of  its  affairs. 

In  1883,  Mr.  Scroggy  was  married  to  Miss 
Lulu  Pence,  of  Clinton  county,  and  this  happy 
union  has  been  favored  by  the  birth  of  two 
children  -Marie  and  Greta.  Mr.  Scroggy  is  a 
member  of  the  Knights  of  Pythias  and  of  the 
Improved  Order  of  Red  Men,  and  the  social 
position  of  himself  and  wife  is  one  that  might 
well  be  envied  by  any  resident  of  Frankfort. 


ACOD  H.  SELLERS,  the  popular 
liveryman  of  Michigantown,  Clinton 
county,  Ind.,  is  of  German  descent. 
His  father,  Abraham  Sellers,  was  born 
aiul  reared  in  North  Carolina  and  came  to  In- 
diana in  the  early  days  of  its  settlement,  when 
Indianapolis  was  a village  of  half  a dozen  log 
cabins.  He  entered  eighty  acres  of  land  on 
Fall  creek,  Marion  county,  Ind.,  later  pur- 
chased 720  acres  and  was  among  the  leading 
pioneer  farmers  of  Marion  county,  which  was 
then  in  a primitive  condition.  He  married  a 
Miss  Rumi)le,  daughter  of  David  Rumple, 
formerly  of  Ohio,  but  later  a pioneer  and 
prominent  farmer  of  Marion  comity,  Ind. 
'riiis  lady  died  in  the  faith  of  the-  Lutheran 
church,  and  Mr.  Sellers  next  nmrricd  Margaret 
Snider,  a danghter  of  Jacob  Snidm',  who  came 
from  Pennsylvania  and  was  of  German  ex- 


OF  CLINTON  COUNTY. 


858 


traction.  To  the  union  of  Abraham  and  Mar- 
f^l'aret  Sellers  was  horn  Jacob  H.,  the  subject  of 
this  sketch. 

Jacob  H.  Sellers  was  born  in  Marion  coun- 
ty, Iiuh,  December  14,  1856.  He  was  reared 
a farmer,  and  remained  at  home  until  twenty- 
four  years  old,  when  he  went  to  Indianapolis 
and  engaged  in  the  livery  business.  October 
9,  1878,  he  married  Dorothy  Lynch,  of  Marion 
county,  and  to  this  happy  union  have  been 
born  the  following  children  : Harley,  Goldie, 
Merle,  and  Trellie  and  Lellie,  twins.  Mr. 
Sellers  has  been  veiy  successful  in  his  business, 
being  affable  and  obliging  and  having  a well- 
equipped  and  well-stocked  livery  establishment, 
calculated  to  please  the  most  fastidious  cus- 
tomer. He  also  owns  a pretty  cottage  resi- 
dence in  Michigantown,  pleasantly  located. 
He  is  a stanch  republican  and  quite  active  as 
a party  man.  Mrs.  Sellers  is  equally  ardent  as 
a member  of  the  Seven  Day  Adventists.  Mr. 
Sellers  is  a strong  advocate  of  education,  and 
he  and  wife  enjoy  a high  social  position. 


OHN  A.  SHEARER,  a thrifty  farmer 
of  Michigan  township,  Clinton  county, 
Ind.,  is  of  German  descent.  His 
grandfather,  Abraham  Shearer,  was  a 
farmer  of  Pennsylvania,  and  died  in  that 
state.  Hugh  Shearer,  son  of  Abraham  and 
father  of  John  A.,  was  born  in  Pennsylvania, 
July  24,  1824.  He  left  his  native  state  in 
company  with  his  mother  and  elder  brother, 
and  located  in  Ohio,  where  he  remained  until 
he  was  twenty-six  years  old,  when  he  came  to 
Indiana  and  stopped,  as  occasion  required,  in 
Howard,  Tipton  and  Clinton  counties,  finally 
settling  in  Clinton  county  and  engaging  in 
farming,  merchandising  and  saw-milling.  He 
married  Sarah  A.  Shepherd,  daughter  of  John 
and  Eliza  Shepherd.  Mr.  Shearer  and  wife 
were  both  members  of  the  Methodist  church. 


in  which  he  was  a class  leader.  He  was  also 
a Freemason,  and  with  two  other  men  founded 
Hillisburg  lodge.  No.  550,  of  which  he  was  the 
first  worshipful  master. 

John  A.  Shearer  was  born  in  Darke  county, 
Ohio,  February  i,  1852.  He  received  a good 
common  school  education,  is  still  a wide  reader 
of  current  literature,  and  owns  a library  of 
1,500  to  2,900  volumes.  He  is  a republican 
in  politics  and  in  religion  a Spiritualist.  He 
married  Mary  R.  Tull,  daughter  of  Newton 
and  Delia  (Cano)  Tull,  and  to  this  union  have 
been  born  Hugh  N.,  Geneva  E. , Podge  L. 
(deceased)  and  John  O.  (deceased).  Hugh 
N.  Shearer  is  well  educated,  and  is  preparing 
himself  for  a teacher.  Mr.  Shearer  has  passed 
all  the  chairs  in  the  blue  lodge,  P".  & A.  M., 
No.  550,  at  Hillisburg.  His  farm  comprises 
ninety-seven  and  a half  acres  of  fertile  land, 
and  is  improved  with  a modern  dwelling  and 
new  barn. 


ARRY  C.  SHERIDAN,  an  accom- 
plished attorney  at  law,  at  P'rankfort, 
Ind.,  was  born  in  Owen  township, 
Clinton  county,  December  15,  1858, 
and  is  the  son  of  David  P'.  and  Mahala 
(Widener)  Sheridan.  David  P'.  Sheridan,  the 
respected  father,  was  a native  of  Butler  coun- 
ty, Ohio,  born  in  1832,  and  was  a son  of 
Andrew  Sheridan,  who  was  born  in  Pennsyl- 
vania, of  Irish  extraction.  Andrew'  Sheridan 
was  a saddler  by  trade,  and  this  vocation  he 
followed  in  Ohio  until  1836,  when  he  located 
in  Madison  township,  Clinton  county,  Ind., 
and  followed  his  trade  at  Hamilton  until  1838, 
when  he  removed  to  Frankfort,  made  a short 
sojourn,  and  finally  settled  down  to  farming  in 
Owen  township,  and  passed  his  days  in  com- 
parative ease  until  his  death,  in  1854,  at  w'hich 
time  he  was  possessor  of  240  acres  of  fertile 
land.  His  faithful  wife,  Jemima  Perine,  whom 


BIOGRAPHICAL  HISTORY 


Sf)! 

hr  liad  niarrird  in  Butler  county,  Ohio,  sur- 
vi\'ed  until  I1S73,  when  she  was  calk'd  away 
in  the  faith  of  the  Methodist  Episcoj)al  chuich, 
haviuj4'  home  her  husband  ten  children,  viz.  : 
|ohn,  I'ri'dcrick,  Andrew].,  ]aines,  David  F., 
William  A.,  Catherine,  Mary,  Margaret  and 
Sarah.  d'he  third  child  here  enumerated, 
I)a\id  h'.,  the  father  of  Harry  C.,  on  attaining 
his  majority,  had  finished  an  apprenticeship  at 
the  plasterer's  trade,  which  he  ever  after  fol- 
lowed, in  conjunction  with  farming,  until  his 
death,  which  occurred  I'ebruary  27,  1888. 

He  was  twice  married,  and  had  born  to  him 
by  his  first  union  one  child,  now  deceased. 
His  second  marriage  took  place  in  Tippecanoe 
county.  Inch,  in  1857,  with  Mahala  Widener, 
wlm  was  born  in  Michigan  township,  Clinton 
county,  Ind.,  and  by  this  union  were  born  the 
lollowing  children:  Harry  C.,  the  subject  of 
this  mention;  Stpiire,  Elmer  E.,  Eillie,  Kate, 
Jennie  and  Julia  (twins),  and  Belle. 

Harry  C.  Sheridan  was  reared  in  Owen 
township,  Clinton  county,  Ind.,  until  the  age 
of  eighteen,  receiving  a fair  education  in  the 
district  school;  he  then  entered  the  Collegiate 
institute  at  Battle  Ground,  Ind.,  where  he 
passed  two  years  in  diligent  study,  and  then 
came  to  h'rankfort;  in  1879  began  teaching  in 
the  district  schools  of  Jackson  township,  and 
for  three  years  met  with  ahundant  success. 
In  the  fall  of  1881  he  began  a three  years' 
course  of  study  in  law  under  Judge  Palmer, 
was  admitted  to  the  bar  April  4,  1882,  and  in 
the  spring  of  i883  begaTi  the  regular  ja'actice 
of  his  profession.  ]uly  i,  1883,  he  formed  a 
partnership  at  h'rankfort  with  )udge  B.  K. 

I Iiginbottom,  eminent  at  the  time  tor  his  legal 
attainments,  and  this  connection  was  continued 
for  one  year;  following  this,  one  }'ear  was 
|)assed  in  partnership  with  [udge  J.  G.  ,\dams, 
and  the  ne.xt  }’ear  with  J.  W’.  Merritt,  since 
whicdi  time  Mr.  Sheridan  has  been  in  |)ractice 
alone,  gaining  (dients  and  aiiding  to  his  rc'piita- 


tionas  the  time  passed  on.  From  September, 
1884,  until  September,  1886,  he  served  as  city- 
clerk.  Mr.  Sheridan  was  most  happily  mar- 
ried, September  8,  188C,  in  Camden,  Carroll 
county,  Ind.,  to  Miss  Margaret  Espy  Vinnedge, 
who  was  born  in  Indianapolis,  November  5, 
1863,  and  who  is  the  daughter  of  John  A.  and 
Ellen  (Espy)  Vinnedge,  natives,  respectively, 
of  Ohio  and  Indiana.  To  this  union  two 
children  have  been  born  and  are  named  Law- 
I'ence  Vinnedge,  born  July  8,  1887,  and  Mar- 
jorie Ellen,  June  29,  1890.  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Sheridan  are  consistent  members  of  the  Pres- 
byterian church,  and  in  politics  he  is  a republi- 
can. Fraternally  he  is  a Mason,  a Knight  of 
Pythias  and  a Knight  Templar.  As  a lawyer, 
few  hold  a higher  rank  than  Mr.  Sheridan,  and 
he  and  family  socially  enjoy  the  respect  of 
the  citizens  of  Frankfort  to  the  fullest  extent. 


APT.  JAMES  N.  SIMS  is  one  of  the 
oldest  and  most  esteemed  citizens  of 
Clinton  county  and  has  for  years  been 
an  active  and  prominent  member  of 
its  bar.  He  is  a native  of  Indiana,  having- 
been  born  at  Connersville,  I'ayette  county,  on 
the  fifth  day  of  January,  1817.  His  father, 
Stephen  vSims,  was  born  in  Cooke  county; 
Tenn.,  November  24,  1792.  Stephen  Sims 
was  a son  of  Wdliam  and  Amelia  (Russell) 
Sims.  William  Sims  was  a son  of  William 
and  Martha  Sims,  and  was  born  in  Cul]:)e])er 
countv,  \’a  , May  14,  1760,  his  parents  being 
of  Scotch  lineage.  Unto  the  marriage  of  Will- 
iam and  .Amelia  (Russell)  Sims  was  born  the 
following  children : Izarkin,  Mary  A.,  Joshua, 
James,  William,  Elizabeth,  Sarah,  Stephen, 
'rhomas,  Anna,  Martha  and  Lewis.  Of  these 
oidy  Martha  survives.  She  now  (1894)  resides 
in  Boone  county,  Ind.,  being  ninety-live  years 
old.  The  death  of  the  mother  of  these  chil- 
dren occurred  in  1820,  and  lour  years  later  the 


OF  CLINTON  COUNTY. 


855 


father  married,  for  a second  wife,  Fear  Stur- 
divant, whose  death  occurred  in  the  year  1840. 
From  his  native  state  William  Sims  removed 
fn  the  year  1784,  at  which  date  he  became  a 
pioneer  of  Cooke  county,  Tenn. , where  he  re- 
sided till  the  year  1811,  at  which  date  he  re- 
moved to  Franklin  county,  Ind.,  where  his 
death  occurred  August  .27,  1845.  His  occupa- 
tion was  that  of  farmer.  He  was  a soldier  in 
the  Revolutionary  war  and  served  under  Gen. 
Washington.  This  sturdy  pioneer  and  pa- 
triot was  equally  distinguished  as  a Christian. 
When  the  Methodist  Episcopal  church  was 
really  in  its  infancy  in  America,  he  became  a 
member  of  this  organization,  and  thereafter 
till  death  he  remained  a zealous  and  active 
member.  His  son,  Stephen  Sims,  father  of 
our  subject,  was  nineteen  years  of  age  when 
he  removed  with  his  parents  from  Tennessee 
to  Indiana  in  1811.  The  family  settled  near 
Brookville.  In  the  year  1813,  Stephen  mar- 
ried Elizabeth  McCarty,  who  was  born  at 
North  Bend,  Hamilton  county,  Ohio,  in  the 
year  1797,  to  which  place  her  parents  had  only 
a short  time  previously  removed  from  Balti- 
more county,  Md.  They  subsequently  re- 
moved to  Bi'ookville,  Ind.,  where  the  daugh- 
ter married  Mr.  Sims.  Her  father,  also,  was 
a soldier  in  the  Revolutionary  war.  She  bore 
her  husband  the  following  named  children; 
Amelia,  deceased;  Rebecca,  deceased;  James 
N.,  our  subject;  William,  deceased  ; John  F. , 
deceased;  Cicero,  a prominent  retired  citizen 
of  Frankfort;  MaryJ.,  deceased;  Larkin,  de- 
ceased; Sarah,  deceased;  Jesse,  deceased; 
Lewis,  a well  known  citizen  of  Clinton  county 
and  a captain  of  the  Eighty-ninth  Indiana  vol- 
unteers; Martha  A.,  who  resides  at  Lebanon, 
Ind. , and  WilliamS. , deceased.  The  last  named 
rose  to  the  rank  of  captain  of  the  Eighty-sixth 
Indiana  volunteer  infantry,  in  the  war  of  the 
rebellion. 

For  a short  time  after  his  marriage  Stephen 


Sims  resided  in  Franklin  county,  then  removed 
to  Conuersville,  Fayette  county,  and  from 
there  to  Rush  county,  where  he  resided  till  the 
death  of  his  wife  in  1834,  at  which  date  he 
remc>ved  to  Boone  county,  and  settled  near 
Middlefork,  where  he  continued  to  reside.  He 
died  January  16,  1863.  The  parents  were 

life-long  members  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal 
church.  The  father  held  many  positions  of 
honor  and  trust.  Like  his  father  he  was  first 
a whig  in  politics  and  upon  the  organization  of 
the  republican  party  he  became  a republican. 
For  years  he  was  justice  of  the  peace,  and 
while  residing  in  Boone  county  he  served  as 
property  appraiser;  for  two  years  he  was  an 
associate  justice  of  Boone  county.  He  also 
served  as  a school  commissioner  of  Rush 
county  for  five  years,  and  in  1850  was  a dele- 
gate to  the  Indiana  constitutional  convention. 
In  all  these  positions  he  discharged  his  duties 
with  fidelity  and  creditable  ability.  He  was  of 
ordinary  education,  but  of  general  intelligence 
and  unusual  mental  energy.  He  was  a soldier 
of  the  war  1812,  and  in  every  sense  of  the 
term  was  one  of  the  pioneers  of  Indiana.  He 
was  twice  married  and  was  the  father  of  nine- 
teen children  by  both  marriages.  He  began 
life  as  a mechanic,  and  having  a large  family 
to  support,  amidst  the  privations  of  a new 
country,  he  acquired  only  a limited  estate;  and 
his  children,  as  they  grew  to  maturity,  were 
compelled  to  resort  to  their  own  resources; 
and  such  was  the  lot  of  his  son  James  N., 
whose  name  heads  this  biographical  mention. 

James  N.  Sims  remained  under  the  par- 
ental roof  till  he  reached  his  majority,  aiding 
his  father  with  work  on  the  farm.  He  gained 
a fair  common  school  education,  and  for  ten 
years  was  engaged  in  teaching  and  by  means 
of  earnings  from  teaching,  was  enabled  to  pre- 
pare for  a professional  life.  His  literary  edu- 
cation was  completed  by  a collegiate  year  at 
Asbury  university.  During  the  period  he 


RIOGRAPIIICAL  HISTORY 


huight  sclionl  he  ai)plie(l  liimself  to  the  study 
of  law,  Ih'  was  liceiised  to  practice  in  No- 
vc'inber,  i<S43,  but  did  not  engage  in  regular 
practice  until  several  years  later.  In  April, 
1848,  he  opened  up  an  office  in  Frankfort, 
where  he  has  since  continued  to  reside  and  to 
])ractice.  He  was  a whig  until  1854,  when  he 
became  and  has  continued  to  be  a republican. 
He  was  a delegate  to  the  national  conven- 
tion in  i860,  and  suppijrted  Abraham 
Lincoln  for  the  presidency.  During  tlie 
rebellion,  he  and  five  brothers  served  in 
the  Union  army.  September  16,  1862,  he  en- 
listed in  company  I,  of  the  One  Hundredth 
Indiana  volunteer  infantry.  The  company 
was  known  as  the  “Clinton  County  Excel- 
siors," of  which  he  was  captain,  until,  in  con- 
sequence of  failing  health,  he  was  honorably 
discharged,  at  Camp  Sherman,  near  \’icks- 
burg,  on  the  eleventh  day  of  August,  1863. 
He  then  returned  to  Frankfort  and  resumed 
the  practice  of  law,  and  for  nearly  fifty  years 
he  has  been  a conspicuous  memberof  the  Clin-  j 
ton  county  bar.  In  many  important  cases  has 
he  appeared  before  the  county,  district  and 
supreme  state  court,  and,  now,  in  his  seventy- 
eighth  year,  he  is  still  engaged  in  the  practice 
of  his  profession,  in  full  possession  of  all  his 
faculties.  He  has  never  yielded  to  the  solici- 
tation of  his  fellow-citizens  to  accept  public 
(jffice,  preferring  the  practice  of  his  profession. 
However,  he  has  always  felt  a lively  interest 
in  all  public  affairs,  calculated  to  promote  the 
interests  of  his  city,  county  and  state. 

On  the  fourteenth  day  of  November,  1865, 
Mr.  Sims  married  Miss  Margaret  A.  Allen, 
who  was  born  in  Clinton  county,  Ind.,  April 
39,  1830,  a daughter  of  John  and  Martha 
(Runyon)  Allen,  natives  of  Ohio,  Unto  the 
marriage  were  born,  Elizabeth,  deceased;  bhed- 
erick  ma\'or  of  b'rankfort,  elected  in  1894;  and 
('■race.  Mrs.  Sims  is  an  Ejuscoiialian  in  reli- 
gious views,  while  our  subject  is  a Universalist. 


alCERO  SIMS,  of  Erankfort,  is  one  of 
the  oldest  and  best  known  citizens  of 
Clinton  county,  Ind.  Mr.  Sims  was 
I born  in  Rush  county,  Ind.,  on  the 

twelfth  day  of  January,  1822.  His  father, 

1 Stephen  Sims,  was  an  early  settler  of  the 
I county  of  Rush.  He  settled  near  Rushville 
and  was  one  of  the  first  justices  of  the  peace 
of  that  county.  It  was  in  the  log  cabin  home 
of  Stephen  Sims  that  the  first  circuit  court  of 
Rush  county  was  held,  and  in  this  house 
Cicero  Sims  was  born.  (Of  his  father  more 
extended  reference  is  made  in  the  personal 
sketch  of  Capt.  James  N.  Sims,  elsewhere 
within  these  pages.)  Cicero  Sims  was  brought 
up  on  a farm,  and  in  the  district  schools  gained 
a fair  common  school  education.  In  early 
lile  he  taught  in  the  district  schools,  and  was 
also  an  instructor  of  vocal  music  for  a number 
of  years.  Whth  his  parents,  he  removed  to 
Boone  county  and  later  he  accompanied  them 
to  Clinton  county,  where  in  1 842  he  married 
Miss  Mary  C.  Black,  daughter  of  Mhlliam  and 
Isabel  (Henderson)  Black.  Mrs.  Sims  was 
born  in  Wayne  county,  Ind  , June  6,  1824. 
Her  parents  were  natives  of  Rentucky,  early 
settlers  in  Wayne  county,  and  later  pioneers 
in  the  county  of  Clinton.  Unto  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Sims  were  born  six  children,  as  follows:  James 
N.,  who  died  in  the  Civil  war,  February  12, 
1863;  he  was  a corporal  in  company  (1, 
Eighty-ninth  Indiana  infantry;  Sarah  C., 
wife  of  O.  M.  Merrick,  of  Russiavillc,  Ind.  ; 
Nancy  | , wife  of  John  A.  Merrick,  a former 
attorney,  but  now  a farmer  ot  Cdinton  county; 
Isabel  E.,  wife  of  J.  W.  Lee,  a boot  and  shoe 
dealer  of  Frankfort;  William  M.,  of  Chicago, 
and  Dr.  S.  B.  Sims,  of  b'rankfort. 

Immediately  after  marriage  Mr.  Sims  set- 
tled down  in  life  on  a farm  in  the  northeastern 
part  of  Clinton  county,  where  he  lived  and 
tilled  the  soil  with  success  until  1872,  when  he 
removed  to  Frankfort,  where  he  has  since  re- 


OF  CLINTON  COUNTY. 


857 


sided.  While  on  the  farm  Mr.  Sims  gratified 
his  natural  taste  for  the  law  by  a course  of 
private  reading,  thus  becoming  well  versed  in 
the  principles  of  the  profession.  As  early  as 
1858  he  was  admitted  to  the  practice  of  law, 
and  while  on  the  farm  he  did  much  legal  busi- 
ness for  his  neighbors.  Upon  coming  to 
Frankfort,  in  1872,  Mr.  Sims  and  his  brother, 
Capt.  James  N.  Sims,  became  partners  in  the 
practice.  He  also  became  interested  in  the 
real  estate  business,  and  after  remaining  with 
his  brother  eighteen  months,  withdrew  from 
the  partnership,  and  since  then  the  greater 
part  of  his  time  and  attention  has  been  given 
to  his  real  estate  business  and  collecting.  In 
1886,  Mr.  Sims  constructed  Alhambra  Lake,  a 
portion  of  which  lies  within  the  city  limits  of 
Frankfort.  This  artificial  lake  covers  three 
acres,  and  averages  from  five  to  fifteen  feet  in 
depth.  It  is  fed  by  five  fiowing  wells,  which 
furnish  an  average  of  one-hundred  gallons  per 
minute.  The  lake  is  well  stocked  with  fine 
fish,  and  Mr.  Sims  has  provided  it  with  a bath 
and  boating  house,  which  renders  the  lake  a 
delightful  place  for  bathing  and  boating.  In 
1844,  Mr.  Sims  cast  his  first  presidential  vote 
for  Henry  Clay,  and  was  a whig  until  the 
organization  of  the  republican  party;  since 
then  he  has  been  an  enthusiastic  republican. 
He  has  never  sought  political  preferment,  hav- 
ing often  declined  public  office.  He  is  unas- 
suming, plain,  jovial  and  popular,  with  a wide 
acquaintance. 


ILLIAM  SCOTT  SIMS  was  born  in 
Warren  township,  Clinton  county, 
Ind.,  January  19,  1855,  son  of 

Lewis  and  Courtney  (Scottj  Sims. 
Until  twenty-one  years  of  age  he  lived  on  his 
father’s  farm;  pursued  his  studies  in  the  com- 
mon schools,  and  when  seventeen  began  teach- 
ing, which  profession  he  continued  during  the 

41 


winter  of  1872-3  in  Warren  township.  The 
following  spring  and  winter  he  attended  school, 
and  for  three  terms  was  a student  in  the  Na- 
tional Normal  school  of  Lebanon,  Ohio,  where 
he  obtained  a knowledge  of  the  more  advanced 
branches  of  learning.  In  the  meantime,  he 
taught  in  the  township  of  Madison,  and  from 
1876  to  1885  was  similarly  engaged  in  the  town 
of  Mulberry,  and  in  the  spring  of  1879  spent 
three  months  in  Wabash  college  at  Crawfords- 
ville.  In  1885,  Mr.  Sims  was  elected  super- 
intendent of  the  Clinton  county  schools,  the 
duties  of  which  position  he  discharged  in  a 
very  creditable  manner  for  two  years,  and  in 
1887  became  deputy  county  auditor  under 
Wilson  T.  Cooper,  continuing  in  that  capacity 
about  two  and  a half  years.  Subsequently, 
he  held  the  position  of  deputy  treasurer  under 
William  |.  Barnett  and  W.  T.  Maish,  and  in 
1891  engaged  in  the  loan,  abstract  and  insur- 
ance business,  to  which  he  has  since  devoted 
his  attention. 

Mr.  Sims  has  been  a member  of  the  school 
board  of  Frankfort  for  four  years,  and  during 
his  incumbency  many  improvements  have 
been  made,  including  the  addition  to  the  first 
ward  school  building  and  re-building  the  third 
ward  school  building,  also  the  construction  of 
the  present  magnificent  high  school  building, 
the  finest  structure  of  the  kind  in  the  state. 
In  matters  educational,  Mr.  Sims  has  always 
manifested  great  interest,  and  during  his  term 
as  superintendent  he  did  much  toward  sys- 
tematizing a uniform  course  of  study  and  secur- 
ing teachers  of  well  known  professional  abil- 
ity. He  is  clerk  of  the  board  of  turnpike  di- 
rectors, is  public  spirited  in  all  the  term  im- 
plies, and  all  movements  having  for  their  ob- 
ject the  public  good  find  in  him  a zealous 
friend  and  liberal  patron.  He  represents  four 
of  the  largest  insurance  companies  in  the  coun- 
tiy,  has  in  his  office  a complete  abstract  of 
every  piece  of  property  in  Clinton  county,  and 


BIOGRAPIIJCAL  HISTORY 


his  loan  and  real  estate  business,  with  the  two 
(lepartincnts  inentioiuMl,  is  (|nite  extensive  and 
reinnnerative • Mr.  Sims  is  a member  of  the 
Masonic  fraternity,  in  which  he  has  held  the 
hij.^hest  jiosition  within  the  gift  of  the  local 
lodge,  and  also  belongs  to  the  Sons  of  Vet- 
erans. On  the  twentieth  of  May,  i8<So,  in 
the  townshi[)  of  Madison,  he  was  united  in 
marriage  to  Miss  Hrnma  Kyger,  daughter  of 
James  and  Mary  A.  (Smith)  Kyger,  to  wdrich 
union ‘three  children  have  been  born — two  liv- 
ing at  this  time.  Merlin  and  Cecil.  In  poli- 
tics Mr.  Sims  affliates  - with  the  republican 
party,  and  he  is  one  of  the  few  persons  that 
holds  a life  license  to  teach  in  any  part  of  In- 
diana, granted  by  the  state  board  of  education.  ! 


^y^AVTD  SLIPHER,  a retired  farmer 
I I now  living  in  Mulberry,  Clinton 
^ comity,  Ind.,  was  born  in  Putler 
county,  Ohio,  April  2cS,  i.Srg,  and  is 
a son  of  Stephen  and  Elizafieth  (I'lenner) 
Slipher.  The  father  was  a native  of  Virginia, 
and  the  mother  of  M.iryland,  while  both  were 
of  Oerman  descent.  Ste[)hen  Slipher  was 
born  in  1780,  and  in  1802  emigrated  to  Ohio, 
locating  in  Ifntler  county,  where  he  entered 
2 I o acres  of  land  on  the  Miami  river.  In 
1828,  he  came  to  (dinton  county,  Ind.,  and 
entered  fr(.)m  the  government  640  acres  of 
land.  Two  years  later  he  secured  another 
section  and  moved  to  Clinton  county  and 
settled  on  this  land  in  i 85  1 , remaining  in  Ohio 
up  till  that  time;  upon  the  farm  which  he  there 
develojied  he  made  his  home  until  his  death, 
which  occurred  in  1868.  Mis  wife  died  in 
1856.  They  had  nine  children,  of  whom 
three  are  yet  living  Emily,  widow  of  Sinu!on 
Bryan;  1 )avid  and  Susan.  d'hose  deceased  arc- 
Daniel,  Isaac,  Philij),  St(;phen,  hdi/abeth  and 
Polly. 


The  gentleman  whose  name  heads  this  rec- 
ord was  reared  upon  his  father’s  farm  and  be- 
gan working  in  the  fields  at  a very  early  age. 
His  school  privileges  were  thus  limited,  and 
his  youth  was  not  a flowery  one.  Having  ar- 
rived at  mature  years  he  chose  as  a compan- 
ion and  helpmate  on  life’s  journey  Miss  Mary, 
daughter  of  Samuel  and  Abigail  (Mills)  Scott, 
natives  of  Lancaster  county.  Pa.  Her  jrar- 
ents  were  of  German  and  English  descent  re- 
spectively. Her  father  died  in  Wisconsin  and 
her  mother  passed  away  in  Ohio.  Of  their 
twelve  children  only  two  are  living.  The 
marriage  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Slipher  was  cele- 
brated March  i,  1838,  and  has  been  blessed 
with  nine  children  : Elizabeth,  wife  of  David 
Bolyard;  Martha,  widow  of  John  B.  Beard; 
Mary,  deceased;  Louisa,  wife  of  William  Peters; 
Isaac,  who  resides  in  Missouri;  Stephen,  de- 
ceased; Clark,  who  is  living  near  Erankfort;  Will- 
iam I. ; and  Emeline,  wife  of  P'rank  Burkhalter. 
After  his  marriage,  Mr.  Slipher  rented  a farm 
for  four  years  and  then  came  to  Clinton  coun- 
ty, Ind.  This  was  in  1842.  Here  he  cleared 
a farm,  transforming  the  land  into  rich  and 
fertile  fields,  and  at  one  time  he  was  the  owner 
of  340  acres  of  valuable  land.  He  first  be- 
gan threshing  in  1850,  using  horse  power  for 
the  purjiose,  and  in  1862  he  bought  a steam 
thresher,  the  first  ever  introduced  in  the  com- 
munity. To  the  work  of  farming  and  tlr'esh- 
ing  he  devoted  his  energies  with  good  success 
until  1875,  since  which  he  has  lived  retired. 
In  his  business  dealings  he  was  successful  and 
therebv  vvon  the  capital  which  now  enables 
him  to  lay  aside  business  cares.  Both  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Slipher  arc  members  of  the  Methodist 
h(piscopal  church,  and  are  highly  respected 
citizens.  He  is  also  a warm  advocate  of  tem- 
])erancc;  j)rinciples  and  votes  with  the  prohibi- 
tion party.  He  served  as  county  commission- 
er from  1 870  unt  il  i 879. 


OF  CLINTON  COUNTY. 


859 


OHN  \y.  SMITH,  an  old  soldier  and 
native  of  Koss  township,  Clinton  coun- 
ty, Ind.,  springs  from  an  old  American 
family  of  English  descent.  His  grand- 
father, William  Smith,  was  born  in  Virginia, 
in  the  year  i 780,  was  taken  to  Licking  county, 
Ohio,  by  his  parents  about  1790,  and  married 
Anna  Brook,  in  the  year  of  1801,  in  Licking 
county,  Ohio.  Anna  was  born  in  Ireland,  in 
the  year  1788,  and  with  her  piarents  emigrated 
to  Ohio.  William  and  Anna  came  to  Ross 
township,  Ind.,  in  the  summer  of  1828,  and 
entered  and  bought  480  acres  of  land.  There 
were  born  to  them:  Alexander,  David,  Sam- 
uel, Thomas,  John,  William,  James,  and 
Archibald,  Mary,  Elizabeth,  Rebecca,  Anna, 
and  Sarah.  James  and  Archibald  are  now  liv- 
ing in  Durham,  Lewis  county.  Mo.  ; Mary, 
Anna  and  Sarah  are  still  living  in  Ross  town- 
ship, Clinton  county,  Ind.  William  Smith 
died  June  25,  1833,  aged  fifty  years,  ten 
months,  and  twenty-one  days;  Anna  Smith, 
his  wife,  died  January  20,  1849,  aged  fifty-two 
years,  two  months,  and  three  days;  both  were 
members  of  the  M.  E.  church;  in  politics  he 
was  a whig.  Thomas  Smith,  father  of  John 
W.,  was  born  in  Licking  county,  Ohio,  in 
1808,  and  came  to  Ross  township  in  1828  with 
his  parents;  he  married  Rebecca  Wayrnire  in 
1 830,  and  died  July  15,  1873,  aged  sixty-four 
years,  six  months;  his  wife  is  still  living  in 
Rossville,  Clinton  county,  Ind.  Thomas 
Smith  owned  land  that  is  now  the  southeast 
part  of  Rossville,  and  he  helped  to  cut  down 
the  first  tree  on  that  side  of  town.  He  was  a 
carpenter  and  worked  at  his  trade,  but  en- 
gaged in  brick-making  in  1850  and  in  1858  en- 
gaged in  saw-milling.  He  was  a prominent 
man  and  a respected  member  of  the  Methodist 
church,  held  all  the  lay  offices,  was  a local 
preacher  twenty  years,  and  was  well  and  fa- 
vorably known.  His  children  now  living  are 
John,  William,  Mervin  T.,  Marion  M.  and 


Lydia  E.  Mr.  Smith  died  in  Rossville.  He 
was  a most  temperate  man,  and  much  re- 
spected member  of  the  Sons  of  Temperance. 
The  Waymires  came  from  Germany  and  set- 
tled in  Butler  county,  Ohio,  about  1783. 
William  Wayrnire  died  in  Ohio  November  25, 
1822.  Harriet  Wayrnire,  his  wife,  died  June 
5,  1850,  aged  fifty  years,  at  Noah  Gaddis’s, 
while  on  a visit  to  relatives  in  Rossville,  Clin- 
ton county,  Ind.  Harriet,  his  wife,  married 
William  Gaddis,  about  1824,  in  Ohio,  and 
came  to  Indiana  and  settled  in^  Tippecanoe 
county,  in  the  summer  of  1828,  both  dying  in 
Ross  township,  Clinton  county,  struct  members 
of  the  M.  E.  church. 

John  W.  Smith,  our  subject,  was  born  in 
Rossville,  September  .!,  1837,  and  is  the  old- 
est man  now  living  that  was  borrr  and  is  still 
I'esiding  here.  His  brother,  Mfilliam,  living 
one  mile  east,  is  two  years  older.  Mr.  Smith 
received  a common  school  education  and 
learned  farming  and  carpentering.  He  mar- 
ried, September  28,  1857,  Martha  J.,  daughter 
of  Abner  L.  and  Pi-udence  (Cassel)  Jones,  the 
wedding  taking  place  at  the  home  of  the  bride’s 
sister  Hannah,  in  Michigantown.  After  mar- 
rige  Mr.  Smith  settled  in  Rossville  and  fol- 
lowed the  carpenter  and  saw-mill  business  in 
cotnpany  with  his  father  and  brother  W’illiam. 
He  enlisted  August  8,  1862,  in  company  I, 
Fourth  Indiana  cavalry.  Seventy-seventh  regi- 
ment, as  private,  at  Rossville.  His  service 
was  principally  guarding  railroads  and  scouting 
in  eastern  and  southwestern  Kentucky.  He 
was  disabled  by  an  accident  when  on  a charge 
on  a town  and  was  ruptured,  but  remained 
until  he  was  discharged  on  account  of  disability 
at  Bowling  Green,  Ky. , March  15,  1863,  and 
returned  home  to  Rossville,  where  he  had  left 
a wife  and  two  children.  He  engaged  in  the 
same  business  he  left,  including  brick-making. 
In  1869,  he  went  to  Owen  township  and  en- 
gaged in  the  saw'-mill  business  until  1875,  when 


15IOGRAPIIICAL  HISTORY 


SCO 


he  sold  out  and  enf^a^^ed  in  th('  brick-making' 
business,  and  in  i S79  in  making  tile,  in  wbicb 
be  was  snccessfnl.  He  returned  in  1890  to 
Rossville  and  bought  a one-half  interest 
in  the  tile  factory  with  Henry  L.  Smith.  He 
still  retains  his  interest  in  the  tile  and  brick 
works  in  Owen  township,  with  his  sons,  John 
A.  and  Charles  h'  , managers.  Mr.  Smith  has 
done  an  e.xtensive  business  in  this  line  through 
this  ])art  of  the  county.  john  \\k  Smith's 
wife's  father,  Abner  L.  Jones,  was  born  in 
Pennsylvania  in  1797,  emigrated  to  Ohio  and 
married  Prudence  Cassel  in  1818.  Prudence 
Cassel  was  horn  in  North  Carolina  in  1805. 
'I'hey  came  to  Owen  township,  Clinton  county, 
in  1836.  Abner  L.  was  the  owner  of  160 
acres  of  land  when  he  died,  June  24,  1847, 
aged  fifty  years;  Prudence  died  July  8,  1857, 
aged  fifty-two  years;  both  died  on  the  f.irm 
settled  on,  and  both  were  members  of  the 
Methodist  Hpiscopal  church.  To  them  were 
born  John,  Ralph,  Abner,  Isaac,  Isabel,  Han- 
nah, Martha,  Prudence  and  Mary,  all  now' 
dead  but  Isabel,  Hannah  and  Abner.  Mr. 
Smith  and  wife  were  the  parents  of  three 
children-  William  T.,  John  A.,  and  Charlie 
E.  Mrs.  Smith  died  July  29,  1894.  She  was 
a devout  member  of  the  Methodist  church  ff)r 
thirty-nine  years.  In  politics  John  Wk  Smith 
is  a republican  and  is  now  a member  of  the 
tow'u  council  of  Rossville,  and  no  one  in  the 
village  and  townshi[)  is  more  highly  respected 
than  he.  He  is  a comrade  of  Oliver  Short 
post.  No.  390,  C.  A.  R.,  has  filled  all  the 
offices,  and  has  b(;en  re-elected  commander  for 
the  year  1895.  The  following  resolutions  were 
passed  by  the  Woman's  Rebel  Corps,  on  the 
occasion  of  the  death  of  Mrs.  Martha  [.  Smith, 
she  having  been  ai:  honort'd  memb..-r  of  that 
assfjciation : 

Vy uivK I'AS,  the  Aliiiifrhty,  in  Ili.s  ])rc)vi(len('c,  lui.s 
called  from  oiir  midst  our  rcs|)eeted  sister,  Marllia 
.1.  Smith,  he  it 

lii’Kdlriil , That  in  the  death  of  Sister  Smith,  the 


Oliver  Shert  Corps,  No.  98,  has  lo.st  a much  respected 
and  worthy  member.  One  that  we  esteemed  as  our 
sister  indeed.  One  th.at  was  ever  ready  to  do  her 
full  share  at  g-iving-  relief  to  the  worthy  and  one  that 
when  pleasure  spread  its  mantel  o’er  us  was  ready 
withal  to  contribute  her  share  of  mirth. 

Ilexolred,  That  we  tender  our  sincere  sympathy 
to  the  bereaved  husband  and  his  family,  in  this 
their  time  of  mourning,  and  would  remind  them  that 
we  weep  not  as  those  who  are  without  hope.  It  is 
only  a transition  from  mortality  to  immortality, 
from  Earth  to  Heaven. 

lienolred.  That  we  tender  a copy  of  these  resolu- 
tions to  the  family,  and  request  their  publication  in 
the  Ro.s.svir.i.E  Joi'knai,. 

Emma  C.  White,  j 

Maud  Bate.s.  -Committee. 

Lvda  J.  Wai.tkr,  1 

July  30,  1894. 


ENRY  E.  SMITH,  one  of  the  leading 
merchants  of  Rossville,  Clinton  coun- 
ty, Ind.,  an  old  soldier  and  one  of  the 
present  county  commissioners,  is  of 
German  parentage.  hi  is  father,  John  H. 
Smith,  was  born  in  Germany,  November  14, 
1811,  on  the  river  Rhine,  and  came  with  his 
brothers,  Philip  and  George,  to  America, 
when  a boy.  He  learned  the  saddler’s  trade 
at  Springfield,  Ohio,  came  to  Indiana  when  a 
young  man,  settled  at  Rossville  in  1835,  was 
one  of  the  pioneers  of  that  town,  and  married 
.Viina  Dehncr,  born  August  15,  1815.  To  Mr. 
Mrs.  Smith  were  born  nine  children  ; Mary 
A , born  in  1840;  Henry  L.,  born  May  12, 
1842;  Ei22ie,  born  ]uly  1,  1843;  joseph  b'., 

born  September  2,  1845;  George,  born  January 
21,  1848;  Sophia,  born  Seirtember  28,  1850; 
Caroline,  born  Novenber  29,  1852;  John  .A., 

born  December  24,  1854;  Amanda,  born  Eeb- 
ruary  10,  1857.  Mr.  Smith  foliowed  his  trade 
of  a saddler  until  1852,  when  he  bought  a farm 
of  160  acres,  adjoining  the  town  of  Rossville, 
where  he  lived  until  1865.  He  then  sold  this 
farm  and  moved  to  Rentland,  Newton  countv, 
Ind.,  where  he  bought  a section  of  land  and 
died  September  3,  1870.  He  was  a hard - 

woiking,  industrious  man,  of  excellent  busi- 
ness (pialifications,  and  accumulated  a hand- 


OF  CLINTON  COUNTY. 


861 


some  property,  owniiif^,  at  his  death,  700 
acres  of  improved  land.  He  was  a man  of 
sterling  worth,  and  entirely  self-made,  having 
accumulated  his  property  by  his  own  unaided 
efforts.  In  politics  he  was  a democrat,  was 
one  of  the  early  justices  of  the  peace  of  Ross- 
ville,  serving  many  years,  and  was  elected 
township  trustee  of  Newton  county,  Ind. 
His  wife  is  still  living  in  Nebraska  with  her 
children. 

Henry  L.  Smith  was  born  May  12,  1842, 
in  the  town  of  Rossville,  received  a good  (|pm- 
mon  school  education,  and  began  life  as  a 
clerk  at  the  age  of  seventeen  in  Rossville.  He 
enlisted  at  La  Fayette,  Ind.,  May,  1861,  in 
company  D,  Fifteenth  Indiana  infantry,  for 
three  years,  under  Capt.  Jack  Templeton  and 
Col.  G.  D.  Wagoner,  and  served  eighteen 
months,  when  he  was  transferred  to  brigade 
headquarters  as  an  orderly  for  Gen.  Wagoner, 
and  was  afterward  transferred  to  division  head- 
quarters. He  was  in  the  battles  of  Rich 
Mountain — the  first  battle  of  the  war — Cheat 
Mountain,  Elk  Water  Valley;  was  then  trans- 
ferred to  the  army  of  the  Cumberland  under 
Gen.  Buell,  and  was  in  the  battles  of  Stone 
River,  Pittsburg  Landing  and  many  skirmishes 
He  was  also  at  the  battles  of  Perryville  and 
Missionary  Ridge.  His  time  expired  in  June, 
1864,  when  he  was  honorably  discharged  at 
Indianapolis,  returned  home,  engaged  as  a 
clerk  at  Kentland,  where  he  remained  one 
year  and  then  engaged  in  business  for  himself 
in  Rossville,  since  which  time  he  has  here  been 
* in  mercantile  and  general  business.  Beside 
his  mercantile  interests  he  has  a farm  of  300 
acres  adjoining  Rossville,  and  has  an  interest 
in  the  tile  factory.  He  was  one  of  the  original 
members  of  the  republican  party  and  of  the 
famous  “Wide-awakes,”  a marching  club  in 
the  days  of  the  P'remont  campaign.  He  was 
elected  township  trustee  in  1876  and  held  that 
office  two  terms,  has  also  been  trustee  of  the 


town  of  Rossville  several  terms,  was  elected 
county  commissioner  in  1892,  and  now  fills 
that  office  to  the  general  satisfaction  of  the 
[people. 

Henry  L.  Smith  married,  December  15, 
1868,  Mary  S.,  daughter  of  Uriah  and  Eliza- 
beth (Masters)  Rose.  Mr.  Rose  came  to 
Clinton  county,  Ind.,  in  1865.  and  settled  on 
a farm  south  of  Rossville.  To  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Smith  have  been  born  six  children:  W.  Dale, 
Inez,  Ettie,  Grace,  May  and  Henry  R.  Mr. 
Smith  is  a member  of  Rossville  lodge,  F.  & 
A.  M.,  and  is  junior  warden;  he  is  also  a 
member  of  the  chapter,  council,  and  the  com- 
mandery  of  Frankfort,  also  a 32d  degree  Scot- 
tish rite  Mason;  he  is  a member  of  the  I.  O. 
O.  I'.,  Rossville  lodge.  No.  183,  and  has 
passed  all  the  chairs,  including  noble  grand. 
He  is  also  a member  of  Oliver  Short  post.  No. 
390,  G.  A.  R,,  and  has  held  the  office  of  quar- 
termaster and  commander.  He  and  wife  are 
members  of  the  Methodist  church,  and  man- 
ifestly sincere  in  their  profession  of  that  faith. 
As  a soldier,  his  severest  march  was  from  Mc- 
Minnville. Tenm,  to  Louisville,  Ry. , when 
Bragg,  the  famous  Confederate  general,  was 
making  desperate  efforts  to  get  to  Louisville 
in  advance  of  the  Union  forces.  Another 
verv  hard  march  was  from  Nashville,  Tenn., 
to  the  battle  of  Shiloh,  the  last  two  days'  march 
being  forced  part  of  the  time  on  the  “double 
quick”  through  a hard  rain.  In  the  battle  of 
Missionary  Ridge  he  was  shot  through  the  calf 
of  the  right  leg;  his  wound  disabled  him  about 
ninety  days,  during  which  he  was  home  on  a 
furlough,  which  was  extended  thirty  days. 
Mr.  Smith  is  now  a substantial  business  man 
and  a prominent  citizen  of  Clinton  county,  and 
is  noted  for  his  integrity  of  character.  His 
war  experience  and  gallant  part  he  bore  in  de- 
fense of  the  Union,  and  his  bearing  in  the  pur- 
suit of  the  ways  of  peace,  have  won  for  him 
the  ardent  esteem  of  his  fellow-men. 


BTOGRAPIirCAI.  HISTORY 


csr)2 


IIOMAS  JP:FFERS()N  smith,  wlio 

was  ctMiiinissioned  postmaster,  for 
Frankfort,  on  the  9th  day  of  May, 

I 894,  is  one  of  the  f)est  known  citizens 
of  (dinton  county,  was  born  in  the  city  of 
Indianapolis,  Ind.,  A})ril  30,  11844,  and  is  a 
son  of  tieorge  and  Eva  (Ward)  Smith,  Virgin- 
ians by  birth,  and  of  Scotch  ancestory.  The 
mother  died  when  Mr.  Smith  was  a child,  and 
in  the  year  1853  his  father,  then  a widower, 
removed  to  Clinton  county,  Ind.,  and  settled 
in  Center  township.  Here,  with  his  father, 
Mr.  Smith  made  his  home  until  seventeen 
years  old,  and  at  this  age  he  enlisted,  July  3, 
1861,  in  company  E,  Trventieth  Indiana  in- 
fantry, and  re-enlisted  in  December,  1863,  as 
a veteran  of  the  same  company.  He  served 
throughout  the  entire  war,  being  mustered 
out  on  the  30th  day  of  June,  1865.  Mr. 
Smith  participated  in  the  engagements  at 
Yorktovvn,  Williamsburg,  and  the  seven  days’ 
fight  in  front  of  Richmond,  Va. ; Malvern 
Hill,  Second  Bull  Run,  Antietam,  Fredericks- 
burg, Chancellorsville,  Culpeper,  the  Wilder- 
ness, Spottsylvania,  North  Ann  River,  Cold 
Harbor,  Petersburg,  and  was  at  the  surrender 
at  Appomattox.  He  was  wounded  three 
times;  first  at  Chancellorsville,  where  he  re- 
ceived a wound  in  the  breast  from  a minie 
ball;  at  North  Ann  River,  he  received  a shell 
wound  in  the  side,  and  at  Petersburg,  a minie 
ball  struck  him  in  the  right  leg. 

Mr.  Smith  is  a prominent  member  of  the 
G.  A.  R.,  being  a comrade  of  Stone  River 
post.  No.  65.  After  his  discharge  from  the 
army,  Mr.  Smich  returned  to  Clinton  county, 
and  accepted  a clerkship  in  a mercantile  es- 
tablishment at  Fraidsfort.  Two  years  later  he 
accepted  a clerkshi])  with  another  mercantile 
firm,  with  which  he  remained  for  eight  years. 
In  1875,  he  and  Mr.  W.  J.  li.  Morris,  uuder 
the  firm  name  of  W.  J.  IE  Morris  A Co.,  em- 
barked in  the  lumber  business,  at  I'rankfort. 


1' 

One  j’ear  later  Mr.  Smith  withdrew,  and  for 
one  year  held  a clerk  hip  in  the  store  of  J.  H. 
Paris.  In  ])olitics  he  has  always  beeuastanch 
democrat.  In  1878  he  was  elected  coroner 
for  Clinton  county  and  on  the  death  of  the 
sheriff,  W.  A.  Brandon,  Mr.  .Smith  acted  as 
sheriff  a short  time  by  virtue  of  his  office.  He 
then  became  de])uty  clerk  of  Clinton  county, 
serving  as  such  for  eighteen  months,  and  his 
next  employment  was  in  the  clothing  store  of 
S.  A.  Hoover,  for  four  years.  In  1885  he 
agai4i  entered  the  employment  of  J.  H.  Paris, 
as  manager  of  the  cloak  and  carpet  depart- 
ment, which  position  he  held  until  he  became 
postmaster. 

He  is  a prominent  member  of  the  .Masonic 
order,  being  a thirty-second  degree  Mason. 
He  also  belongs  to  the  I.  O O.  F.  and  the 
Improved  Order  of  Red  Men,  having  filled  all 
the  chairs  in  the  two  former  orders,  and  in  the 
Order  of  Red  Men  he  has  twice  served  as  chief 
of  records  of  the  great  council  of  the  state  of 
Indiana  and  three  times  as  representative  to 
the  great  council  of  the  United  States  from 
Indiana. 

Mr.  Smith  has  been  twice  married.  In 
March,  1866,  he  was  united  with  Caroline 
Armstrong,  who  died  in  januar}’,  1867.  In 
October,  1871,  he  was  married  to  Miss  Agnes 
Morrison,  daughter  of  the  late  |ohn  Morrison 
and  his  wife,  |ane  (Skidmore)  Morrison,  and 
this  union  has  been  blessed  by  the  birth  of  the 
folhnving  named  children:  Gny  B.,  ('lareM., 
and  Max. 


OBIfRT  l-AIORV  C.  SMi  ril,  one  of 
the  successful  and  well-known  teachers 
of  ('linton  county,  now  residing  near 
Rirklin,  was  born  in  Johnson  count}', 
Ind.,  November  2,  1869.  He  is  of  Scotch, 
Irish  and  English  descent,  and  is  of  prominent, 
early  families  of  Indiana.  His  i)aternal  grand- 


OF  CLINTON  COUNTY. 


R68 


father,  Robert  Smith,  moved  from  Virginia  to 
Indiana,  in  1833.  He  was  a typical  pioneer 
and  fearlessly  withstood  the  trials  and  incidents 
peculiar  to  a pioneer’s  life.  H2  married 
Elenor  McKinney,  a most  estimable  lady  of 
Irish  descent;  this  marriage  was  blessed  with 
several  children,  of  whom  only  two  now  sur- 
vive. Being  left  a widower,  he  married  Louisa 
E.  Clem,  a most  estimable  lady  of  Johnson 
county.  This  union  was  blessed  with  several 
children,  but  one  of  whom  now  survives.  He 
lived  an  exemplary  life,  was  a worthy  citizen, 
a devout  and  consistent  Christian,  and  was 
called  from  labor  to  reward,  in  1873. 

His  maternal  grandfather,  Clark  Gregg,  who 
was  born  in  Franklin  county,  is  a representa- 
tive of  sturdy  Scotch  ancestry  and  traces  the 
genealogy  of  the  Gregg  family  back  to  one 
Samuel  Gregg,  who  was  born  in  Scotland  in 
the  year  1699.  In  the  year  17  ii,  the  said 
Samuel  Gregg  emigrated  from  Scotland  to 
Pennsylvania.  According  to  framily  tradition, 
he  married  an  accomplished  and  distinguished 
English  lady,  and  they  resided  in  or  near 
Philadelphia;  from  this  marriage  sprang  Clark 
Gregg,  who  married  Martha  Bowling,  a lady 
of  Franklin  county;  this  union  was  blessed 
with  five  children — Nancy  E.,  Margaret  J., 
Cassius  M.,  Aaron  G.  and  Mary  H. ; of  these 
five  children,  three  are  deceased.  Mr.  Gregg 
was  an  economic,  ingenious  and  hard-working 
mechanic,  and  by  his  persistent  energy  he 
became  possessor  of  a good  farm  in  Franklin 
county,  and  here  he  labored  as  a mechanic  and 
at  farming  until  1859,  when  he  purchased  a 
farm  in  Illinois  and  moved  thither  in  the  same 
year.  But  there  are  few  households  without 
their  vacant  chairs,  and  in  1861  the  remorse- 
less and  unwelcome  visitor  of  death  visited  the 
family  and  carried  away  the  mother  as  his 
trophy.  The  remainder  of  the  family  lived  in 
Illinois  until  1863,  when  they  moved  to  John- 
son county,  Ind.  Mr.  Gregg  was  a member  of 


the  Methodist  Episcopal  church  and  worthily  ex- 
emplified that  faith  l)y  his  daily  walk.  In  poli- 
tics he  was  a stern  abolitionist  and  fearlessly  ad- 
vocated the  doctrine  of  the  party  mentioned. 
His  father’s  home  was  a station  on  the  under- 
ground railroad,  and  many  a poor,  fugitive 
slave  was  safely  conducted  to  places  of  security 
and  rest  by  the  instrumentality  of  this  fearless 
anti-slavery  family.  Mr.  Gregg  showed  by  his 
life  that  " Honor  and  shame  from  no  conditions 
rise,”  and  having' taught  this  noble  lesson  so 
worthy  of  imitation  by  all,  he  quietly  and  peace- 
fully sank  to  repose  in  1873. 

William  T.  Smith,  father  of  Emory,  was 
born  in  Johnson  county,  Ind.,  September  16, 
1837.  By  occupation  he  was  a farmer,  and 
brick-mason,  at  which  trades  he  worked  alter- 
nately until  1861,  when  it  seemed  that  the 
nation  would  be  rent  in  twain.  W^hen  the 
news  came  flashing  northward  of  the  battle  of 
Bull  Run,  he  was  one  of  the  loyal  legion  that 
reported  to  the  call  for  volunteers,  and  in 
July,  1861,  he  enlisted  in  company  I,  Eight- 
eenth Indiana  volunteer  infantry,  under  Capt. 
Jonathan  Williams,  of  Franklin,  Ind.,  for 
three  years’  service.  He  was  a participant  in 
the  Missouri  campaign,  was  in  the  battle  of 
Pea  Ridge  and  several  other  hard-fought  bat- 
tles; being  taken  sick  he  was  sent  to  Benton 
Barracks  hospital,  St.  Louis,  Mo.,  whence  he 
returned  home  and  was  discharged  in  1863. 
He  then  began  farming  as  soon  as  able,  and 
also  worked  a portion  of  his  time  at  the  brick- 
mason’s  trade.  He  was  united  in  marriage  to 
Nancy  E.  Gregg  in  1864,  and  soon  purchased 
a farm  in  Johnson  county,  where  he  resided 
until  1879,  when  he  exchanged  that  farm  for  a 
farm  in  Clinton  county.  Mr.  Smith  was  a 
shrewd  business  man,  a good  financier,  went 
through  all  the  trials  and  discouragements  in- 
cident to  a frontier  life,  but  steadily  worked 
his  way  upward  and  secured  a handsome  prop- 
erty. He  was  an  ardent  republican  and 


BIOGRAPHICAL  HISTORY 


SGI 


ch:mij)i()ne(l  without  fear  the  cause  of  the  re- 
puhlican  jiarty.  He  was  froiii  early  years  con- 
nectcal  with  the  Methodist  Episcoj)al  church, 
and  lived  a worthy,  consistent,  Christian  life. 
His  death  occurred  at  the  age  of  forty-six. 
His  wife,  a faithful  lueinber  of  the  Methodist 
church,  and  a most  estimable  kdy,  is  .still  liv- 
ing. To  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Smith  were  born  five 
children:  Arthur  A.,  Martha  E.,  Louisa]., 
Carl  C.  and  one  who  died  in  infancy. 

Mr.  .Smith,  whose  name  heads  this  record, 
began  school  in  his  fifth  year,  and  at  the  age 
of  nine  was  a fourth-grade  pupil.  At  the  age 
of  sixteen  he  graduated  from  the  township 
school.  His  father’s  death  made  it  necessary 
for  him  to  w'ork  upon  the  farm,  hut  he  has 
always  been  a great  lover  of  history,  a great 
reader  and  a lover  of  any  subject  that  would 
aid  in  educating  him.  In  1892  he  began 
teaching  and  has  made  that  his  vocation  since, 
having  followed  it  with  most  excellent  success. 
He  is  a member  of  the  Sons  of  Veterans, 
being  identified  with  CajA.  W.  H.  Hart  camp. 
No.  118,  Division  of  Indiana;  has  tilled  with 
honor  and  competency  nearly  all  the  offices  in 
this  loyal  order,  and  points  with  pride  to  the 
fact  that  his  father  was  one  of  those  who  helped 
to  crush  the  foe.  He  is  also  a member  of  Kirk- 
lin  lodge.  No.  443,  F.  and  A.  M.,  and  in  this 
lodge  is  the  honored  secretar}  . In  politics  he 
is  a stalwart  republican,  and  was  one  of  those 
who  helped  to  bring  about  the  political  revolu- 
tion in  November,  1894.  He  is  prominent  in 
his  party  and  has  served  as  delegate  to  the 
county  conventions. 


ARRI'iTT  SNODGRASS,  a juomi- 
nent  and  iidlucntial  farmer  and  ex- 
tensive land  owner  (T  Kirkliii  town- 
ship, Cliutou  county,  Ind.,  claims 
Indiana  as  the  state  (jf  his  nativity,  liis  birth 
having  occurred  in  Hancock  county,  on  the 


1st  of  August,  1833.  On  the  parental  side  he 
is  of  Scotch-English  descent,  and  on  the 
maternal  side  of  Irish  lineage.  His  grand- 
father .Snodgrass  was  born  in  Virginia,  re- 
moved to  Rentucky,  where  he  owned  a grist 
mill,  and  in  1824  came  to  Hancock  county, 
Ind.,  where  he  entered  1 60  acres  of  land  for 
himself  and  eighty  acres  for  each  of  his  sons. 
He  was  a member  of  the  Christian  church, 
an  old-time  whig,  and  lived  to  be  fifty-one 
years  of  age.  His  children  were  John,  Rob- 
ert, James,  Elizabeth,  Nanc}',  Epsey,  Minerva, 
Lucinda  and  Garrett.  Robert  Snodgrass,  the 
father  of  the  subject  of  this  sketch,  was  born 
in  Kentucky,  January  8,  t8o2,  and  became  a 
miller  and  well-to-do  farmer.  He  married 
Rebecca  Gregg,  who  was  horn  in  Campbell 
county,  Ky.,  in  1809,  and  died  in  1879,  and 
was  a daughter  of  John  and  Frances  Gregg. 
Their  children  are  Jolm  D.,  who  married  Miss 
Secord;  Nancy  J.,  wife  of  Robert  Slocum; 
Frances,  wife  of  ]ames  Hopkins;  Garrett; 
James,  who  married  Clara  McCain;  Mary  A., 
who  died  at  the  age  of  thirteen;  and  Elizabeth 
A.,  wife  of  John  Wynkopp.  The  father  of 
this  family  came  to  Indiana  in  1824,  and 
secured  a heavily  timbered  tract  of  land. 
After  living  in  this  state  for  seven  years  he 
spent  three  years  in  Missouri,  but  uot  wishing 
to  rear  his  family  in  a slave  state,  he  returned 
to  Boone  county,  Ind.,  in  1840,  there  spend- 
ing four  years.  Ou  the  expiratiau  of  that 
perioti  he  purchased  a water-mill  at  Mechauics- 
burg,  and  after  operating  it  for  eighteen 
months  traded  it  for  a farm  in  Boone  county. 
A \'car  later  he  exchanged  that  proj)erty  for  a 
farm  near  Mechaiiicshurg,  to  which  he  remov- 
ed after  operating  a mill  in  Thorntown  for  a 
year  and  a half.  Six  years  later  he  sold  his 
farm  and  purchased  247  acres  of  laud  iu  Kirk- 
lin  township,  where  he  made  his  home  until 
his  death  in  August,  1876.  lie  was  a faithful 
memher  and  deaccm  of  tlu'  Christian  church. 


OF  CLINTON  COUNTY. 


865 


and  in  politics  was  a republican.  In  his  busi- 
ness he  was  successful  and  accumulated  480 
acres  of  valuable  land.  In  rearing  their  chil- 
dren the  parents  showed  a special  care  and 
brought  up  a family  which  is  an  honor  to  their 
name. 

Garrett  Snodgrass  has  spent  his  entire  life 
in  this  state,  with  the  e.xception  of  three  years 
passed  in  Missouri.  He  shared  in  the  hard- 
ships and  experiences  of  frontier  life  and  was 
early  inured  to  the  arduous  task  of  developing 
wild  land  and  improving  a farm.  At  the  age 
of  twenty-two  he  started  out  in  life  for  himself, 
and  his  career  has  been  that  of  an  industrious 
and  progressive  man.  By  hard  labor  and  well 
directed  efforts  he  accumulated  293  acres  of 
land,  which  he  sold  when  his  father  suffered  a 
stroke  of  paralysis,  returning  to  the  farm  to 
take  care  of  his  aged  parents.  Mr.  Snodgrass 
was  married  October  29,  1884,  to  Laura  F. 
Bridgeford,  who  was  born  in  1851,  and  is  a 
daughter  of  Andrew  and  Mary  (Hessong) 
Bridgeford.  Their  children  are:  Clarence  G., 
born  April  25,  1887;  Robert  Andrew,  born 
March  26,  1891,  and  Mary  Rebecca,  born 

December  16,  1893.  Mr.  Snodgrass  now  car- 
ries on  general  farming  and  stock  raising.  His 
home  is  a pleasant  country  residence,  erected 
at  a cost  of  $2,000,  and  a large,  substantial 
barn  has  just  been  completed.  Of  his  293 
acres  of  land,  more  than  200  aci'es  are  under 
cultivation,  with  1,400  rods  of  tiling,  and  is 
now  one  of  the  most  valuable  and  desirable 
farms  of  the  county.  Both  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Snodgrass  hold  membership  with  the  Christian 
church,  and  in  politics  he  is  a stalwart  repub- 
lican, but  has  never  sought  nor  desired  official 
distinction,  preferring  to  give  his  entire  time 
and  attention  to  his  business  interests,  in  which 
he  has  met  with  most  excellent  success. 

With  his  happy  young  family  about  him, 
and  his  pleasant  surroundings,  Mr.  Snodgrass 
has  every  reason  to  be  happy  and  contented. 


M.  SMOCK  is  the  leading  livery- 
man of  Colfax,  Ind.,  and  has  been 
a resident  of  the  city  since  the 
late  Civil  war.  His  father,  Jacob 
Smock,  of  German  descent,  was  reared  in  In- 
diana, and  married  Martha  McCabe,  daughter 
of  James  McCabe,  a cabinet  maker.  The 
father  settled  in  Royalton,  Boone  county, 
where  he  owned  a fertile  farm,  and  where  he 
died  in  1863,  leaving  two  children — Morlen 
M.  and  Annie.  The  mother  subsequently  mar- 
ried Andrew  W.  Straine  who  survived  until 
October,  1872.  Mr.  Straine  was  a physician 
of  large  practice,  was  a justice  of  the  peace, 
and  a prominent  member  of  the  Presbyterian 
church,  in  which  he  was  an  elder.  The 
mother  is  now  well  advanced  in  years,  but 
hale  and  hearty. 

M.  M.  Smock  married  Miss  Cynthia  Wat- 
kins, February  5,  1880,  a daughter  of  Enoch 
and  Eliza  J.  (Morrisonj  Watkins,  the  former 
of  whom  was  a brave  soldier  in  the  late  war, 
is  a stanch  republican,  a well-to-do  farmer,  and, 
with  his  wife,  a strict  member  of  the  Methodist 
church.  The  children  born  to  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Smock  are  two  in  number,  and  are  named 
Thora  Ethel  and  Nellie.  By  trade  Mr.  Smock 
is  an  engineer  and  mechanic.  He  entered 
upon  his  present  business  in  1888,  and  has 
met  with  a phenomenal  success.  He  owns  a 
number  of  fine  horses  and  rigs  and  a commo- 
dious livery  barn,  as  well  as  a comfortable  dwell- 
ing, all  of  which  have  been  accumulated  by  his 
own  and  his  wife’s  industry,  accompanied  by 
good  management.  Mrs.  Smock  is  a faithful 
Methodist,  while  Mr.  Smock  is  a member  of 
Frankfort  Shield  lodge.  No.  71,  K.  of  P., 
also  of  Yosemite  tril)e  No.  168,  I.  O.  R.  M. , 
of  which  he  has  acted  as  trustee.  He  is  a re- 
publican in  his  politics,  and  as  such  has  served 
as  city  marshal.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Smock  are  ac- 
complished musicians,  and  both  enjoy  the  full 
esteem  and  respect  of  their  neighbors. 


BIOGRAPHICAL  HISTORY 


800 


ai 


'ILLIAM  V.  SNYDER  is  a leading 
farmer  of  Eiiion  townshij^  Clinton 
county,  Ind.,  and  a native  of  Butler 
county,  Ohio,  where  he  was  born 
on  the  eighth  day  of  November,  1849.  His 
l)arents  were  John  and  Eleanor  (Van  Sickle) 
Snyder,  the  father  of  German  descent,  and 
both  natives  of  the  Buckeye  state.  John 
Snyder  came  to  Clinton  count}',  Ind.,  in  1849, 
and  ])urchased  a tract  of  180  acres  of  land, 
upon  which  he  made  a number  of  very  valu- 
able improvements.  He  died  in  1883;  but  his 
widow  still  resides  on  the  home  farm  in  Union 
township.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Snyder  had  born  to 
them  si.\  children,  named  respectively  as  fol- 
lows; William  V.,  the  subject  of  this  sketch; 
Garrett  resides  in  Montgomery  county,  Ind.  ; 
)ennie  married  Eh  Marvon,  and  lives  in 
I'rankfort;  Aaron  is  a resident  of  Frankfort; 
David  is  deceased,  and  James  N.  is  a resident 
of  Center  township.  The  father  of  these  chil- 
dren was  a man  of  local  prominence  in  the 
community,  and  became  one  of  the  leading 
farmers  of  the  township  in  which  he  resided, 
b'inancially  he  was  more  than  ordinarily  suc- 
cessful and  he  made  a name  for  himself  as  a 
man  of  the  highest  integrity  and  of  honorable 
dealing,  of  which  his  decendants  feel  justly 
proud. 

W'illiam  \'.  Snyder,  like  the  majority  of 
boys  born  in  the  country,  passed  his  youthful 
years  in  the  uneventful  work  of  the  farm,  and 
early  in  life  learned  to  set  a proper  value  on 
honest  toil.  Having  decided  to  make  agricult- 
ure his  life  work,  he  began  the  same  on  ar- 
riving at  manhood’s  estate,  and  in  1888  pur- 
chased his  present  farm,  consisting  of  ninety- 
seven  acres  of  valuable  land  in  the  townshi ]>  of 
Union.  On  the  second  day  of  ( Ictober,  1873, 
Mr.  Sn\’der  and  Mi.ss  Candace  Shorlle  were 
united  in  the  Ixmds  of  wedlock,  and  to  their 
union  have  been  born  three  children  b'rank 
J.,  whose  birth  occurred  October  15,  1874, 


Homer  V.,  born  June  13,  1886,  and  an  infant 
deceased.  Mrs.  Snyder  was  born  June  10, 
1851,  and  is  the  daughter  of  Samuel  C.  and 
Elizabeth  (Teeters)  Shortle,  natives  of  Vir- 
ginia and  of  Irish  and  German  lineage  respect- 
ively. Mr.  and  Mrs.  Shortle  came  to  Clinton 
coindy,  Ind.,  shortly  after  their  marriage,  and 
they  had  a family  of  twelve  children,  the  fol- 
lowing being  their  names:  Mary,  Oma,  Henry, 
Sarah,  Matilda,  Elizabeth  H.,  George  M., 
j Esther  J.,  Martha  V.  (wife  of  John  T.  Sheff- 
I lerj,  Julia  E.  (wife  of  D.  P.  Pence)  and  Can- 
I dace  who  married  the  subject  of  this  mention. 

I Mr.  Snyder  has  a comfortable  home,  a good 
j farm  under  a successful  state  of  cultivation, 

I and  belongs  to  that  large  and  eminently  re- 
spectable class  of  agriculturists  to  which  the 
country  is  so  much  indebted  for  its  present 
prosperous  condition.  He  is  a membei  of  the 
Masonic  fraternity,  belonging  to  blue  lodge 
No.  54,  of  Frankfort,  and  has  also  taken  the 
chapter  and  commandery  degrees.  Politically 
he  wields  an  influence  for  the  democratic  party, 
and  in  religion  his  wife  is  a devout  member  of 
the  Methodist  church. 


>^AMES  ALLEN  SPARKS,  farmer  and 
g stockraiser  of  Perry  township,  was  born 
^ J in  Clinton  county,  Ind.,  August  11, 
1838.  His  paternal  ancestors  were 
among  the  early  residents  of  Mainland,  of 
which  state  his  grandfather,  james  Sparks, 
was  a native.  From  Maryland  james  Sparks 
emigrated  to  Pennsylvania,  thence  moved  to 
Ashland  countv,  Ohio,  and  later  came  to  Clin- 
ton county,  Ind.  lie  married  Margaret  Ray 
and  reared  a famil}’,  his  descendants  being 
among  the  snbstant ial  residents  of  Clinton  and 
other  counties  of  Indiana. 

Thomas  Sparks,  father  of  james  A.,  was 
born  August  11.  1810,  in  Piumsylvania,  from 
which  state  he  went  to  Ohio  when  twelve 


OF 'CLINTON  COUNTY. 


867 


years  of  age.  When  twenty-seven  years  old 
he  became  a resident  of  Clinton  county,  the 
date  of  his  arrival  being  about  1837,  I'e 

is  classed  among  the  pioneers  of  this  section. 
He  made  the  jonrney  from  Ohio  to  Indiana  in 
a wagon,  and  moved  to  a place  upon  which 
no  im})rovements  of  any  hind  had  been  made, 
but  in  time  he  cleared  and  developed  a good 
farm  of  140  acres  and  erected  substantial  build- 
ings. He  was  a piominent  man  of  the  com- 
munity in  which  he  resided,  a member  of  the 
Methodist  church,  and  a whig  in  his  political 
belief,  later  a republican.  The  following  are 
the  names  of  his  children — James  A. , Elizabeth, 
Mary  A.,  Emmeline,  Franklin,  Margaret  M., 
Joseph  and  John  H.  Thomas  Sparks  died 
April  3,  1879,  and  his  wife  was  laid  to  her 
final  rest  on  the  twelfth  day  of  September, 
1856. 

James  Allen  Sparks  was  reared  on  the  old 
home  farm,  was  educated  in  the  common 
schools,  and  has  passed  nearly  all  of  his  life 
within  the  present  bounds  of  Clinton  county, 
being  one  of  the  oldest  native-born  citizens  at 
this  time.  Having  decided  to  become  a 
farmer,  he  has  carried  out  his  intention  and 
to-day  is  one  of  the  leading  agriculturists  of 
his  township.  He  began  life  for  himself  on 
the  place  where  he  now  resides,  consisting 
originally  of  fifty  acres,  which  through  his  in- 
dustry has  been  well  improved,  and  he  now 
owns  seventy-two  acres  of  well  cultivated  land, 
supplied  with  all  the  conveniences  calculated 
to  make  him  satisfied  with  his  condition.  Mr. 
Sparks  was  united  in  marriage,  in  1864,  to 
Mariah  Waynscott,  daughter  of  L.  and  Hulda 
(Bean)  Waynscott.  Mr.  Waynscott  was  one 
of  the  early  settlers  of  Clinton  county,  mov- 
ing here  from  Kentucky  as  long  ago  as  1832; 
he  was  a leading  man  of  the  community,  a 
prominent  member  of  the  Baptist  church,  and 
died  June  14,  1879;  Mrs.  W^aynscott  is  still 
living,  having  reached  the  rijie  old  age  of 


of  eighty-four  years.  Mr.  Sparks  takes  an 
active  part  in  politics,  voting  the  republican 
ticket,  and  fraternally  belongs  to  the  Masonic 
order.  He  and  wife  are  members  of  the  U. 
B.  church  and  are  among  the  most  highly 
respectable  citizens  of  Perry  township.  Hav- 
ing no  children  of  their  own,  they  adopted  a 
child  of  Samuel  J.  Ghere,  when  only  eight 
months  old,  whom  they  have  yet,  and  are 
still  fondly  caring  for  at  the  age  of  nine- 
teen years. 


OHN  N.  SPITZNAGEL  is  a native  of 
Germany  and  inherits  in  a marked  de- 
gress the  characteristics  of  the  sturdy 
race  to  which  he  belongs.  He  was  born 
in  the  n:)rthern  part  of  the  dukedom  of  Baden, 
April  23,  1840,  of  which  country  his  parents, 
Adam  and  Burga  Spitznagel  were  also  natives. 
They  had  the  following  children — Burga,  de- 
ceased; P'rederick,  living  in  La  P'ayette;  Mary, 
deceased;  Theresa,  deceased;  Magdaline;  Ur- 
ban, deceased;  John  N.  and  one  that  died  in 
infancy  without  being  named.  The  father  of 
these  cliildren  died  in  Germany  about  1848,  at 
the  age  of  forty-eight  years.  Frederick  and 
Magdaline  (now  Mrs.  Philip  Donier  of  Frank- 
fort) came  to  the  United  States  in  1852  and 
were  joined  the  following  year  by  John,  LTban 
and  the  mother,  all  of  whom  settled  in  La 
Fayette,  Ind.,  where  Mrs.  Spitznagel  died  in 
1865,  at  the  age  of  si.\ty-five  years. 

John  N.  Spitznagel  was  thirteen  years  old 
when  the  family  came  to  the  United  States. 
He  then  had  a fair  German  education,  and, 
after  coming  to  this  country,  learned  to  read 
and  write  English  by  a course  of  private  study. 
His  first  five  years  in  America  were  spent  as  a 
cigar  maker,  and  in  1858  he  began  the  butcher- 
ing business  at  La  Fayette,  where  he  continued 
until  1870,  becoming  thoroughly  familiar  with 
every  detail  of  the  trade  in  the  meantime.  In 


868 


BIOGRAPHICAL  HISTORY 


the  year  1870,  Mr,  Si)itznagel  opened  a meat 
market  in  I'rankfort,  where  he  has  since  car- 
ried on  a very  lar”;e  and  lucrative  business,  his 
success  in  a hnancial  point cf  view  being  of  tlie 
most  gratifying  character.  During  the  years 
1861  62  he  carried  on  the  business  in  Canada, 
but,  being  better  pleased  with  the  United 
States,  he  has  since  made  the  latter  country, 
his  home,  and  proposes  to  do  so  the  remainder 
of  his  days.  Mr.  Spitznagel  was  happily  mar- 
ried in  the  city  of  La  Fayette,  Ind,,  in  1868, 
to  Lena  Mans,  who  was  born  in  Prussia,  and 
who  died  in  the  month  of  March,  1891.  Two 
children  of  this  marriage  are  living  at  the 
present  time — Mary  and  Charles.  Mr.  Spitz- 
nagel is  a member  of  the  Masonic  order  and 
in  every  respect  a most  estimable  citizen. 
Measured  by  the  usual  standard,  his  life  has 
been  a successful  one,  and  his  business,  always 
conducted  in  a most  honorable  manner,  has 
yielded  him  a goodly  portion  of  worldly  wealth. 
Eminently  social  in  his  nature,  Mr.  Spitznagel 
has  never  lacked  for  friends,  and  with  a l 
classes  in  Frankfort  he  enjoys  a degree  of  popu- 
larity second  to  that  of  few  people  of  the  city. 


FNRY  NELSON  SPRAY,  one  of  In- 
diana’s native  scms,  now  living  near 
Cyclone,  Clinton  county,  was  born 
near  Jonesboro,  Ind.,  March  21,  1831. 
His  grandfather,  Abner  Spray,  was  an  Indiana 
farmer,  and  was  of  Irish  and  English  descent. 
He  married  Polly  Little,  and  after  her  death 
wedded  Naomi  Underhill.  The  children  of 
the  hrst  marriage  were:  George,  Jonas,  Mor- 
decai,  James,  William,  Rachel,  and  Rebecca. 
Abner  Sjrray  servt'd  in  the  war  of  1812,  and 
was  taken  prisoner.  He  voted  with  the  whig 
party  and  died  at  the  age  of  sixty-hve  years. 
William  Spray,  father  of  Henry  Nelson  Spray, 
was  a native  of  Kentucky,  became  a farmer 
and  (nvned  at  his  death  120  acres  of  tind)er 


and  j)rairie  land.  He  wedded  Elizabeth, 
daughter  of  Josiah  and  Naomi  Lamb,  and  they 
became  the  parents  of  nine  children;  Josiah, 
Lncrctia,  Henry  N.,  Louisa,  Josiah,  Elwood, 
John,  Naomi  and  Mordecai.  The  father  died 
at  the  age  of  forty-six,  and  his  wife  passed 
away  at  the  age  of  sixty-seven. 

Henry  N.  Spray,  subject  of  this  sketch,  was 
a youth  of  fifteen  at  his  father’s  death,  and  he 
then  cared  for  his  mother  and  was  her  chief 
support.  As  a companion  and  helpmate  on 
life’s  journey  he  chose  Miss  Keziah  Young,  and 
they  were  married  in  1852.  She  was  born  in 
1832,  and  is  the  daughter  of  Henry  and  Sarah 
(KarkerJ  Young.  The  following  children  were 
born  to  them;  Lonisa  A.,  Sarah,  Elizabeth 
and  Thomas  H.  (both  deceased),  Mary  B., 
P'lora,  Frank  and  Edward  (twins),  Nellie,  Jnlia, 
and  Henry  and  Carrie  (both  deceased). 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Spray  inherited  about 
$1,200.  They  lived  in  Clinton  county  until 
1853,  and  then  removed  to  Dallas  comity, 
Iowa,  where  they  purchased  1 30  acres  of 
land,  but  after  four  years  they  disposed  of  the 
farm  and  returned  to  this  state.  In  1862, 
Mr.  Spray  laid  aside  business  cares,  and  on 
the  twenty-ninth  of  August,  joined  company 
I,  of  the  One  Hundredth  Indiana  infantry. 
He  went  from  Indianajiolis  to  Cairo,  and 
thence  to  Memjihis,  Tenn.  The  troops  then 
started  to  Vicksburg,  but  returned  to  Grand 
junction  and  afterward  went  to  Collierville, 
where  comjianv  1 was  sent  to  guard  the  rail- 
road, there  remaining  until  I Line  8,  1863.  They 
next  went  to  Memjihis  and  then  down  the 
Mississijipi  to  Vicksburg,  and  nji  the  Yazoo 
river,  after  wliich  they  marched  seven  miles 
into  the  country.  On  the  surrender  of  Vicks- 
burg they  started  after  johnston’s  army,  driv- 
ing them  across  Big  Black  river,  and  tlien 
went  to  Jackson,  Miss.,  where  a seven  days' 
engagement  occurred.  Later  they  went  to 
Inka,  Corinth,  and  marched  through  Alabama. 


OF  CI.INTON  COUNTY. 


869 


They  took  part  in  the  hard-fought  battle  of 
Missionary  Ridge  and  then  followed  the  enemy 
two  days  to  Knoxville.  At  Scottsburg,  Ala., 
where  th^y  went  into  winter  quarters,  Mr. 
Spray  was  confined  in  the  field  hospital  for 
several  weeks  and  was  then  detailed  as  a mem- 
ber of  battery  C,  First  Missouri  light  artillery. 
He  was  discharged  May  25.  1865,  from  the 
artillery,  and  then  went  to  join  his  old  regi- 
ment, and  was  finally  discharged  July  4,  1865. 

On  his  return,  Mr.  Spray  operated  a rent- 
ed farm  for  eight  years,  and  then  purchased 
eighty  acres  of  timber  land,  which  he  has 
cleared  and  drained,  making  it  a valuable  and 
highly  cultivated  tract.  He  now  superintends 
it,  but  it  is  operated  by  his  son.  His  home  is 
a tasty  and  comfortable  residence,  built  in 
modern  style,  and  all  the  accessories  and  con- 
veniences of  a model  farm  are  there  found. 
He  and  his  estimable  wife  belong  to  the  Chris- 
tian church,  and  he  is  a member  of  Stone 
River  Grand  Army  post.  A public-spirited 
and  progressive  citizen,  he  still  manifests  the 
loyalty  which  caused  him  to  join  the  boys  in 
blue. 


ON.  ERASTUS  HARMAN  STALEY, 
one  of  the  best-known  citizens  of 
Clinton  county,  Ind.,  was  born  in 
Tippecanoe  county,  this  state,  Eebru- 
ary  6,  1830.  His  father,  Aaron  Staley,  son  of 
Martin  Staley,  was  born  near  Guilford  Court 
House,  N.  C.,  February  5,  1802,  but  was  a 
resident  of  Carroll  county,  Ind.,  at  the  time  of 
his  death,  November  4,  1854.  The  marriage 
of  Aaron  Staley  took  place  April  30,  1829,  to 
Catherine  Parsons,  and  resulted  in  the  birth  of 
the  following  children:  Erastus  H.,  Catherine 
Ellen,  Marietta  and  James  Griffith,  of  whom 
the  Hon.  Erastus  H.  is  the  only  survivor. 
Mrs.  Catherine  Staley  was  born  in  the  state  of 
New  York,  May  17,  1809,  and  died  in  Tippe- 


canoe county,  Ind.,  May  5,  1843.  The  Staley 
family  are  of  German  origin,  and  the  first  of 
this  particular  family  to  come  to  America  was 
Isaac  Staley,  who  settled  in  North  Carolina. 
A brother  of  Isaac  also  came  from  German}’ 
and  settled  in  Virginia,  and  through  marriage 
his  descendants  became  connected  with  the 
family  of  Pres.  John  Tyler.  Hon.  E.  H. 
Staley’s  paternal  grandmother,  Mary  Staley, 
belonged  to  the  Virginia  branch  of  the  family, 
and  was  a cousin  of  her  husband,  Martin 
Staley,  the  son  of  Jacob,  who  was  a son  of  the 
immigrant,  Isaac.  About  1 8 16,  Martin  Staley 
and  family  moved  from  North  Carolina  to 
Ohio,  and  thence  came  to  Indiana  in  1828, 
settling  in  Tippecanoe  county.  James  G. 
Staley,  brother  of  Erastus  H.,  was  killed  in 
the  battle  of  Franklin,  Tenn.,  being  then  cap- 
tain of  company  P',  One  Hundred  and  Twen- 
ty-eighth Indiana  infantry. 

Hon.  E.  H,  Staley  was  educated  at  the 
district  schools,  but  at  the  age  of  twelve  lost 
his  mother  by  death.  His  father  being  in  re- 
duced circumstances,  he  cpjit  school  and  lent 
his  best  aid  toward  the  support  of  the  family, 
but  kept  up  his  studies  at  home.  At  the  age 
of  nineteen  he  was  granted  a license  to  teach, 
a vocation  which  he  followed  until  the  winter 
of  1852-53,  when,  having  saved  fifty  dollars, 
he  entered  Asbury  (now  DePauw)  university, 
from  which  he  graduated  in  1858,  at  the  head 
of  his  class,  being  its  valedictorian.  In  April, 
1858,  by  invitation,  he  opened  the  Battle 
Ground  institute  in  Tippecanoe  county  and 
taught  the  spring  term,  although  he  had  not 
yet  graduated.  P'or  four  years  he  held  the 
principalship  of  the  Battle  Ground  institute, 
and  for  the  succeeding  three  years  was  presi- 
dent of  the  Valparaiso  Male  & Female  college, 
which  he  endeavored  to  have  converted  into  a 
normal  school,  but  did  not  succeed.  Having 
been  ordained  a deacon  vvhile  at  Asbury  uni- 
vergity,  and  later  an  elder,  and  being  a mem- 


870 


BIOGRAPHICAL  HISTORY 


her  of  the  Northwest  Methodist  Episcopal 
coiifeia'iicj;,  he  was  appointed  pastor  of  the 
church  at  I'raid<fort,  then  a town  of  eight 
hnndrcHl  inhahitants,  and  served  one  jear, 
after  which  he  taught  the  Dayton,  Ind., 
schools  one  year.  In  the  fall  of  1866,  he  be- 
came ])rincipal  of  the  Frankfort  schools,  held 
the  })osition  six  years,  and  during  that  incum- 
bency organized  the  present  system  of  graded 
schools. 

About  this  time  the  Crescent  publishing 
company  induced  Mr.  Staley  to  assume  editor- 
ial charge  of  this  sterling  democratic  journal, 
and  this  position  he  filled  at  a weekly  salary 
until  1874,  when  he  purchased  the  Crescent 
and  conducted  it  until  i8gi,  when  he  sold  it, 
having  built  up  its  circulation  and  earned  for  it 
a reputation  unexcelled  by  any  other  weekly 
in  the  state.  The  summer  and  fall  of  1891 
Mr.  Staley  passed  in  needed  recreation  in 
Europe,  but  is  now  living  in  retirement  in 
Frankfort,  simply  taking  care  of  his  real  estate 
interests.  A democrat  in  politics,  in  1884  Mr. 
Staley  was  elected  to  the  state  legislature,  in 
which  he  served  one  term,  with  great  ability. 
He  was  married,  November  14,  1861,  to 

Miss  Salome  Barr,  a native  of  Pennsylvania, 
who  has  borne  him  two  children — Catherine 
B.  and  James  H. — the  latter  now  conducting 
a prosperous  grocery  trade  at  Frankfort.  Mr. 
anti  Mrs.  Staley  have  been  members  of  the 
Methodist  church  for  many  years,  and  he  is 
also  a member  of  the  I.  O.  (i).  F.  Mr.  Staley 
isa  gentleman  of  fine  physitjue and  of  abundant 
intellectuality,  and  few  men  in  Clinton  county 
are  more  favorably  known  and  honored. 


11.  S'l'AI.FY,  senior  member  of 
the  firm  of  Staley  A Burns,  pro- 
j)rietors  of  the  b'rankfort  Evening 
News,  was  born  in  'rippecanoe 
county.  Inch,  in  1845,  was  reared  on  a farm. 


and  was  educated  in  the  public  schools  of  Car- 
roll  county,  from  which  he  was  called,  how- 
ever, at  the  early  age  of  seventeen  years,  to 
take  part  in  the  defense  of  his  country’s  flag 
and  in  the  preservation  of  the  integrity  of  his 
nation’s  government.  At  the  age  mentioned, 
he  became  a member  of  the  Tenth,  and  then 
of  the  One  Hundred  and  Fifty-fourth  regi- 
ment, Indiana  volunteer  infantry,  and  for 
three  years  and  five  months  did  faithful  and 
valiant  service  in  his  country’s  cause.  For  the 
past  ten  years  he  has  been  engaged  in  news- 
paper work,  and  as  one  of  the  proprietors  and 
editors  of  the  Frankfort  Evening  News,  and 
of  the  Weekly  Banner,  he  has  done  much  to 
elevate  the  tone  and  character  of  the  press  of 
Indiana. 


D.  H.  BURNS,  of  the  firm  of  Staley 
cN  Burns,  proprietors  of  the  Frank- 
fort Evening  News,  and  of  the  Weekly 
Banner,  is  the  son  of  Joseph  and  Mary 
Burns,  and  was  born  at  Montezuma,  Parke 
county,  Ind.,  September  22,  1863.  After 

completing  his  course  of  study  in  the  schools 
of  his  native  place,  Mr.  Burns  diligently  devoted 
his  attention  to  learning  the  printer’s  trade. 
After  serving  as  “ devil  ” for  one  year,  he  took 
a two  years’  course  of  study  in  the  university 
of  Michigan,  at  Ann  Arbor;  returning,  he 
worked  at  the  printer’s  trade  and  local  news- 
paper work  at  Clinton  and  Chrisman,  Ilk,  and 
in  1885,  established  the  Reporter  in  his  native 
town,  which  journal  he  conducted  until  April, 
1887,  when  he  sold  out  and  came  to  I^rank- 
fort  and  [nirchased  an  interest  in  the  Banner, 
with  Mr.  Chcadle  editing  that  pajier  for  a 
year;  and  in  May,  1889,  he  ))urchased  of  F. 
T.  Staley  his  interest  in  the  Evening  News, 
which  had  been  established  the  }’ear  j)revious. 

In  December,  1886,  Mr.  Burns  was  mar- 
ried to  Miss  b'lora  T.  Donahlon,  who  bore  him 


OF  CLINTON  COUNTY. 


871 


three  children  Robert  F.,  Edward  H.  and 
Flanch. 

The  enterprise  of  Staley  & Burns  in  con- 
ducting the  Daily  Evening  News,  is  a most 
commendable  one.  The  News  is  a bright, 
sparkling  daily,  and  always  contains  the  gist  of 
the  news  of  the  city,  county  and  state.  It 
is  a deserving  paper,  is  worthy  of  the  patron- 
age bestowed  upon  it,  and  would  be  a credit 
to  any  city  in  Indiana.  In  1889,  the  firm  of 
Staley  & Burns  purchased  the  Saturday  Ban- 
ner and  consolidated  the  two  offices.  The 
Satui'day  Banner,  their  weekly  publication, 
ranks  among  the  best  of  the  weekly  publica- 
tions in  the  state  and  is  indicative  of  the  enter- 
prise and  progressive  ideas  of  the  publishers. 


ETH  STRANGE,  a prominent  farmer 
and  stock  raiser  of  Jackson  township, 
is  a native  of  Clinton  county,  Ind. , 
born  April  8,  1836,  the  son  of  Heze- 
kiah  and  Nancy  (Cook)  Strange.  Hezekiah 
Strange  was  born  in  Montgomery  county,  Ky., 
in  1801,  and  was  the  son  of  Stephen  Strange, 
who  came  to  the  United  States,  in  an  early 
day,  from  England.  In  company  with  Stephen 
Strange  came  his  two  brothers,  one  of  whom 
penetrated  the  wilds  of  Kentucky  to  locate 
land,  and  was  never  heard  of  afterward;  the 
other  died  in  that  state  in  an  early  day,  and 
his  widow  subsequently  went  to  Ohio,  where 
her  death  occurred  many  years  ago.  Hezekiah 
Strange  located  in  Hendricks  county,  Ind.,  in 
1827,  and  two  years  later  moved  to  the  county 
of  Clinton  and  entered  a tract  of  government 
land,  which  he  subquently  developed  into  a 
fine  farm.  He  died  January  19,  1883,  at  the 
age  of  eighty-two  years,  and  his  wife  was  laid 
to  her  final  rest  on  the  thirteenth  of  March, 
1885.  Hezekiah  and  Nancy  Strange  were 
the  parents  of  eight  children,  namely:  Stephen, 
who  owns  a part  of  the  land  which  his  father 


purchased  from  the  government;  William,  a 
well  known  physician  of  Frankfort;  Jesse, 
Seth,  MaryE.,  wife  of  Marion  F.  Cook,  deceas- 
ed; James,  deceased;  Henry  and  Dicy,  also 
deceased. 

Seth  Strange,  the  immediate  subject  of  this 
mention,  remained  with  his  father  on  the  farm 
until  becoming  of  age,  when  he  purchased 
forty  acres  of  land  in  Jackson  township  and 
engaged  in  the  pursuit  of  agriculture  upon  his 
own  responsibility.  He  has  added  to  the  area 
of  his  farm,  made  valuable  improvements  on 
the  same,  and  for  a number  of  years  has  given 
considerable  attention  to  the  raising  of  live 
stock,  in  which  he  has  been  quite  successful, 
making  a specialty  of  Poland  China  hogs.  He 
is  also  engaged  in  breeding  full-blooded  short 
horned  Durham  cattle,  and  his  flock  of  Shrop- 
shire sheep  is  among  the  best  in  Clinton  coun- 
ty. As  a farmer  and  stock  raiser,  Mr.  Strange 
takes  high  rank,  and  as  a citizen  is  popular  in 
the  neighborhood  where  he  resides,  enjoying 
the  confidence  and  respect  of  all  with  whom 
he  comes  in  contact  in  business  or  other  re- 
lations. 

Mr.  Strange  was  married  December  ii, 
1856,  to  Emarine  Cook,  of  Shelby  county,  Ky., 
daughter  of  Abraham  and  Sarah  Cook,  both 
parents  natives  of  that  state  and  of  English 
descent.  Abraham  Cook  was  born  November 
I,  1809,  and  died  March  20,  1893;  his  wife 
was  born  December  i,  1800,  and  died  at  a 
ripe  old  age  on  the  tenth  day  of  June,  1890. 
They  were  the  parents  of  nine  children, 
namely:  Edmund,  J.,  Israel,  Henry  B.,  Em- 
arine, Squire  B. , Warren  A.,  James  T'., 
Isaac  L. , and  an  infant,  deceased.  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  Strange  have  never  been  blessed  with 
any  children  of  their  own.  They  are  both 
active  members  of  the  Christian  church,  and 
he  has  filled  the  office  of  trustee  in  his  h )me 
congregation  for  a number  of  years.  In  poli- 
tics Mr.  Strange  affiliates  with  the  democratic 


872 


BIOGRAPHICAL  HISTORY 


|)ai-t3’,  and  fraternally  Ixdongs  to  the  I.  O. 
O.  F.,  being  an  active  worker  in  the  local 
lodge. 


ENJAMIN  F.  STARKEY,  one  of  the 
enterprising  business  men  of  Mul- 
berry, Clinton  county,  Ind.,  and  one 
of  the  stockholders  and  the  manager 
of  the  Jay  Grain  company,  claims  Ohio  as  the 
state  of  his  nativity.  He  was  horn  in  Ashland 
county,  December  9,  1845,  and  is  a son  of 
Thomas  G.  and  Sarah  (Holsinger)  Starkey. 
The  father  was  a native  of  Pennsylvania,  and 
of  Scotch- Irish  descent.  The  mother  was 
born  in  \drginia,  and  was  of  German  lineage. 
The  paternal  grandfather,  Thomas  G.  Starkey, 
was  born  January  22,  1809,  and  in  1837  re- 
moved to  Ohio,  where  he  followed  farming. 
Ten  years  later  he  became  a resident  of  La 
Grange  county,  Ind.,  and  there  purchased 
and  cultivated  a farm.  His  death  occurred  in 
that  county  Ma\'  28,  1884,  and  his  wife  passed 
away  in  March,  1891. 

Benjamin  Starkey  is  one  of  a family  of 
thirteen  children,  viz:  William,  who  was 
killed  in  the  late  war;  Sarah  Jane;  Benjamin 
F.  ; Susan;  Adelia,  wife  of  Robert  F'inley; 
Adeline,  wife  of  Charles  Bartlett;  Ida,  wife  of 
Eugene  Emminger;  Leticie,  wife  of  John 
Sturgis;  Alice,  wife  of  )ohn  Myers;  Rhoda, 
wife  of  Martin  Lovett;  and  Daniel  B.  In  the 
usual  manner  of  farmer  lads,  Mr.  Starkey  of 
this  sketch  spent  the  days  of  his  boyhood  and 
youth,  being  reared  on  his  father’s  farm  in  Mil- 
ford township.  La  Grange  county,  Ind.  His 
educational  privileges  were  those  afforded  by 
the  public  schools,  and  he  became  a well  in- 
formed man  by  general  reading  and  observa- 
tion. In  1864,  at  the  age  of  nineteen  yc'ars, 
he  came  to  Clinton  county,  where  for  a while 
he  engaged  in  farming  He  then  turned  his 
attention  to  other  pursuits,  establishing  a 


grist-mill  at  Mulberry.  Since  that  time,  in 
some  capacity  or  other,  he  has  been  connected 
with  the  grain  business.  He  afterward  sold 
his  mill  to  the  Jay  Grain  company  of  Ohio,  of 
which  he  is  now  a stockholder  and  is  manager 
of  the  company’s  business  at  this  place.  They 
buy  and  ship  all  kinds  of  grain  and  Hour,  and 
under  the  able  supervision  of  Mr.  Starkey  the 
business  has  constantly  increased  at  this  place. 
He  previously  carried  on  a tile  factory  for 
about  three  years  in  Owen  township,  and  he 
also  owns  eighty  acres  of  well  improved  land 
in  that  township.  Mr.  Starkey  was  married 
February  20,  1873,  to  Frances  Lovett, 

daughter  of  Thomas  G.  and  Catherine  Lovett. 
Her  lather  is  still  living  in  La  Grange  county, 
but  her  mother  died  in  1893.  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Starkey  have  one  son,  Thomas  W.,  born  in 
April,  1875.  Our  subject  holds  membership 
with  the  Methodist  Episcopal  church  and  with 
the  Masonic  fraternity  of  Mulberry.  He  votes 
with  the  prohibitionist  party,  and  for  two 
terms  served  as  trustee  of  Owen  township. 
He  may  truly  be  called  a self-made  man,  for 
his  success  is  due  to  his  own  efforts,  being 
the  reward  of  earnest  application,  industry 
and  perseverance. 


ACOB  STROUP,  a prominent  farmer 
of  Johnson  township,  Clinton  county, 
Ind.,  was  born  in  Madison  county, 
Ohio,  January  9,  1839.  John  Stroup, 
his  grandfather,  was  horn  in  Germany,  came 
to  America  before  the  Revolution,  and  was  at 
that  time  a single  man.  I le  served  eight  years 
in  the  patriot  army,  and  at  Charleston,  S.  C., 
during  the  siege,  while  dipiung  loose  powder 
to  load  a cannon,  the  magazine  e.xploded  and 
blew  him  a distrance  of  one  hundred  yards. 
He  was  hadlv  mangled,  but  iinally  recovered. 
He  was  an  early  settler  of  Ross  county,  Ohio, 
and  a farmer.  Jacob  Stroup,  father  of  our 


OF  CTJNTON  COUNTY. 


873 


subject,  was  born  in  Ross  county,  Ohio,  was 
married  there  and  thence  moved  to  Madison 
county,  Ohio,  .remained  there  a number  of 
years,  and  then  came  to  Indiana  and  settled 
in  Clinton  county,  in  1848,  one  the  farm  where 
his  son  John  now  resides,  and  which  comprised 
240  acres.  He  and  wife  were  members  of  the 
first  Methodist  church  organized  in  the  neigh- 
borhood, of  which  he  was  a charter  member 
and  class  leader.  In  politics  he  was  a demo- 
crat, and  held  the  office  of  township  trustee. 
He  married  Naomi  Debington,  daughter  of 
Patrick  and  Catherine  Debington,  who  were  of 
Scotch-Irish  descent,  and  to  this  union  were 
born  the  following  children:  Sarah  A., 

Reuben,  Levina,  Mary,  Lemuel  H.,  Naomi, 
Jacob,  Catherine,  John,  Nancy  and  Eliza- 
beth, all  of  whom  lived  to  marry  and  have 
families. 

Jacob  Stroup,  the  subject  proper  of  this 
sketch,  received  as  good  an  education  as  the 
schools  of  his  neighborhood  afforded,  and  this 
he  has  supplemented  with  self-culture  and  a 
wide  range  of  historical  reading.  He  has  a 
model  farm  of  320  acres,  with  modern  resi- 
dence and  substantial  out-buildings,  and  here 
makes  a specialty  of  thoroughbred  sheep.  Mr. 
Stroup  enlisted,  P'ebruary  14,  1864,  in  com- 
pany C,  Fifty-eighth  Indiana  volunteer  infantry, 
and  was  assigned  to  the  army  of  the  Cumber- 
land. He  was  in  the  campaigns  of  Tennessee, 
Georgia,  South  Carolina,  North  Carolina  and 
Virginia;  was  in  the  battle  of  Kingston,  N.  C., 
in  the  famous  march  to  the  sea,  and  on  de- 
tached service  in  repairing  railways  in  North 
and  South  Carolina,  skirmishing  every  day;  he 
was  also  in  the  battles  of  Bentonville,  Smith- 
ville  and  Raleigh.  At  one  time,  when  sent 
out  with  125  men  to  forage,  the  little  party 
was  surrounded  by  a superior  force  and  nearly 
captured,  and  here  a bullet  passed  through  a 
small  tree  behind  which  he  was  standing  and 
filled  his  eyes  with  bits  of  bark.  He  received 

42 


an  honorable  discharge  July  25,  1865,  and 
now  draws  a pension  of  eight  dollars  monthly. 
He  is  senior '.’ice-command  of  Joe  Hooker  post. 
No.  97,  G.  A.  R.,  and  is  universally  esteemed. 
Mr.  Stroup  married  Miss  Elizabeth  Burget, 
daughter  of  William  and  Lydia  (Keefer)  Bur- 
get, and  the  union  was  nrade  happy  by  the 
birth  of  one  child,  Margaret.  Mrs.  Stroup 
died  July,  1863,  a member  of  the  Methodist 
church;  seven  years  later  Mr.  Stroup  married 
Margaret  Deford,  of  French  descent,  and 
daughter  of  Edgar  and  Julia  (Ransipherj  De- 
ford, and  to  this  union  have  beeh  born  the  fol- 
lowing children:  Oliver,  Alta,  Ora,  Bertha, 
Orpha  B.,  James  C.,  John,  Zonie  and  Chloe. 
Mr.  Stroup  is  a republican,  and  he  and  family 
are  highly  respected  in  the  neighborhood  and 
throughout  the  township. 


ILLIAM  A.  STULTZ,  the  popular 
and  successful  proprietor  of  the 
Eureka  Hotel  at  Frankfort,  was 
born  and  reared  on  a farm  in  Put- 
nam county,  Ind.  The  date  of  his  birth  is 
June  16,  1857,  and  his  parents  were  William 
A.  and  Catherine  (Underwood)  Stultz.  Will- 
iam Stultz  was  born  and  reared  in  Putnam 
county,  the  son  of  Philip  Stultz,  a pioneer  set- 
tler of  Putnam.  Philip  Stultz  was  born  in 
Germany  and  lived  in  Putnam  county  many 
years,  dying  there.  The  mother  of  the  sub- 
ject of  this  sketch  was  a daughter  of  Jesse 
Underwood,  also  a pioneer  in  Putnam  county, 
and  her  birth  occurred  in  the  state  of  Virginia. 
The  Underwoods  ai'e  of  Scotch-Irish  lineage. 

I William  A.  Stultz  spent  his  youth  at  farm 
work,  and  in  the  country  schools  gained  a fair 
common  school  education.  He  left  the  farm 
upon  reaching  his  majority,  and  went  to  In- 
dianapolis, where  for  three  years  he  was  em- 
ployed as  clerk  in  different  mercantile  estab- 
i lishments.  In  1885,  Mr.  Stultz  went  on  the 


874 


RTOGRAPHICAL  HISTORY 


road  as  a traveling  salesman  for  a cigar  and 
tobacco  i'lrm  of  Indianapolis,  in  wliich  ca])aci- 
ty  he  continned  about  three  years,  and  then 
traveled  fora  Chicago  house  til!  1890,  when 
he  came  to  I'rankfort.  For  nearly  two  years 
thereafter  he  hatl  charge  of  the  Carber  House, 
managing  it  with  success,  then,  selling  out,  he 
was  engaged  for  a brief  time  in  the  hotel  busi- 
ness, first  at  b'ort  Wayne,  and  later  at  Ander- 
son, Ind.  In  January,  1893,  Mr.  Stultz  took 
charge  of  the  Pitman  House  at  I'rankfort.  He 
had  this  house  remodeled  and  the  name  was 
changed  to  Eureka  hotel.  The  Eureka  hotel 
is  situated  on  West  Clinton  street,  opposite 
the  city  hall  and  tire  department.  It  is  cen- 
trally located,  and  is  reached  from  the  depots 
by  a walk  of  live  or  seven  minutes;  it  is  only  a 
block  and  a half  from  the  postoffice,  while  the 
express  office  and  telegrajih  offices  are  at  its 
very  doors.  The  Eureka  hotel  is  not  a large 
house,  but  it  is  a model  of  neatness  and  order. 
Its  rooms  are  well  furnished  and  arranged  in 
the  most  pleasant  and  convenient  manner 
possible.  The  dining-room  is  well  appointed, 
and  the  tables  supplied  w'ith  the  best  of  every- 
thing in  the  market.  The  charges  are  one 
dollar  and  a half  per  day,  and  everything  per- 
taining to  the  well-being  of  guests  is  well 
looked  after.  Mr.  Stultz  is  to  be  congratulat- 
ed upon  the  success  which  has  met  his  efforts 
to  make  the  Eureka  a home-like  and  comfort- 
able hotel.  He  is  a genial  host,  makes  every- 
body him  feel  at  home,  and  is  successful  as  a 
business  man,  and  his  fair  and  just  dealings  win 
for  him  the  confidence  of  all.  In  1891,  Mr. 
Stidt/  and  Miss  Eizzic  Rhodes  of  Parkersburg, 
W.  V'a.,  were  united  in  marriage.  They  have 
one  child,  a daughter,  named  Iva  Corrine. 
I'raternally,  Mr.  Stultz  is  a member  of  the 
Pythian  order,  and  in  politics  he  is  a rei)nlican. 
Mr.  Stultz  is  still  a young  man,  and,  judging 
from  the  past,  will  yet  stand  at  the  head  of 
his  calling. 


BM.  TEEGUARDEN,  farmer  and 
manufacturer  of  Colfax,  Clinton 
county,  Ind.,  was  born  in  Union 
county,  Ind.,  March  21,  1840.  He 
was  reared  a farmer,  but  had  inherited  a mar- 
tial spirit  that  made  him  one  of  the  best  sol- 
diers, later  on,  that  went  to  the  defense  of  the 
national  flag,  from  the  state  of  Indiana  in  the 
late  rebellion.  His  descent  is  from  a very  old 
German-American  family.  His  grandfather, 
George  T. , was  born  in  Pennsylvania,  was  a 
soldier  in  the  war  against  Mexico,  and  ended 
his  days  in  Parke  county,  Ind.,  where  he  owned 
160  acres  of  land.  The  maternal  grandfather 
of  E.  M.  Teeguarden  was  also  a soldier  in  the 
Mexican  war  and  was  killed  in  battle.  The 
father  of  our  subject  was  William  H.  Teeguar- 
den, who  was  born  in  Pennsylvania,  and  there 
married  Eleanor  Ducat,  and  soon  afterw'ard 
came  to  Indiana  and  settled  in  Union  county, 
where  the  father  died  in  June,  1874,  and  the 
mother  April  24,  1862. 

b'.  M.  Teeguarden,  |une  16,  1861,  enlisted 
for  three  years  at  the  first  call  for  volunteers 
to  cpiell  the  rebellion,  in  company  G,  Thirty- 
sixth  I.  \'.  I.  He  was  sent  to  Eouisville,  thence 
to  Nashville,  Tenn. ; then  to  Pittsburg  Eand- 
ing;  later  crossed  the  river  and  fought  the 
Mississippi  Tigers;  was  at  Columbus  and  luka, 
and  again  at  Nashville  and  at  Buzzard’s  Roost; 
was  in  the  pursuit  of  the  rebel  general  Bragg; 
fought  in  the  famous  battle  of  Perryville,  Ky. ; 
also  at  Wildcat,  Ry.  ; fought  at  Chickamauga, 
and  at  the  battle  of  vStone  River;  was  at  Eook- 
out  Mountain,  and  in  the  Resaca  fight;  was  at 
Atlanta  and  Peach  Tree  ('.reek;  and  was,  in 
fact,  in  all  the  engagements  and  marches  of 
his  regiment  until  his  honorable  discharge,  Sej)- 
tember  17,  1864.  The  personal  exiieriences 
of  Mr.  Teeguarden  in  this  long  period  of  val- 
iant military  service  in  these  historical  en- 
gagements were  too  numerous  for  detailed  de- 
scription within  the  limits  of  a biography  of 


OF  CLINTON  COUNTY. 


875 


tills  character,  and  although  his  many  remi- 
niscences are  most  interesting  and  well  worth 
recording,  they  are  similar  to  those  of  every 
other  brave  volunteer  who  served  so  long  in  the 
defense  of  the  Union,  and,  if  given  in  detail, 
would  fill  a volume  the  size  of  this.  Suffice  it 
to  say,  he  was  brave,  faithful,  attentive  to  his 
dut3^  always  at  his  post  in  time  of  danger,  and 
never  flinched  on  the  march  or  picket  duty,  in 
a skirmish,  or  in  the  many  sanguinary  engage- 
ments in  which  he  bore  so  soldierly  a part. 

November  13,  1867,  Mr.  Teeguarden  gave 
his  hand  in  marriage  to  Miss  Lucy  M.  Gard- 
ner, whose  heart,  hand  and  life-long  compan- 
ionship he  had  happily  succeeded  in  winning. 
This  lady  is  a daughter  of  Henry  and  Ann 
(Ma.xwell)  Gardner,  of  Union  county,  Ind.,  the 
former  a farmer  and  a veteran  of  the  late  war. 
The  children  born  to  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Teeguarden 
are  Maud,  Bennie,  Wallace,  Mabel,  Willie, 
Earl  and  Annie,  all  of  whom  are  still  gracing 
the  family  reunions  or  brightening  the  house- 
hold by  their  daily  presence.  Mr.  Teeguarden 
is  a successful  farmer,  for  the  reason  that  he 
is  an  intelligent  one,  and  his  farm  of  seventy- 
two  acres  is  in  itself  a model  that  denotes  the 
superior  ability  of  its  owner.  He  is  the  pro- 
prietor of  the  Colfax  saw-mill,  and  also  holds 
a half  interest  in  the  chief  manufacturing  com- 
pany of  Colfax.  He  is  a member  of  Stillwell 
post.  No.  375,  G.  A.  R. , and  has  filled  the 
highest  office — that  of  post  commander.  His 
position,  socially,  with  his  fellow-townsmen  is 
a most  desirable  one,  he  and  all  his  family  be- 
ing respected  by  the  entire  community  without 
reservation  or  exception. 


EORGE  W.  TEMPLE,  the  oldest 
native  of  Clinton  county,  Ind.,  now 
residing  in  Frankfort,  was  the  second 
white  child  born  in  Owen  township, 
his  birth  having  taken  place  May  30,  1831. 


His  parents  were  John  and  Diana  (Berry) 
Temple,  who  settled  in  Indiana  in  1830. 
John  Temple  was  born  in  Scotland,  from 
which  country  three  brothers  come  to  xAmerica 
together,  one  of  whom  went  south,  another 
remained  in  Pennsylvania,  while  John,  with 
his  wife  and  one  child,  came  over-land  in 
a one-horse  wagon,  in  true  pioneer  style, 
and  located  in  Owen  township,  Clinton  coun- 
ty, Ind.,  where  he  made  his  home  until  his 
death,  which  occurred  in  the  fall  of  1834.  His 
w'ife  Diana  had  borne  him  four  children,  viz: 
Louisa  J.,  deceased;  George  W.,  our  subject; 
John  A.,  of  Frankfort,  and  Mary  A.,  deceased. 
The  widow,  Diana,  next  marrieil,  in  1848, 
David  b'errer,  a farmer  of  Clinton  county,  by 
whom  she  became  the  mother  of  three  chil- 
dren, named:  Sarah  E.,  Hannah  and  James, 
and  died  of  cholera  in  1854 — a member  of  the 
Presbyterian  church. 

George  W.  Temple  was  reared  a farmer 
and  was  early  inured  to  toil.  He  assisted  in 
the  support  of  the  family  until  his  mother’s 
second  marriage,  when  he  apprenticed  him- 
self for  three  years  to  the  carpenter’s  trade 
under  James  Bunnell.  Having  finished  his 
apprenticeship,  he  cut  wood  and  drove  team 
for  five  years,  and  then  went  to  California,  in 
Februaty,  1854,  via  New  York  and  the  Isthmus 
of  Panama,  and  landed  in  San  Francisco, 
where  he  worked  for  one  month  for  sixty  dol- 
lars and  his  board.  He  then  prospected  and 
mined  for  himself  three  and  a half  years, 
acquiring  a handsome  comiietency.  Return- 
ing to  Clinton  county  in  1857,  he  hired  part  of 
the  home  farm  in  Owen  township,  bought 
more  land  and  engaged  in  farming  for  three 
years,  when  he  resumed  carpentering,  and,  in 
1861,  added  a general  contracting  and  building 
business. 

The  marriage  of  Mr.  Temple  took  place  in 
Clinton  county,  P'ebruary  23,  1858,  to  Mary 
A.  Clark,  a native  of  Juniatta  county.  Pa., 


BIOGRAPHICAL  HISTORY 


Si() 


l)orii  |im('  I I,  1S27,  and  a daughter  of  Mat- 
thew and  I'di/alxjth  ('lark,  natives  of  tlie  same 
state.  d'o  this  inarria^m  have  l)een  born  two 
cddldreii,  \i/:  Rettie  I..,  wife  of  James  P. 
( .addis,  and  Llon/o  V.,  of  wliom  mention  is 
made  in  the  following  sketch.  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
rem])le  are  members  of  the  Presbyterian 
rhurch.  PoliticalK'  he  is  a democrat,  and  for 
four  years  was  trustee  of  Owen  township. 
He  owns  some  verv  valuable  real  estate  in 
town  and  country  and  has  practically  retired 
business,  li\ing  in  Frankfort. 


LOXZO  V.  TEMPLE,  of  the  firm  of 
.\shman  A Tem])le,  druggists,  6 North 
Main  street,  I'raid<fort,  Ind.,  was 
born  in  Clinton  county,  No\'ember  22, 
iiS6o,  and  is  a son  of  George  \V.  and  Mary  A. 
(Clark)  I'emple.  George  W.  Temple,  the  old- 
est native  of  Clinton  comity  now  residing  in 
b'rankfort,  has  his  residence  at  the  corner  of 
Clinton  and  Aughe  streets,  an  aristocratic 
neighborhood.  But  the  honu'  of  the  family 
was  on  the  farm  until  Elonzo  \'.  reached  his 
thirteenth  year,  when  the  city  was  chosen  for 
their  place  of  residemee,  which  it  still  continues 
to  be. 

IClon/o  \'.  first  attended  tlie  country  schools 
of  his  native  townshij)  of  Owen,  and  the  edu- 
cation there  obtained  was  supplemented  by  a 
higher  grade  education  at  theschoolsof  Erank- 
lort.  He  subseipuMitly  learned  the  carpenter’s 
trade  under  his  fatluu',  and  at  this  he  worked 
for  three  vears,  but  for  the  past  fourteen  yt'^H's 
he  has  been  in  tlu-  drug  business — the  first  five 
\-ears  of  whiidi  time  were  passed  as  a ederk. 

I line  10,  11^85,  Charles  .\shman  and  Mr.  Tem- 
ple, with  b'rank  IG  Ross,  bought  out  a drug 
store  and  founded  the  firm  of  Ashman,  Temph' 
A Ross,  which  was  continued  until  1S91,  when 
Mr.  Ro.ss  withdiew,  and  the  business  continued 


under  the  present  firm  name  of  Ashman  A 
Temjde — now  the  most  popular  in  the  city. 

The  marriage  of  Mr.  Temple  took  place,  in 
I H90,  to  Miss  Clara  Belle  Hillis,  daughter  of 
Anderville  Hillis,  who  resides  near  Scircleville, 
Ind.  Mr.  Temple  is  a democrat  in  politics, 
and  fraternally  is  a Knight  (A  Pythias.  In  the 
biography  of  George  W.  Temple  more  inter- 
esting details  concerning  the  family  will  be 
found.  The  residence  of  Elonzo  V.  Temple 
is  a most  beautiful  one  and  is  delightfully  situ- 
ated on  the  corner  of  Aughe  and  W'ashington 
streets,  the  finest  residence  locality  in  the  city 
of  Frankfort.  With  his  wife,  he  is  also  owner 
of  540  acres  of  arable  land  on  Indian  Priarie, 
in  Johnson  towmship,  Clinton  county,  one  mile 
north  of  Scircleville,  all  of  which  is  under  a 
high  state  of  cultivation,  with  the  exception  of 
forty  acres,  and  is  well  and  snbstantially  im- 
proved with  modern  farm  dwelling  and  com- 
modious barns  and  convenient  out-buildings, 
the  financial  condition  of  Mr.  Temple  permit- 
ting him  to  make  such  expenditure  as  may  be 
necessary  to  render  their  farm  a model  one, 
and  that  will  compare  favorably  with  any  other 
jn  the  county.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Temple  are  con- 
sistent members  of  the  Presbyterian  church,  to 
the  support  of  which  they  contribute  most 
liberally. 


ENRY  H.  THOMAS,  member  of  the 
wholesale  business  firm  of  J.  H.  Eear 
A Co.,  also  of  the  firm  of  C^aimpbell, 
Thomas  A Co.,  proprietors  of  the 
City  mills  and  elevator  of  Frankfort,  was  born 
in  b'ayette  county,  Ind.,  August  uS,  1848.  He 
is  of  German  descent  paternally,  and  on  his 
mother's  side  is  descended  from  French  ances- 
tors. His  father.  Minor  L.  Thomas,  was  a 
nati\e  of  New  't'ork  and  son  of  na\id  L. 
'I'homas,  also  a New  Yorker,  and  a pioneer  ol 
b'ayette  count\',  link,  moving  to  that  part  of 


OF  CLINTON  COUNTY. 


the  country  in  a very  early  day.  David  L. 
Thomas  was  a soldier  in  the  w'ar  of  1812,  and 
reared  a family  of  three  children — Minor  L., 
Lrastns,  and  Harriet.  Minor  L.  Thomas  mar- 
ried Cynthia  Jeffrey,  whose  father,  William 
Jeffrey,  was  a native  of  New  York  state  and 
an  early  settler  of  Fayette  comity,  Ind.  Both 
Mr.  Jeffrey  and  David  L.  Thomas  moved  with 
their  respective  families  from  New  York  to  the 
count}’  of  Fayette,  Ind.,  and  located  not  far 
from  the  town  of  Connersville,  where  a niimber 
of  other  New  Yorkers  also  settled,  the  locality 
bein^  desif^nated  by  the  name  of  “Yankee 
Town.”  The  marriage  of  Minor  L.  and  Cyn- 
thia Thomas  was  consummated  in  Fayette 
county  in  1842,  and  resulted  in  the  birth  of 
three  children — William  D.,  Henry  H.  and 
Caroline.  The  mother  died  in  1859,  and  the 
father  in  1863.  Minor  Thomas  served  in  the 
late  war  as  a member  of  the  Fifty-fourth  Indi- 
ana infantry,  and  rose  from  orderly  sergeant 
to  the  rank  of  second  lieutenant.  He  took 
part  in  a number  of  battles,  and  after  the  siege 
of  Vicksburg  was  granted  a furlough  on  ac- 
count of  ill  health,  having  contracted  a chronic 
ailment  which  resulted  in  his  death  nine  days 
after  arriving  home.  In  1838  he  had  entered 
government  land  ui  Tipton  county,  Ind.,  set- 
tled thereon  immediately  after  his  marriage, 
and  aided  in  laying  out  the  original  plate  of 
the  town  of  Tipton.  He  resided  in  that  county 
until  1848,  at  which  time  he  moved  back  to 
Fayette  county  and  lived  there  until  his  return 
to  Tipton  si.\  years  later. 

H.  H.  Thomas  was  born  and  brought  up  on 
a farm  and  his  educational  training  embraced 
the  studies  usually  taught  in  country  schools. 
Mr.  Thomas  enlisted  May,  i 864,  in  company  D, 
One  Hundred  and  Thirty-ninth  Indiana  volun- 
teer infantry,  in  the  hundred  day  serivce,  and 
served  six  months  and  fifteen  days  and  was  in 
garrison  duty  in  Kentucky  and  Tennessee — 
was  discharged  October,  1864,  at  Indianapo- 


8  77 


lis.  In  the  year  1872,  he  left  the  farm,  and 
with  a capital  of  $600,  saved  from  his  earnings, 
went  to  the  towm  of  Tipton  and  engaged  in 
the  buying  and  selling  of  live  stock,  which 
from  the  first,  proved  a most  gratifying  suc- 
cess. He  remained  at  Tipton  until  1876,  and 
then  removed  to  Elwood,  where,  during  the 
four  succeeding  years,  he  bought  and  sold  live 
stock  and  conducted  a business  in  grain.  Re- 
turning to  Tipton,  he  continued  dealing  in  live 
stock  until  1885,  but  from  1876  was  associated 
in  the  business  with  J.  H.  Fear,  Esq. 

In  1885,  Messrs.  Thomas  & Fear  embarked 
in  the  wholesale  poultry  business,  in  which 
they  have  since  continued,  having  at  the  pres- 
ent time  houses  at  Frankfort,  Tipton,  Nobles- 
ville  and  Colfax,  being  among  the  most  exten- 
sive dealers  in  their  line  in  Indiana.  In  De- 
cember, 1892,  the  firm  of  Campbell,  Thomas 
& Co.,  was  organized  as  proprietors  of  the 
City  mills  and  elevator  of  Frankfort,  and  the 
better  to  give  his  attention  to  his  business,  Mr. 
Thomas  in  that  year  moved  to  Frankfort  and 
has  since  made  this  city  his  home.  In  1886 
Mr.  Thomas  was  nominated  by  the  republican 
party  of  Tipton  county  for  the  office  of  circuit 
clerk,  and  such  was  his  popularity  that  at  the 
ensuing  election  he  defeated  his  competitor  by 
a majority  of  ninety-nine,  although  the  oppo- 
site party  in  Tipton  had  always  been  in  the 
ascendancy.  He  was  the  first  and  only  repub- 
lican ever  elected  to  the  clerkship  in  the  coun- 
ty of  Tipton,  and  he  discharged  the  duties  of 
1 the  position  with  acknowledged  ability  for  a 
j period  of  four  years.  As  a business  man,  Mr. 

I Thomas  is  safe  and  reliable,  and  his  name  has 
I never  been  connected  with  any  transaction  of 
a questionable  nature.  He  possesses  financial 
ability  of  a high  order,  and  his  various  enter- 
prises, managed  with  intelligence  and  wise 
forethought,  have  resulted  most  profitably, 
and  he  is  now  one  of  the  representative  and 
1 well-to-do  business  men  of  Frankfort.  Mr. 


BIOGRAPHICAL  HISTORY 


R7R 


'I'liomas  is  ;i  prominent  member  (T  the  I.  O. 
(),  1'.,  and  personally  he  stands  hipdi  in  the 
t'Stimation  of  all  with  whom  he  has  had  busi- 
ness or  other  relations.  His  home  is  presided 
over  by  Mrs.  I'lujmas,  whose  maiden  name 
was  Henrietta  Free,  and  to  whom  he  was 
united  in  marriafje  in  the  year  1878. 


FA  I L.  THOMAS,  of  Jack.son  town- 
ship, Clinton  county,  Ind.,  was  born 
in  Ripley  county,  Ind.,  March  11, 
1847,  the  son  of  Purrel  K.  and  Eliza 
A.  (Merrick)  Thomas,  both  parents  natives  of 
the  Hoosier  state.  Pnrrel  K.  Thomas  was  the 
son  of  David  Thomas,  a native  of  Ohio  who 
came  to  Indiana  in  an  early  day,  settling  in 
the  county  of  Ripley,  where  he  followed  the 
occupation  of  farming.  Purrel  was  reared  in 
Ripley  comity,  early  chose  agricnltnre  for  a 
life  work,  and  came  to  Clinton  county  in  the 
year  1857,  locating  about  ten  miles  north  of 
Frankfort,  where  he  purchased  480  acres  of 
land  which,  by  reason  of  its  many  improve- 
ments, became  quite  valuable.  Five  years 
prior  to  his  death,  he  retired  from  the  farm, 
moving  to  P'rankfort,  where  the  remaining 
days  of  his  life  were  passed.  He  was  born  in 
in  the  year  of  1S18  and  died  on  the  twenty- 
third  of  June,  1885.  By  his  marriage  with 
IHiza  A.  Merrick  he  had  seven  children,  name- 
ly ; Levi  L.  ; Helen  N.,  wife  of  Jacob  L. 
C-atron;  William  1).;  Indiana  H.,  wife  of  John 
Beard;  John  W.  ; Lanra,  wife  of  Wood 
Thompson,  and  an  infant  that  died  unnamed. 
By  his  second  wife,  whose  maiden  name  was 
Elizabeth  A.  Anderson  and  who  still  lives  on 
the  old  jilace,  he  had  five  children  whose  names 
are  as  follows  : Nevada,  wife  of  john  Miller; 
Jennie  B.,  wife  of  C.haiies  Hammond;  Penial; 
Hugh  B.  ; and  one  that  died  in  infancy. 

f.evi  E.  Thomas  was  rc-ared  on  his  father’s 
farm,  attended  the  common  scliools  at  intervals 


during  his  minority,  and,  after  becoming  of 
age,  engaged  in  agricultural  pursuits  on  the 
home  place  for  a part  of  the  proceeds,  being 
thus  employed  for  a period  of  one  year.  He 
then  purchased  eighty  acres  of  his  own,  to 
which  he  has  made  additions  at  different  times, 
and  now  owns  a beautiful  farm  of  280  acres, 
lying  in  one  of  the  finest  agricultural  districts 
of  Clinton  county.  Mr.  Thomas  has  made 
many  valuable  improvements  upon  his  farm, 
and,  as  a tiller  of  the  soil  and  successful  stock 
raiser,  he  ranks  among  the  best  of  his  town- 
ship. He  raises  full-blooded  short-horned 
cattle,  and  his  other  livestock,  notably  horses 
and  hogs,  indicate  the  great  interest  he  has 
taken  in  this  depiartment  of  the  farmer’s  voca- 
tion. Mr.  Thomas  was  married  October  2, 
1870,  to  Margaret  A.  Camjibell,  daughter  of 
William  and  Sarah  J.  (Morrison)  Campbell,  the 
result  of  which  union  has  been  six  children  : 
James  W.,  born  August  20,  1871,  Lewis  L., 
born  September  16,  1874;  Jesse  O.,  born 

November  4,  1876,  died  I'ebruary  19,  1877; 
Iona  E.,  born  August  30,  1879;  Nellie  B , born 
June  30,  1884,  and  Glen  D.,  born  July  11, 
1888.  The  mother  of  these  children  was  born 
on  the  second  day  of  September,  1850.  Mr. 
Thomas,  as  already  stated,  is  a successful  farm- 
er, and  his  reputation  as  a liberal-minded  citi- 
zen has  never  been  impeached  in  the  com- 
munity where  he  is  so  widely  aiui  favorably 
known.  He  is  a membor  of  the  Masonic 
order,  belonging  to  P'rankfort  lodge.  No.  54, 
and  in  politics  exercises  the  elective  franchise 
in  behalf  of  the  democratic  party. 


OHN  CM  ARISES  E.  THOMPSON,  a 
thriving  and  enterprising  farmer  of 
Kirklin  townshijy  Clinton  county,  Ind., 
was  born  May  3,  1854,  in  Rush  coun- 
ty, Ind.,  and  through  his  grcxit-grandfathcr  is 
of  Phiglish  descent,  1 lis  grandfather,  Thomas 


OF  CLINTON  COUNTY. 


870 


Thompson,  was  a native  of  this  country,  was 
a fanner  of  Franklin  county,  Ind.,  and  mar- 
ried Nancy  Walker,  by  whom  he  became  the 
father  of  two  children — Alfred  and  Thomas. 
The  last  named  was  born  in  Indiana  in  1814, 
was  reared  a farmer,  and  married  Hannah 
Williams,  who  was  born  in  1818,  in  Wayne 
county,  Ind.,  and  was  a daughter  of  Jonas 
and  Samantha  Williams.  In  1844,  Thomas 
Thompson  and  wife  settled  in  Rush  county, 
Ind.,  where  Thomas  died  in  1862,  his  wife 
surviving  to  reach  the  age  of  seventy-three 
years.  They  were  in  very  good  circumstances, 
owning  160  acres  in  Boone  county  and  240 
acres  in  Kush  county,  and  both  were  members 
of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  church.  Their 
nine  children  were  born  in  the  following  order: 
Samantha,  died  when  a child;  Alfred  F. ; 
Sarah;  Ward;  Everett;  Winfield;  John  Charles 
F.  ; Oliver,  deceased,  and  Thomas,  deceased. 

John  C.  F.  Thompson  was  reared  to  the 
toils  and  pleasures  of  farming,  lived  most  of 
the  time  on  the  home  place  until  he  had 
reached  the  age  of  twenty-five  years,  when  he 
married  Belle  Kemple,  who  was  born  October 
18,  1856,  in  Butler  county,  Ohio,  the  daughter 
of  David  and  Sarah  (Jones)  Kemple,  and  to 
this  happy  union  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Thompson 
have  been  born  Clayton  E.,  May  22,  1881; 
Myrtie,  March  28,  1884,  and  Goldie,  Septem- 
ber 28,  1886.  The  parents  began  housekeep- 
ing on  thirty  acres,  on  which  they  lived  four 
years,  and  then  sold  for  $80  per  acre  and 
moved  to  Kirklin  township,  when  Mr.  Thomp- 
son bought  si.xty-three  acres  on  the  Michigan- 
town  road,  at  $40  per  acre.  This  he  culti- 
vates with  the  utmost  care,  having  laid  785 
rods  of  tiling  to  increase  its  fertility.  The  old 
log  cabin  has  given  way  to  a fine  modern 
dwelling,  at  a cost  of  $1,300,  and  a commodi- 
ous barn  has  been  erected  worth  at  least  $600, 
together  with  other  outbuildings  that  denote 
the  thrifty  and  prosperous  farmer.  Mr. 


Thompson  devotes  special  attention  to  the 
raising  of  horses  and  hogs,  and  he  has,  also, 
a fine  young  orchard,  with  an  abundance  of 
small  fruits,  and  his  entire  surroundings  are 
those  of  comfort  and  beauty. 

Mr.  Thompson  is  in  politics  a republican 
and  has  served  as  deputy  prosecutor  and  as 
delegate  to  the  republican  county  convention. 
In  religion  he  is  a Presbyterian,  and  has  filled 
the  position  of  deacon  in  his  congregation  the 
past  four  years.  He  is  a stock  holder  in  the 
Kirklin  and  Terhune  Natural  Gas  company, 
and  of  course  uses  the  natural  product  in  his 
own  tasty  dwelling,  and  he  and  his  faithful 
wife  live  in  the  enjoyment  of  the  respect  of  all 
their  friends  and  neighbors. 


EORGE  L.  THOMPSON,  an  enter- 
prising business  man,  member  of  the 
lumber  firm  of  Deming  & Thompson, 
was  born  March  2,  i860,  in  Michigan 
City,  La  Porte  county,  Ind.  His  father, 
Charles  C.  Thompson,  was  born  in  the  city  of 
Philadelphia,  Pa.,  in  1817,  and  came  to  Indi- 
ana, a single  man,  in  the  year  1848,  and  mar- 
ried, in  Michigan  City,  Miss  Martha  Nosworthy, 
who  was  born  near  Plymouth,  England,  in 
1828.  Charles  C.  Thompson  was  a railroad 
contractor  and  came  west  for  the  purpose  of 
engaging  in  the  construction  of  the  Monon 
route.  He  died  in  Michigan  City  in  1865,  and 
his  wife  departed  this  life  in  the  year  1870. 

George  L.  Thompson  was  the  only  child  of 
his  parents.  He  was  five  years  of  age  when 
his  father  died,  and  when  ten  years  old  was  de- 
prived of  the  best  of  all  earthly  friends,  a 
mother.  From  his  tenth  to  his  sixteenth  year 
he  lived  with  his  uncle,  who  was  also  his  guar- 
dian, and  in  the  meantime  attended  the  schools 
of  Michigan  City,  acquiring  therein  a fail- 
knowledge  of  the  English  branches.  Subse- 
quently, he  attended  the  Irving  Park  Military 


880 


BIOGRAPHICAL  HISTORY 


school  :it  Chicaf^o  one  year,  and  then  entered 
the  ('onnnercial  college  at  Toronto,  Canada, 
in  which  he  completed  the  prescribed  course, 
graduating  in  1879.  After  receiving  his  di 
])loina,  Mr.  Thompson  accepted  a clerical  po- 
sition in  the  office  of  the  Michigan  Central 
railroad  company,  at  Michigan  City,  the  duties 
of  which  he  discharged  two  years,  and  then 
became  book-keeper  and  general  office  man 
with  the  mannfactnring  firm  of  Ford,  Johnson 
A Co.,  Michigan  City,  with  which  he  remained 
until  his  removal  to  Frankfort  in  May,  1887. 
On  coming  to  the  latter  city,  Mr.  Thompson, 
in  jiartnership  with  his  father-in-law,  Charles 
O.  Deming,  jinrchased  the  lumber  business  of 
J.  F.  Morgan,  and  the  firm  thus  constituted 
lasted  until  the  death  of  Mr.  Deming.  Subse- 
quently he  became  associated  in  the  business 
with  E.  P.  Deming,  son  of  Charles  O.,  a part- 
nership which  still  exists,  and  which  .is  the 
most  successful  enterjndse  of  the  kind  in  Frank- 
fort. Messrs.  Deming  & Thompson  deal  very 
extensively  in  rough  and  dressed  lumber,  doors, 
window-frames,  and  other  builder’s  material, 
the  volume  of  their  business  representing  about 
$100,000  annually.  In  addition  to  the  plant 
in  Frankfort,  Mr.  Thompson  is  also  interested 
in  a similar  company  in  La  Fayette,  Ind  , 
known  as  the  Tippecanoe  Lumber  company,  of 
which  he  is  at  this  time  vice-president. 

Mr.  Thcnnpson  was  united  in  marriage  in 
the  year  1881  to  Mary  P'.  Deming,  daughter  of 
the  late  Charles  O.  Deming,  of  P'rankfort,  a 
union  blessed  by  the  birth  of  two  children  — 
Coy  Charles  and  P'rank  Deming.  Mr.  Thomp- 
son is  prominently  identified  with  the  Pythian 
fraternity  and  also  belongs  to  the  Masonic  or- 
der, in  the  latter  of  which  he  has  risen  to  the 
rank  of  Sir  Knight.  As  a jiolitician  he  is 
equally  jirominent,  being  a rccogni;'cd  K-adcr 
in  the  republican  party  of  C'linton  county,  and 
has  done  effective  service  in  a number  of  cam- 
paigns, both  local  and  geiuM'al.  As  a business 


man  he  is  zealous  and  successful  in  the  full  sense 
in  which  the  term  is  usually  accepted,  and  as 
a citizen  he  stands  high  in  the  estimation  of 
the  people  of  Frankfort,  and  enjoys  in  a marked 
degree  the  confidence  and  esteem  of  all  with 
whom  he  has  business  or  other  relations. 


LKRIN  TICP2N,  who  resides  on  a farm 
in  Warren  township.  Cdinton  county, 
Ind.,  is  one  of  the  worthy  citizens  that 
Ohio  has  furnished  to  this  state.  He 
was  born  in  Greene  county  of  the  Buckeye 
state,  November  8,  1829,  and  is  a son  of  Pier- 
son and  Hannah  (Branson)  Ticen,  both  of 
whom  were  natives  of  New  Jersey,  and  were 
of  English  descent.  The  father  was, born  in 
1801,  and  with  his  parents  removed  from  his 
native  state  to  Greene  county,  Ohio.  In  1838 
he  came  to  Clinton  county,  Ind.,  where  he 
purchased  160  acres  of  land,  and  at  the  time 
of  his  death  owned  a valuable  and  highly  im- 
proved farm  of  200  acres.  Plis  death  occurred 
on  December  17,  1880,  and  his  wife  died  on 
January  4,  1871.  Their  union  was  blessed 

with  a family  of  thirteen  children,  seven  of 
whom  are  yet  living.  They  arc  PIlizabeth, 
widow  of  John  Milliner;  Matilda  J.  and  Plend- 
derson,  both  deceased ; Perrin,  of  this  sketch; 
Andrew,  who  has  also  passed  away;  Abigail, 
wife  of  Joseph  V.  Rice;  Joseph  M.  ; Sherin; 
Moses,  deceased;  Marion;  William;  Idlmc’',  de- 
ceased, and  one  who  died  in  infancy. 

P"pon  his  father's  farm  Perrin  Ticen  sjient 
the  days  of  his  boyhood  and  youth.  He  re- 
ceived but  limited  educational  privileges,  his 
time  being  largely  taken  iq)  by  the  work  of  the 
iields,  but  not  wishing  to  carry  on  agricultural 
pursuits  throughout  his  life,  when  a young  man 
he  learned  the  carpenter's  trade.  He  then  en- 
gaged in  contracting  and  building,  and  also 
successfully  managed  a farm.  He  thus  con- 
tinued his  labors  until  1890,  when  he  retired 


OF  CLINTON  COUNTY. 


881 


from  carpentering.  He  made  his  first  purchase 
of  land  in  1850.  and  afterward,  as  time  passed, 
he  bought  more  land,  becoming  the  owner  of  a 
considerable  amount,  much  of  which  he  after- 
ward gave  to  his  children.  In  1850,  Mr.  Ticen 
married  Miss  Laura  A.  Trobaugh,  and  to  them 
were  born  three  children,  nameh': — William 
A.  ; Philena,  wife  of  Henry  Michael,  and  Ma- 
tikla  J.,  deceased.  The  mother  of  this  family 
was  called  to  the  home  beyond  November  16, 
185.5,  Mr.  Ticen  was  again  married  in 

February,  1857,  his  second  union  being  with 
Susan  Cook,  daughter  of  Henry  and  Elizabeth 
Cook,  who  were  natives  of  Tennessee.  Three 
children  graced  this  marriage — Cynthia  A., 
wife  of  James  Madgert;  Robert  .M.  and  Charlie 
P.,  now  deceased.  Mr.  Ticen  is  a member  of 
Middleford  lodge.  No.  304,  F.  & A.  M.,  and 
also  of  Frankfort  commandery.  No.  29,  K.  T., 
and  in  his  political  views  he  is  a prohibitionist. 
His  life  has  been  well  and  worthily  spent,  and 
by  good  management,  preseverance  and  in- 
dustry he  has  acquired  a comfortable  property, 
which  now  enables  him  to  live  retired. 


AYLOR  TOOPS,  one  of  the  most 
prominent  farmers  of  Center  town- 
ship, Clinton  county,  Ind.,  descends 
from  an  old  pioneer  family  of  German 
origin.  His  grandfather,  Henry  Toops,  was 
the  progenitor  of  the  American  family,  was  a 
soldier  in  the  war  of  the  Revolution,  and  was 
a pioneer  of  Ohio,  where  he  cleared  up  a farm, 
reared  a family  of  eleven  children,  and  died  at 
the  age  of  about  ninety  years.  His  son, 
Jacob  Toops,  the  father  of  Taylor  Toops,  was 
born  December  ii,  1806,  on  his  father’s  farm 
near  Chillicothe,  Ohio,  and  in  that  city  learned 
blacksmithing,  which  trade  he  there  followed 
for  seven  years.  In  1828  he  came  to  Indiana 
and  located  in  La  Fayette,  where  he  worked 
one  year;  he  then  moved  to  Jefferson,  Wash- 


ington township,  Clinton  county,  where  he 
carried  on  his  business  until  1852.  He  mar- 
ried, in  Jefferson,  Miss  Sarah  A.  Heavilon, 
daughter  of  Joseph  and  Lydia  (Sutphen) 
Heavilon,  to  which  marriage  were  born  five 
children,  viz  : Taylor,  Joseph,  Mary  A.,  and 
Hector  and  Clinton,  twins,  all  born  in  Jeffer- 
son. Mr.  Toops  bought  his  first  land  in 
Washington  township,  Clinton  county,  in  1844, 
and  continued  to  buy  until  he  became  the 
owner  of  200  acres,  and  in  1852  relimpiished 
' his  trade  in  Jefferson  and  settled  on  his  farm, 
on  which  he  lived  until  his  final  retirement  to 
Frankfort,  Ind.,  where  his  death  took  place 
January  10,  1888,  at  the  age  of  eighty-one 
3'ears  and  six  months.  He  was  a strong  Union 
man,  and  had  one  son  in  the  Civil  war.  This 
son,  Joseph  Toops,  served  as  .a  private  in 
company  R,  Tenth  Indiana  volunteer  infantry, 
for  one  year;  was  at  the  siege  of  Corinth,  and 
was  in  the  battle  where  Gen.  Zollicoffer  was 
killed. 

Taylor  Toops  was  born  in  Jefferson,  Clin- 
ton county,  Ind.,  September  6,  1832,  was  edu- 
cated in  the  common  schools  and  also  trained 
to  farming.  He  well  remembers  the' condition 
of  the  township  in  the  days  of  the  pioneers, 
when  the  township  was  almost  a wilderness, 
filled  with  wild  game  and  beasts  of  prey,  and 
with  pleasure  contrasts  the  present  blooming 
fields  with  the  swamp  and  forest  of  the  earlier 
da}'S.  The  marriage  of  Mr.  Toops  took  place 
February  23,  1863,  with  Miss  Dorcas  Sweet, 
daughter  of  Seneca  and  Elizabeth  (Boydj 
Sweet.  The  father,  Seneca  Sweet,  was  a na- 
tive of  New  Jersey,  of  English  descent,  who 
early  went  with  his  father  to  Butler  county, 
Ohio,  where  he  was  reared.  By  his  marriage 
to  Miss  Boyd  he  became  the  father  of  six  chil- 
dren, viz;  Alexander,  Nanc}',  Cornelia  (who 
died  a young  lady;,  Jesse,  Dorcas,  and  Lu- 
cinda. Mr.  Sweet  was  still  a young  man  when 
he  came  to  Indiana  and  located  in  Tippecanoe 


BIOGRAPHICAL  HISTORY 


RS2 


county,  where  he  was  engaj^ed  in  fanning  until 
his  death  in  1849,  in  middle  age,  having  been 
bereaved  of  his  wife  in  1845.  After  his  mar- 
riage Mr.  Toops  settled  on  a farm  of  eighty 
acres,  and  to  this  farm  he  has  added  from 
time  until  he  now  owns  185  acres,  well  tilled 
and  improved  with  all  conveniences,  and  all 
earned  through  his  own  undivided  labor.  His 
mansion  is  of  the  modern  style  of  architecture 
and  his  out-buildings  are  commodious  and  sub- 
stantial. The  children  born  to  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Toops  are  eight  in  number,  and  are  named; 
Ada,  Zona,  Etna,  Valen,  Bond,  Lanta,  Merle, 
and  Deam.  Of  these,  Deam  is  now  attend- 
ing the  high  school  at  Frankfort,  the  others 
all  having  received  fine  educations.  Jesse 
Sweet,  an  elder  brother  of  Mrs.  Dorcas 
Toops,  served  in  the  war  under  Sherman. 
Joseph  Heavilon,  the  maternal  grandfather  of 
Mr.  Toops,  after  his  marriage  to  Lydia  Sut- 
phen,  went  first  to  New  York,  then  moved  to 
Ohio,  and  in  1829  came  to  Indiana  and  settled 
in  Jefferson,  Clinton  county,  where  he  reared 
a family  of  nine  children,  viz:  Taylor,  Deb- 
orah, Sarah  A.,  Polly,  Sheeba,  Hannah,  Eliza- 
beth, Jean  and  Amos.  Mr.  Heavilon  lived  to 
the  ripe  old  age  of  eighty  years,  and  died  in 
Illinois.  His  son  Amos  is  now  a resident  of 
Frankfort,  Ind. 


MANUEL  TRASK,  one  of  the  sub- 
stantial and  successful  farmers  of 
Johnson  townshij),  Clinton  county, 
Ind.,  is  of  sterling  English  stock. 
His  father,  Giles  Trask,  was  born  in  April, 
1808,  in  the  village  of  Merriott,  Somersetshire, 
England,  and  married  Betsey  Cridgc,  who 
was  born  March  18,  1809,  and  to  their  union 
were  born  George  and  Emanuel  both  born 
abcjut  136  miles  south  of  London.  In  June, 
1843,  the  family  crossed  the  channel  and  set- 
tled on  the  island  of  Guernsey,  and  there  en- 


gaged in  farming  about  ten  years.  In  1854 
they  came  to  the  United  States,  and  at  once 
settled  in  Fayette  county,  Ind.,  where  they 
remained  until  1861,  when  Emanuel  and  the 
family  came  to  Clinton  county.  They  bought 
the  farm  where  Emanuel  still  resides,  and 
which  then  comprised  160  acres,  not  much 
improved,  and  nearly  all  water  and  brush,  but 
they  erected  substantial  farm  buildings  and 
successfully  cultivated  the  soil.  Here  the 
father  died  in  September,  1882,  in  the  Episco- 
palian faith.  He  was  an  honest  citizen,  who 
delighted  to  do  his  duty,  and  stood  deserved- 
ly high  in  the  esteem  of  the  community.  His 
widow'  is  now'  eighty-five  years  of  age,  and  re- 
sides w'ith  her  son  Emanuel. 

Emanuel  Trask  was  born  February  20, 
1840.  He  was  placed  at  school  when  but 
three  or  four  years  of  age,  and  continued 
there  till  ten.  He  then  commenced  to  learn  a 
trade  and  attend  a night-school,  as  is  the  cus- 
tom in  England.  He  was  fourteen  and  a half 
years  old  w'hen  the  family  came  to  America, 
and  about  twenty-one  when  they  came  to 
Clinton  county.  Here  Emanuel  married 
Elizabeth  Coffman,  daughter  of  Leonard  and 
Mary  A.  (Boyen)  Coffman,  early  settlers  of  the 
county  and  both  now  deceased.  To  the  union 
of  Emanuel  and  Elizabeth  Trask  have  been 
born  three  children,  viz;  Betse}'  A.,  Giles 
W.  and  Viola  V.  The  last  named  died  a few 
months  after  birth,  but  Betsey  A.  and  Giles 
W.  are  both  married  happily  and  have  homes 
of  their  ow'n.  Emanuel  Trask  owns  a farm  of 
400  acres,  exclusive  of  eighty  acres  he  gener- 
ously gave  his  two  grown  children.  The  land 
is  fertile  and  in  a liigh  state  of  cultivation, 
second  to  none  in  the  county;  the  first  under- 
ground tile  draining  in  Clinton  w'as  ])laced  on 
this  farm  by  Mr.  'I'rask’s  father,  and  it  con- 
tains four  good  and  spacious  hams.  This 
])ro}>erty  has  all  been  gained  by  honest  w'ork 
and  good  management,  as  the  father  luul  but, 


OF  CLINTON  COUNTY. 


883 


$140  when  he  and  his  son  settled  here.  In 
politics  Mr.  Trusk  is  a democrat,  but  has 
always  declined  to  accept  a nomination  for 
office  when  offered  to  him;  in  religion  he  and 
wife  are  of  the  Missionary  Baptist  faith,  and 
of  this  church  Mr.  Trask  is  a deacon.  He 
contributes  freely  to  its  support,  and  is  ardent 
in  the  cause  of  education.  He  and  family 
.stand  deservedly  high  in  the  esteem  of  the 
citizens  of  the  township  and  county,  for  upon 
such  as  he  does  the  prosperity  of  any  com- 
munity depend.  George  Trask,  the  brother 
of  our  subject,  also  settled  upon  the  home- 
stead, hut  subsequently  purchased  an  adjoin- 
ing farm,  where  he  died  in  1874.  He  married 
Jemima  Snodgrass,  who  survives  him. 


HDAM  trout  is  one  of  the  promi- 
nent retired  farmers  of  Michigan  town- 
ship, Clinton  county,  Ind.,  and  is  of 
German  descent,  his  great-grand- 
father being  the  first  of  the  family  to  come  to 
this  country,  settling  in  Pennsylvania.  James 
Trout,  his  son,  was  born,  reared  and  married  in 
York  county,  that  state,  was  a farmer,  and 
died  there  in  the  Lutheran  faith.  Isaac  Trout, 
son  of  James  and  father  of  our  subject,  Adam 
Trout,  was  born  in  1810,  in  York  county.  Pa., 
and  came  to  Clinton  county,  Ind.,  in  1863, 
and  bought  a farm  of  100  acres.  He  had  mar- 
ried Sarah  James,  daughter  of  Isaac  and  Su- 
sanna James,  in  Pennsylvania;  this  lady  bore 
her  husband  the  following  children:  George, 
died  while  young;  Abraham,  Adam,  Daniel, 
Mary  J.,  Elizabeth  A.,  Lubilla  and  Harriet. 
The  mother  died  in  Pennsylvania,  the  children 
being  yet  young,  and  the  father  died  in  Febru- 
ary, 1890,  also  in  York,  Pa. 

Adam  Trout,  whose  name  opens  this  biog- 
raphy, was  born  in  York  county.  Pa.,  Novem- 
ber 4,  1837,  and  has  always  been  a farmer. 
November  17,  1859,  he  married  Sarah  C. 


Fisher,  daughter  of  David  and  Tennie  (Shields) 
Fisher,  the  former  an  extensive  farmer  of  York 
county  and  a leading  Methodist.  The  children 
born  to  the  marriage  of  Mr.  Trout  were  David 
V.,  John  H.,  and  William,  who  died  when 
nine  months  old.  Mrs.  Trout  died  June  25, 
1865,  while  her  husband  was  in  the  army. 
Adam  Trout  enlisted  in  August,  1864,  in  com- 
pany I,  Fifty-first  I.  V.  I.,  and  was  in  the 
campaign  under  Gens.  Thomas  and  Halleck  in 
the  pursuit  of  the  rebel  Hood,  and  was  in  the 
battles  at  Nashville  and  Franklin,  and  for  two 
months  was  on  skirmish  duty.  He  was  hon- 
orably discharged  at  Victoria,  Texas,  and  now 
receives  a pension  of  eight  dollars  per  month. 
The  second  marriage  of  Mr.  Trout  took  place 
December  28,  1870,  to  Louisa  Pile,  daughter 
of  Isaac  Pile,  a substantial  farmer  of  Clinton 
county.  To  this  union  have  been  born  the  fol- 
lowing children:  Emma,  wife  of  John  Young; 
Orrin;  Tennie,  wife  of  Merritt  Young;  Urastus, 
Edith,  Rossie,  Sylvester,  and  Dorsie.  Both 
parents  are  members  of  the  Methodist  church, 
in  which  church  Mr.  Trout  has  several  times 
served  as  trustee  and  class  leader.  He  owns  a 
model  farm  of  i 34  acres  in  Center  township, 
with  a nice  frame  residence  and  a large  barn. 
This  farm  he  rents  out  for  $500  per  annum, 
cash  in  advance,  having  now  retired  from 
farming,  and  residing  in  Michigan  township. 


ANIEL  TROUT,  a prosperous  farmer 
of  Michigan  township,  Clinton  coun- 
ty, Ind.,  was  born  in  York  county. 
Pa.,  January  2,  1840,  and  is  a son 
of  Isaac  Trout,  also  a native  of  Pennsylvania, 
w'ho  came  to  Clinton  county,  Ind.,  in  1856, 
and  who  is  by  occupation  also  a farmer.  Daniel 
Trout,  in  August,  1862,  enlisted  in  company  I, 
One  Hundredth  volunteer  infantry  of  Indiana, 
and  took  an  active  pan  in  about  twenty-five 
engagements,  including  the  Vicksburg  siege. 


SS4 


BIOGRAPHICAL  HISTORY 


the  Atlanta  caiiijiaij^n  and  the;  famous  march 
of  Sherman  to  the  sea,  Pigeon  Roost,  Peach 
'Free  (hei'k,  Resaca,  Kenesaw  Mountain,  Burnt 
Hickory,  New  Hope  Cihurch,  Dallas,  Chat- 
tahoochee River,  Black  River,  Jonesboro,  Dal- 
ton, Missionary  Ridge,  and  numerous  smaller 
engagements.  At  Missionary  Ridge,  Mr. 
Trout  was  severely  wounded  by  the  explosion 
of  a shell,  a fragment  of  which  struck  him  in 
the  side;  he  also  bears  a scar  on  his  forehead, 
caused  by  a minie  ball.  He  was  in  the  grand 
review  at  Washington,  and  was  honorably  dis- 
charged in  1865,  within  a month  of  having 
served  three  years.  For  his  gallantry  and 
bravery,  he  now  receives  a pension  of  eight 
dollars  per  month. 

October  24,  1875,  Mr.  Trout  married  Miss 
Mary,  daughter  of  Henry  and  Margaret  Ann 
(Carter)  Painter.  The  parents  were  formei'Ly' 
of  Ohio,  but  are  now  living  in  retirenrent  in 
Mulberry,  Clinton  county,  Ind. 
was  also  a soldier  in  the  late  war  and  was 
wounded  in  the  leg — a wound  from  which  he 
still  suffers.  The  year  Mr.  Trout  was  married 
he  settled  on  his  present  farm  of  sixty-five  acres, 
not  at  that  time  much  improved.  He  has  now  a 
modern  house  and  barn,  and  his  farm  has  been 
increased  to  eighty  acres,  with  a fine  young 
orchard,  and  windmill.  The  children  born  to 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Trout,,  two  in  number,  are  nam- 
ed Ida  May  and  Carter  LeRoy.  Mrs.  Trout  is 
a Methodist  in  her  religious  faith,  and  in  poli- 
tics Mr.  Trout  is  a democrat.  Mr.  Trout  is  an 
energetic  man  in  every  respect,  and  by  indus- 
trious habits  and  strict  sobriety  has  won  for 
himself  his  pleasant  home. 


aHARLlfS  EDWIN  WAFKKR,  who 
IS  su|)erintendent  of  motive  power 
for  the  Toledo,  St.  Louis  A Kansas 
('ity  railroad  conij)any,  is  a native  of 
(ionnellsville,  b'ayettc  county.  Pa.,  and  was 


born  September  22,  1859.  His  fatherwas  Ja- 
cob Walker,  and  his  mother  Mary  Elizabeth 
(Robbins)  Walker,  and  both  parents  were  na- 
tives of  Connellsville.  They  had  three  chil- 
dren. The  mother  died  when  her  son,  Charles 
E.,  was  a child  of  six  years.  His  maternal 
grandmother  took  her  grandson  home,  and 
under  her  kind  and  motherly  care  the  youth 
grew  up.  He  was  fourteen  years  of  age  when 
his  father  died.  His  paternal  grandfather  was 
Noah  Walker,  who  was  a native  of  PennsyL 
vania,  and  the  father  of  nine  children — two 
daughters  and  seven  sons — and  of  the  sons  six 
were  soldiers  in  the  Civil  war.  ' Our  subject’s 
maternal  grandfather  was  John  Robbins,  also 
a native  of  Pennsylvania,  and  the  father  of 
four  daughter's  and  seven  sons.  Six  of  the 
sons  were  soldiers  in  the  Civil  war.  Thus  we 
observe  that  Mr.  Walker  had  six  males  on  his 
father’s  side  and  six  on  his  mother’s  side,  who 
^'e^  participants  in  the  war  of  the'  rebellion. 
His  father,  also  a soldier,  after  the  war  lived 
in  Pittsburg,  Pa.,  where  his  death  took  place. 
At  the  age  of  fourteen  years  his  son  joined 
him  in  Pittsburg,  and  in  that  city  finished  his 
education  by  attending  night  schools,  while 
learning  the  trade  of  machinist.  Mr.  Walker 
also  attended  Huff's  Business  college,  and 
gained  a fair  commercia,!  education. 

Having  learned  his  trade,  Mr.  Walker  went 
to  Chicago  in  1879,  where  he  worked  in  divers 
shops  for  a short  time;  then  accepted  a posi- 
tion with  the  C.,  B.  N O.  R.  R.  company,  and 
remained  on  it’s  road  for  about  one  year,  his 
home  during  the  tinu'  being  at  Bi.'ardstown, 
Ills  , where  he  formed  an  accpiaintance  with 
Miss  Mary  Richards,  and  in  1879,  he  and  that 
lady  were  united  iii  marriage.  Mrs.  M’alker  is 
a daughter  of  the  late  Jacob  Richards,  a 
prominent  farmer  and  citizen  of  Beardstown 
for  many  years.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Walker  have 
two  children,  William  C.  and  C'.harles  \'.  In 
1880,  Mr.  Walkin'  embarked  in  the  grocery 


UBRARY 
OF  THE 

UNIVERSITY  OF  \l\m\i 


JAMES  WATT. 


DECEASED. 


OF  CLINTON  COUNTY. 


887 


business  at  Ueardstown  and  was  thus  engaged 
till  August,  1882,  when  he  sold  out  and  en- 
tered the  employ  of  the  Peoria,  Decatur  & 
Evansville  K.  R.  company  at  Mattoon,  Tils, 
Shortly  afterward  he  changed  to  Springheld, 
Ohio,  and  entered  the  employ  of  the  Ohio 
Southern  R.  R.  company.  In  1883  he  as- 
sumed charge  of  the  shops  of  the  Minneapolis 
cA  St.  Louis  R.  R.  company  at  Minneapolis, 
thus  again  changing  employers.  From  there 
he  went  into  the  employ  of  the  Cincinnati 
Southern,  then  the  C.,  H.  tS:  D.  R.  R. , taking- 
charge  of  its  round  house  at  Cincinnati.  In 
1885,  Mr.  M'alker  accepted  the  position  of 
general  foreman  for  the  Cincinnati  Southern, 
for  which  road  he  ran  an  engine  the  next  year. 
Then,  Mr.  Walker  went  to  Lima,  Ohio,  as 
general  foreman  for  the  C. , H.  & D.  R.  R. 
In  August,  1890,  he  became  division  master 
mechanic  for  the  “Clover  Leaf”  R.  R.,  and 
in  October,  1893,  was  promoted  to  his  present 
position  as  superintendent  of  motive  power, 
with  residence  at  Frankfort,  Ind.  Mr.  Walker 
is  a thorough  machinist  and  is  recognized  as 
one  of  the  ablest  of  railroad  men.  Frater- 
nally, he  is  a member  of  the  Knights  of  Pyth- 
ias and  belongs  to  the  uniform  rank  of  the 
order. 


AMFS  WATT,  deceased,  was  born  in 
Berwickshire,  Scotland,  March  18,  1797, 
a son  of  William  and  Sarah  (Boyd) 
Watt,  also  natives  of  Scotland.  Will- 
iam, father  of  James,  was  a stock  raiser,  and 
died  in  Scotland.  After  his  death  his  wife 
started  for  America,  after  she  had  passed  her 
eighty-sixth  birthday,  to  spend  the  remainder 
of  her  days  with  her  sons,  James  and  Robert, 
but  died  while  on  .the  ocean. 

James  Watt  went  to  the  Shetland  islands 
when  he  was  sixteen  years  of  age,  remained 
there  five  years,  and  then  went  to  the  south  of 


Fngland,  where  he  was  steward  of  a large  es- 
tate of  900  acres.  He  was  married  May  24, 
1829,  while  there,  and  remained  until  1832, 
and  had  born  to  him  one  child,  Mary  Isabella, 
June  24,  1830.  He  then  came  to  America, 
and  settled  in  Canada,  where  were  born — 
Elizabeth  S.,  June  30,  1834;  William  A., 
March  4,  1836;  JaneS.,  January  26,  1838; 
from  Canada  he  came  to  Indiana,  where  were 
born  Lavinia  B.,  May  3,  1840;  Robert  B., 
December  21,  1842.  James  Watt  left  London 
June  20,  1832,  and  arrived  in  Quebec,  Can- 
ada, ten  weeks  and  four  days  later.  He  then 
went  to  Coburg,  where  he  bought  a farm, 
which  he  improved  and  sold  three  years  later, 
and  bought  a farm  in  Ontario.  November  5, 
1838,  he  started  for  Clinton  county,  Ind., 
with  his  family,  in  a covered  wagon,  and 
bought  240  acres  of  land,  which  he  improved. 
Here  he  dealt  extensively  in  stock,  and  here 
died  July  i,  1878,  from  the  result  of  an  acci- 
dent. His  wife  had  died  January  4,  1848. 
His  eldest  daughter  died  September  6,  1832; 
William  died  October  20,  1872;  Robert  died 
April  20,  1875.  James  Watt  was  a man  of 
more  than  ordinary  force  of  character,  and 
accumulated  a handsome  c'-'inpetence  before 
his  death,  giving  his  children  all  good  educa- 
tions. He  was  a strong  believer  in  Chris- 
tianity, and  was  a liberal  man,  a strong 
abolitionist,  took  an  active  interest  in  all 
American  industries,  and  was  a liberal  sup- 
porter of  all  benevolent  institutions. 


OLIVER  P.  WEAVER,  a substantial 
farnier  of  Johnson  township,  Clinton 
county,  Ind. , was  born  in  Rush 
county,  same  state,  September  3, 
1846,  and  remotely  is  of  Cerman  extraction. 
His  grandfather,  John  Weaver,  was  a citizen 
of  Virginia,  but  one  of  the  earliest  settlers  of 


888 


BIOGRAPHICAL  HISTORY 


K’lish  county,  Ind.,  where  he  owned  300  acres, 
and  to  winch  h('  moved  from  the  Old  Domin- 
ion in  a one-horse  waj^on,  which  carried  all  he 
possessed  in  the  way  of  worldly  goods.  He 
was  a deacon  in  tne  Baptist  church,  and  he 
and  wife  ended  their  days  in  Kush  count}’,  j 
William  V.  Weaver,  son  of  the  above  and 
father  of  Oliver  P.,  was  born  in  Kush  county, 
Ind.,  February  16,  1822,  ami  was  reared  a 
fartner.  He  owned  eighty  acres,  which  he 
cultivated  with  much  success.  He  first  mar- 
ried Susan  Williams,  daughter  of  John  and 
Jane  Williams,  and  after  her  death,  March  16, 
1862,  he  chose  for  his  second  spouse  Sarah 
Walker.  The  children  born  to  the  first  mar- 
riage, were  Oliver  P. , John,  Calvin,  William, 
Isabel  and  James;  those  born  to  the  second 
marriage  were  named  Lydia,  Martin,  Eliza- 
beth and  Jesse.  Mr.  Weaver  was  a democrat 
in  politics,  and  died,  in  the  faith  of  the  Mis- 
sionary Baptist  church,  April  21,  1881. 

Oliver  P.  Weaver  has  lived  on  a farm  ever 
since  his  birth.  He  received  a good  common- 
school  education,  to  which  he  has  added  ma- 
terially by  study  at  home.  I'ebruary  15,  1872, 
he  married  Mi.ss  Eva  bluffer,  daughter  of  Henry 
and  Jane  (Galbreth)  Huffer,  the  former  of 
whom  is  a retired  farmer  and  is  living  at  Hillis- 
bnrg.  in  Johnson  township.  In  1877  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Weaver  settled  on  their  present  farm  of 
eighty  acres  of  rich  fertile  land,  well  improved 
in  all  respects.  They  are  ])arents  of  eight 
children,  named  as  follows;  LonaA.,  LulaJ., 
Lillie  M.,  Tennie,  Iva  M.,  Koscoe,  Cora,  and 
the  baby.  Mrs.  Weaver  is  a member  of  the 
Baptist  church,  which  her  husband  liberally 
aids;  Mr.  Weaver  is  a democrat  in  politics,  is 
a member  of  the  Hillisburg  lodge.  No.  550,  F. 

A A.  M.,  in  which  he  has  ])as.scd  all  the  chairs, 
is  a dormaiit  member  of  the  1.  (b  K.  M.,  and 
he  and  family  are  held  in  high  respect  by  their 
neighbors.  'bhere  is,  indeed,  no  more  highly 
respeett’d  famil\'  in  Johnson  township. 


OHN  S.  WHAKKY,  a progressive 
farmer  of  Michigan  township,  Clin- 
ton county,  Ind.,  son  of  James  A. 
Wharry,  is  a native  of  the  township, 
and  was  born  on  the  home  farm  August  5, 
1872.  James  A.  Wharry,  deceased,  a native 
of  Columbus,  Ohio,  was  born  January  24, 
1820,  son  of  James  and  Margaret  (Crane) 
Wharry,  of  Scotch-Irish  ancestry.  He  spent 
his  early  life  in  woolen  mills  as  a weaver,  and 
soon  after  attaining  his  majority  came  to  Clin- 
ton county,  where  he  followed  the  carpenter’s 
trade  for  several  years.  He  married  Miss 
Julia  Ann  Price,  February  25,  1857,  daughter 
of  George  and  Mary  Ann  (Snuff)  Price,  who 
came  from  Ohio  to  this  county,  were  among 
the  early  settlers,  and  he  located  in  Michigan 
township,  when  all  was  a dense  wilderness, 
and  lived  there  many  years.  They  died  in 
Tippecanoe  county  at  an  advanced  age.  After 
marriage  Mr.  Wharry  settled  on  the  farm  now 
owned  and  occupied  by  his  son,  Janies  G. 
Wharry.  They  were  the  pareiits  of  seven 
children — Marcellus  P. , James  G.,  Margaret 
N.,  Cora  L. , Martha  A.,  John  S.  and  F'rank 
E.  Mr.  Wharry  was  very  successful  in  his 
chosen  occupation,  and  at  his  death,  which 
occurreil  September  4,  1879,  when  he  was 

nearly  si.xty  years  of  age,  he  owned  240  acres 
of  land  in  a high  state  of  cultivation.  He 
was  a member  of  the  Presbyterian  church, 
and  affiliated  with  the  democratic  party.  His 
wife  was  a Methodist.  James  G.  \\'harry  was 
born  in  Warren  township,  Clinton  county, 
January  15,  1859,  a son  of  the  preceding.  He 
was  reared  on  a farm  in  Michigan  township 
and  received  a common-school  education.  He 
resitled  with  his  parents  until  their  death,  then 
succeeded  them  on  the  farm.  He  was  mar- 
ried vSeptember  5,  1880,  to  Miss  Matilda,  a 
daughter  of  Barney  and  Elizabeth  (Cook) 
Thompson.  After  his  mother's  de:ith  he  took 
charge  of  the  homestead  and  assumed  the  care 


OF  CLINTON  COUNTY. 


of  his  brotliers  and  sisters.  Mrs.  Wharry  is  a 
[nember  of  the  Protestant  Methodist  church; 
politically  Mr.  Wharry  affiliates  with  the 
democratic  party. 

John  S.  Wharry,  the  subject  proper  of  this 
sketch,  was  married,  November  23,  1892,  to 
Miss  Luella  Brandon,  a sketch  of  whose 
parents  will  be  found  on  another  page.  On 
September  17,  1893,  the  idol  of  the  home, 
Tressie  L. , made  her  appearance.  Mr. 
Wharry  is  not  only  a successful  agriculturist, 
but  is  an  equally  successful  stock  raiser.  He 
has  ten  head  of  horses,  full-blooded  Banquo, 
Hambletonian  and  Wilkes  stock.  He  owns 
forty  acres  of  good  land,  and  farms,  beside, 
160  acres  of  rented  land,  and  makes  fine  crops. 
In  politics  Mr.  Wharry  is  a stanch  democrat. 
His  modest  dwelling  is  a model  of  neatness 
and  his  barn  is  substantial  and  commodious, 
and  every  surrounding  shows  Mr.  Wharry  to 
be  a progressive  young  man  and  a farmer 
that  understands  his  business. 


EORGE  W.  WHITE,  one  of  the 
leading  farmers  of  Perry  township, 
Clinton  county,  Ind.,  is  descended 
from  German  ancestry  and  was  born 
in  Butler  county,  Ohio,  April  2,  1841.  His 
great-grandfather  came  from  Germany  and 
settled  in  Virginia  in  the  time  of  the  colonies, 
and  later,  about  1816,  moved  to  Berks  county. 
Pa.  He  fought  in  the  war  of  the  Revolution 
and  did  valiant  service  for  his  adopted  coun- 
try. The  subject’s  grandfather,  Jacob  White, 
a native  of  Berks  county.  Pa.,  married  a Miss 
P'iddler  and  reared  the  following  children  : 
Jacob,  Benjamin,  Mary,  Henry,  and  Eliza- 
beth. Jacob  White,  Sr.,  left  his  native  state 
a number  of  years  ago  and  emigrated  to  But- 
ler county,  Ohio,  thence  moved  to  Indiana, 
settling  first  in  Wayne  county  and  later  in  the 
county  of  Clinton.  His  son,  Henry  White, 


father  of  George  W.,  was  born  September  23, 
1818,  went  to  Ohio  when  thirteen  years  of 
age,  and,  in  Butler  county,  that  state,  married 
Mary  Kauffman,  daughter  of  Joseph  and  Chris- 
tena  (Kayler)  Kauffman,  by  whom  he  had  the 
following  children:  George  W.,  Catherine, 
Harriet,  Jacob,  and  Joseph.  Henry  White 
resided  near  Dayton  when  that  flourishing 
city  was  but  a mere  village,  but,  for  a number 
of  years  has  been  a well  known  and  popular 
citizen  of  Clinton  county,  residing  at  the  pres- 
ent time  in  the  township  of  Perry.  Both  he 
and  his  wife,  though  well  advanced  in  age,  are 
still  quite  active  and  bid  fair  to  live  many 
years  longer.  They  are  devout  members  of 
the  Lutheran  church,  in  which  Mr.  White  has 
held  the  office  of  deacon.  Joseph  Kauffman, 
father  of  Mrs.  White,  served  in  the  war  of 
1812  and  became  a citizen  of  Clinton  county, 
Ind.,  in  1857. 

George  W.  White  was  reared  to  manhood 
on  a farm,  and  after  his  marriage,  which  oc- 
curred October  19,  1862,  with  Hannah  J., 

daughter  of  Henry  and  Elizabeth  (Nihard) 
Peters,  engaged  in  agricultural  pursuits  in 
Carroll  county,  Ind.,  on  a farm  of  100  acres, 
where  he  lived  for  some  years,  and  in  1883 
came  to  the  county  of  Clinton  and  purchased 
his  present  home  in  Perry  township,  owning, 
at  this  time,  176  acres  of  valuable  and  highly 
improved  land.  He  is  an  enterprising  and  in- 
telligent man,  a public-spirited  citizen,  and 
possesses  the  confidence  of  a large  circle  of 
friends  in  Clinton  county,  throughout  which 
he  is  well  and  favorably  known.  He  is  a 
member  of  the  United  Brethren  church,  in 
which  he  holds  the  office  of  trustee,  and  is 
liberal  of  his  means  in  the  support  of  his 
home  congregation,  and  also  uses  his  influence 
toward  the  furtherance  of  all  movements  of  a 
moral  and  religious  character. 

Politically  Mr.  White  is  a democrat,  and, 
as  such  takes  an  active  interest  in  the  leading 


S90 


BIOCiKAPIIlCAI.  HISTORY 


public  (piestioiis  of  the  day.  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
W hite  are  the  parents  of  the  following-  chil- 
dren : Ida  A.;  Perr}’,  deceased;  I'rank; 

Lenora;  Sah'iia,  deceased;  C'harles;  I'anny, 
deceased;  Hlixa;  and  Zelplia,  deceased.  The 
father  of  Mrs.  White  was  a fanner  of  C'dinton 
county  and  oiu'  of  its  well  known  early  settlers. 
He  came  to  Indiana  in  i iS-3  i and  developed  a 
farm  in  Ross  township,  and  died  in  1880;  his 
wife  died  in  1845.  The  following'  are  the 
names  of  his  children  : Daniel,  Franklin,  Eh, 
Susannah,  Edward,  Matilda,  Owen,  Leah  and 
Hannah  J.  Henry  Peters  was  an  industrious, 
energetic  man,  and  the  greater  part  of  his  life 
was  spent  as  a member  (E  the  Lutheran 
church.  His  father  was  a native  of  Pennsyl- 
vania, married  a Miss  Kern,  and  came  to  In- 
diana short  after  its  admission  to  the  Phiion, 
haviTigheen  a pioneer  of  the  counties  of  Clin- 
ton and  Tippecanoe. 


OHN  WHITEMAN,  one  of  the  old  sol- 
diers now  living  in  Kossville,  Clinton 
county,  Ind.  ,sjn'ings  from  an  old  Ameri- 
can family,  his  grandfather  on  the  ma- 
ternal side  having  been  a soldier  in  the  war  of 
1812.  John  Wdnteman,  grandfather  of  our 
subject,  was  a pioneer  of  Carroll  county,  Ind., 
and  was  the  father  of  five  children:  William, 
Patterson,  John,  Lucinda  and  lilizaheth.  Mr. 
Wdiiteman  was  a farmer  and  lived  to  he  an  old 
man,  and  died  in  C'arroll  county.  William 
W'hiteman,  son  of  alanu'  and  father  of  our 
subject,  John,  was  a farmer  and  married  Par- 
hara,  daughter  of  Daniel  Leslie,  also  a soldier 
of  the  war  of  18  i |.  To  Mr.  and  Mrs.  W hite- 
man  were  horn  three  childiam;  Amaretta, 
John  and  Llizahi'th.  Mr.  W'hiteman  died 
when  twenty-si.\  years  of  age. 

John  Wdiiteman,  whose  name  opens  this 
sketch,  was  horn  in  'rippecanoe  county,  Ind  , 
Deccunber  25,  1843,  rec'ei\ed  a common  edu- 


cation, and  learned  to  work  in  the  woolen  mills 
when  young.  He  enlisted,  at  the  age  of 
eighteen,  at  La  P'ayette,  Ind.,  and  was  en- 
rolled November  2,  1863,  as  a private  in  the 
Tenth  Indiana  battery  light  artillery,  Capt. 
Cox,  for  three  years,  or  during  the  war.  He 
was  at  the  battle  of  Lookout  Mountain;  at 
Missionary  Ridge  the  battery  was  held  in  re- 
serve, hut  was  i)resent  on  the  held.  Whth  the 
P'ifth  Indiana  battery,  he  was  in  the  battles  of 
Resaca,  Buzzard's  Roost,  Kenesaw  Mountain, 
Peach  Tree  Creek  and  the  battle  in  which  At- 
lanta fell,  and  in  many  skirmishes,  and  under 
lire  for  three  months  in  this  campaign.  After 
this  he  returned  to  the  Tenth  Indiana  battery, 
was  on  a gunboat  on  the  Tennessee  river,  and 
was  in  a battle  at  Decatur.  Ala.,  and  many 
skirmishes  on  the  river.  He  was  taken  sick 
while  in  this  service,  with  rheumatism,  and 
was  at  Bragg's  hospital,  Chattanooga,  when 
the  war  closed,  and  he  was  honorably  dis- 
charged July  10.  1865,  at  Indianapolis.  He 
returned  home,  disabled  from  eximsure,  and 
has  never  recovered  his  health,  After  the  war 
he  worked  in  the  woolen  mills  a few  years, 
aiul  married  inW'arren  county,  Ind.,  Catherine, 
daughter  of  Gideon  Boohee,  and  to  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Whiteman  were  born  three  children,  who 
lived  to  maturity:  Edith,  Elizabeth  and  Bruce. 
His  first  wife  died  in  1889,  and  he  married, 
June  16,  1890,  Emma  A.,  daughterof  Matthias 
and  Bernice  ( Mu.sgrove)  Weidner.  To  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Matthias  Weidner  were  born  seven  chil- 
dren, six  reaching  mature  years:  Francis  M., 
Ida  B.,  Mary  M.,  Samuel  (deceased  at  eight 
vears),  Martha  jane,  Emma  and  Retta  B. 
Mr.  Weidner  was  a soldier  in  the  Civil  war,  is 
yet  living  on  his  farm  near  Monitor,  Tippe- 
canoe county,  Ind.,  and  is  aresi)ected  citizen. 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  W'eidner  are  members  of  the 
Baptist  church,  and  Mr.  Weidner  is  a member 
of  Elliott  ]>ost.  No.  60,  Cl.  A.  R.,  at  Da>'ton, 
Ind. 


OF  CLINTON  COUNTY. 


891 


llernice  Musgrove,  mother  of  Mrs.  White- 
man,  is  the  (iauf;hter  of  John  and  Elizabeth 
(Kimey)  Musgrove.  John  Musgrove,  grand- 
father of  Mrs.  Whiteman,  was  the  father  of 
six  children — Samuel,  Seldon  and  Jacob,  who 
were  soldiers  in  the  Civil  war,  and  Artemesia, 
Milton  and  Bernice.  The  Weidner  family 
spring  from  sterling  German  stock  and  were 
Scotch  by  inter-marriage.  Lewis  Weidner, 
great-grandfather  of  Mrs.  Whiteman,  came 
from  Germany  before  the  war  of  the  Revolu- 
tion, settled  in  Virginia,  and  moved  to  Tennes- 
see. He  married  in  America  and  was  a slave- 
owner and  farmer  in  Grainger  county.  A copy 
of  his  last  will  and  testament  is  in  the  posses- 
sion of  Daniel  Weidner,  of  Ross  township, 
Clinton  county;  it  was  executed  in  1807  in 
Grainger  county,  Tenn.  By  this  will  it  is 
shown  that  his  name  was  Louis  Whitner,  the 
name  having  been  corrupted  to  Weidner  and 
Widner.  It  also  shows  that  he  had  one  son, 
Harvey,  who  was  made  executor  of  his  will, 
and  five  daughters:  Eve  Miller,  Barbara  De- 
\’olt,  Catherine  Clark,  Mary  Cox,  and  Eliza- 
beth Roller.  The  name  of  his  wife  was  Bar- 
bara. He  left  to  his  heirs  2,000  acres  of  land 
on  the  Tennessee  river  in  Grainger  county, 
Tenn.,  and  he  also  left  several  negro  slaves 
and  a sum  of  money.  He  was  a carpenter  by 
trade  and  left  his  tools  to  his  son  Henry,  who 
was  the  grandfather  of  Mrs.  Whiteman,  and 
w’as  born  in  Tennessee,  and  married,  in  that 
state,  Margaret  Glick,  and  to  them  were  born 
Matthias,  Lewis,  Henry,  John,  Roller  and 
Michael.  Henry  Weidner  remained  in  Tennes- 
see until  he  was  an  old  man.  In  1826  he  sold 
his  property  and  moved  with  three  sons  and 
one  daughter — -John,  Michael,  Roller,  and 
Barbara — to  Indiana,  and  settled  in  Ross  town- 
ship. There  were  probably  three  other  fam- 
ilies living  in  the  township  at  that  time — the  j 
families  of  Sol  Miller,  Daniel  Underhill  and  | 

Peter  Sink.  The  country  was  a howling  wil-  ’ 
43 


derness,  with  no  roads,  and  the  Weidners  cut 
a trail  from  Dayton,  Ind.,  five  miles  through 
the  woods,  and  lived  the  first  winter  in  a log 
shanty  with  no  floor.  Mr.  Weidner  entered 
160  acres  of  land  and  all  his  children  likewise 
made  entries.  He  was  too  old  to  do  much 
work  after  he  came  to  the  county,  but  hired 
his  land  partly  cleared,  and  remained  here  un- 
til his  death,  which  occurred  at  the  age  of 
eighty-seven  years.  He  was  a typical  Amer- 
ican pioneer,  and  in  his  last  days  became  a 
member  of  the  German  Baptist  church.  He 
was  a soldier  in  the  Revolutionary  war,  and 
was  wounded  in  the  battle  of  Trenton  and  car- 
ried the  scar  on  his  face  to  his  grave.  Daniel 
Weidner,  of  Ross  township,  remembers  him 
well.  Erom  Henry,  by  his  son  Roller,  de- 
scends Mrs.  Whiteman. 


AMES  B.  WISE,  physician  and  sur- 
geon, was  born  in  Auglaize  county, 
Ohio,  April  26,  1850,  the  son  of  J.  M. 
and  Nancy  Wise.  J.  M.  Wise  was 
born  in  Cumberland  county.  Pa.,  Eebruary  20, 
1820,  and  grew  to  maturity  in  Auglaize  county, 
Ohio,  accompanying  his  parents  to  their  home 
there  when  sixteen  years  of  age.  He  received 
i a good  education,  and  after  a course  of  pre- 
i liminary  reading  under  the  direction  of  a com- 
! petent  preceptor,  entered  the  medical  college 
j at  Cleveland,  Ohio,  from  which  he  was  gradu- 
I ated  in  1851.  He  entered  upon  the  active 
duties  of  his  profession  that  year  at  the  town 
I of  St.  Marys,  Ohio,  and  practiced  there  until 
1 1880,  when  he  came  to  P'rankfort,  Ind.,  in 
! which  city  he  ceased  from  his  earthly  labors 
! on  the  thirteenth  da^^  of  July,  1885.  He 
married  in  St.  Marys,  Ohio,  in  the  year  1848, 
Miss  Nancy  Moore,  the  results  of  which  union 
were  eight  children,  of  whom  the  following 
survive:  Dr.  J.  B.,  William  A.,  Harriet  M., 
Alphonso  M.,  Ida  R.,  and  Charles  M. 


802 


BIOGRAPHICAL  HISTORY 


Dr.  )ainc.s  1>.  Wise  spent  the  first  thirty 
years  of  his  life  in  his  native  county  ami  state, 
and  received  his  educational  training  in  the 
St.  .Marys  high  school,  the  ])rcscrihed  course 
of  which  he  coinj)leted  in  1870. 

His  early  inclinations  leading  him  to  choose 
the  medical  jirofession,  he  began  the  study  of 
the  same  under  the  direction  of  his  father, 
in  whose  office  he  remained  until  1876,  in  which 
year  he  became  a student  in  the  Pulte  medi- 
cal college,  Cincinnati,  from  which  he  was 
graduated  on  the  fourth  of  March,  1880. 
After  receiving  his  diploma  Dr.  Wise  became 
associated  in  the  practice  with  his  father  at 
St.  Marys,  Ohio,  where  he  continued  until 
October,  1880,  at  which  time  he  came  to 
Frankfort,  Ind.,  where  he  has  since  been  ac- 
tively attending  to  the  many  tlntics  of  his 
calling.  The  doctor  belongs  to  the  homeo- 
pathic school  of  medicine,  and  by  diligent 
application  and  zeal  in  his  profession,  has  suc- 
ceeded in  building  up  a large  practice  in  Frank- 
fort and  throughout  the  county  of  Clinton. 
While  familiar  with  general  practice,  he  makes 
a specialty  of  the  diseases  of  women  and 
children,  and  his  success  in  these  departments 
has  been  of  the  most  gratifying  nature. 

Dr.  Wise  is  a member  of  the  K.  of  P. , a 
democrat  in  ])ohtics,  and,  with  his  wife,  be- 
longs to  the  Christian  church.  He  was  mar- 
ried April  22,  1884,  to  Marcella  Hollowell, 
who  was  horn  in  Preble  county,  Ohio,  in  1846. 


PA'l  WRATTEN,  an  enterprising 
young  farmer  of  Michigan  township, 
was  born  in  Clinton  count}',  Ind., 
September  14,  1858,  and  is  of  ster- 
ling English  descent.  His  great-grandfather, 
Thomas  Wratten,  lived  and  died  in  .Marden, 
Kent  county,  England,  was  a cariienter  hy  trade, 
in  religion  a mend)er  of  the  I ndependent  C.hapel 
church,  and  a liberal  in  jiolitics.  Edward 


Wratten,  grandfather  of  Levi,  was  born 
August  17,  1809,  in  the  same  shire  or  county, 
was  also  a carpenter,  and  for  some  time  plied 
his  trade  on  the  estate  of  Lord  Cornwallis. 
Mary  Ann  Veril,  his  wife,  died  in  England,  and 
later  he  came  to  America  and  married  Mary  A. 
Parson;  his  death  took  place  in  Westfield,  N. 
Y.  Edward  Wratten,  son  of  the  above  named 
Edward,  and  father  of  Levi,  was  also  born  in 
Kent  county,  England,  in  1833,  attended  the 
common  schools,  mostly  at  night,  served  an 
apprenticeship  of  three  years  at  carpentering, 
and  also  worked  on  the  Cornwallis  estate. 
When  eighteen  years  old  he  reached  America, 
married  in  Jefferson  county,  Ind.,  Nancy  J. 
Climer,  daughter  of  Denison  Climer,  and  be- 
came the  father  of  two  children:  Levi  and  Ed- 
ward, the  latter  dying  at  the  age  of  two  years. 
He  followed  his  trade  and  did  some  contract- 
ing the  greater  part  of  his  early  manhood,  but 
now  resides  on  a farm  near  that  of  his  son, 
Levi.  In  politics  he  is  a democrat,  and  he 
and  wife  are  members  of  the  Christian  church, 
in  which  he  has  been  an  elder  for  a number  of 
years. 

Levi  Wratten  received  a good  common- 
school  education,  and  has  always  farmed,  ex- 
cepting two  years,  when  he  was  sheriff  of 
Clinton  county.  October  28,  1879,  he  mar- 
ried Miss  Delilah  C.  Cohee,  daughter  of  Wil- 
son and  Susanna  (Douglass)  Cohee,  and  the 
children  born  to  this  union  are  named  Effie  C., 
C.racie  M.,  Harvey  W.,  aiul  Perry  E.  Mrs. 
Wratten’s  grandfather,  Benjamin  Cohee,  was 
a native  of  Delaware,  hut  a pioneerof  Clinton 
county,  Ind.,  where  he  died;  her  father  was  a 
prominent  farmer  of  Michigan  township,  a 
strong  republican  and  an  active  Methodist. 
His  children  were  naired  Eliza  C.,  Martha  A., 
John  W.,  Henry  M.,  Delilah  C.,  Rebecca  F. 
and  Manda  M.  When  first  married,  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Wratten  settled  on  a part  of  the  farm 
belonging  to  Mrs.  Wratten’s  father,  and  this 


LIBRARY 
OF  THE 

UNIVERSITY  OF  ILLINOIS 


OF  CLINTON  COUNTY. 


895 


parcel  Mr.  Wratteii  has  increased  to  eighty- 
four  acres,  and  improved  with  a new  modern 
farm  residence  and  all  the  necessary  farm 
buildings.  Mr.  Wratten  is  a democrat  and 
was  elected  sheriff  of  Clinton  county  for  two 
years,  in  a campaign  in  which  most  of  the 
democratic  ticket  was  defeated.  Mr.  Wratten 
rents  land  on  a large  scale,  and  this  year  has 
raised  2,416  bushels  of  wheat  and  658  bushels 
of  oats,  and  is  altogether  an  energetic  and  en- 
terprising young  farmer. 


EWTON  W.  WRIGHT,  who  owns 
and  operates  a good  farm  of  1 50 
acres  in  Warren  township,  Clinton 
county,  Ind.,  is  one  of  the  self-made 
men,  who,  by  well  directed  and  earnest  efforts, 
has  worked  his  way  upward  from  a humble 
position  to  one  of  affluence.  He  was  borp  in 
Augusta  county,  Va.,  September  16,  i848,^'cf' 
is  a son  of  Absalom  and  Sophronia  (Irwin) 
Wright,  both  of  whom  were  also  natives  of 
Augusta  county,  and  were  of  Scotch  and  Irish 
descent  respectively.  The  father  was  born  in 
1793,  and  during  his  early  manhood  followed 
school-teaching.  He  afterward  learned  the 
carpenter’s  trade,  which  he  carried  on  during 
the  greater  part  of  his  life.  His  death  occur- 
red in  1862,  and  his  wife  passed  away  just  two 
weeks  previously,  dying  at  the  same  hour. 
They  were  the  parents  of  eleven  children — 
Erasmus  J.  and  James  A.,  both  deceased;  Wil- 
liam A.;  Caroline  A.;  John  H.,  who  was  a 
captain  in  the  Southern  army  and  is  now  de- 
ceased; Eliza  J.,  of  Kansas;  Elizabeth  M. ; 
Marion  A.,  deceased;  Newton  W. ; Maria  J., 
and  one  who  died  in  infancy. 

Mr.  Wright  remained  at  home  until  the 
death  of  his  parents,  but  was  left  an  orphan  at 
the  early  age  of  thirteen  years,  and  from  that 
time  was  forced  to  make  his  own  way  in  the 
world.  He  engaged  in  any  labor  which  would 


yield  him  a livelihood,  and  in  1868  came  to 
Indiana,  locating  in  Boone  county.  In  1873, 
he  came  to  Clinton  county,  where  he  purchas- 
ed a small  tract  of  land  with  his  hard-earned 
savings.  In  1880,  he  bought  forty  acres  of 
his  present  farm,  to  which  he  has  since  added 
until  he  now  owns  a valuable  tract  of  1 50 
acres  under  a high  state  of  cultivation  and  well 
improved.  Mr.  Wright  was  married  Decem- 
ber 27,  1877,  to  Miss  Amanda,  daughter  of 
Joseph  S.  and  Clarissa  A.  (Taylor)  Nunemak- 
er,  both  of  whom  were  natives  of  Ohio,  and 
were  of  German  and  Irish  lineage.  The  father 
was  born  February  16,  1821,  and  on  the  1st 
of  October,  1846,  married  Miss  Taylor.  His 
death  occurred  January  28,  1874,  but  his  wife 
still  resides  in  Kansas.  Ten  children  graced 
their  union,  namely:  Lavina  J.  and  Elizabeth, 
l/oth  deceased;  Clarissa  A.,  wife  of  John  M. 
CVark;.  Daniel;  John  T.,  deceased;  Mrs. 

■'WhgKtrjbsejDE  S. ; Rachel,  deceased;  George 
W. , and  Martha  A.,  wife  of  Michael  Layman. 
To  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Wright  were  born  four 
children — Cora  A.,  born  October  2,  1878; 

Augustus  W. , born  May  26,  1880;  Orrill  G., 
born  December  24,  1881;  and  Russell  D., 

born  October  31,  1883.  The  mother  of  this 
family  was  born  September  14,  1855.  She  is 
a member  of  the  Methodist  church,  and  a most 
estimable  lady.  Mr.  Wright  votes  with  the 
democracy,  but  has  never  been  an  office  seek- 
er, preferring  to  give  his  entire  time  and  atten- 
tion to  his  business  interests,  in  which  he  has 
met  with  a good  and  well  merited  success. 


OHN  L.  YOUNG  was  born  in  Jessa- 
mine county,  Ky.,  February  15,  1849, 
being  one  of  the  family  of  five  children 
of  George  P.  and  Nancy  Young,  both 
of  whom  are  now  dead.  The  other  children 
of  the  family  are  William  H.  Young  of  La 
Fayette,  Decalvius  K.  Young,  who  lives  on  a 


BIOGRAPHICAL  HISTORY 


farm  in  Boone  county,  near  Colfax,  Georf^e  IL 
Young,  also  a fanner  near  Colfax,  and  Mrs. 
I..  \V.  Loveless  of  La  l^'ayette.  When  he  was 
only  three  years  of  age  Mr.  Young’s  parents 
moved  to  Clinton  county,  Ind,,  and  located  on 
a farm  about  two  and  one-half  miles  north- 
west of  Colfax.  Here  he  lived  and  worked  on 
the  farm,  attended  the  district  school  until 
young  manhood,  when  he  attended  the  Frank- 
fort high  school,  which  was  then  under  the 
superintendency  of  Hon.  E.  H.  Staley. 

July  19,  1871,  Mr.  Young  was  married  to 
Miss  Angeline  S.  Carver,  of  Perry  townshiji, 
Clinton  county,  Ind.  She  is  a daughter  of 
Miles  A.  Carver,  and  was  born  in  Ohio,  Janu- 
ary 28,  1850.  Her  father  was  born  November 
7,  1816,  in  Chenango  county,  N.  Y.,  and  is  de- 
scended from  Gov.  John  Carver  of  Massachu- 
setts. After  his  marriage  Mr.  Young  lived  on 
the  farm  until  he  was  twenty-eight  years  of 
age.  During  his  residence  on  the  farm  he 
read  law  for  years  and  formed  that  comprehen- 
sive idea  of  its  practice  he  has  found  so  useful 
since.  To  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Young  there  have 
been  born  five  children,  Mary  I).,  Ida  F.,  Nel- 
lie B. , Edith  O.  and  George  L. , all  of  whom 
are  living  except  Ida  F.,  who  died  when  but 
six  months  old. 

In  October,  1874,  Mr.  Young  was  elected 
trustee  on  the  repul)lican  ticket,  and  re-elect- 
ed on  the  same  ticket  in  the  fall  of  1876,  and 
served  until  the  end  of  the  term  for  which  he 
was  elected,  two  years.  While  trustee  of  his 
township  he  was  instrumental  in  establishing 
the  graded  schocd  in  the  town  of  Colfax,  which 
school  is  the  jnide  of  the  community.  He 
continued  to  live  in  Perry  township  until  the 
summer  of  [879,  when  in  July  of  that  year  he 
bought  of  Aaron  II.  Southard  the  five  acre 
tract  of  land  upon  which  he  yet  lives  lying 
across  Clinton  and  Walnut  strec'ts,  just  cast  of 
the  city  limits,  l>aying  therefor  $700,  and 
erected  ther(!on  a neat  cottage,  to  which  place 


he  moved  on  the  9th  day  of  October  of  that 
year.  At  that  time  it  was  “out  in  the  country  ’ 
so  far  that  one  could  scarcely  see  the  town. 
The  streets  and  sidewalks  now  run  to  his  home, 
which  is  situated  in  a beautiful  sugar  tree 
grove. 

In  the  spring  of  1880  he  formed  a law 
partnership  with  W^illiam  E.  Ross,  and  opened 
an  office  on  the  south  side  of  the  scjuare,  over 
the  J.  H.  Paris  dry-goods  store.  Their  part- 
nership continued  until  February  18,  1881, 
when  the  firm  was  merged  into  the  partnership 
of  Hockman,  Ross  & Young,  Messrs.  Ross  and 
Young  having  bought  the  two-thirds  interest  in 
the  abstract  of  titles  to  the  lands  of  Clinton 
county,  then  ownetl  by  Mr.  Hockman.  This 
partnership  continued  until  the  twenty-first  day 
of  October,  1882,  when  Mr.  Hockman  retired, 
leaving  the  business  to  Ross  A Young.  In  the 
spring  of  1884  Mr.  Ross  retired,  and  was  suc- 
ceeded by  Whlliam  R.  Hines  in  his  interest  in 
the  firm,  books  and  business,  since  which  time 
this  latter  partnership  has  continued  under  the 
firm  name  of  Young  cY  Hines,  being  conducted 
principally,  however,  by  Mr.  Young,  Mr.  Hines 
being  one  of  the  principal  contractors  in  the 
country,  and  giving  most  of  his  attention 
thereto.  The  abstract  record  is  kept  in  j^er- 
fect  condition  by  Mr.  Young,  who  einjiloys  two 
lady  clerks  to  assist  him  in  his  rapidly  increas- 
ing business.  This  abstract  of  title  is  com- 
piled with  all  the  care  and  skill  known  to  that 
branch  of  the  legal  profession,  Mr.  Young  giv- 
ing it  his  personal  su{)ervision.  Every  deed, 
mortgage  and  other  written  evidence  of  title 
recorded  in  the  Recorder’s  office  of  Glinton 
county  having  been  carefully  co[)ied  and  trans- 
ferred to  their  abstract  record,  all  the  work 
is  then  verified.  The  abstracts  of  title  })re- 
pared  by  Mr.  Young  are  well  known  all  over 
the  county  to  be  correct  and  reliable,  no 
man  ever  having  lost  a cent  or  being  misled  in 
the  least  on  account  of  inaccuracies.  Socially, 


OF  CLINTON  COUNTY. 


897 


Mr.  Young  is  a pleasant  man  to  meet,  but  he 
is  a firm  believer  in  the  old  maxim,  “Business 
first,  j)leasure  afterwards  ” He  is  a fine  ex- 
ample of  what  close  application  and  indomi- 
table energy  will  bring — success. 

Hphraim  Januar}',  the  father  of  Ann  (Janu- 
ary) Young,  who  was  the  mother  of  George  P. 
Young  and  the  grandmother  of  John  L.  Young, 
was  born  in  Pennsylvania,  and  was  the  grand- 
son of  a French  Huguenot.  The  persecution 
which  drove  the  emigrant  from  his  native  land 
confiscated  his  estate,  which  was  said  to  be 
very  large.  Ephraim  January  married  Sarah 
McConnell,  near  McConnellstown,  Pa.,  while 
they  were  both  very  young.  In  1780  they 
emigrated  to  Kentucky,  and,  passing  down  the 
Ohio  river  with  several  other  families,  in  small 
fiat  boats  fitted  up  to  resist  the  attacks  of  the 
Indians,  landed  safely  at  Louisville  in  the 
spring.  They  took  their  little  property  to  a 
small  fort  called  Spring  Station,  six  miles  from 
Louisville,  and  rernained  there  six  months. 
They  then  removed  to  the  fort  at  Harrodsburg, 
Ky.,  where  they  lived  twelve  months,  and 
afterward  to  the  fort  at  Lexington,  and  re- 
mained there  till  the  fall  of  1783.  Such  was 
the  unsettled  condition  of  the  country  at  that 
period,  and  the  character  of  the  savage  war- 
fare waged  by  the  Indians,  that  a family  was 
only  safe  when  inside  of  a fortification. 

Andrew  McConnell,  the  grandfather  of  Ann 
(January)  Young,  was  killed  at  the  battle  of 
the  Blue  Licks,  which  occurred  in  the  summer 
of  I7<S2.  Although  that  battle  resulted  disas- 
trously to  the  emigrants,  additional  forces 
pressed  upon  the  Indians  and  drove  them  out 
of  Kentucky,  and  an  increase  of  emigration  in 
the  course  of  a year  so  checked  the  incursions 
of  the  Indians  that  families  were  justified  in 
making  locations  of  their  own  in  the  neighbor- 
hood of  Lexington  and  some  other  parts  of  the 
territory.  Ephraim  January  accordingly  ob- 
tained a pre-emption  to  1,000  acres  of  land  in 


the  county  of  Jessamine,  built  a small  log  cabin 
on  it  in  the  midst  of  the  forest,  and  moved  his 
faniily,  consisting  of  his  wife  and  two  young 
children,  into  it  in  the  year  1783.  His  nearest 
neighbor  was  six  miles  distant.  There  he 
raised  a family  of  eleven  children,  five  sons  and 
six  daughters,  and  there  the  father  and  mother 
lived  and  died,  he  in  1823,  in  the  sixty-fourth 
year  of  his  age,  she  in  1850,  in  her  eighty-sev- 
enth year.  They  were  both  persons  of  ardent 
piety,  beloneing  to  the  Associate  Reformed,  a 
branch  of  the  Presbyterian  church,  and  gave 
great  care  to  the  religious  training  of  their  chil- 
dren. The  family  was  large,  and  the  father 
unable  to  provide  capital  to  set  up  his  sons  in 
business.  They  all  remained  at  home  and 
worked  on  the  farm  until  they  were  seventeen 
or  eighteen  years  old.  Each  was  then  suffered 
to  select  some  mechanical  branch  of  business. 

Ann  Januaiw  was  born  January  31,  1788, 
and  was  married  three  times,  her  first  marriage 
being  with  John  Lowler,  and  from  this  mar- 
riage there  were  two  children  born,  William  A., 
and  Eliza  Jane,  the  latter  having  died  in  early 
life,  and  the  former  in  'an  early  day  located 
with  his  family  in  Clinton  county,  Ind.,  and 
became  one  of  its  most  prominent  citizens. 
Ann  (January)  Lowler,  after  the  death  of  her 
former  husband,  was  married  to  William 
Young,  of  Jessamine  county,  Ky. , and  from 
this  marriage  there  were  born  five  children,  to- 
wit:  Ephraim  J.,  George  P.,  Andrew  M., 
Haydon  R.,  and  Ann.  William  Young,  the 
father,  died  in  the  year  1826,  and  the  mother 
was  married  to  Alex.  Blair.  P'rom  this  union 
there  were  no  children.  She  died  June  ii, 
1862,  and  was  buried  in  the  cemetery  of  her 
native  county,  at  the  small  town  of  Keene. 

George  P.  Young  was  born  on  the  twelfth 
day  of  November,  1817,  in  Jessamine  county, 
Ky.  When  he  was  about  nine  years  old  he 
lost  his  father,  and  was  left  to  care  for  him- 
self. He  was,  however,  possessed  of  a large 


898 


BIOGRAPHICAL  HISTORY 


ainoiit  of  courage  and  went  to  the  field  at 
meager  wages.  At  this  time  slave  labor  was 
about  the  only  kind  of  labor  known  in  Ken- 
tucky, but  he  continued  to  work  beside  the 
black  man  until  he  was  possessed  of  sufficient 
judgment  to  become  an  overseer,  to  which 
business  he  was  called  while  a young  man  and 
continued  to  follow  for  several  years.  He 
was  married  to  Nancy  Lancaster  of  Jessamine 
county,  Ky.,  on  the  eleventh  day  of  April, 
1839.  To  this  marriage  were  born  five  chil- 
dren, viz:  Mary  E.  S.,  William  H.,  Decalvi- 
us  K.,  John  L.  and  George  E. , all  of  whom 
are  now  living.  In  religion  he  was  a Method- 
ist and  his  wife  a Baptist  in  belief.  He 
moved  with  his  family  to  Clinton  county, 
Ind.,  and  located  on  a farm  about  two  and 
one-half  miles  northwest  of  Colfax,  on  the 
twenty-third  day  of  September,  1852.  Here 
he  lived  and  reared  his  family,  and  here  he 
died  on  the  tenth  day  of  January,  1875. 
Nancy  (Young)  Lancaster  was  the  daughter  of 
John  and  Hannah  Lancaster.  She  was  born 
in  Jessamine  count}',  Ky. , on  the  twenty- 
fourth  day  of  December,  1814,  and  died  on 
the  twenty-sixth  day  of  April,  1886,  and  was 
one  of  a family  of  ten  children,  to-wit  : Susan 
M.,  Sarah,  Polly,  Patsey,  Samuel  C.,  Mason 
S.,  Levi,  Nancy,  Jane,  and  John  N.  Lancas- 
ter. Her  father,  john  Lancaster,  came  to 
Kentucky  in  an  early  day  from  England. 
He  was  born  on  the  twenty-fourth  day  of 
January,  1774.  He  was  married  to  Hannah 
Singleton,  and  settled  in  Jessamine  county 
about  eight  miles  from  Lexington,  and  was 
the  owner  of  considerable  real  estate.  The 
stone  house  that  he  erected  on  his  farm  in 
1811  is  still  standing.  He  and  his  wife  in  re- 
ligious belief  were  Baptists.  He  died  on  the 
twenty-seventh  day  of  Aj)ril,  1862,  and  was 
buried  on  his  farm.  Hannah  (Lancaster) 
Singleton  was  the  daughti'r  of  Manoah  Single- 
ton,  who  came  to  Jessamine  county,  Ky. , from 


Virginia.  She  was  born  on  the  eighth  day  of 
February,  1778,  and  died  on  the  twenty-eighth 
day  of  July,  1862,  and  was  buried  beside  her 
husband. 


OBERT  O.  YOUNG,  M.  I).,  of 
Warren  township,  Clinton  county, 
Ind  , who  for  many  years  was  suc- 
cessfully engaged  in  the  practice  of 
medicine,  but  is  now  living  retired,  was  born 
on  the  twelfth  of  May,  1814,  in  Butler  county, 
Ohio,  and  is  a son  of  Robert  and  Jane  (Ogle) 
Young.  The  parents  were  both  natives  of 
Dauphin  county.  Pa.,  but  the  father  came  of 
an  .old  English  family,  and  the  mother  was 
of  Irish  descent.  By  trade,  Robert  Young 
was  a tailor,  but  on  emigrating  westward  to 
Butler  county,  Ohio,  in  1801,  he  entered  160 
acres  of  land  and  turned  his  attention  to  farm- 
ing. This  property  he  continued  to  cultivate 
and  improve  until  his  death,  which  occurred 
in  1878.  In  an  early  day  he  did  all  the  car- 
pentering and  shoemaking  for  himself  and 
family.  His  wife  was  called  to  her  final  rest 
in  1876.  This  worthy  couple  were  the  jiar- 
ents  of  ten  children,  but  the  doctor  is  the  only 
one  now  living.  The  others  were  Andrew  W. , 
Alexander  P.,  Sarah,  James,  John,  Jane, 
Nancy,  Mary  and  Howard.  Mrs.  Young  was 
a cousin  of  Robert  Fulton,  the  inventor  of  the 
steamboat. 

Doctor  Young  is  so  well  known  throughout 
this  community  that  he  needs  no  special  intro- 
duction to  our  readers.  His  early  life  was 
spent  in  the  usual  manner  ol  farmer  lads,  the 
summer  months  being  devoted  to  work  upon 
the  farm,  while  in  the  winter  season  he  gave 
his  time  toward  ac(|uiriug  an  education.  In 
1841  he  took  up  the  study  of  medicine  under 
Dr.  Mendenhall,  and  in  1843  entered  the  Ohio 
Medical  college'  of  Gincinnati,  from  which  he 
was  graduated  in  the  class  ol  1845.  then 


OF  CLINTON  COUNTY. 


899 


began  the  practice  of  his  chosen  jirofession 
near  his  old  home  in  Butler  comity,  Ohio,  but 
in  1845  came  to  Indiana,  locating  near  Sedalia. 
Snbseciuently  he  purchased  his  present  farm, 
and  then  opened  an  office  in  Clinton  county, 
where  he  successfully  engaged  in  the  practice 
of  medicine  for  thirty  years.  His  skill  and 
ability  won  him  a liberal  patronage,  and  he 
did  a good  business.  As  his  capital  increased, 
he  invested  it  in  land,  and  on  his  retirement 
from  business  he  owned  900  acres,  which  he 
has  since  divided  among  his  children.  In  all 
his  practice  he  never  refused  to  trust  a man, 
but  treated  all  alike. 

On  the  twenty-first  of  March,  1848,  the 
doctor  was  joined  in  wedlock  with  Miss  Mar- 
garet N.  Robinson,  daughter  of  Andrew  and 
Grizzella  Robinson,  who  were  natives  of  Penn- 
sylvania. They  had  five  children — Robert, 
now  living  in  Owen  township;  Louisa,  wife  of 
Alexander  H.  Coapstick,  of  Warren  township; 
Mary,  Milton  and  Hulda,  who  are  now  de- 
ceased. The  mother  of  this  family  died 
March  17,  1863,  and  in  November,  1865,  the 
the  doctor  married  Susanna  Compton,  daugh- 
ter of  Archibald  Compton.  Both  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Young  are  members  of  the  Presbyterian 
church.  In  politics  he  is  a republican,  and  in 
an  early  day  served  as  treasurer  of  Warren 
township.  He  is  numbered  among  the  hon- 
ored pioneer  settlers  of  the  county,  having 
long  been  identified  with  its  history,  and 
throughout  the  community  is  held  in  the  high- 
est regard. 


AVID  YUNUT,  a well  known  farmer 
of  Owen  township,  Clinton  county, 
Ind.,  was  born  in  Allentown,  Lehigh 
county.  Pa.,  April  3,  1823,  and  is  of 
German  lineage,  the  family  having  been  found- 
ed in  America  by  the  great-grandfather  of  our 
subject.  George  Yundt,  son  of  this  founder, 


was  born  in  Lehigh  county,  and  became  an 
extensive  land  owner,  through  industry  and  per- 
severance. He  supported  the  democratic 
party  and  afterward  became  a whig.  His  death 
occurred  at  the  age  of  eighty  years.  Both  he 
and  his  wife  were  members  of  the  German  Re- 
form church,  and  in  their  family  were  eight 
children:  John,  Abraham,  Jonathan,  Daniel, 
Henry,  Elizabeth,  Catherine  and  Saloma. 
George  Yundt,  father  of  David,  was  born 
April  3,  1785,  and  at  the  age  of  eighteen 

wedded  Mary  Saloma  Newhart,  a maiden  of 
sixteen  summers.  The  following  children 
graced  their  union — Henri  and  David,  who 
died  in  early  life;  Paul,  Thomas,  David,  Fran- 
cis, Mary,  Rebecca  and  Eliza.  The  father  se- 
cured 120  acres  of  land  near  Allentown,  and 
extensively  engaged  in  farming  and  stock  deal- 
ing. He  and  his  wife  belonged  to  the  German 
Reform  church,  in  which  he  served  both  as 
deacon  and  elder.  He  voted  with  the  whig 
party.  His  death  occurred  at  the  age  of 
seventy-seven,  and  his  wife  passed  away  at  the 
age  of  seventy. 

The  gentleman  whose  name  heads  this 
sketch  was  reared  on  the  farm  and  received 
such  educational  advantages  as  the  common 
schools  afforded.  At  the  age  of  twenty-four 
he  started  westward  and  spent  two  years  in 
Seneca  county,  Ohio.  The  following  winter 
was  passed  in  his  old  home,  but  in  the  spring 
he  came  with  a neighbor’s  family  to  Clinton 
county.  When  cpiite  young  he  wished  to  see 
something  of  the  country,  and  his  father  gave 
him  $50  for  the  purpose.  He  then  visited 
New  York,  Rochester,  Buffalo  and  other  cities, 
and  worked  for  some  two  years  before  return- 
ing home;  when  his  father  asked  him  what 
he  had  done,  he  had  $ 1 80  to  show.  On 
reaching  Indiana  he  purchased  forty  acres  of 
land  for  $300,  and  after  selling  it  for  $500, 
bought  the  eighty  acres  on  which  he  now  re- 
sides. He  then  purchased  160  acres,  and  also 


900 


BIOGRAPHICAI.  HISTOR  V 


became  the  owner  of  320  acres  in  Kansas.  He 
has  ever  manifested  excellent  business  and 
executive  ability,  sagacity  and  foresight.  At 
one  time  he  owned  more  than  500  acres  of 
land  and  now  has  400  acres. 

In  Pennsylvania,  in  i<S57,  Mr.  Yundt  mar- 
ried Louisa  Weaver,  who  was  born  in  1840, 
and  is  a daughter  of  Thomas  and  Lucy  (Shaf- 
er) Weaver  of  the  Keystone  state.  Their 
union  has  been  blessed  by  the  following  chil- 
dren: Uriah,  who  was  born  in  1858,  and  mar- 
ried Emma  Lone;  Sylvester,  born  in  i860; 
Silas,  who  was  born  in  1862,  and  married 
Edith  Gray,  and  after  her  death  wedded  Mag- 
gie Harrington;  Joseph,  who  was  born  in  1864, 
and  married  Clara  Weaver;  William,  who  was 
born  in  1866,  and  wedded  May  Cole;  Ida,  who 
died  at  the  age  of  twelve  years;  Alice,  who  was 
born  in' 1870,  and  is  the  wife  of  Clyde  Bun- 
nell; Rosa,  who  was  born  in  1872,  and  is  the 
wife  of  Frank  Mabbitt,  and  Wilson,  who  was 
born  in  1874.  The  mother  died  in  June, 
i8go.  and  her  loss  was  deeply  mourned.  Mr. 
Yundt  is  an  active  member  and  has  long  been 
elder  of  the  German  Reform  church.  He  is  an 
active  republican,  and  has  been  a delegate  to 
the  county  conventions.  His  home  is  a fine 
frame  residence,  and  upon  the  farm  are  barns 
and  outbuildings  which  are  models  of  conveni- 
ence. Everything  denotes  the  thrift  and  en- 
terprise of  the  owner,  who  has  prospered. 


OBERT  A.  BOOMER,  superintend- 
ent of  the  Toledo  division  of  the  To- 
ledo, St.  Louis  & Kansas  City  rail- 
road, was  born  in  Philo,  Champaign 
county.  111.,  on  the  thirteenth  day  of  October, 
1862.  He  is  a son  of  Andrew  B.  and  Perme- 
lia  (Seymour)  Boomer,  who  were  born,  reared 
and  married  in  New  York,  from  which  state 
they  removed  to  Philo,  Ilk,  in  1852.  The 
Boomers  are  of  Scotch  ancestry,  and  the 


Seymours  of  English  progenitors.  Hobert  A. 
was  given  an  ordinary  education,  such  as  the 
country  schools  of  his  neighborhood  afforded, 
and  passed  his  earlier  days  on  his  father’s 
farm.  At  the  age  of  sixteen  years,  he  went 
into  the  office  of  the  Wabash  railway  at  Philo, 
his  home,  and  there  began  what  has  been  a 
brilliant  career  as  a railroad  man.  His  first 
[)osition  was  that  of  station  agent  and  operator 
for  the  Wabash  railroad  at  Edwardsville,  111, 
This  position  he  held  for  three  years  and  re- 
signed, that  he  might  become  the  first  station 
agent  and  operator  for  the  Toledo,  St.  Louis 
& Kansas  City  railroad,  at  Edwardsville.  This 
position  Mr.  Boomer  held  for  a little  over 
three  months,  and  was  then  promoted  to  dis- 
patcher in  the  superintendent’s  office  at 
Charleston,  Ilk,  which  office  was  later  changed 
to  Frankfort,  then  to  Toledo,  then  back  to 
P'rankfort.  During  the  meantime  Mr.  Boomer 
remained  as  dispatcher,  but,  in  1889,  his  posi- 
tion was  changed  to  that  of  train  master,  a 
position  he  held  until  February,  1894,  when 
he  was  })romoted  to  his  present  position.  As 
a railroader,  Mr.  Boomer  is  regarded  as  a man 
of  unusual  ability.  He  is  still  young,  but  not- 
withstanding this  his  promotions  to  high  and 
I'esponsible  positions  have  been  deserved. 

November  5,  1891,  Mr.  Boomer  was  mar- 
ried to  Miss  Lillian  B.  Lundy,  daughter  of  Ira 
C.  and  Margaret  J.  (Hart)  Lundy,  of  Indian- 
apolis. Mrs.  Boomer  was  born  near  Colum- 
bus, Ind.,  but  reared  at  Indianapolis.  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  Boomer  have  one  child,  Margaret. 
Mr.  Boomer  is  one  of  the  representative  citi- 
zens of  b'rankfort,  where  he  has  claimed  a resi- 
dence since  the  year  1885.  In  his  ])rofcssion 
he  is  an  “all  round”  man  and  very  efficient, 
affording  the  fullest  satisfaction  to  his  em- 
])loyers,  while  socially  he  sustains  a position 
of  which  any  person  might  well  be  ]u-ou(k  and 
b'rankfort  could  not  well  afford  to  lose  so 
valuable  a citizen. 


OF  CLINTON  COUNTY. 


001 


AMUEL  A.  BRAND,  one  of  the 
prominent  farmers  of  Ross  township, 
Clinton  comity,  Inch,  descends  from 
German  ancestors.  The  founder  of 
the  family  was  an  old  settler  of  Maryland, 
and  the  ^grandfather  of  our  subject  was  from 
Hagerstown.  The  latter  moved  to  Ohio  at  an 
early  day  and  was  one  of  the  pioneers  of 
Bntler  county.  He  married  Lydia  Vance  and 
to  them  were  born  eight  children:  Washing- 
ton, Michael.  Samuel,  Eli,  John,  Elizabeth, 
Mary  and  Lydia.  Mr.  Brand  later  settled  in 
Sheffield  township,  Tippecanoe  county,  Ind., 
where  he  entered  162  acres  and  cleared  np  his 
farm  from  the  wilderness,  made  a good  home, 
owned  at  one  time  320  acres,  and  was  accus- 
tomed to  assist  each  of  his  children  to  land. 
In  his  old  age  he  became  a member  of  the 
Lutheran  church,  was  a republican  in  politics, 
was  well  known  as  a p’oneer  citizen  of  Tippe- 
canoe county,  was  highly  respected  and  died 
an  aged  man.  Washington  Brand,  father  of 
Samuel  A.,  was  born  in  Butler  county,  Ohio, 
and  was  a small  boy  when  brought  to  Indiana 
by  his  parents.  He  received  a common  edu- 
cation and  became  a farmer;  married  Catherine 
Clausen,  and  to  them  were  born  four  chil- 
dren: Samuel  A.,  Orlando,  Eli  L.  and  Alexan- 
der A.  After  marriage  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Brand 
settled  on  160  acres  of  land  in  Sheffield  town- 
ship, half  of  which  he  cleared  up  and  made  a 
good  home.  His  wife  having  died,  he  mar- 
ried a widow,  Susan  A.  Hellick,  nee  DeLong, 
and  by  her  became  the  father  of  three  children: 
Morton,  Roy  K.  and  Ella  H.  Mr.  Brand 
passed  his  remaining  days  on  his  farm  and 
died  aged  fifty-two  years,  a member  of  the 
German  Reform  church.  He  was  a man  of 
honest  purposes  in  life,  and  noted  for  his 
integrity  and  business  ability.  By  thrift  and 
industry  he  accumulated  664  acres,  all  in 
Tippecanoe  county  except  i 54  acres,  in  Clin- 
ton county,  on  which  his  son,  Samuel  A., 


now  resides.  Beside  being  a prosperous 
farmer,  Mr.  Brand  ran  a steam  threshing 
machine  for  years,  having  the  second  steam 
thresher  in  this  part  of  the  country. 

Samuel  A.  Brand  was  born  January  3, 
1852,  on  his  father’s  farm,  received  a common 
education  and  became  a carpenter  and  farmer. 
He  married,  March  26,  1878,  at  twenty-six 
years  of  age,  Louisa  Heaton  (born  August  27, 
1857,  at  Battle  Ground  city,  Tippecanoe  coun- 
ty, Ind.),  daughter  of  Andrew  J.  and  Delia 
(Schurtz)  Heaton.  Andrew  was  the  son  of 
William  Heaton,  whose  remote  ancestors  were 
English  Puritans,  and  came  on  the  good  ship 
“Mayflower,”  with  the  Pilgrims,  in  1620. 
William  Heaton  was  born  in  Kentucky,  where 
his  father  was  one  of  the  original  pioneers 
with  Daniel  Boone.  He  settled  on  the  site  of 
what  is  now  Louisville,  Ky. , purchasing  a 
claim  of  900  acres,  from  which  he  was  driven 
by  the  Indians,  and  died  a short  time  after. 
William  Heaton,  one  of  his  sons  and  grand- 
father of  Mrs.  Brand,  settled  at  Wyandotte, 
Tippecanoe  county,  as  one  of  the  pioneers. 
When  he  passed  through  La  Fayette  it  con- 
tained but  four  log  cabins.  At  W’yandotte  he 
built  the  first  grist-mill  in  the  state  of  Indiana, 
and  also  built  a saw-mill.  He  began  life  with 
160  acres  of  land  and  kept  adding  until  he 
finally  owned  2,200  acres  on  Wild  Cat  Prairie. 
He  was  a man  of  great  energy  and  force  of 
character  and  a prominent  citizen.  Andrew 
J.  Heaton,  father  of  Mrs.  Brand,  was  born  in 
Ohio,  received  a good  education,  and  was 
brought  to  Indiana  by  his  father  when  a boy. 
He  married  a widow  Randolph,  nee  Schurtz. 
To  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Heaton  were  born  three  chil- 
dren: Rachael,  Louisa  and  Milton.  After 
marriage,  Mr.  Heaton  lived  in  Battle  Ground, 
Tippecanoe  county,  kept  a general  store  and 
was  postmaster  many  years.  He  moved  to 
Americus,  Ind.,  where  he  died  aged  sixty-three 
years.  He  was  a member  of  the  Methodist 


002 


BIOGRAPHICAL  HISTORY 


churcli,  i)()litic:illy  <'i  democrat,  and  fraternally 
he  was  a Mason.  After  niarriaf^e,  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Brand  settled  on  their  present  farm  of 
I 54  acres,  of  which  Mr.  Brand  inherited  from 
his  father  seventy-four  acres.  There  were  no 
improvements  on  the  farm  when  Mr.  Brand 
settled  on  it,  and  he  erected  his  present  taste- 
ful and  substantial  residence  in  1877,  and  has 
also  i)ut  up  commodicms  barns  and  other  build- 
in^^s.  Mr.  Brand  is  a practical,  progressive 
farmer,  keeps  well  up  with  the  times,  and  has 
one  of  the  best  farms  in  Clinton  county.  To 
himself  and  wife  have  been  born  five  children; 
Cerda  E.,  Lula,  Augusta,  Samuel  O.  and 
Ralph  W.  Mr.  Brand  is  a member  of  the 
Presbyterian  chnrch.  Mrs.  Brand  is  a mem- 
ber of  the  Progressive  Baptist  church.  In 
politics  he  is  a republican.  He  is  a member 
of  Mulberry  lodge.  No.  395,  I.  O.  O.  F.  .and 
has  held  all  the  offices.  Mr.  Brand  is  a prac- 
tical mechanic,  thoroughly  understands  the  use 
of  tools,  and  has  done  much  of  his  own  car- 
penter work,  and  stands  high  in  Clinton  county 
for  his  sterling  worth. 


ARCELLUS  BRISTOW,  a promi- 
nent member  of  the  Frankfort  bar, 
is  a native  of  Indiana,  born  on  the 
13th  day  of  September,  1849, 
Clinton  comity.  Ilis  father,  John  Bristow, 
was  born  in  Owen  county,  Ky.,  and  married 
Lucinda  Harding,  daughter  of  Noah  and  Mary 
(Carr)  Harding,  natives  of  the  same  county, 
and  about  18 — came  to  Indiana,  locating  at 
Danville,  thence  moving  to  the  comity  of  Clin- 
ton, where  he  remained  until  his  death,  which 
occurred  in  the  year  1874.  John  Bristow  was 
a well-to-do  farmer  and  citi/en,  who  enjoyed 
great  popularity  in  the  comnnmily  where  he 
residetl.  His  widow  is  'unv  living,  at  the  age 
of  seventy-live  years,  on  the  homo-  farm.  She 
is  a devout  member  of  the  Christian  church. 


to  which  religious  body  her  husband  also  be- 
longed for  many  years.  The  following  are  the 
names  of  their  children;  Euclid,  a resident 
of  Clinton  county;  Marcellus,  the  subject  of 
this  mention;  Louisa,  wife  of  William  A. 
Thomas;  Jasper,  deceased;  Melvin,  who  lives 
in  one  of  the  western  states;  Caroline,  wife  of 
Squire  Moore,  and  Noah,  residing  in  Okla- 
homa territory. 

Marcellus  Bristow  grew  up  on  a farm,  en- 
joyed the  advantages  of  a good  English  educa- 
tion, and  remained  under  the  parental  roof 
until  his  seventeenth  year,  at  which  time  he 
began  life  for  himself,  on  a place  given  him  by 
his  father,  who  also  allowed  him  his  freedom 
at  that  age.  Until  his  twenty-third  year  Mr. 
Bristow  was  engaged  in  the  pursuit  of  agricult- 
ure in  connection  with  buying  and  selling  cat- 
tle, and  then  began  the  practice  of  law,  which 
profession  he  had  previously  prepared  for  by 
a course  of  reading  at  the  town  of  Scircleville. 
In  1878,  he  sought  a wider  field  for  the  exer- 
cise of  his  legal  talent,  going  to  the  town  of 
Tipton,  where  he  practiced  for  five  years, 
meeting  with  flattering  success  in  the  mean- 
time, but  losing  considerable  money  through 
ill-advised  speculations  of  various  kinds. 
P'rom  Tiptcm  Mr.  Bristow  returned  to  his  farm 
in  Clinton  county,  and  there  resided  several 
years,  engaged  in  agriculture  and  looking  after 
the  interests  of  his  pro))erty,  which  had  be- 
come considerable.  In  1884,  he  located  at 
Frankfort  and  resumed  the  practice  of  his  pro- 
fession, in  partnership  with  judge  Higin- 
botham,  and  later  was  associated  with  Bert 
Beard  for  a period  of  two  years.  At  this  time 
Mr.  Bristow  is  a member  of  the  law  firm  of 
Hickman  cS;  Bristow  and  has  a large  and  lucra- 
tive practice  in  Clinton  county,  taking  high 
rank  among  the  successful  lawyers  of  the 
Frankfort  bar.  In  the  matter  of  accumulating 
property,  Mr.  Bristow  has  been  signally  fortu- 
nate, his  possessions  representing  valuable  real 


OF  CLINTON  COUNTY. 


903 


estate  in  Clinton  and  Tipton  counties,  also  lots 
in  the  town  of  Scircleville  and  the  city  of 
Frankfort.  Politically,  he  wields  an  influence 
for  the  republican  party,  and  he  has  decided 
opinions  on  all  leadinj^-  public  questions,  which 
he  does  not  hesitate  to  express.  Mr.  Bristow 
was  married  in  Clinton  count}',  Ind.,  to  Miss 
Sarah  J.  Biddel,  and  has  had  born  to  him 
three  children,  viz:  Mariam  (deceased),  Mar- 
vin and  Merton. 


HBSALOM  BRANDON,  one  of  the  in- 
fluential and  wealthy  farmers  of  Mich- 
gan  township,  Clinton  county,  Ind., 
is  a native  of  the  county,  and  was 
born  January  19,  1839.  His  paternal  ances- 
tor, the  fourth  generation  back,  came  from 
England,  and  his  son,  Absalom,  the  first 
native-born  Brandon,  was  the  grandfather  of 
the  subject  of  this  sketch.  He  was  born  in 
\hrginia,  but  the  greater  portion  of  his  life 
was  passed  in  Butler  county,  Ohio.  Samuel 
Brandon,  father  of  our  subject,  was  born  in 
Butler  county,  Ohio,  and  was  a wagon-maker 
by  trade.  He  and  wife  came  to  Frankfort, 
Clinton  county,  Ind.,  when  that  city  was  a 
mere  village  of  log  huts,  and  there  he  worked 
at  his  trade  for  ten  dollars  per  month,  while 
his  wife  worked  for  her  board.  Within  the 
year,  however,  he  bought  a shop  of  his  own, 
and  this  he  carried  on  for  fifteen  years.  He 
then  sold  out,  and  engaged  in  butchering  and 
packing  pork.  Later  he  sold  this  business  and 
engaged  in  land  speculation,  having,  at  times, 
secured  large  tracts  in  Clinton  county.  He 
married  MariahHill,  daughter  of  Willson  Hill, 
and  to  this  union  were  born  the  following 
children:  Orr;  IMary;  William  (who  died  while 
sheriff  of  Clinton  county),  Nancy  A. ; Mynda; 
Absalom,  and  Mariah. 

Absalom  Brandon,  subject  of  this  sketch, 
passed  the  latter  part  of  his  youth  as  a clerk 


in  a store  in  Frankfort,  and  at  the  age  of 
twenty  began  farming,  and  now  owns  240 
acres  and  a large  house  and  barn.  He  mar- 
ried Lovina  Dow,  daughter  of  Edmund  and 
Mary  (Storer)  Dow.  Grandfather  Dow  was 
an  early  settler  of  Pennsylvania,  coming  from 
New  Jersey,  and  Edmund  Dow  was  a pioneer 
teacher  of  Clinton  county,  Ind.  He  pursued 
his  vocation  in  Michigantown  when  the  log 
school-house  was  the  recognized  edifice  for 
school  purposes.  He  was  also  a farmer,  own- 
ing 1 70  acres.  To  the  marriage  of  Absalom 
and  Lovina  Brandon  have  been  born  the  fol- 
lowing named  children:  James  E.,  Samuel, 
Mariah,  Humbert,  Lulu,  Virgil,  and  Clinton. 
Mr.  Brandon  is  a strong  democrat,  and  was 
one,  among  others,  to  visit  Toledo  to  investi- 
gate the  advisability  of  voting  a tax  in  his 
neighborhood  for  railway  purposes — the  report 
being  favorable.  Mr.  Brandon  is  a non-affili- 
ating Red  Man,  but  he  is  of  a very  social 
turn,  and  his  spacious  home  is  often  filled  to 
overfiowing  by  congenial  neighbors.  He  often 
compliments  his  wife  by  saying,  “We  will 
consult  her;  she  has  made  me  what  I am.” 


IMOTHY  B.  COX,  M.  I).,  one  of  the 
oldest  and  most  experienced  physi- 
cians of  Frankfort,  Clinton  county, 
Ind.,  was  born  in  Tompkins  county, 
N.  Y. , January  9,  1817,  and  is  a son  of  David 
J.  and  Rosanna  (Bake)  Cox.  David  J.  Cox 
was  born  in  Monmouth  county,  N.  J.,  and  was 
a son  of  James  Cox,  also  a native  of  New  Jer- 
sey, and  a tanner  by  trade.  James  Cox  was  a 
hero  of  the  Revolutionary  war,  and  a very 
prominent  man.  He  married  Miss  Deborah 
Potts,  to  which  union  were  born  thirteen  chil- 
dren. Mr.  and  Mrs.  Cox  were  old-fashioned 
Baptists.  James  Cox  was' a brave  man,  en- 
dowed with  more  than  ordinary  intelligence. 


004 


BIOGRAPHICAL  HISTORY 


and  liis  ])()litical  career  was  a most  brilliant 
one.  His  son,  David  J.,  was  reared  in  New 
\’ork,  S(;r\ed  seven  years  as  an  apprentice  at 
cabinet-making',  then,  at  the  age  of  twenty- 
eight,  came  west  and  followed  his  vocation  in 
Preble  and  Ihitler  counties,  Ohio,  bind  else- 
where, until  he  reached  middle  age,  when  he 
entered  the  ministry  of  the  Methodist  church, 
and  had  charge  of  the  Shelbyvillc  circuit  at  the 
time  of  his  death,  August  20,  1837.  mar- 

riage of  David  J.  Cox  took  place  in  New  York, 
in  1814,  to  Miss  Rosanna  Bake,  daughter  of 
Peter  and  Phiebe  (Titus)  Bake,  of  New  Jerse}', 
and  to  this  union  were  born  the  following  chil- 
dren; William,  Timothy  B. , M.  D.,  {onathan, 
Henry,  M.  D.,  Samuel,  James,  PluebeAnn,  and 
Rosina.  The  mother  of  this  family  died  May 
17,  1858. 

Timothy  B.  Cox  was  reared  in  Decatur 
county,  Ind.,  and  remained  on  the  home  farm 
until  twenty-five  years  of  age,  receiving,  in  the 
meanwhile,  his  preliminary  education.  In 
1842  he  came  to  Clinton  county,  Ind.,  located 
in  Kirklin,  and,  having  graduated  from  the 
Medical  college  of  Ohio  in  1853,  began  prac- 
tice, which  he  followed  with  much  success  until 
1864,  when  he  moved  to  P'rankfort.  Here 
his  medical  career  w'as  an  uninterrupted  series 
of  successes  and  triumphs  until  1890,  when  he 
]iractically  retired  from  the  active  duties  of  the 
profession,  although  he  feels  the  binding  power 
of  the  .Tlsculapian  pledge,  and  generously  aids 
the  lowly  when  called  upon.  The  allopathic 
school  of  medicine  has  been  with  him  a life- 
long study,  and  his  libniry  is  com[)lete  and  in- 
valuable. His  abilities  as  a physicitin  have 
been  recognized  by  an  appreciative  public,  and 
his  great  services  have  been  retnunerative. 

The  marriage  of  Dr.  Cox  took  place  in  De- 
c:itur  county,  Ind.,  Sejitember  b,  1830,  to 
Miss  Mary  Ann  Shejtherd,  a native  of  Ptiyette 
county,  Ky. , and  daughter  of  Dickey  Shepherd, 
ol  the  same  state.  To  this  felicitous  union 


seven  children  were  born,  one  of  whom  yet  sur- 
vives— Elizabeth,  who  resides  in  Kirklin.  The 
mother  of  this  family  was  called  away  in  1872, 
and  her  mortal  retnains  he  interred  at  Kirklin. 
Dr.  Cox  is  the  owner  of  350  acres  of  good 
land,  most  of  which  is  arable,  and  also  owns 
considerable  real  estate  in  town.  As  will  have 
been  seen,  the  doctor  was  in  active  practice 
over  half  a century,  and  during  all  that  time 
has  maintained  a position  at  the  “very  head 
and  front”  of  his  profession,  and  many  articles 
from  his  pen  have  added  to  the  fund  of  medi- 
cal knowdedge. 


aOL.  NOAH  T.  CATTERLIN,  de- 
ceased, was  probably  one  of  the  most 
enterprising,  energetic  and  successful 
of  the  early  business  men  of  Frank- 
fort, Ind.,  but  the  narrow  scope  to  which  our 
pages  are  now  limited  precludes  any  thing 
more  than  a brief  mention  of  the  chief  facts 
in  his  eventful  life.  He  was  born  in  Butler 
county,  Ohio,  September  20,  1806,  and  with 
his  father,  in  1823,  came  to  Indiana  and  estab- 
lished a home  in  Montgomery  county.  He 
assisted  his  father  on  the  farm  some  two  or 
three  years,  working  at  intervals  at  brick  lay- 
ing, and  then  entered  upon  a career  of  trade, 
beginning  as  a peddler  in  1827.  He  passed 
through  Tippecanoe  count}-,  up  Lauramie 
creek,  through  the  region  where  Dayton  was 
subseipiently  located,  down  Wild  Oat  creek  to 
the  Wabash  and  to  La  h'ayette,  then  a mere 
village,  and  for  a few  months  there  ran  a 
store.  Selling  out,  he  went  to  Eogansport, 
trading  for  furs  on  the  way,  with  the  Indians, 
and  these  furs  he  disposed  of  at  Terre  Haute. 
He  continued  peddling  until  the  summer  of 
1828,  when  he  opened  a store  in  Edinburg, 
Ind  , in  connection  with  Patrick  C'owan;  then 
built  two  Hat  boats,  loaded  them  with  corn 
ami  provisions,  and  pushed  his  way  to  New 


OF  CLINTON  COUNTY. 


005 


Orleans,  making  a successful  speculation.  At 
Crawfordsville,  he  opened  a store  in  the  spring 
of  1830,  but  in  July  of  the  same  year  sold  out 
and  purchased  a number  of  lots  in  Frankfort. 
Here  he  erected,  on  one  of  these  lots,  on  the 
west  side  of  the  public  square,  a hewn  log 
house  of  two  rooms — one  for  business  purposes 
and  one  for  family  occupation.  This  was  the 
first  store  in  Frankfort,  and  here  he  established 
himself  in  business  in  September,  1830.  In 
1833  he  connected  himself  with  his  brother-in- 
law,  Samuel  Ship,  which  business  was  con- 
tinued until  1836.  In  1837,  Mr.  Catterlin  be- 
gan the  transportation  of  live  stock  and  pro- 
visions to  the  south,  and  conducted  a most 
successful  trade  until  the  Civil  war  broke  out, 
having  connected  with  it,  for  fifteen  years,  an 
extensive  pork  packing  enterprise,  and  during 
the  war  carrying  on  a general  store.  In  1835 
he  erected  the  first  grist  and  saw-mill  in 
Frankfort.  In  1837  he  erected  the  first  brick 
building,  which  still  stands  on  the  north  side 
of  the  square. 

The  marriage  of  Col.  Catterlin  took  place 
at  Edinburg,  Ind.,  August  27,  1829,  with  Miss 
Malinda  Peoples,  who  was  born  in  Kentucky, 
P'ebruary  28,  1810.  Several  children  were 
born  to  this  union,  and  of  these  Noah  Catter- 
lin, Jr.,  was  promoted  from  the  ranks  in  the 
Tenth  Indiana  infantry  to  a captaincy  in  the 
One  Hundreth  regiment,  and  two  other  sons 
took  an  active  part  in  the  defense  of  the  Union 
during  the  late  Civil  war. 

Mr.  Catterlin  gained  his  military  title  by 
being  honored  with  a commission,  in  the  early 
part  of  the  history  of  the  county,  as  a reward 
for  raising  a military  regiment,  of  which  he 
was  given  the  command;  he  was  also  honored, 
afterward,  with  the  positions  of  sheriff  of  the 


county,  justice  of  the  peace  and  probate  judge. 
The  death  of  the  colonel  took  i)lace  Septem- 
ber 6,  1883:  his  wife  died  a few  years  later  at 
her  residence  in  Frankfort. 


aYRUS  CLARK,  of  Frankfort,  Ind., 
was  born  in  Juniata  county.  Pa., 
April  1 8,  1 840,  a son  of  Matthew 

and  Elizabeth  (McPheatures)  Clark. 
The  family  came  to  Clinton  county  in  1852, 
and  here  the  father  died  in  1870,  at  the  age  of 
seventy  years;  the  mother  died  in  1873,  at  the 
age  of  about  sevent3'-six  3'ears.  These  par- 
ents had  eight  children. 

Cyrus  Clark’s  boyhood  days  were  spent  on 
the  home  farm,  but  he  gained  a fair  common 
school  education,  and  taught  district  schools 
for  four  years  before  the  war,  at  the  outbreak 
of  which  he  enlisted  in  company  C,  Tenth 
Indiana  infantry,  September  19,  1861,  and. 

was  mustered  out  September  20,  1864,  when 
he  resumed  farming  and  school  teaching.  In 
1868,  he  came  to  Erankfort  and  served  as 
deputy  county  auditor  till  Januar34  1873,  then 
was  appointed  to  the  office  of  auditor,  and  in 
the  fall  of  1874  was  elected  by  the  people  to 
the  office  and  served  till  the  fall  of  1878;  was 
then  in  the  Farmers’  bank  as  assistant  cashier, 
about  one  year;  later  was  elected  mayor  of 
Frankfort,  and  served  one  term.  He  then 
farmed  until  five  3'ears  prior  to  1891,  when  he 
was  engaged  in  the  grocery  business.  In  the 
fall  of  1867  he  married  Laura  J.  Pierce;  she 
died  in  1873,  leaving  three  children,  viz: 
Elgie,  Miles  and  Laura.  In  December,  1874, 
he  married  Mrs.  Julia  Jenkins,  ncc  Steele,  who 
has  borne  hun  three  children — Jason,  Mabel 
and  Elmer. 


OOG 


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Additional  Memoranda  for  Biographical  Record. 


OF  CLINTON  COUNTY. 


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BIOGRAPHICAL  HISTORY 


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